Martin O'Neill: Ten years on

[dcdavecollett]

In fair to MO'N, Fergie Bollocks established his influence over Dowd in the week before the final, moaning about all the bad decisions he'd given against United in the past.

Nothing like getting your intimidation in early, is there?

[Rory]

I genuinely thought we'd win that game. Up to the 90th+ minute.

I watched it in the Baron of Beef in Cambridge, surrounded by plastic Manc twats who left before the trophy presentation.

I was at a gig that night, so had to remain sober enough to walk to the Corn Exchange, but if we'd won, I would've been toasting it for days. Those arsewipes couldn't manage 15 minutes.

[LeeB]

A few weeks after that game I became a dad for the first time (it was an 'in and out' visit to Wembley as a result), and it feels like a watershead for me in that respect and also for the club, as we seemed to give up after that on being a serious football club for pretty much the next decade.

[Monty]

For everything you can say about MON he's completely right about that bollocks, and fair fucks to him for saying it right to Gary Neville's face

[eamonn]

I hate his schtick of being mistaken for being wise and funny cos he answers things slowly in a "considered way", getting in a little insult here and there and always protecting brand O'Neill.

Glad he regrets throwing his toys out of the pram at Villa. As with most other managers, he never had it as good after he left us.

There's a funny story about him in "Champagne Football" where he refuses to do promotional work while manager of Ireland because the advert in question expected him to look a bit daft. Miserly cvnt too.

[SoccerHQ]

MON discussing the 2010 League Cup final and Phil Dowd. https://x.com/WeAreTheOverlap/status/1875150256461009321

I watched all of that last night, he was on pretty good form to be honest and I quite enjoyed it.

He did say had we won that game it may have mended a bridge between him and Lerner, and that "I might not have flounced off in a huff a few months later"

I think he's come to regret doing that.

Wasn't there a rumour at the time he thought he was getting the Liverpool job? It went to Hodgson that summer so I assume he was on the shortlist if that was their standout candidate.

If he'd stayed here a few more years it's also very possible Ferguson would've recommended him as his successor rather than Moyes as they always got on and he had the big club experience from managing Celtic.

I can also remember at the time on here there was a rumour about him falling out with Milner. When I was in WH Smiths flicking through his book he actually confirmed Milner had called him out for lack of rotation in a team meeting just before Chelsea away that season. We lost 7-1 and Milner was benched the next week as punishment even though most thought he'd been rested.

We should've just announced a mutual consent after the final game of that season and then his reign would be looked back on more sympathetically rather than the missed opportunity and spiteful exit it became.

[Rory]

MON discussing the 2010 League Cup final and Phil Dowd. https://x.com/WeAreTheOverlap/status/1875150256461009321

I watched all of that last night, he was on pretty good form to be honest and I quite enjoyed it.

He did say had we won that game it may have mended a bridge between him and Lerner, and that "I might not have flounced off in a huff a few months later"

I think he's come to regret doing that.

If he'd stayed here a few more years it's also very possible Ferguson would've recommended him as his successor rather than Moyes as they always got on and he had the big club experience from managing Celtic.

Interesting point that I'd never considered.

[ez]

I don't think O'Neil would gave stayed much longer than he did. Only a year after he left Lerner's austerity measures started and the best players started leaving.

[dcdavecollett]

I agree, partly because Lerner had no idea what to do once MO'N left. It was Ellis who had appointed him. Lerner seemed to have no footballing sense at all.

[Dick Edwards]

While we enjoyed some exciting moments on the pitch I will never be able to fondly remember the O'Neill era. To leave us at the time and in the manner he did was selfish, spiteful and unforgivable. To add further pain he had the self centred cheek to sue the club for constructive dismissal!  I hope he often looks back on his actions and is overwhelmed with shame each time.

[Lucky Eddie]

MON discussing the 2010 League Cup final and Phil Dowd. https://x.com/WeAreTheOverlap/status/1875150256461009321

I watched all of that last night, he was on pretty good form to be honest and I quite enjoyed it.

He did say had we won that game it may have mended a bridge between him and Lerner, and that "I might not have flounced off in a huff a few months later"

I think he's come to regret doing that.

Wasn't there a rumour at the time he thought he was getting the Liverpool job? It went to Hodgson that summer so I assume he was on the shortlist if that was their standout candidate.

If he'd stayed here a few more years it's also very possible Ferguson would've recommended him as his successor rather than Moyes as they always got on and he had the big club experience from managing Celtic.

I can also remember at the time on here there was a rumour about him falling out with Milner. When I was in WH Smiths flicking through his book he actually confirmed Milner had called him out for lack of rotation in a team meeting just before Chelsea away that season. We lost 7-1 and Milner was benched the next week as punishment even though most thought he'd been rested.

We should've just announced a mutual consent after the final game of that season and then his reign would be looked back on more sympathetically rather than the missed opportunity and spiteful exit it became.

'If he'd stayed here for a few more years'?

There wasn't a chance in hell.of him staying here spunking our money up the wall with a bench and a half of footballers he'd either bought badly or fallen out with.

He was found out and he walked before he was pushed.

[kippaxvilla2]

He wanted to buy Aidan McGeady and was told no surprisingly enough.

[dcdavecollett]

He could have bought him, and a few others, if he'd been able to shift some of his previous buys who rarely played in his teams.

[Matt C]

As mentioned above, I’m pretty certain he thought he was getting the Liverpool job. His ego - quite the thing as we know - never recovered.

[jon collett]

Went to a lunch with MON today.

Had a chat with him afterwards. He said he v much regretted leaving Villa. That he was a hot head and shouldn’t have fallen out with Lerner even though he won his case. He said he would have had to do without Milner but that was manageable.

He was very pleasant and seems to be looking for work.

Also said Phil Dowd couldn’t get around the pitch because he was too fat and that Ferguson had intimidated him.