I just meant that the MLS season is over. But yeah he probably wants to relax.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Oh yes I had forgot about that and was doing him a bit of a disservice with my cheeky comments.
He did play for Villa in early 2012, but not in 2013. Villa were relegation candidates that year, it's
two years on now.
Maybe it was just that the conditions were right that year, I mean he only played a few games, normally
clubs have their squads picked for the relevant period, so Robbie would have to a significant
improvement on what they had for them to consider dropping a regular striker perhaps.
Or maybe after being reminded what a British winter was like he felt he would be better off in sunny California!!
I'm glad the initial press mutterings are nearly done with. I'm not sure i can take much more of O'Neill's sense of humour. Time to do the talking on the pitch.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 11/11/2013 at 12:06 PM.
Compared to other managerial unveilings, the response to O'Neill seemed quite muted. Dunphy mentions he was nervous which I can agree with. The games with Latvia and Poland will be interesting to a point, more telling about where we are going is when he picks the squads himself.
It was well reported but there does appear to be a feeling of 'after the lord mayors show' about it. At least I wasn't that interested.
The main questions asked had already been answered and well discussed beforehand. The shock news value of the appointment had already upstaged the unveiling event.
Now comes the reality check a couple of friendlies with old eastern block countries.
I doubt if O'Neill himself would have picked a much different squad from the available players.
Why is the name sometimes O'Neal, sometimes O'Neill. Tis confuses me. Shaq is one way, the Irish manager is another. Tis ashame.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Did anyone read Paul Rowan yesterday? I got a text from a pal saying that PR is saying that MON is treating the job as a joke. I don't subscribe to the Sunday Times so didn't see the article.
Both spelling versions are 'valid'. The original surname was in gaelic and there are a few derivatives but O'Neill is a much more common surname.
Afaia, those who shipped the Irish to the USA and those in Ellis island, went to extremes to accurately record the names of the immigrants.
As far as Irish soccer writers go, I don't have much respect for Paul Rowan. Always trying to stir something up or make a story out of a non-story.
I didn't read the piece but I'd hope MON treats the job seriously but brings back the element of fun that's been missing from Irish teams for far too long. I hope he enjoys the job. To say he's treating it as a joke is a very serious accusation and I'd have zero idea where he's getting that idea from. I really enjoyed his press conference and if you're looking to treat a job managing a country as a laugh, RK is the last person you'd ask to be your assistant.
The old man gets the ST so I'll ask him about.
Neil Francis won Sports Columnist of the Year.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/fran...-29741191.html
Like the Mercury Prize these are truly discredited now.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Tbf, Rowan's, 'The Team That Jack Built' was half-decent. And read some OK articles by him over the years but unfamiliar with his recent (ie. the last 10?years) work. Is he really that bad?
I've met Paul quite a few times. Nice chap, but I do agree with Yopper's take on things in that he is usually trying to put a cynical angle on things. Of course, in context of Irish football, he'd often be right!
Ha, it's only his first week. After he gets a game or two out of the way and gets to know his individual players a bit better, I'm sure he'll be able to come up with more concrete answers rather than the stock first-week reply to, "So, why did you take the job and bring in Roy as assistant?" I felt he answered well during the press conference by avoiding overly specific territory in relation to available players.
There's reality (where Martin's surname is spelled "O'Neill") and then there's the world of tricky (where Martin's surname is spelled "O Neil").
God forbid, surely not Undercover Agent Martin of the IFA?!
Im not doubting his ability to deal with the press or anything.
When not trying to be humerous - he answered the questions fine and came across very well.
I wouldnt be holding out for a better comedy performance from him though Danny, whether it be his first week or not.
In saying that though, some of the questions asked by the journalists were pretty limited and in some cases repetitive
Last edited by back of the net; 11/11/2013 at 4:06 PM.
Well there really isn't that much to ask him. He's just starting. Rowan's accusations are fairly serious (if that's what the article says). O'Neill is on 1.3M so you'd want to be taking it more than a little seriously.
There is no such thing as a miracle cure, a free lunch or a humble opinion.
A wee taster.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/...cle1338604.ece
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