Past Managers, Love or Hate?

[Proposition Joe]

David O'Leary has entered the room.

He probably gets away with it because there were at least some good results and performances under him and we were never seriously in relegation danger under him. As far as I can remember anyway!

We absolutely were in danger. We were favourites to go down if he hadn't been mutually agreemented.

Where did we finish the season before he was let go? My memory is hazy. I don't remember it being such a struggle under him as under say McLeish, Houlier, Lambert. I do remember a lot of fan anger, aimed at both DOL and Doug though.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I detested DOL and I still do to this day. I had a seat a couple of rows back from the dugout those seasons. He must've been sick of my voice.

[Exeter 77]

David O'Leary has entered the room.

He probably gets away with it because there were at least some good results and performances under him and we were never seriously in relegation danger under him. As far as I can remember anyway!

We absolutely were in danger. We were favourites to go down if he hadn't been mutually agreemented.

Where did we finish the season before he was let go? My memory is hazy. I don't remember it being such a struggle under him as under say McLeish, Houlier, Lambert. I do remember a lot of fan anger, aimed at both DOL and Doug though.

We got progressively worse under D'OL. 6th in the first season (a decent second half of the season but still missed out of Europe after losing to 9 player Man Utd on the last day), 10th and then 16th in 2005/06.

[VillaTim]

I detested DOL and I still do to this day. I had a seat a couple of rows back from the dugout those seasons. He must've been sick of my voice.

His agent was also his lawyer which kind of summed him up .

[cdbearsfan]

We were sixteenth in his last season. I remember the VP game against Small Heath and it felt like whoever lost would go down. Luckily it was them.

[nigel]

McNeil for me closely followed by Gerrard, then DO’L and MO’N, both should have done better with their squads and money.

I think Houllier, although unpopular, would have turned us around.
McLeish was hamstrung by cost cutting and should never have taken the job.
To a degree, so was Lambert, he bought decent young players, but unfortunately we’re not ready for the premier league. He, and these players, would have been perfect once we were relegated

On the ‘Love’ side
Dean Smith
Graham Taylor
Brian Little
And Vic Crowe

[PeterWithesShin]

I was in the Lower Holte for the last match v Sunderland and although we won when he and the players did the lap of appreciation loads were throwing their ST books onto the pitch. Or were aiming them at him.

[maidstonevillain]

McNeil for me closely followed by Gerrard, then DO’L and MO’N, both should have done better with their squads and money.

I think Houllier, although unpopular, would have turned us around.
McLeish was hamstrung by cost cutting and should never have taken the job.
To a degree, so was Lambert, he bought decent young players, but unfortunately we’re not ready for the premier league. He, and these players, would have been perfect once we were relegated

On the ‘Love’ side
Dean Smith
Graham Taylor
Brian Little
And Vic Crowe

Those would probably be mine. But if you are going back as far as Vic Crowe, surely Ron Saunders should be in there. And I could be persuaded to include Ron Atkinson.

[VillaTim]

McNeil for me closely followed by Gerrard, then DO’L and MO’N, both should have done better with their squads and money.

I think Houllier, although unpopular, would have turned us around.
McLeish was hamstrung by cost cutting and should never have taken the job.
To a degree, so was Lambert, he bought decent young players, but unfortunately we’re not ready for the premier league. He, and these players, would have been perfect once we were relegated

On the ‘Love’ side
Dean Smith
Graham Taylor
Brian Little
And Vic Crowe

Those would probably be mine. But if you are going back as far as Vic Crowe, surely Ron Saunders should be in there. And I could be persuaded to include Ron Atkinson.

Tony Barton needs adding obviously.

[nigel]

McNeil for me closely followed by Gerrard, then DO’L and MO’N, both should have done better with their squads and money.

I think Houllier, although unpopular, would have turned us around.
McLeish was hamstrung by cost cutting and should never have taken the job.
To a degree, so was Lambert, he bought decent young players, but unfortunately we’re not ready for the premier league. He, and these players, would have been perfect once we were relegated

On the ‘Love’ side
Dean Smith
Graham Taylor
Brian Little
And Vic Crowe

Those would probably be mine. But if you are going back as far as Vic Crowe, surely Ron Saunders should be in there. And I could be persuaded to include Ron Atkinson.

Tony Barton needs adding obviously.

Hang my head in shame, how on earth did I forget those two 🫣

[Footy-Vill]

Disappointed Deano lost away to Colorado the weekend . 2-0 away defeat.

[brontebilly]

David O'Leary has entered the room.

He probably gets away with it because there were at least some good results and performances under him and we were never seriously in relegation danger under him. As far as I can remember anyway!

We absolutely were in danger. We were favourites to go down if he hadn't been mutually agreemented.

Where did we finish the season before he was let go? My memory is hazy. I don't remember it being such a struggle under him as under say McLeish, Houlier, Lambert. I do remember a lot of fan anger, aimed at both DOL and Doug though.

It was a struggle for sure. The fickle bedsheets over the Holte End. That game at Arsenal at the end, he was only asking to be fired really. Not all his fault, Ellis provided little or no support when it was needed. MON has spoken recently that he was discussing the role with Lerner long before he joined so maybe both Ellis and DOL knew what was coming.

After coming 6th in 03/04 - which was some achievement - considering the mess left after Taylor - lots of talented young players and the likes of JPA and Barry transformed - we got in Laursen and dross like the Djemba twins and Berson. Crouch, which was a mistake, was let go to fund a loan for Calton Cole. We had no chance of kicking on.

DOL for the sake of his reputation should have walked then really. What possessed him to iniate the heave against Ellis with the "players statement" we will never know. Echoes of his book of "Leeds on trial" when two of his players literally were on trial. Utterly dislikeable guy but a long way from our worst manager.

[Footy-Vill]

Martin O'Neill is on pitch side pundit duty on TNT sports for the Forest v Man Utd match.