Return of O'Neill - divided opinion

[Brend'Watkins]

MON did know the conditions he was working under.  He did talk with RL after the season finished, that is what he said he and the club would do.  He could have made his intentions known soon after that if he wasn't prepared to comply with they way the club wanted to move.  The General intimated on here, I assume it was genuine that we needed to get rid of players before new ones could come in and MON was aware of this.  Not unreasonable demands baring in mind current spend and wages to income.

So he decided he didn't want to work like that, but bided his time until 5 days before the season started to make sure he really fucked us up?  Sorry, but I don't believe such a machevellian interpretation of events.

What I think happened is they agreed to sell players, but this did not materialise.  Then something blew up over the Milner transfer.  I think it was a problem waiting to happen that both parties should have realised and acknowledged before it went too far.

Yes, it was Machiavellian.  Walking out 5 days before a season starts is exactly that. 

We all have disputes/grieviences in our workplace but we still get on with the job.  It's a bit different for the likes of football managers at the top in that they don't need an income as they are already multi millionaires.  But they should have some pride in what they do and an ambition to do well for the club that has added to their multi millionaire lifestyle. 

MON's legacy is top six and fucked off when the job got a bit tough at a critical time.

[usav]

MON's legacy is top six and fucked off when the job got a bit tough at a critical time.

In a nutshell and why he is a wanker and should be treated as such when he returns.

There are many other reasons, but that is the abiding one.

[Merv]

So he decided he didn't want to work like that, but bided his time until 5 days before the season started to make sure he really fucked us up?  Sorry, but I don't believe such a machevellian interpretation of events.

What I think happened is they agreed to sell players, but this did not materialise.  Then something blew up over the Milner transfer.  I think it was a problem waiting to happen that both parties should have realised and acknowledged before it went too far.

That's how I see it, John. The timing of the transfer seems more relevant than the eve of the new season. My guess would be O'Neill had been told he wouldn't see any of the Milner money.

Given that just over a year ago we were being told 4th/5th place this season was the aim, that the new manager would be backed in the transfer market... I can't totally subscribe to the view that O'Neill was entirely the villain of the piece.

[Concrete John]

MON did know the conditions he was working under.  He did talk with RL after the season finished, that is what he said he and the club would do.  He could have made his intentions known soon after that if he wasn't prepared to comply with they way the club wanted to move.  The General intimated on here, I assume it was genuine that we needed to get rid of players before new ones could come in and MON was aware of this.  Not unreasonable demands baring in mind current spend and wages to income.

So he decided he didn't want to work like that, but bided his time until 5 days before the season started to make sure he really fucked us up?  Sorry, but I don't believe such a machevellian interpretation of events.

What I think happened is they agreed to sell players, but this did not materialise.  Then something blew up over the Milner transfer.  I think it was a problem waiting to happen that both parties should have realised and acknowledged before it went too far.

Yes, it was Machiavellian.  Walking out 5 days before a season starts is exactly that. 

We all have disputes/grieviences in our workplace but we still get on with the job.  It's a bit different for the likes of football managers at the top in that they don't need an income as they are already multi millionaires.  But they should have some pride in what they do and an ambition to do well for the club that has added to their multi millionaire lifestyle. 

MON's legacy is top six and fucked off when the job got a bit tough at a critical time.

Thanks for correcting my spelling of 'machiavellian'!

I'm not saying you're wrong, or that I'm right, but just that neither of us know exactly what went on and I think some are too quick to jump on the "It's all Martin's fault" bandwagon, especially when you see the way the club has been run since.

[PaulTheVillan]

Martin O'******.

[SoccerHQ]

It will be mixed for sure.

You see it by the reaction on here and VT, some still think the sun shines out of his behind while others like me think he maybe should've produced something better for the money invested.

That's not to say I don't appreciate the good times...establishing us back into the top 6, beat SHA and several of the big boys away like Manure and Arsenal but even in that spell and for the positions we worked our way in we should've done better, finished in the top 4 once and won the league cup I'd say.

I think I'll just ignore him and abuse Mcleish.

Edit: It's fair to say he would be getting a fabulous reception if he'd just left us at the end of that season in a dignified manner.

[SoccerHQ]

Am I right in saying when we went to Leicester for a cup tie in his first season here, he didn't exactly get a heroes welcome there?

And this was a man who got Leicester way above their natural standing in the game, won two league cups and also rejected some much bigger clubs while he was there.

[PeterWithe]

I hve some wonderful memories of his time at the club but the way he left was unforgivable.

That's about the long and short of it. As someone said you cant talk about MON without bringing up the manner of his departure, its like asking 'but apart from that Mrs Lincoln, did you enjoy the theatre?'

[The Left Side]

I will mostly be saying "Boooo", immature I know but I will feel better for it!

[TheSandman]

I think things will get nasty at VP on the 21st. Not for O'Neill though. Opinion about him is completely polarized as we can see from this thread. I reckon that supporters will start to turn on one another. Not violently but I think we will see a few arguments among our own.

[taylorsworkrate]

If MON wasn't prepared to work under those conditions he should have made it known in the May allowing the club sufficient time to get a suitable replacement.  He didn't and we now find ourselves where we are as a result.  Randy is blameless in any of this.  He's made some poor decisions since for sure but no blame can be put his his way regarding MON's wall out.

Can't agree with that.

Firstly, we don't know the exact sequence of events and what MON was/was not asked to do.  Did the goal posts get moved for him over the course of the summer?  Did he try to make it work, but something happened that tipped him over the edge?

Guess we don't know and can only speculate on that.

However, once he left the board has made two poor managerial appointments.  That's not his fault.  Some will say that the timing of his departure meant we couldn't get anyone good, yet 12 months later thay had the whole summer and still came up with McLeish, so I simply don't buy that argument.

Yep, pretty much my take on the situation.

[Ron Manager]

Ive just read every post on this thread. Nothing like Randy selling the club and MON to get the posts going. Just a thought do Chelsea have the same problem with their considerable number of managers


Its simple with me. If MON had bought say that bloke Darren Bent we would probably have qualified for the Champions League. But he didnt he bought Heskey not to score goals but to give Agbonlahor support up front and hopefully increase his goal ratio.But it didnt work. The most Agbonlahor has ever scored in the league is thirteen! Hes been around for years and hopefully MON will take him to Sunderland as he thinks hes so good.

But he got us to sixth three years running and we had a good reputation with both the media and indeed other clubs supporters.

Now we are considered a joke...or even worse a shambolic joke. 

We will never know what transpired inside the club but the appointment of the current manager just hasnt worked in any way

One thing is for certain  Doug would have sacked him  probably on Christmas day.!

[Rigadon]

Ive just read every post on this thread. Nothing like Randy selling the club and MON to get the posts going. Just a thought do Chelsea have the same problem with their considerable number of managers


Its simple with me. If MON had bought say that bloke Darren Bent we would probably have qualified for the Champions League. But he didnt he bought Heskey not to score goals but to give Agbonlahor support up front and hopefully increase his goal ratio.But it didnt work. The most Agbonlahor has ever scored in the league is thirteen! Hes been around for years and hopefully MON will take him to Sunderland as he thinks hes so good.

But he got us to sixth three years running and we had a good reputation with both the media and indeed other clubs supporters.

Now we are considered a joke...or even worse a shambolic joke. 

We will never know what transpired inside the club but the appointment of the current manager just hasnt worked in any way

One thing is for certain  Doug would have sacked him  probably on Christmas day.!

I see your Doug and raise you with a Steve H0dge/David O'Leary double-whammy.  Only a five card trick involving Robbie Savage, Mike Dean and Darth Vader could compete.     

[pauliewalnuts]

To be honest, I think the reaction that he'd least like is one of total indifference.

[Risso]

O'Neill should have been potted 5 seconds after walking through the door to ask for the funds to buy Marlon Harewood.