But O'Shea say's 'move along, forget it all'. Aye alreet ya ****er, well ya best pull ya finger out then. JOHN O’SHEA has urged an end to the autopsy over Paolo Di Canio’s dismissal, despite confirming Sunderland’s players felt it necessary to take a stand against the Italian’s regime. A week after Di Canio was sacked as Sunderland head coach, the manner and reasons behind his departure still casts a cloud over the Stadium of Light. Details continue to emerge of the volatile scenes in the away dressing room after Di Canio’s final game in charge at West Brom, with a delegation of senior players voicing their concerns to the Sunderland board 24 hours later – an event now confirmed by captain O’Shea. But the Republic of Ireland international is keen to move on from the Di Canio debacle with Sunderland still rooted to the foot of the Premier League table after yesterday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. The winless Black Cats have taken just a solitary point from the opening six games and O’Shea knows a stern test awaits for Di Canio’s successor. When asked whether Sunderland’s players felt something needed to be said about Di Canio, O’Shea told the Echo: “That was obviously done. But we have to move on now. “Because of the position we’re in in the league, we can’t keep going back to it. We’ve got some difficult months ahead. “Whoever comes in, whether it’s Bally (Kevin Ball) or a new manager, we’ve got tough times ahead. “We have to stick together and if we keep going back to it, it’ll soon be too hard to pull back from where we are.” Caretaker boss Ball oversaw a much-improved display from the Black Cats yesterday, in his first Premier League game in charge since his maiden temporary stint in the dug-out in 2006. And O’Shea says Sunderland’s players would be happy if Ball was handed the reins on a permanent basis, although the Black Cats board continue to consider their options. “Without a doubt, he’s (Ball) made an impact,” said O’Shea. “If it does happen (Ball becomes Di Canio’s successor) the players would be very happy. “But we wait and see what the club decides.” Ball was unable to prevent the run of successive defeats extending to four though, as Luis Suarez’s double, plus a controversial opener from Daniel Sturridge, proved sufficient, despite Emanuele Giaccherini’s second Sunderland goal in as many games. Sunderland have now conceded three times in each of their last four league games and O’Shea admits that defensive vulnerability needs to change. “It’s a massive concern at the moment,” added the 32-year-old. “We need to get back to simple clean sheets because that will get us up the table. “That’s a collective thing. Working together as a back four and in midfield; everyone. “The second half was obviously much, more like it and Bally told us in no uncertain terms at half-time what was required. With a bit more luck, we could have got a point. “We got our goal, but probably didn’t do enough to get that second. “In the first half, we did okay and Seb’s (Larsson) hit the crossbar and there were a few other chances. “Okay, the goal has gone in off the guy’s arm and those things maybe don’t go for you. “That’s when you have to work hard to turn things around. “But we need to start going ahead in games, rather than chasing them.”
The fact that he calls the current manager 'Bally' should be enough to convince Short it would be a bad move. Let alone his other comments about how the players would be 'very happy' about Ball becoming manager. Anyway, who authorised O'Shea to speak to the media and voice his opinions on the new manager? If it was Ball then it's out of order.
Absolutely spot on - the manager should be called "Gaffer" or "The Boss" but certainly not his nickname from his playing days - I honestly think O'Shea should know better too!
I reckon O'Shea sees himself as 'manager by proxy' and would run rings around Ball ......... in fact I reckon he's a bad influence altogether although I'm obviously guessing.
And Jose mourinho won what exactly? Or Arsene Wenger for that matter? They didn't even play the game to any note able level and Alex Ferguson hardly set the world on fire in an undistinguished playing career north of the border. Mourinho was nowt other than bobby robsons gofer. We won't attract **** at the minute if we have Alex ferguson as manager so any thoughts of an influx of new recruits in January should be shelved now. We are on pure survival mode right now and nothing else this season and if Bally got he job until the summer, he wouldnt do any worse than some of the second rate non-achievers applying for it currently. That said, if Short does indeed have a rabbit to pull from his Stetson then I'm happy with that too. Maybe this fella Meulensteen will be the answer with Bally as his Assistant? Bizarrely after 5 straight defeats, we are not yet cut adrift and even 10th place is but 7 points away so not the time to panic. However, we can't let this situation drift beyond the Man Utd game and an appointment sometime thus week is desired pleas so we can at least get prepared for the up and coming derby game. That could be a launch pad for a recovery this season or a final nail in our current EPL coffin.
*Mourinho was assistant manager, for almost a decade, learning the job under Bobby Robson & Louis van Gaal at clubs playing in Europe and winning trophies. Suggesting he was the tea-boy is just a bit silly as is comparing him with Ball who's never been involved in winning anything. He has been involved in various relegations as a player and 'manager' however. *Wenger had over a decade in management before he arrived at Arsenal and had already won the league as a player and manager. Both have experience of European football, managing in various countries and can speak various languages. Comparing either of them to Kevin Ball just doesn't stack up in any way. * Just guessing that these facts are correct but I think they are.
I didn't say Ball was comparable at this time, merely that none of them had any playing background as your first response suggested that him not winning anything as a player precluded him from being a successful manager. Wenger and mourinho had to start somewhere and with Wenger it was the J League in Japan which was akin to Sunday morning football but them he got a chance at Monaco; for Mourinho, it was as Bobby Robsons interpreter then youth and reserves teams at Barcelona. Van Gaal have him his big break. Sound familiar that? Strangely enough Sir Bobby's Charlton and Moore are just about the most successful and lauded players ever to wear a football shirt yet both were totally crap managers, proof that being a hugely successful player does not mean a successful manager follows. Balls credentials are perfectly fine, having completed all his badges at the FA alongside Brendan Rodgers ( another player who amounted to nothing yet has gone on to manage one of he biggest clubs in Europe) after being a youth coach under that man mourinho. Brian Cloughs playing career covered Billingham Synthonia, Boro and us and whilst scoring a lot of second division goals was impressive, he actually won bot all as a player. Luckily, that didn't prevent him becoming a legendary manager winning almost everything s a manager. Kevin Ball may well never emulate any of those people if course but your argument about his playing career effecting his management one just doesn't stand up at all when scrutinized. If every former player was to be denied the opportunity to manage at the highest level because his playing cv didn't match the very best then there would be a very small pool of men to actually choose from.
I thought Johnston was woeful, his crossing, shooting and defensive work were poor. I would use his as an impact sub and put Seb on the RW he is better defensively and crossing, Giac (who is poor defensively) goes behind Altiadore where he is starting to look better than Sess and a one of the better defensive winger Marvias? goes on the left. We have to stop leaking goals and AJ at the moment is not good enough attacking or defending, he is a luxury we cannot afford in the hope he might come good.
You misunderstand quite a lot of what I'm saying, have misquoted me and made up things to suit your argument, particularly about Mourinho's career. I don't have the time, or inclination, to go through your post blow by blow, However I will say that, as I've said before, Ball has been associated with little more than failure and relegations as a player and 'manager'. He has no real managerial experience and the Premier League isn't the place to learn. The current squad has failed to play for an 'old guard' manager and refused to play for a 'new style' manager. They'd run Ball ragged which is why people like O'Shea want him as manager.
If anything has been learnt in the past 6 months we need an experienced manager to keep us up, no good Poyet coming in and wanting to play attractive football with the current squad as it will turn out exactly the same as PDC. Ball is not experienced enough and he made enough selection errors yesterday to show me he wasn't ready yet but it will be a good learning curve for him but we cant afford a learning curve now, its do or die.
I didn't actually quote anything you said, I was merely responding to your opinion with my own and just what part of Mourinho's career is actually factually incorrect?The fact he never played the game? The fact he began life as Bobby Robsons interprator? The fact he managed Barcelona B team? The fact he managed the youth set up? The fact he never won jack **** as a player? Or the fact that having never played of won anything as a player, he has still been a remarkably successful manager? Also, if an ' old guard'or 'new style' ( that's how you actually quote someone) has failed, just what or who do you think will be right. A named person would be of huge interest I'm sure to everyone?
"your first response suggested that him not winning anything as a player precluded him from being a successful manager." I didn't say that so, whether you choose to see it as a quote or not, it's not what I said. Mourinho was Bobby Robson's assistant and coach at Sporting, Porto and Barcelona for eight years. You claimed he was nothing but a gopher which is just plain daft. Whatever the case you believe Ball is capable of managing a crisis hit Premier League club despite only having 'managed' a previous relegation. I think that's absolute nonsense, you don't so we're never going to come close to agreeing are we?
I notice you haven't offered your opinions on a possible appointment. Forgive me if I've missed that name in another post somewhere but you seem excellent on the daily sarcastic pull everyone to bits front but not so keen to hang your own suggestions out there for discussion?
I notice you've ignored misquoting me and being wrong about Mourinho but that's your style. Ignore anything you don't like and split infinitesimal hairs with anything you think you're right about. I don't 'pull everyone to bits' at all, it's only the few people I disagree with who say that. You keep saying you should be allowed to voice your opinion but you don't seem to like other people's unless they agree with you. I suspect you're only going for Ball because you know he won't get the job, that will give you 'carte blanche' to pull the next manager to pieces. IMO we need an experienced Premier League manager who's capable of handling a variety of difficult characters and nationalities. Martin Jol would fit that bill if we can get him off Fulham so early in the season.
Cant believe I am saying this but I agree with you on this! Martin Jol is a good shout, I think sacking him at Fulham would be a mistake as he has had no money and Fulham have a habbit of just going on a 5 match winning streak to get them out of trouble. I genuinely have no idea who to pick so whoever the club decide on will get my support, Scum at home could be their first game/home game!
I am not wrong about anything I have said about mouthing which is why I haven't said any more. The rest of your post is the usual bag of ****e though. Having said that, Jol was booed off on Saturday and has been rumored to be the next EPL casualty due to Fulhams poor start ( they haven't won at home since April 1st either) so he will be used to our situation. I like Jol btw but question whether another struggling manager is what we really need right now. Cue the offer of a pugalistic altercation at some public house or back alley as is and always has been your last desperate argumentative escape route. For the record I have never said he will get the job only he should be considered above some if the rubbish under selection and have stated many times that we just need to make an appointment sooner rather than later fit have good if the club. Still, why let facts get in the way of a good sarcastic reply eh? It's not like you have done in the past is it?
So are you now saying you don't want Ball to get the job ........ come on, you called me out for not stating an opinion, are you now backtracking as usual? You've actually changed what you originally said about Ball which is typical of you. In your own words about appointing Ball as manager, "You know the more I say it the more sane it all sounds?" If you now believe he shouldn't be given the job you don't actually have any 'name' to throw into the hat as your choice do you?
