Michael O'Neill - An Uncle Tom

The Huntacha wrote: There's very few Irish managers around because we have no football industry in our country.  There's only so many positions in coaching and management available, and even fewer than are in anyway financially rewarding.

Hotlips_Hoolahan wrote: Pat Fenlon, Stephen Kenny, Steve Staunton, Joe Dunne, Graham Kavanagh, Richie Foran, Brian Carey, Roy Keane, Dean Brennan, Roddy Collins, Niall Quinn. All have managed in the UK in this century and the average length of their managerial careers is about a year give or take. Even going back to the 90s, Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan and Damien Richardson had fleeting managerial careers. A few went into punditry, a few went into assistant coaching, a few went into backroom roles, very few stick it out. I'd wonder why that is. Even in the Championship right now, Cliff Byrne is assistant to Grant McCann at Hull City. Maybe in general we're not the best at being front of house. Perhaps we're just better at ticking away in the background. I'd like for it to change.

As a Nationalist from Derry I can say with confidence that the vast majority of people I know have zero allegiance to the Northern Ireland team. Years ago that would have been hostility but now it is more of a couldn't care less type attitude. Some Nationalist players play for NI but a lot of time that is based on their career aspirations. If you watch an NI anthem all the Nationalist players look decidedly uncomfortable. They always will. For me I couldn't care less about the NI team and want nothing to do with them. I support Ireland and that's it. I am Irish and value that. I expect that to be respected. Anyone playing or supporting NI from whatever community- that is up to them and I would never criticise someone for it. I expect the same respect to be afforded to supporters of Ireland and players from the North playing for Ireland. 

Green Cockade wrote: Fair comment. Times change. A lot of nationalists would have been shouting for NI back in the day when Gerry Armstrong was scoring against Spain in the World Cup but those days are gone. A lot has been done to try to eradicate the worst sectarian excesses associated with the NI team but sadly more remains to be done, including the GSTQ controversy. In the meantime players like Duffy, McClean, Gibson, Wilson, Sykes and others have led the way into the future. The momentum is only one way.

Edited by Stickittotheman - 11 Dec 2021 at 11:09pm

They got to add in the  “no surrender” line twice 

Roberto Baggio wrote: They got to add in the  “no surrender” line twice

Territorial wrote: TooOldForThis wrote: King_Kenny wrote: TooOldForThis wrote: Michael O'Neill asked players from nationalist background to keep their heads raised during the playing of  GSTQ as it looked disrespectful.  What will you do?Windsor’s on your bucket list isn’t it. Stand shoulder to shoulder with Terri and belt it out! I don't sing GSTQ at Windsor, on the basis that I'd prefer to see a different/unique anthem for NI. So I do what I did when I used to go to Landowne for rugby games and the SS was played: Stand Up, Shut Up, Sit Down again. Lots of my fellow NI fans think much the same.

Trap junior wrote: Gerry Armstrong is another Uncle Tom.  Said on record previously he would have played for Northern Ireland even if he had been eligible for ROI at the time.  Stockholm Syndrome Gerry.