The ONE thing that may have made me go for Hughes over O'Neill

kermode · 2nd December 2011, 08:25 AM

Style of play. I see Hughes as more of a pragmatist. He went into Fulham, for example, and had them playing in the way Hodgson had previously. As Hodgson was getting the best out of the players there, this was undoubtedly the right thing to do. With our bunch of players, I reckon he'd be able to organise and galvanise them and find a consistent footballing philosophy for them.

O'Neill, from what I remember anyway, likes to play quick counter attacking football. Do we have the players to do that? I'm absolutely buzzing that it looks like he's coming here, and can't quite believe it if I'm honest, but when I turn my brain on, this is the one nagging doubt for me, particularly if there is no money to spend.

TartanMackem · 2nd December 2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermode

Style of play. I see Hughes as more of a pragmatist. He went into Fulham, for example, and had them playing in the way Hodgson had previously. As Hodgson was getting the best out of the players there, this was undoubtedly the right thing to do. With our bunch of players, I reckon he'd be able to organise and galvanise them and find a consistent footballing philosophy for them.

O'Neill, from what I remember anyway, likes to play quick counter attacking football. Do we have the players to do that? I'm absolutely buzzing that it looks like he's coming here, and can't quite believe it if I'm honest, but when I turn my brain on, this is the one nagging doubt for me, particularly if there is no money to spend.

Some of our best stuff last season was by playing this way. We still Have Richardson, Sessegnon, Elmohamady and Wickham who have some pace, and January is only a month away.

AndrewP · 2nd December 2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermode

Style of play. I see Hughes as more of a pragmatist. He went into Fulham, for example, and had them playing in the way Hodgson had previously. As Hodgson was getting the best out of the players there, this was undoubtedly the right thing to do. With our bunch of players, I reckon he'd be able to organise and galvanise them and find a consistent footballing philosophy for them.

O'Neill, from what I remember anyway, likes to play quick counter attacking football. Do we have the players to do that? I'm absolutely buzzing that it looks like he's coming here, and can't quite believe it if I'm honest, but when I turn my brain on, this is the one nagging doubt for me, particularly if there is no money to spend.

If it's a nagging doubt for you, I'm sure it will be for Martin O'Neill too, therefore why would he accept the job with no money to spend, he hardly seems the desperate for work type.

Noiser · 2nd December 2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermode

particularly if there is no money to spend.

O'Neill wont come if there is no money to spend. He will want assurances that he can build the team / squad that can play the sort of football that he wants, and if he is confirmed later today then we can guess he has been given those assurances.

sksk3021 · 2nd December 2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermode

Style of play. I see Hughes as more of a pragmatist. He went into Fulham, for example, and had them playing in the way Hodgson had previously. As Hodgson was getting the best out of the players there, this was undoubtedly the right thing to do. With our bunch of players, I reckon he'd be able to organise and galvanise them and find a consistent footballing philosophy for them.

O'Neill, from what I remember anyway, likes to play quick counter attacking football. Do we have the players to do that? I'm absolutely buzzing that it looks like he's coming here, and can't quite believe it if I'm honest, but when I turn my brain on, this is the one nagging doubt for me, particularly if there is no money to spend.

I'd have no problem with quick counter attacking football. I'm more concerned about his desire to have at least one big lump of a target man, playing very direct up to them, plus playing for free kicks. Hopefully he has developed since those days.

Dexter · 2nd December 2011, 08:29 AM

I always thought O'Neill was a bit of a long ball merchant, although if we can get some decent, quick wingers then we might see the style that we saw at Villa. Either way, it'll please our fans.

BS1000 · 2nd December 2011, 08:33 AM

At times we are a disorganised rabble.

He will organise us, but I don't think we have the players to play the way he wants with wingers etc., but no doubt thats what the talks are about. I cannot see that happening in January, I would expect 1 or 2 gaps to be filled, just get through the season safely and then add properly in the summer.

kermode · 2nd December 2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TartanMackem

Some of our best stuff last season was by playing this way. We still Have Richardson, Sessegnon, Elmohamady and Wickham who have some pace, and January is only a month away.

Good point, but I would argue that the pace either lacks quality (Elmo) or isn't in the right areas (Richardson best at left back). Overall, when you look at the Villa team he built, we're miles away from that. Of course, O'Neill could be adaptable, we may have money to spend. I'm happy it looks like he's coming here, don't get me wrong, just not sure if its quite a perfect match just yet.

rocky · 2nd December 2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TartanMackem

Some of our best stuff last season was by playing this way. We still Have Richardson, Sessegnon, Elmohamady and Wickham who have some pace, and January is only a month away.

No..