Keith O'Neill

The_Lizards_Jumpers

The_Lizards_Jumpers

Well-known member
Talking of Keith O'Neill (as I was on the Yarm thread) I came across the article from WSC about him. He really was a unfulfilled talent, and could have been so much successful if it wasn't for his injuries (and probably lifestyle).

www.wsc.co.uk

Keith O'Neill

The retirement at 27 of the former Republic of Ireland starlet leaves Dave Hannigan wondering how someone so injury-prone and arrogant could be strang
www.wsc.co.uk www.wsc.co.uk
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
Talking of Keith O'Neill (as I was on the Yarm thread) I came across the article from WSC about him. He really was a unfulfilled talent, and could have been so much successful if it wasn't for his injuries (and probably lifestyle).

www.wsc.co.uk

Keith O'Neill

The retirement at 27 of the former Republic of Ireland starlet leaves Dave Hannigan wondering how someone so injury-prone and arrogant could be strang
www.wsc.co.uk www.wsc.co.uk
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There was a famous rumour that he was in the Black Bull the day Boro won 3-0 at Highbury, as though it was some kind of sacrilegious act even when injured.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
Talking of Keith O'Neill (as I was on the Yarm thread) I came across the article from WSC about him. He really was a unfulfilled talent, and could have been so much successful if it wasn't for his injuries (and probably lifestyle).

www.wsc.co.uk

Keith O'Neill

The retirement at 27 of the former Republic of Ireland starlet leaves Dave Hannigan wondering how someone so injury-prone and arrogant could be strang
www.wsc.co.uk www.wsc.co.uk
Click to expand...
Players like that would thrive in the modern game, with sports science et al. I really don’t think it’s any coincidence that the potential of players like O’Neill, Alan Moore, Andy Campbell went unfulfilled when you consider the culture at the club and football generally in the 90s in terms of fitness and conditioning, with the manager being a major contributor. Lads just weren’t encouraged to take care of themselves and it meant that they sadly peaked when very young.
 
adammarc_98 said:
Players like that would thrive in the modern game, with sports science et al. I really don’t think it’s any coincidence that the potential of players like O’Neill, Alan Moore, Andy Campbell went unfulfilled when you consider the culture at the club and football generally in the 90s in terms of fitness and conditioning, with the manager being a major contributor. Lads just weren’t encouraged to take care of themselves and it meant that they sadly peaked when very young.
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That's a really good point, they'd have surely got more games out of him even if he was never an "ever present". Although in terms of lifestyle, I'm not sure Andy Campbell can be put into the same box as O'Neill and Moore who it was known liked to drink and party (the 90's Aaron Connellys ?)
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
That's a really good point, they'd have surely got more games out of him even if he was never an "ever present".
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Rotation culture is such a benefit for modern football really, gives you the ability to maximise the potential of many different players whilst equally allowing them to develop at a steady rate with the ability to rest if required.
 
He was a top character really - considering it was only late in his career that the root of his injuries was found in a spinal condition. - he was always so upbeat. He did like a drink no doubting that but was so down to earth, no airs or graces. I remember the interview with Bob Fischer on BBC Tees where he was talking about wanting to get a Christmas present of " a trow" for his mam. Bob said he finally twigged that he meant "a throw" for a chair,
Remember his Sunday morning show on CH4 from his Yarm riverside apartment. We were hip in those days. Hip with Keith O'Neill.
 
atypical_boro said:
To be fair he had a degenerative bone disease, not sure much could be done about that?
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I think a big factor in O’Neill’s downfall (as he himself has admitted) was the lifestyle he led and the advice he got along the way. Obviously he would’ve had a shorter shelf life in football regardless but in the modern era any condition would’ve been picked up on in his teenage years, he could’ve undergone potential treatments and equally he wouldn’t have been around a drinking culture in football which meant that his body naturally would take longer to recover. I’m not saying it would’ve necessarily had a more positive outcome but maybe he’d have had more to show for it, especially in terms of the potential he showcased.
 
Good player on his day. Remember him being interviewed after Chelsea beat us and described their goalscorer as "Bernard bleedin' Lambourde" 🤣

Had to retire with a particularly nasty bone condition.
 
Strangely I always liked O’Neill at Boro, think he was affectionately known as mad dog, was always willing him to have that run of games he needed, but injury would strike again. I think his heyday came during the Venables era, again a halcyon period often forgotten by Boro fans where Noel Whelan, Christian Karambeu and Jason Gavin combined to great effect to pull us clear of relegation. If I remember rightly we didn’t win at home that season until just before Christmas when we beat Chelsea!
 
adammarc_98 said:
Rotation culture is such a benefit for modern football really, gives you the ability to maximise the potential of many different players whilst equally allowing them to develop at a steady rate with the ability to rest if required.
Click to expand...
Personally I disagree with this. You would never have players like Juninho and Okocha player for smaller clubs for longish periods now. Once they hit the level they were at they'd be away sitting on Man City's bench, perfectly happy to come on as sub twice a month and 'feeling involved'. The increase in subs and 'rotation culture' has widened the gap between the bigger clubs and everyone else imho, as the top players don't need to leave for first team football.
 
adammarc_98 said:
I think a big factor in O’Neill’s downfall (as he himself has admitted) was the lifestyle he led and the advice he got along the way. Obviously he would’ve had a shorter shelf life in football regardless but in the modern era any condition would’ve been picked up on in his teenage years, he could’ve undergone potential treatments and equally he wouldn’t have been around a drinking culture in football which meant that his body naturally would take longer to recover. I’m not saying it would’ve necessarily had a more positive outcome but maybe he’d have had more to show for it, especially in terms of the potential he showcased.
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According to his wiki it was picked up in childhood. I've no idea about his lifestyle other than hearsay tbh, and as I implied above, maybe it wasn't as bad as rumours suggest?
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
That's a really good point, they'd have surely got more games out of him even if he was never an "ever present". Although in terms of lifestyle, I'm not sure Andy Campbell can be put into the same box as O'Neill and Moore who it was known liked to drink and party (the 90's Aaron Connellys ?)
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Well yeah it was unfair to lump him in, was more making the point that it wasn’t just drinking, and it wasn’t just playing staff. Robbo himself was known to knock them back, that impacts one’s ability to coach and one’s ability to tell players to make the right choices in terms of the rest of their lifestyle etc. Above all else it creates a culture of stagnation in development if clubs do not become successful.
 
adammarc_98 said:
Rotation culture is such a benefit for modern football really, gives you the ability to maximise the potential of many different players whilst equally allowing them to develop at a steady rate with the ability to rest if required.
Click to expand...
I mean in terms of individual player development with this fwiw
 
adammarc_98 said:
Well yeah it was unfair to lump him in, was more making the point that it wasn’t just drinking, and it wasn’t just playing staff. Robbo himself was known to knock them back, that impacts one’s ability to coach and one’s ability to tell players to make the right choices in terms of the rest of their lifestyle etc. Above all else it creates a culture of stagnation in development if clubs do not become successful.
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It was the same at a lot of clubs then, Sunderland in particular... Reid was not unlike Robson in letting his player bev up.
 
Usually left wing back or left of the three in midfield for us but he was immense when he played center-forward at home to Wimbledon one game. He was everywhere!
 
My abiding memory of him is a red card (against Coventry potentially)? It was an atrocious tackle, just in front of the tunnel. Didn't even turn around for the card, just walked straight off.
 
Didn't Strachan take him in and made him live with him and Mrs Strachan when he was at Coventry in an attempt to steer him away from the booze ?
 
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