Martin O'Neill

[Gravy]

Say what we like about him, and we've said plenty on here, but in my opinion he's really proving his worth as a very very good football manager. He's nreally doing something with Villa and I can see them getting that 4th spot this year.

[Swipe]

I think he's becoming ever more irksome this season.

 

They're a decent team though. Still fancy Arsenal to take 4th, mind.

[Chili Palmer]

he's a c***.

 

I know that Villa are doing well but he is still a c***.

[Andy @ Allerton]

He's as annoying as ever. Hopefully they'll end up 8th and him whining.

 

I reckon he's nailed on as the Mancs next manager.

 

They need someone to be petulant, irritating and to complain about everything in the fine tradition of myopic whisky nose.

[Swipe]

Him fighting with Gillingham manager at weekend was rather cringeworthy i thought

[Andy @ Allerton]

Him fighting with Gillingham manager at weekend was rather cringeworthy i thought

 

 

Not unexpected though.

[Hightown Phil]

He's lucky really.

 

If Agbonlahor and/or Young got injured, they'd be in deep, deep trouble.

[aka Dus]

I'll say nothing other than on here he was expected to turn Villa into long ball merchants and the rest but he has them playing nicely and ina good position.

[yellow jumper]

I'll say nothing other than on here he was expected to turn Villa into long ball merchants and the rest but he has them playing nicely and ina good position.

 

he has turned them into long ball merchants effectively, it doesn't preclude success (or relative success) as allardyce proved with inferior resources. they pass the ball with about the same success rate as a relegation outfit. nothing wrong with that, it's generally effective up and at 'em football of the traditional english style. people watch the highlights of their games, see agbonlahor sprinting clear, or ashley young skinning a man (and both of those have gone from slightly underrated to massively overrated in an inordinately short period) and think they play good football. they don't generally, although i accept that that approach can look exciting when it comes off.

 

a passable impression of professor yaffle isn't enough to make o'neill arsene wenger.

 

they'll fade in february/march as his teams always tend to do when the physicality of their approach, and refusal to rotate takes its toll. whether arsenal will have enough to take advantage is another matter.

Edited January 5, 2009 by george lees

[Hassony]

how much has he spent since joining villa? for that investment a challenge for fourth place in minimum requirement

[Jim D]

he has turned them into long ball merchants effectively, it doesn't preclude success (or relative success) as allardyce proved with inferior resources. they pass the ball with about the same success rate as a relegation outfit. nothing wrong with that, it's generally effective up and at 'em football of the traditional english style. people watch the highlights of their games, see agbonlahor sprinting clear, or ashley young skinning a man (and both of those have gone from slightly underrated to massively overrated in an inordinately short period) and think they play good football. they don't generally, although i accept that that approach can look exciting when it comes off.

 

That pretty much sums up Villa's style of play, they are strong from set plays, they scored something like 50% of their goals from them. If they did qualify for the Champions League I'd predict they struggle in the group stages.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Jim D

[Rory Fitzgerald]

how much has he spent since joining villa? for that investment a challenge for fourth place in minimum requirement

 

 

I'll disagree there. What he has spent may exceed Arsenal's spend but more than likely comes up short against the rest.

 

In fact, Spurs have probably spent more than Villa.

 

Getting back to the initial post - every manager is a tunC on this forum Gravy as you know but getting past that viewpoint - I agree, he is doing a great job and has done at every club he has been at. I also like listening to his after match interviews.

 

Now to appease the mass - he's a tunC

[Hassony]

I'll disagree there. What he has spent may exceed Arsenal's spend but more than likely comes up short against the rest.

 

In fact, Spurs have probably spent more than Villa.

 

Getting back to the initial post - every manager is a tunC on this forum Gravy as you know but getting past that viewpoint - I agree, he is doing a great job and has done at every club he has been at. I also like listening to his after match interviews.

 

Now to appease the mass - he's a tunC

 

I think his net spending is more than spurs

[Sion]

he has turned them into long ball merchants effectively, it doesn't preclude success (or relative success) as allardyce proved with inferior resources. they pass the ball with about the same success rate as a relegation outfit. nothing wrong with that, it's generally effective up and at 'em football of the traditional english style. people watch the highlights of their games, see agbonlahor sprinting clear, or ashley young skinning a man (and both of those have gone from slightly underrated to massively overrated in an inordinately short period) and think they play good football. they don't generally, although i accept that that approach can look exciting when it comes off.

 

a passable impression of professor yaffle isn't enough to make o'neill arsene wenger.

 

they'll fade in february/march as his teams always tend to do when the physicality of their approach, and refusal to rotate takes its toll. whether arsenal will have enough to take advantage is another matter.

 

absolutely spot on. The amount of last minute goals and lucky decisions they've gotten is amazing. MON's got them playing nicely as a unit, but if they actually qualified for the CL, they'd need about 15 new players as their squad depth is abysmal. People on here, and i'm talking about respected posters, are claiming Ashley Young is 'world class' based on what? his statistics this season are massively average. People have been suckered into believing they're a very good side, when in actual fact, a couple of those lucky wins reversed (e.g. Everton away, Hull away) and they're below Everton.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Sion

[Sion]

I'll disagree there. What he has spent may exceed Arsenal's spend but more than likely comes up short against the rest.

 

In fact, Spurs have probably spent more than Villa.

 

Spurs have sold their best players for high amounts and a lot of their poor players for large amounts, their net spend is suprisingly low

O'Neill has spent a lot of money, and mostly on average.

The majority of their best players were already there, and he's topped the squad up with average English players and unknown foreign rubbish.

 

He's spent more than £70m on

Routledge

Salifou

Zat Knight

Harewood

Reo-Coker

Sidwell

Shorey

Milner

Luke Young

Davies

Cuellar - jury still out, but he doesn't look £8m good and hasn't got a look in at CB

 

None of them would make our bench

Edited January 5, 2009 by Sion

[Cunny]

classic forum lore, all other managers are c**** and all other players are s****

 

Sidwell, Milner, Young and Davies are all decent players.

I'd suggest Young may get on our bench, we are not over furnished in the right back department.

I also suggest Milner would, seeing as we entered negotiations with Newcastle for him in the summer.

 

routledge has just been sold, dunno what happened to him, he was meant to be a real talent when he was younger

[Chili Palmer]

Now to appease the mass - he's a tunC

 

unfair Rory. I don't think all managers are c****, but O'Neill is.

 

 

 

and Mourinho, Ferguson, Bruce, Warnock...

 

 

 

and Wenger, Moyles, Brown, Keane...

 

 

and Fat Sam....

 

 

 

sorry Rory. my mistake

[surf]

he's a c***.

 

I know that Villa are doing well but he is still a c***.

 

Ah, but is he a bigger c*** than Wenger, Fergie or Scolari?

 

(actually, i don't mind Scolari, Mourinho then)

[allawee]

how much has he spent since joining villa? for that investment a challenge for fourth place in minimum requirement

 

Agree also, whoever buys Marlon Harewood (the most useless lump of meat) can't really be called a good manager! this is according to a friend who is a diehard west ham supporter. I share his opinion as well

[psl]

Can't believe the majority on here still can't give O'Neill credit.

[Falconhoof]

Its mid season, can't be giving anyone credit yet.

He's done quite well at Villa, got them in the UEFA cup. Its a modest achievement comparable with Moyes at Everton.

[goodrobotusses]

O'Neill's done a good job there, but I'm not having that they're a side that's easy on the eye. Lots of crosses, lots of set plays, and a combination of big lump and fast guy up front. An effective formula it may be, aesthetically pleasing it's not. If they get into the Champions League, it'll only be because Arsenal imploded. Plus, I just don't see "it" with Ashley Young at all. Decent player who may continue to develop, but right now I can't see what's so special about him.

Edited January 5, 2009 by hisdumbwaiter

[Stevie H]

I'll say nothing other than on here he was expected to turn Villa into long ball merchants and the rest but he has them playing nicely and ina good position.

not by everyone he wasn't. i think he's an excellent manager, he's doing a superb job at villa and he seems like a decent bloke with it.

[cymrococh]

how much has he spent since joining villa? for that investment a challenge for fourth place in minimum requirement

Agreed, comparisons with Moyes are crazy.

[John am Rhein]

Very good manager - possibly a great one eventually - and the fact that his sides aren't 'easy on the eye' just makes him more so.