I defend the right of every fan that's complained on here. 5 weeks of no-shows, and that is the manager, motivate the players, don't play O'Shea right back... I haven't lost ANY faith in MON whatsoever, but that doesn't mean he is excused from the pathetic shambles sinve the City away game (and 2 or 3 games before that to boot) Facts are, we've been ****e, and people have a right to say so, and not be gunned down for it.
Look, this isn't MoN team. He inherited this pile of cak from the previous incumbent, when we were buggered and heading south for the summer. I have little doubt under Bruce we would have been heading into next weeks games with everything still to lose and not as we will as mid table plodders. Martin was brought in to turn a sinking ship around and did so with much grace and dignity. He managed to squeeze every last drop of ability and desire out of this average squad of players and ensured that for the past 4 or 5 weeks, we've been in coasting mood. I'd imagine that certain players will be aware they are on their way out and there will be those who are not too certain. As for team changes for today, just who could have actually played? Elmo, Ji, Vaughan Wickham, Kyriakos? With the exception of David Meyler (who by his own admission this week is still tentatively easing his way back into fitness after 2 long career threatening injuries), none of those I've mentioned would have improved us IMO and that's the problem in a nutshell. Our squad is very, very poor. Martin knows it now; we know it also; but most importantly, so does Ellis Short now and that is vital this summer. MoN has admitted we don't have ANY strikers capable of securing double figures at the club; we have a captain who seems incapable of learning and developing; we have many players simply not good enough for the top flight and above all, we don't have enough winners at the club. I think to slag MoN off for not being able to bring winning success using players he has inherited, whilst also delivering our safety on the back of it , is plain dumb. We have the man we all wanted (or most did anyway) and he has already shown what he can achieve. We simply have to trust his judgement over the next 4 months, to start the long and determined fight back with player acquisition and improvement. If after 4 transfer windows we are still turning performances in like the past 4 or 5 weeks, then I may have sympathy with the sentiments echoed here by some However, after only 5 months in charge of team affairs, inheriting a broken squad and team, to now start a mini witch hunt of criticism seems absolutely ridiculous, given he has had no chance to shape the team and squad in his own image. One thing about this we pay a lot of money to travel for the performances recently, where those the sentiments at the Etihad a few short weeks ago as well? Away travel is a personal choice not a conscription and we have suffered, as mentioned earlier by an old stager like myself, many more worse performances and results than this one today. So shut up and wait and see what MoN delivers next season, not after 5 months FFS.
Cest, As i said in my post there, I haven't lost any faith in MON. BUT, he is not beyond reproach, he had failed to motivate the team for 4-5 weeks now, that can't be dismissed. He motivated them for his first 13 games, so what's changed?
You have to wonder where we would be if we had not had the MON, honeymoon!!!! Very worrying. Why can we not get a full season out of players? That's three seasons in a row where we look a really good team but we can never sustain it? Is it down to a small squad? Or lack of quality. Another question, have other managers worked out O'Neill with this team? Stop Mcclean and u stop Sunderland. Lots of work to do pre season!
He squeezed at least 50% more out them than they actually had in ability for the first 3 months and turned us from bottom 3 relegation losers, to mid table plodders and 11th. Its hardly surprising that once our EPL status was secured, the overstretched elastic band has snapped or became weakened and thus poor performances have ensued over recent weeks. I'm not saying MoN is beyond reproach but after 5 months, with someone else's failed squad and team, to moan on and spit the dummy out is amazingly naive IMO and totally unfounded. We surely cant be giving a man who has saved us from even a relegation battle, a hard time now can we? If he was 2 or 3 years into his tenure here and still producing regular poor performances then maybe but right now, as things stand today, I find it embarrassing mate.
Cest, certainly not starting a witch hunt but just because mon did so well when he first came in doesn't mean he's exempt from criticism. It's plain and simple to many on here that O'Shea is awful at right back and why play Gardner rightwing when we have Campbell and Elmo who would both do a better job there. These are poor decisions imo. The way some of you are reacting to this thread is like you think I'm calling for his head. Some of you need to give your head a shake it's a footballing forum for opinions ffs.
**** me, you'd think these were HIS buys and HIS players here. These are the hapless Bruce's players and squad and the myth that he bought well but just needed time is blown totally apart IMO. He bought poorly and MoN has done well to get out of them what he has. If you're going to start having a pop at the current manager then at least give him an opportunity to bring HIS players in before you do so?
BUT you fail to realise or comment that MoN didn't buy O Shea. He didn't buy ANY of the current squad and has inherited from Bruce a shower of ****e that he is going to have to try and clean up. Surely if you are going to even begin to criticise a manager it is customary for even the ficklest of fans to allow that manager to bring his own players in. Far from me giving my head a shake, you maybe should try looking in the mirror first? Your opinion is of course valid and welcomed on footy forum but then don't expect me to just agree with it, or congratulate you on it either, as its plainly very misplaced IMO. At least Bruce was given 5 transfer windows and 3 years before I started to question his suitability and tactics. PS - if you think Campbell or Elmo are right wingers then you simply dont understand the level of the problem MON has here at SAFC. I wouldnt let Elmo cut the oranges at half time personally. We havent had a left back for 4 years and Bridge seems not to be the answer either. Colback isnt the answer there thus Bardsley is asked to fill in (scoring in the process). O Shea is the only other player that could play there as we have no cover for right back at all.
So, to sum up, he deserved all the praise, but now doesn't deserve critisism when the entire team is unmotivated as a unit? That's bollocks mate, his job is to motivate them playrs. MON will get it right for next season, but right now he isn't, .
Forget motivation and forget Bruce. OShea at RB when we have a RB who played on the left. A LB called Bridge, not a Bruce player sitting on the bench. A midfielder called Colback who did well at LB. A CM on the right wing with Elmo and Campbell who both play RW. Colback and Catts midfield who cant play together. Are we not allowed to ask why?
Like talking to a brick wall at times, and I'm not asking you to agree with my opinion in fact I'd be worried if you did. Some of the comments in the OP are over the top I'll admit but my argument is today's team selection was poor and nothings changed since the man city game? Your telling me not winning in eight games when we have has the likes of Wolves and Bolton at home isn't poor? Your telling me you would have played Gardner rightwing today? You make the point that he inherited Bruces squad but if it's as bad as you make out why did he not buy more in January? You have taken my comments out of proportion as I have already said I believe mon is 100% the right man to lead us forward.
That's an incredibly naive statement mate and one I thought you to be better than. Bridge was brought in as an emergency left back as we didn't have one and having had a look, MoN obviously doesn't rate him either now. Bardsley has played left back and scored many times and is comfortable on that flank. Colback isn't a full back of any calibre IMO but has played there in desperation. If you can actually tell me when either Elmo or Campbell have had good games as right wingers then I'd be glad to discuss that point.You'll struggle to remember one however. Campbell is a striker and nothing else but he is also a player making his way back after 2 horrific injuries. Elmo is just ****e. Colback and Catts in a midfield 5 have played together and won games. We got beat today. Are you suggesting we should win every game for players to retain their places? We'd have a helluva turnover of team selections if you were manager Syd.
I have no problem with Bardo at LB, I have a big problem with O'Shea at RB so I would have had Bardo at RB and Colback at LB, he played well there. Gardner is not a winger and should have been CM with either Campbell or Elmo on the wing, neither are great but both are better than Gardner there. Just my opinion and to say I expect to win every game is frankly insulting Cest, it kills any argument you have so I will leave it there.
No, you told me to shake my head. I did and put my opinion. Its not one that agrees with yours? Whats your problem? We have drawn more games than we have lost and with a bit better linesman's decisions at Villa and better finishing against Bolton and Wolves (a problem that has **** all to do with who was left back or right back), things would be different. Our pathetic strike-force is an inherited problem form Bruce not one born from MoN. The alternative to Bendtner is Wickham or Ji and I wouldn't play either for Chester Town at the minute let alone in the EPL. As for the comment about why did he not buy in January (when he took over us on December the 3rd) is so weak mate. Maybe you would have been happy to pay £6m for Ricardo Fuller, or some other expensive pile of ****e as a panic buy but I glad MoN wasn't, as we'd be stuck with them now and have no money for the summer. He wanted Kevin Davies and last week he showed us why.
Oh dear the standard block Syd response to other points of view - "I'm obviously so superior to you I wont debate the point any further" Dear oh dear. Weak or what?
No problem here Cest you were the one that told me to shut up for voicing an opinion. Maybe best to agree to disagree and leave this thread here.
Can you please say where I said in quotes "Quillips shut up"? My post was not as a direct quote to anyone you paranoid fool. However if all you can offer is a slagging match against a manager who has saved us from a relegation scrap inside 4 months, with another managers pile of crap, then maybe I should have directed at you?
Can you show me where I said Cest give your head a shake? Your embarrassing yourself mate. Enjoy arguing with anyone and everyone else on this forum.
