THE HEAT IS on Martin O’Neill following Ireland’s failure to make the 2019 World Cup.
After last night’s play-off humiliation in the Aviva Stadium, he told the media that he’d hold talks with FAI chief executive John Delaney in the coming weeks and would have ‘a real think’ about his future.
Last month, it was announced that a new deal had been agreed to extend the ex-Celtic boss’ stay up to 2020, but that is now being questioned.
Eamon Dunphy was on RTÉ 2fm’s Game On tonight, and shared his thoughts:
“Martin O’Neill was a formidable manager,” the pundit said. “He has a lot to be proud of, particularly with Celtic, who he took to the UEFA Cup final.
“Martin O’Neill was a very good manager. The question is, is he still a good manager? The evidence is that he isn’t.
Dunphy has long spoken about how O’Neill needs to use Wes Hoolahan more, and echoed his words that he should have been started against Denmark.
“He’s been left out wilfully, and stupidly all through the campaign and that tells you something about Martin O’Neill’s football values.
“If we had had him on the pitch when we were 1-0 up, we wouldn’t have lost control of the game as easily as we did because we would have had the ball more.
“You have to have the ball. Martin O’Neill clearly doesn’t see that as a priority and he’s wrong.”
What do you think though? Should O’Neill stay on for two more years?
Poll Results:
And as always, feel free to voice your opinion, whatever it may be, in the comments section below.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
