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Gary O'Neil


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Should he stay or should he go?  On the one hand he's permanently injured, no doubt on high wages, commutes from London and we have cover in his position.

On the other he brings undoubted quality and experience (including of promotion) which could help a young squad.

On balance I think I'd say keep him but what do others think?

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I'd hoped he would be fit for pre-season and we'd end up seeing the best of him this season.

But the fact that he's seemingly injured once again and is missing the build up makes me worried he is again going to be unable to contribute properly.

Had a few games last year where he really ran things, and looked every bit the player I had thought we had on our hands.

Unfortunately most of those showings were pre-Christmas, or even before the first international break, and he didn't seem to have much influence when we were poor.

I'm of a mind that if he was to leave, or even end up well down the pecking order were he to stay, we'd not be massively inconvenienced.

Talk of Stephen Quinn being someone we were interested in made me think that GO'N might be off; in all honesty, as long as his knee injury is over with, and he's back to the same busy player he was at Hull and Reading the season before last, I'd prefer Quinn come in to be that experience in the middle for us.

That said; a fit Korey Smith, an improving Brownhill, Pack and Hegeler too seems to me enough cover in that central midfield area. Might be enough for us.

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When he was on the pitch I thought we generally looked better for it. However looking at stats certainly in terms of results that wasn't the case! In theory should be a world beater for us, wasn't the case last year and needs to be fit. As others have said I'd lean towards moving him on if anybody's willing to take him.

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I was all for him staying and getting some time off the bench to help see out games and getting a few starts here and there. Maybe starting in cup games as a leader with some youth but him already being injured doesn't bode well. I thought we overused him last season and that is why after the first few games he didn't look as good. Then the injuries happened. He could still probably help the squad but if someone wanted him they could take him. Though it would probably mean we have to pay most of his wages for the year. He'll be here until January and even then he'll probably see out his last year here. 

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So disappointed with O'Neil as on big money I suspect and we are getting no value. Started superbly and was a real driving force but anything post October is a write off. Cannot work out what's going on with him as surely we should be looking to pay him off with a compromise payment to allow him to be closer to home in London.  No idea of relationship with LJ as rumours point to not being great but then why have him involved in running U23's at end of season.

best of going though as we have better and stealing a wage

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Really suspicious of this "he's injured" stuff, as we were also told that about Tomlin.

Top of my list to go, a high earner who has contributed very little.

Not that bothered about a replacement either, as Smith, Brownhill, Pack & Hegeler can all play there.

Need a more creative, goal scoring midfielder if anything.

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17 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Really suspicious of this "he's injured" stuff, as we were also told that about Tomlin.

Top of my list to go, a high earner who has contributed very little.

Not that bothered about a replacement either, as Smith, Brownhill, Pack & Hegeler can all play there.

Need a more creative, goal scoring midfielder if anything.

Trouble is who would want him? We'd have to pay up his contract which isn't going to be cheap 

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Interesting temperature check and there is a real strength of feeling against O'Neil it seems. I don't disagree with the analysis of his contribution last season but just wonder whether he could offer more next. Doesn't feel like a Tomlin scenario as he seems to be much more constructive and less disruptive. And like Wilbs before potentially a good example of how to look after yourself physically into the latter stages of a career (yes he's had injuries but doesn't seem to neglect his body). 

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2 minutes ago, Ser Davos Ciderworth said:

Interesting temperature check and there is a real strength of feeling against O'Neil it seems. I don't disagree with the analysis of his contribution last season but just wonder whether he could offer more next. Doesn't feel like a Tomlin scenario as he seems to be much more constructive and less disruptive. And like Wilbs before potentially a good example of how to look after yourself physically into the latter stages of a career (yes he's had injuries but doesn't seem to neglect his body). 

He could offer more next season. He could've offered more last season.

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6 minutes ago, David Brent said:

I don't think we'd miss him were he to leave.

Exactly. I couldn't tell anyone his style of play etc as I feel I hardly know him. Came with a good record but like others before him failed due to injuries. Happy to commute and play golf, but that's about it. Luckily we have only a years wages to pay up if we decide to. 

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I think in this case, he probably is injured. LJ said in an interview something like "Knowing GO'N, he has probably worked himself too hard over the summer".

Its a shame, I had really high hopes for him when he signed but I can't seem him being anything but a "bit part" player this season.

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53 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Really suspicious of this "he's injured" stuff, as we were also told that about Tomlin.

Top of my list to go, a high earner who has contributed very little.

Not that bothered about a replacement either, as Smith, Brownhill, Pack & Hegeler can all play there.

Need a more creative, goal scoring midfielder if anything.

Cardiff have one!!!!!

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1 minute ago, alexukhc said:

Wants a Millwall move

He alluded to as much when he was on Danny Baker`s show a week or two ago. Danny asked him if he would come back and the reply was something like, We`ll have to see what Neil (Harris) has to say about that`. Probably just banter but it seem he was trying to suggest it to me.

Probably the signing last summer that I was most pleased with but most disappointed by.

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55 minutes ago, Red Right Hand said:

He alluded to as much when he was on Danny Baker`s show a week or two ago. Danny asked him if he would come back and the reply was something like, We`ll have to see what Neil (Harris) has to say about that`. Probably just banter but it seem he was trying to suggest it to me.

Probably the signing last summer that I was most pleased with but most disappointed by.

Come and get me plea I thought

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1 hour ago, Tomarse said:

Trouble is who would want him? We'd have to pay up his contract which isn't going to be cheap 

As others have said I think he (and we) wants to go to Millwall.

Even if they were interested we'd end up subsidising his wages.

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2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Really suspicious of this "he's injured" stuff, as we were also told that about Tomlin.

Top of my list to go, a high earner who has contributed very little.

Not that bothered about a replacement either, as Smith, Brownhill, Pack & Hegeler can all play there.

Need a more creative, goal scoring midfielder if anything.

I wonder how many minutes GON and Tomlin spent on the pitch together from Sheffield Wednesday (away) til the end of the season?  Just saying :whistle:

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The way LJ wants to play a pressing game I don't think GON fits into that high energy approach so definitely not a match day starter which means he is likely to be a last 15 min off the bench option if we need to see out a game. For what is probably reasonably decent wages that's a bit of a waste in my eyes.

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2 hours ago, RedM said:

Exactly. I couldn't tell anyone his style of play etc as I feel I hardly know him. Came with a good record but like others before him failed due to injuries. Happy to commute and play golf, but that's about it. Luckily we have only a years wages to pay up if we decide to. 

I was disappointed by his weary , powder puff crosses and free kicks but at the beginning he ran the show .

He may have burnt out .

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13 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

I was disappointed by his weary , powder puff crosses and free kicks but at the beginning he ran the show .

He may have burnt out .

This may just be me but my impression was he ran out of the will/want to play In the same way Tomlin did. I think LJ would let him go in a heartbeat if someone wanted him and I think the player would not let the door bang him on the ass on the way out.

 

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2 hours ago, alexukhc said:

Wants a Millwall move

To be honest it's not difficult if thats what he wants to do. He can rip up his contract with us and sign for them on 3k a week. That won't hurt their budget too much.

But then again when was the last time a modern footballer done something for their love of the game and not their bank balance. 

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1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

As others have said I think he (and we) wants to go to Millwall.

Even if they were interested we'd end up subsidising his wages.

Graham would rather compromise and pay as will save against a whole year of sat in the stands or back in his house at London.Cannot see him starting or playing too much so best option.  

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5 hours ago, Ser Davos Ciderworth said:

Should he stay or should he go?  On the one hand he's permanently injured, no doubt on high wages, commutes from London and we have cover in his position.

On the other he brings undoubted quality and experience (including of promotion) which could help a young squad.

On balance I think I'd say keep him but what do others think?

In reality, no one is likely to come in for him especially on the wages he's rumoured to be on here!

So what's the chances of him just walking away?

I would say that whether we want him here or not, he'll be staying unless we pay him off.

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When fit he was one of our best players on the pitch...imho.  No-one in our midfield won a 40:60 challenge all season apart from GON.  We just didn't get a fit GON on the pitch often enough.

Why was that?

I do wonder whether he disliked the way LT went about his 'work' on the pitch and in training, and probably fell out with LJ as LT kept getting away with it.  Wasn't there a rumour that GON went to SL?

I won't write him off yet, but he's gonna be a few weeks behind everyone, or perhaps he's just sorting out a move.  You'd expect him to be seen 'reporting for duty', even if it's lightweight stuff.

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55 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I do wonder whether he disliked the way LT went about his 'work' on the pitch and in training, and probably fell out with LJ as LT kept getting away with it.  Wasn't there a rumour that GON went to SL?

Interesting theory would like to know the truth behind it, it seems Tomlin was a malign and pervasive influence. 

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Our best midfielder.....when fit.....which is almost never.

Due to that and his age let him go....what I will say is that when playing regularly he was very very good indeed. 

But he's old....which is probably the only reason why we got him....

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1 minute ago, Londoner said:

Our best midfielder.....when fit.....which is almost never.

Due to that and his age let him go....what I will say is that when playing regularly he was very very good indeed. 

But he's old....which is probably the only reason why we got him....

Talk at the time was that Norwich would only give him a year but we offered two - no idea if it`s true or not.

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6 hours ago, City1984 said:

All thing considered I'd like to be saying goodbye. 

Been a massive disappointment for me who along side Tomlin, feels like a complete waste of a healthy wage.

Both were a big disapointment last season,the two highest earners who must of been on around £45-£50 grand a week between them.

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2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

When fit he was one of our best players on the pitch...imho.  No-one in our midfield won a 40:60 challenge all season apart from GON.  We just didn't get a fit GON on the pitch often enough.

Why was that?

I do wonder whether he disliked the way LT went about his 'work' on the pitch and in training, and probably fell out with LJ as LT kept getting away with it.  Wasn't there a rumour that GON went to SL?

I won't write him off yet, but he's gonna be a few weeks behind everyone, or perhaps he's just sorting out a move.  You'd expect him to be seen 'reporting for duty', even if it's lightweight stuff.

Wasn't the story that LT and GON together went to SL?

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7 hours ago, Ser Davos Ciderworth said:

Should he stay or should he go?  On the one hand he's permanently injured, no doubt on high wages, commutes from London and we have cover in his position.

On the other he brings undoubted quality and experience (including of promotion) which could help a young squad.

On balance I think I'd say keep him but what do others think?

Cheerio from me. Pack offers way more than GON for me. 

Not quite stealing a wage but he aint far off!

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8 hours ago, pride of the west said:

But then again when was the last time a modern footballer done something for their love of the game and not their bank balance. 

On ripping up of contracts...I googled it and all I got was one entry.. Something about an Ashton Gate 8.

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10 minutes ago, cynic said:

LJ called Tomlin Fatty and made him cry.

The Tomlin called LJ shortarse and that made him cry.

Since then, they've not spoken.

Apparently.

The truth hurts.

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19 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I wonder how many minutes GON and Tomlin spent on the pitch together from Sheffield Wednesday (away) til the end of the season?  Just saying :whistle:

Ignoring stoppage time, they spent 1091 minutes together on the pitch post Sheff Weds away. 

Source: soccerbase

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3 hours ago, cynic said:

LJ called Tomlin Fatty and made him cry.

The Tomlin called LJ shortarse and that made him cry.

Since then, they've not spoken.

Apparently.

Johnson told tomlin if he didn't stop calling him names he'd tell his dad not to pick him

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Sometimes experienced signings make sense and work well - e.g. Wilbraham.  Sometimes they don't.  O'Neill is sadly in the latter category.

If you're going to bring in this sort of player they need to be in the team running things every week, and for whatever reason he fell out of favour quite quickly.  

If he wants a move I'd let him go provided we're not paying up the rest of his contract.

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He's got a year left so I'd keep him unless he's going to a league 1 club. Not letting him go to a championship team. Big wages but again only a year. I'm content trying to get him fit and come off the bench and start some cup games. That simple really. You just know he'd be Millwall's player of the year if he went there. No thanks, he's welcome to Portsmouth though. 

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41 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

...back in training today.  

A fit Gary O'Neil is a good player at this level.  Maybe I'm too loyal. But not ready to write him off yet, if he stats fit.

Has he gone to Tenerife?

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