Football is a results business and Sunderland’s results have been rotten for months, so we shouldn’t be surprised that Martin O’Neill was dismissed as manager on Saturday. But he is Martin O’Neill, who appeared to be able to walk on water when at Celtic. What happened?
Martin’s teams played the same football at Sunderland as they did at Celtic and Leicester. Direct and, if supported by excellent players, incredibly effective, but Martin was the antithesis of the tinkerer manager. He had his plan and stuck to it, a fact which Alex McLeish successfully exploited.
Of all the recent dismissals in England his was least surprising. Sunderland thought they were heading for relegation but still have a fighting chance, the right change could produce the short-term boost required. As for our old pal Paulo, I’m in David Milliband’s camp. He and ‘Arry can go the same way.
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notthebus
He’s like that guy that tags along with you and mates when you’re going for a bevy and everybody goes “AweNawthere’sbigfatstupidDerek”
Notthebus
Apart from rampant hunnery ….which is unfortunately the main requirement for the job
Good news music minded people
Razorlight will not be reforming any time soon.
Thanks Starry Plough.
Strange day as I agree with Ernie Lynch about something(Di Canio).
Disappointed with the usual negativity regarding the team. Neil Lennon deserves better from some of our more unhinged supporters. That man has endured the most remarkable set of circumstances.
Support the club! Boycott the SFA!
I think its clear the whole club only has a focus on CL entry and participation. I would not be surprised to find that secret deals have already been done with regards timing of possible departures and CL qaulification.
We have won CL qaulification already.
That is what we have to be ready for. It also increases the price for our players.
I think we need to get used to half heartedness in domestic competition. Nobody can say that this has not been our sole focus this season.
I certainly never got the impression that ANYONE associated with the club was sincerely gutted about lozing out on a possible treble this season.
I think we have our priorities right.
HH
Dalziel “Dallas is an honest man…”
ernie @ 19:20 I wasn’t aware he’d given any reason for his resignation other than the appointment of Paolo di Canio and Paolo’s politics.
Kenny Shiells on Shortie….. Partick Thistle , Glasgows 2nd club .
Says it as it is does Kenny
Evening all. Di Canio should never darken our door again, no matter how good he was.
Ernie
Miliband supported Blair on the war in the middle east
surely he and di canio have something in common
Awe naw
If you’re correct then the domestic attendances will tumble
Thereby reducing finance for the CL. Campaign
Not so long ago we had a team who could play well both domestically and in Europe
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
pretty much agree with the message here. As for group stage qualification are the rules similar to last season ?
I expect the 1st qualifier to be a formality ( tempting fate) the next part ( round 2&3) is it still set out as Champions and non champions? If so I expect another tough test but at least a fighting chance.
jmccormick
We are in the champions route, same as this season.
We should with a bit of luck, and good football make it again.
Paul67 et al
Martin spent over £30 million in a short time, with nearly ten of that in January on Danny Graham plus one other. Graham hasn’t scored yet. Three points out of twenty four, six goals scored, something seriously wrong. Not to say Martin couldn’t have got them out of it, but fair to say it did not look likely. Cannot take away what he did at Celtic, brought a determination and a focus to us that was just exactly what we needed at the time. Seventy seven league games unbeaten at Parkhead, and at our best, the best since Jock Stein. Maybe the game is leaving Martin behind, who knows, maybe without John Robertson he is simply a less effective Manager, but they cannot take away what he brought to us.
EPL ‘s transformation into panto/sky conduit/newsbite is complete
blantyretim
19:35 on 1 April, 2013
‘Ernie
Miliband supported Blair on the war in the middle east
surely he and di canio have something in common’
And I suppose therefore by that logic he has something in common with Hitler.
Except he doesn’t.
With regards David Miliband, I suspect his decision is a combination of principle and pragmatism.
How long before Paolo di Canio does or says something controversial or inappropriate? If you are a high profile individual with latent political aspirations, I would think you would want to put as much distance between yourself and Paolo as possible.
CL qualifiers are same as last year but due to our place as a national league in the seeding we have to play an extra round.
Our seeding as a team will not benefit from this season’s performances until next season. Ditto our league seeding.
This will be diminished by the loss of the points accumulated by Rangers.
Bizarrely they will continue to be ranked on a percentage of the points won by us.
Poor season ticket sales will be the justification for selling but not buying.
St Johnstone v DU on ESPN
I actually quite admire Milliband for his resignation at Sunderland.
No doubt he will be accused of hypocrisy, but that makes him no worse than 99.9% of the planet, who are , from time to time, guilty of hypocrisy.
I wonder how many folks in Scotland, or on this blog, would resign from an organisation if one of the key stakeholders (CE / MD / CEO etc) had controversial opinions they disagreed with ?
The Horseface
Welcome!
…and remember…when in Rome…DO NOT, under any circumstances, agree to hire a horse-drawn carriage for a sightseeing tour of the city.
The last time I was there – almost ten years ago – the guy wanted €300 to take myself and Mrs and Ms Tally to the Vatican from near Termini station. We got a taxi instead – cost €6.
Enjoy your visit.
HH!!
Ernie you’re landing yourself in a pickle by guessing at reasons for Milliband’s resignation.
Ernie
why?
Big crowds in George Square for Bedroom tax protest
No kettling to be seen
Wonder if saturday will be different kettle of fish
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BGm7y9xCMAAknQ-.jpg:large
Fulham and Dundee Utd for me tonight
THE EXILED TIM
thought so, looking forward to it already. I see PF`s comments about dropping attendances, very true. However I feel it is not an issue exclusive to us or any spectator sport. Times are tough and people, myself included have to be careful where we spend money.
The SPL is not an attractive product ( hate it) at £30 a pop, nor the EPL at the same money. the board will have to get the price relative to the fare on offer,otherwise 35,000 season tickets will be a massive target. If punters see a chance of CL package at £90 , they will plump for that rather than £400 for a season long SPL slog. Sorry to go off at a tangent but I hope we can get the commercially right prices for season tickets next season in order to get the numbers up to around 40,000.
Why … How …. Can any professional get motivated surrounded by the cheating and corruption within the Scottish confines ? Clearly Lenny is not going to be allowed to win any cups. We were diddled out of both last year. Would any of you try harder knowing your being diddled. How much are the tin cups worth anyway ?
Do we strengthen those bodies by winning their comps anyway ?
CL is different ..same cheating …but exposure and monies make it worth it.
HH
St Stivs
Remember we have the 1957 World Club championship on Wednesday v Botofoga.
Tully a fitness doubt , fell off the stage doing his act on SS Timtanic.
Awe naw
Cups are one thing ….the league form is wretched and will affect us financially
Blantyre Tim….
You Have Just Conjured Up An Image For Me…
Of Oor Ernie…Buck Naked….
Aside From His Shiny New Lederhosen….
Sitting Astride The Black, Menacing, Phallus-Like Outline Of A Lethal Trident Nuclear Sub….
Like Ol’ Slim Pickens In Dr.Stranglelove…
Look Away ,Maggie McGill!!!!
Too Much Steamy Eroticism…..
My Bad..?
Jmccormick
£400 …. Nearer to £550
ernie lynch
Milliband resignation.
1.To be more precise, grandparents were born in Poland, not parents.
The reason for resignation from Sunderland post might be very simple. As this comes natural these days for the Jews, they have big part of the family living in Israel now. The Jew, important politician from big country can’t work together with di Canio. What would family say?
notthebus
19:23 on 1 April, 2013
If ever there was a “jobs for the boys” example its BFDJ .
A man who brings nothing, absolutely nothing , to the debate.
Cue a Philvis type song……….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCoBKbMeX98
Miliband who grew up in a communist household criticising paulo di canio …
Anyone else have the wonderful Wullie Malloy’s D.I.C.A.N.N.I.O cd? Brilliant.
They also had a fantastic CD of Celtic Anthems, holy ground, Celtic Celtic, The McCluskey brothers, and others had a lot to do with it.
Check out The Wullie Malloy Experience 125 a few new songs – Henrick Dubh, and a reggae Fields of Athenry along with the classics. Can be bought on Amazon I believe.
Best versions available of a lot of Celtic classics
“What Colour is your Wullie?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ8v-cjym_M&feature=player_detailpage
Paul67 et al
When Paulo Di Canio was appointed by Swindon the GMB trade union ended its’ sponsorship of the club. Wasn’t a fortune but it was on principle. The GMB are a major union, They are in the forefront of the campaign for a living wage. They are also affiliated to and are major funders of the Labour Party.
Please sign
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/iain-duncan-smith-iain-duncan-smith-to-live-on-53-a-week
oglach
“What Colour is your Wullie?”
If you ask me – that we Wullie Flood is so white he looks as if he’s been dipped in a bottle of bleach!