Im with AKCJ on this. I think MON's time at Leicester should be left in the history books. He was great for us but both parties and time have moved on since He has more to lose then gain
... I would agree that he has more to lose than gain ... but a challenge is a challenge and he will have funding available to him that no LCFC manager other than NP has ever had ... he built a team on a shoestring last time around ... why wouldn't he be confident in such circumstances?
This was my thought as well after I put the rose-tinted specs away... Hopefully he will have a decent #2 - apparently Keane likes all the sports science so he might come?
I'm a bit apprehensive at the thought of O' Neill coming back. I'd hate him to tarnish his reputation, 95-00 were great days, but I think football is a different game now to what it was then. That said, he got Villa pushing for the top four with money to spend, and our owners aren't afraid to lay the money down. I'd just hate him to not live up to expectations.
FF - you have to remember that 15 years is a long time in football terms. What has the guy done in those 15 years? 1) Joined his boyhood club and won just about everything domestically and enjoyed a European fling. 2) Next club, got them three successive top 6 finishes, then left when the money dried up. 3) Next club he steered them away from the relegation zone when it looked very much that they were crashing and burning, then had a poor following season. 4) Became an international manager for a side greatly lacking in quality but managed them to draw away at the world champions. Also seen on Foxestalk that he makes poor signings. Apart from Cambiasso, he signed 2 of our best midfield players that I have seen in the last 20 years in Muzzy and Lennie. The guy is a complete dinosaur, just so happens that he is the king of the dinosaurs. Stop ****ing about Top, and get him to sign on the dotted line!
I'm a bit torn on this one. I fear it's a move by the owners to quieten the increasingly anxious fans with a sentimental appointment, which is never the right reason to employ a manager, however, O'Neill has never really "failed" anywhere. If he did come, he would obviously have to take a very different approach, as we are no longer looking to survive on a budget but to progress to better things, and he'll have the finances to do that. Is he a man with his finger on the pulse when it comes to young talent? Does he have the contacts abroad to bring in hidden gems like Pearson was doing (indeed, would he have Shakey and Walsh beneath him)? We never really played "football" under him before, would he be able to do that now? As Barwell (sarcastically) says (but it's true), 15 years is a long time in football. Our club has changed virtually beyond recognition since the O'Neill era. What he built back then will bring no advantage if he returned. Reluctantly, I'd have to say it's a no from me. Unless the only other candidate is that Preki guy.
Sven had nothing like Nigel's budget buddy ... partly down to PL finances - thanks to NP for that ... but also thanks to the organic growth of the King Power brand over the last 2-3 years ,,, Sven's biggest bid (as I recall) was circa £6m for Jelavic ... start of last season we were making bids of £8 - £9m for Deeney, McGoldrick, McCarthy ... after we had made a 'record' signing ...
.... I understand the apprehension ... but ask yourselves this ... who better understands our club and who has actually achieved more?.... if you confine your thoughts to that it is a 'no brainer' ... all that said ... he might not actually want the job
Sven's budget was as big if not bigger £5M for Matt Mills £9M offered for Nicky Maynard, £7M Shane Long Yakubu signed on loan Offers for Owen Hargreaves, David Beckham, Shay Given etc
You cant say MON understands us as were a totally different club New owners, New stadium, new team, bigger budget, bigger expectations Everything has changed beyond recognition. The only thing that remains the same is the Birch
... we'll have to disagree... for the reasons I've already stated... economic s... both the Prem pot and substantial growth in wealth of our owners over the period since Sven went .
... none of which matters - although I don't agree anyway ... e.g what expectations have changed? ... and didn't he have those challenges at Celtic and Villa anyway?
I think we the key that we are better equipped to put these bids in as clearly we were putting big bids under Sven but that wasn't going to end well as we now have stronger finances. The 12 mill bid for Austin is obviously a new high showing the difference in ambition from newly promoted to second season
Let's not confuse the Premier League with the Championship. Two completely different IMHO. I actually think Sven might have done well for us had we been in the Premier League at the time. The weight of expectation on us after spending all that money, levels unprecedented in the Championship, was immense. Plus, nothing can prepare the most expensively-assembled squad for an away trip to Millwall
... so true... done 2 FA trips to the old Den .. the first in 84 or 85 was what you might call a 'rite of passage'
Had a few drinks in a pub off Walford Road which was a bit of a hang out for some of the Millwall lads when I lived in London. Got talking to a couple of lads at the bar who realised that I didnt have the local accent. They never asked where I came from, just which football team I followed. Told them Leicester and they looked at each other, then said 'They always bring a good few down here - respect'. Couldnt have seen Sven in that pub though.
