Hello So we just signed him from you, just looking for opinions on how you rate him etc From my point of view ever since Wade Elliott retired we've missed that "leader" in the midfield and someone with a cool head. Could maybe see him as a captain and a good player to look up to for our young players. Thoughts ?
O'neil was one of our few players to come out of last season with some credit. Showed real fight when others perhaps were rolling over and having their bellies tickled. I'm not completely convinced that he has a cool head (Look up his sending off vs Stoke last season) but as a freebie in the championship you could do a lot worse. He is experienced and could be a reasonable leader for your younguns. Most importantly he is a good player when playing at championship level and wasn't to far off PL quality, he like all of our players was prone to the odd moment of madness; either dallying on the ball or with a silly wayward pass in the wrong area of the pitch. Bah!
I'm sad to see him go. 33 years old now, but always a consummate professional for us (except his straight red card at Stoke last season!) Compact, tidy, uses the ball well and will defo complement your mainly younger midfield. I wish him well and believe he will add some steel to your midfield.
To actually answer in a serious fashion - I'd go along with what most on here are saying about him. He may be 33, but he's kept himself in good shape (unlike one or two of our squad!), and will be a terrific influence on the younger players. I wish him well.
I am surprised that we have let him go on a free. Is there something going on because we appear to be happy to see our squad disintegrate.
Gary is a great professional, and works hard. He is good at retaining possession. He has leadership qualities you want. He will be great on and off the pitch for your young developing players. I'm sad we didn't retain him for this Championship campaign.
No not quite Suffolk. Letting O'Neill go is one piece, Redmond is virtualy a gonner and we have appointed 2 separate agencies to handle the further sales, that was my point. If it was one player then of course i would not have made the comment. Also now Boro are sniffing around Bennett. Historically we woild not have looked so vulnerable as we do currently and would have fought to keep players that we wanted.
I'm sure we will. Unless the wheels are well and truly falling off i believe we're still financially secure so unlikely to be forced into selling those we'd prefer to hold onto.
What about the crap yesterday about the club slapping a "come and get me" badge on Brady and Jerome? Surely for next season, those are two of the first names you'd want to see on the team-sheet, unless AN has spoken and they've said they're not up for the challenge of a championship slog and insist on moving away?
Alex Neil has said that he would see each player on a one to one basis. If Brady, Jerome et al told him they wanted out, it would be stupid to force them to see out their contract, but hey, let's not use that when we can beat the club over the head with it!
You may be obsessed with beating people up with sticks (go to Marseilles, if so) I'm more concerned about expressing my opinion about the current state of play at my football club - as I personally see it. It's called having an opinion - best get used to it and stop whining
Why are you getting so worked up about these two? Are you really suggesting that an experienced, current International on a 1 year contract is not adequate as 3rd choice cover for full back and a centre back who has played and captained for several years in the Premiership and Championship also on a 12 month contract is not adequate 4th or 5th cover?
No, but I saw a post on here (somewhere) this morning about how AN is looking towards the long/longer term, building a 'dynasty' for the future, hence the signings of McGrandles, Thompson, Maddison, etc. I don't see how resurrecting the careers of players who have hardly featured in the last year for NCFC fit into that strategy, that's all?
I tend to agree Cromer - on one hand An's talking about building 'for the future', but offering a 1 year contract to the likes of Whittaker etc!!!
I would agree if any of the youngsters mentioned were full backs or centre backs but they aren't. Whittaker and Turner are just cheap short term experienced squad options who can be called upon if needed.
Let's try to keep our opinions realistic though, it seems rather silly to me to say Brady is leaving therefore it must be the club's fault if he has said he wants out! As for my obsession, you are the master beater!
