And We Ended up Lumbered With McClaren!

[ChuckleBantam]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5246190.stm

England's loss, Villa's gain.tdwn:

[wykie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5246190.stm

England's loss, Villa's gain.tdwn:

Got to agree:(

[Zonnebloem]

I agree that he was the best manager available.

But.

I think O'Neill's predominantly Irish Catholic (Republican?) background might have made becoming England manager a bit difficult for him and his.

[wykie]

Why ever would it, I have an Irish Catholic background but no what so ever Republican tendancy's. I think Queen Liz does a good jobtup:

[tony d]

Strange how he turned down two better jobs for villa????

But if he fails he can just blame the chairman like the rest have...

I await the messiahs return to the top flight football league... Let's see what he can do then???

[Zonnebloem]

I don't think Martin McGuinness or Gerry Adams would gain favour in their Community if they tried something like managing England. It's not just their background but where they have been seen to live.

Some things are just not what you would do. It would be a bit like you being named manager of Pakistan's cricket team.

[ChuckleBantam]

Strange how he turned down two better jobs for villa????

Like who? Sunderland?? They're the only team he turned down and they are neither a bigger or better club than Villa.

O'Neill wasn't considered for England because at the Interview he stated that he'd only take the job if he could appoint his own backroon staff of Robertson and Walford. England wouldn't allow this so plumped for a Yes man who spent Millions and Millions at Boro doing a far far worse job than O'Neill did at Leicester on a shoestring.

Like I say, Villas gain is our loss. Good luck to him and it makes another manager in the Premier League that could teach Jose a thing or ten.