The ability to speak the truth & criticise your own players...



From an interview with Martin O'Neill 22/11/04

"Henri has been booked in the first instance for retaliating to a swipe back at him from one of the Rangers players (Alex Rae). I thought it was foolish of him to react and, while it's sometimes understandable if passions run high in an atmosphere such as that, he has been very fortunate, particularly with the second incident."

"There's no doubt that he has been fouled twice in the run-up to it and that Vignal has left a foot in pretty deliberately, but I can't defend Henri retaliating in the way he did. I also don't have a problem with the review panel looking at that particular incident if we're wanting thing to be fair, although the linesman has appeared to see it, so I don't know what can and cannot be done in that instance."

"But the Novo stamp on Stephen Pearson, following on from his kick at Jackie in the first half, certainly warrants looking at. I can understand people missing these incidents and have no complaint with the referee or linesman in this respect. But if it has been picked up on camera, you have to accept the consequences. And there's no doubt both incidents reflect badly on Novo."

is something that is lost on Alex Mcleish...