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O'Neill to take over Sunderland

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Rosco

Rosco

Worse than Brendan
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Sunderland have made Martin O'Neill their first choice to replace the sacked Steve Bruce and hope to formalise his appointment as the new manager within the next 24 hours.

Although Ellis Short, Sunderland's chairman, and Niall Quinn, the club's international development director, were locked in productive and fast-moving talks with the former Aston Villa and Celtic manager on Thursday evening, they retained the precaution of keeping a plan B. Should negotiations with O'Neill hit an 11th-hour stumbling block, Short will turn to Mark Hughes.

Short has long been said to be an admirer of Hughes, who resigned his post at Fulham in June, but Quinn persuaded the Irish-American financier to regard O'Neill as his preferred choice, making initial contact with him after Bruce's sacking on Wednesday afternoon.

With Quinn, who as Sunderland's chairman tried to convince O'Neill to take charge on Wearside before Roy Keane's appointment five years ago, persuading Short that a man who has not worked since leaving Aston Villa on the eve of last season possessed the right credentials to spark a revival at the Stadium of Light, Hughes was left waiting by the phone at his home in Manchester.

The former Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham manager had hoped to be invited for an interview but Sunderland instead opted to concentrate their endeavours on trying to finalise an agreement with O'Neill before Sunday's game at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Short demanding a quick decision from the 59-year-old boyhood Sunderland supporter, the door may open for Hughes were the O'Neill talks to stall. The Welshman remains very keen on succeeding Bruce. Hughes believes that, despite the prospect of initially working with extremely limited funds as Short tries to balance the books, he could build a long-term legacy at the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light.

Whoever takes charge must first steer the team towards mid-table safety. Currently only two points above the relegation zone, Sunderland have collected 11 points from 13 Premier League games this season, winning twice.

Kevin Phillips, the former Sunderland striker and a cult hero, now playing for Blackpool, believes that O'Neill, quite apart from proving a broadly populist choice, would prompt a renaissance. "Martin O'Neill would be perfect for the club and I would love to see him take the job," Phillips said.

"He's got so much experience and he gets the absolute best out of his players. That's what they need now – some organisation and some belief back. He's been out of the game for a while and I hear he's a Sunderland fan, so I think it would be a great acquisition.

"Mark Hughes is the other name being strongly linked and I would be happy with him as well. Sunderland have better players than they have shown this season – no way should they be in a relegation battle."

Phillips was not surprised that Short dismissed Bruce in the wake of a 2-1 home defeat against Wigan Athletic last Saturday, at which the crowd called for their former manager's head. "I don't think there was a way back once the Sunderland fans turned on him," he said. "Even looking in from the outside, the atmosphere around the club seemed horrible and you can understand why the board felt it couldn't continue.

"I played for Sunderland for six years and the supporters are so passionate. You can understand why they were upset after the money the club spent in the summer. Unfortunately the performances on the pitch have not been good enough. You can't sack the players, so the manager gets the boot."

Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, who played for O'Neill at Parkhead and Leicester City, is keeping his fingers crossed that his former mentor will soon be back in the dug-out, in north-east England.

"It would be brilliant to see Martin back in the game at Sunderland," Lennon said. "I think he wants to get back in now and he has a penchant for lifting clubs. Sunderland is a huge club and I know that, as a boy growing up, they were Martin's favourite team, so there might be an emotional tie for him there."
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It would be nice to see him back in the game, but for me Hughes would be a much better option. O'Neill is a master of timing, rather than a great manager.
 
A master of timing? What do you mean? He's a great manager. Hughes has proven little for me.
 
O'Neill always leaves the minute the overspending stops, so he never gets found out. Much like Mourinho, Redknapp etc.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=47754.msg1436730#msg1436730 date=1322825042]
O'Neill always leaves the minute the overspending stops, so he never gets found out. Much like Mourinho, Redknapp etc.
[/quote]

Thats bollix he didn't have any cash at Leicester he left there to go to Celtic, he left them cos his wife had cancer, fair enough he left Villa over finances but didn't they go out and spend £24 million on Darren Bent 3 months later when there was supposedly no funds to spend.
 
Leicester went into administration about 18 months after he left, partly because of decisions he made.

Gordon Strachan's first job was to reduce the wage bill at Celtic because O'Neill had left an ageing expensive squad.

Villa - overspent, the minute the money ran out he legged it.

So I don't see him succeeding at Sunderland unless Ellis Short is going to hand over more of his cash, which is unlikely I'd imagine.
 
Yeah, I think Hughes would have been a better choice tbh. The 8th place finish with Fulham was impressive, when his best striker was out for half the season. Has the ability to get the best out of whats available, unlike O'Neill who likes to spend a lot when building his teams. But given funds, O'Neill is very good in building teams.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=47754.msg1436737#msg1436737 date=1322825821]
Leicester went into administration about 18 months after he left, partly because of decisions he made.
Partly ? when he left them they were comfortable in the Premiership, four seasons in a row in the top ten, a few league cups it wasn't his fault they got relegated two seasons after, they went into administration due to the fact they built a new stadium and he collapse of thE ITV Digital tv deal, again hardly O'Neills fault

Gordon Strachan's first job was to reduce the wage bill at Celtic because O'Neill had left an ageing expensive squad. Again television money dropped when Sky pulled out, Strachan failed to qualify for the CL group stage of course the wage bill had to be slashed, but again its hardly O'Neills fault, As stated earlier his wife had cancer you can't blame him for quitting

Villa - overspent, the minute the money ran out he legged it. Agreed he spent badly by buying British, hopefully Kenny hasn't made the same mistake

So I don't see him succeeding at Sunderland unless Ellis Short is going to hand over more of his cash, which is unlikely I'd imagine.
[/quote]
 
Is it not plainly obvious that the reason for each clubs relative success was their overspending, not Martin O'Neill ? It's a common theme in football.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=47754.msg1436747#msg1436747 date=1322827294]
Is it not plainly obvious that the reason for each clubs relative success was their overspending, not Martin O'Neill ? It's a common theme in football.
[/quote]

Whereas you may have a point with Celtic and Villa. O'Neill was not the person who commissioned a new stadium nor was he the one that was in charge when Leicester broke their own record for expenditure in one season (Peter Taylor and Akinbiyi ring any bells).

Also, are you purposely ignoring his record at Wycombe in order to Troll?

Useful article
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1301712/Buy-buy-Martin-How-ONeill-spent-120million-years-Aston-Villa.html

About 20 Million per year spent (not including the season he resigned).
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=47754.msg1436747#msg1436747 date=1322827294]
Is it not plainly obvious that the reason for each clubs relative success was their overspending, not Martin O'Neill ? It's a common theme in football.
[/quote]

Come on. It's far from the only important factor. I really don't remember him spending fortunes at Leicester - did he? As mentioned, surely their problems came from overextending themselves with the stadium and itv digital's collapse. I'd bet any spending he was sanctioned to do was no more than a minor exacerbation.
 
O'Neill winds me up with his hissy fits and negative route one football.

I hope Sunderland get relegated.
 
[quote author=vantage link=topic=47754.msg1436816#msg1436816 date=1322834053]
To think that some people actually wanted him at Anfield.

*Shudders*
[/quote]

He'd have been better than Roy
 
[quote author=refugee link=topic=47754.msg1436821#msg1436821 date=1322834374]
[quote author=vantage link=topic=47754.msg1436816#msg1436816 date=1322834053]
To think that some people actually wanted him at Anfield.

*Shudders*
[/quote]

He'd have been better than Roy
[/quote]Agreed, though we probably wouldn't have got rid of him so easily.

Love the signature by the way 😀
 
[quote author=vantage link=topic=47754.msg1436816#msg1436816 date=1322834053]
To think that some people actually wanted him at Anfield.

*Shudders*
[/quote]

my sister still does! she thinks he's the bee's knees. she really is fucking clueless.
 
[quote author=peterhague link=topic=47754.msg1436836#msg1436836 date=1322835417]
[quote author=vantage link=topic=47754.msg1436816#msg1436816 date=1322834053]
To think that some people actually wanted him at Anfield.

*Shudders*
[/quote]

my sister still does! she thinks he's the bee's knees. she really is fucking clueless.
[/quote]
Does she post on here?
 
[quote author=Buddha link=topic=47754.msg1436790#msg1436790 date=1322831278]
O'Neill winds me up with his hissy fits and negative route one football.

I hope Sunderland get relegated.
[/quote]

Yes!!! And his fucking tracksuits.
 
I just hate him after the shit he was saying about Liverpool, when Rafa went after one of his players.

At least when he's in charge we won't be buying anyone from Sunderland ...
 
Hughes got just 2 wins in his 1st 13 league games with Fulham. Think that has to be/was taken into consideration. 2 points off bottom 3rd and busy month ahead, they can't afford to take risk, esp. with Jan transfer window coming up.
 
Absolute blinkers rosco

Celtic were being pussy whipped, mon goes in and won them the double or treble immediately.

He also got them to a uefa cup final with all the other domestic trophies he got them.

He got leicester two a few league finals as well, as well as winning one- living in leicester 5 years I've not heard a fan be overly critical of him or attribute anywhere near as much blame to him as you do.

I can only presume re 'fucking over celtic' you warent aware that he took time out of football to look after his wife who was battling cancer.

I'm a massive mon fan and always have been. Wanted him when rafa left. Gets his sides playing half decent football and buys well
 
[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=47754.msg1436851#msg1436851 date=1322837070]
Rosco's a massive troll sometimes.
[/quote]

Yeh, massive !
 
[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=47754.msg1436843#msg1436843 date=1322836352]
[quote author=peterhague link=topic=47754.msg1436836#msg1436836 date=1322835417]
[quote author=vantage link=topic=47754.msg1436816#msg1436816 date=1322834053]
To think that some people actually wanted him at Anfield.

*Shudders*
[/quote]

my sister still does! she thinks he's the bee's knees. she really is fucking clueless.
[/quote]
Does she post on here?
[/quote]

I hope so.
 
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=47754.msg1436860#msg1436860 date=1322838046]
[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=47754.msg1436851#msg1436851 date=1322837070]
Rosco's a massive troll sometimes.
[/quote]

Yeh, massive !
[/quote]

Yeah, a lumbering, wobbling tree-trunk legged Troll.
 
You forgot cumbersomely well hung.


Anyway I'm not trolling, I think the way people view managers is stupid - see Hardcastle's post. People assume everything that happens while a manager is at a club is because of something he did. It's nonsense. Pretty much every club that's decided to overspend to further some goal have gotten closer to it regardless of who managed them so I wouldn't place any real stock in O'Neill's record.

Or the vast majority of managers records in the game to be honest, they're all hostages to circumstances essentially.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=47754.msg1436910#msg1436910 date=1322845743]
You forgot cumbersomely well hung.


Anyway I'm not trolling, I think the way people view managers is stupid - see Hardcastle's post. People assume everything that happens while a manager is at a club is because of something he did. It's nonsense. Pretty much every club that's decided to overspend to further some goal have gotten closer to it regardless of who managed them so I wouldn't place any real stock in O'Neill's record.

Or the vast majority of managers records in the game to be honest, they're all hostages to circumstances essentially.
[/quote]

smh
 
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