SPECULATION LINKING IRELAND boss Martin O’Neill to the vacant Everton post has intensified of late.
The Derry native’s odds to take over the Toffees job have been reduced significantly over the past few hours.
The 65-year-old coach had originally verbally agreed on a new contract with the Football Association of Ireland, though it us understood that O’Neill has yet to put pen to paper on the prospective deal.
The mood in Ireland regarding O’Neill has changed considerably of late, after the team’s 5-1 Aviva Stadium thrashing at the hands of Denmark earlier this month ended their hopes of securing a place at next summer’s World Cup.
It is not the first time during his tenure as Ireland boss that O’Neill has been linked with a Premier League job.
Last February, he ruled himself out of contention of a return to former club Leicester City, following Claudio Ranieri’s sacking.
However, O’Neill was understandably downbeat following the Denmark loss and afterwards suggested he would consider his future as Ireland manager.
Everton are currently struggling, as despite bringing in a host of high-profile signings including Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurðsson in the summer, they sit just outside the relegation zone Premier League table.
Caretaker boss David Unsworth has struggled to substantially improve the situation at Goodison Park, as highlighted by last Thursday’s embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League.
A host of names have previously been linked with the vacant managerial post, including Sean Dyche, Marco Silva and Sam Allardyce.
Everton manager odds:
Martin O’Neill – 11/10
Sean Dyche – 4/1
Marco Silva – 5/1
Sam Allardyce – 6/1
David Unsworth – 13/2
Andre Villas-Boas – 7/1
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I still want Martin O’Neill to keep the Ireland job.One bad game and everyone wants him out even after qualifying for Euro 2016 and getting us to the playoff by beating Wales and Austria to it along with famous wins over Germany and Italy. We just don’t have the players. People should blame the FAI on how they run the league of Ireland with no players coming through for the future.
@Eoin Mulhern: he could at least try get them to play a wee bit of football. Not much to ask for.
@Kieran Doherty: You know most of are players are terrible and in their 30s.
@Eoin Mulhern: One bad game?! Which of the Denmark games do you think we were bad in?!
@Noel Ryan: exactly !! His football philosophy is prehistoric and I for one hate watching Ireland atm !!!
Not a hope will he get the job … odds made up by skybet on managerial vacancies to make money
@blueman79: Sure about that? he was pictured at Goodison with Kenwright during the week. So the rumours are not with foundation.
Jesus, Koeman would be sick especially if he steadies the ship. Strange one though, MON wasn’t exactly setting the club football scene alight before the Ireland gig.
@Brian: Two league cups with Leicester and a European Final with Celtic – he was fairly poor alright…. Typical shi*e
@The Grumpy Pundit: what are you on about? I’m obviously talking about his jobs directly before the Ireland gig. Thanks for pointing out the relevance of performances from 12+ years ago. Can you read?
@The Grumpy Pundit: when was that? Oh ya, over a decade ago. Football has moved on a wee bit since then…
@Brian: he had Aston villa coming 6/7th…where are they now..ya useless manager..
@Brian: … such as the 3 in a row 6th place finishes and European football for Aston Villa
@Brian: Sorry Brianeen – forgot about the horrible job he did with Villa – what was he at like? Kept them from winning the Prem. I’m sure if he was still over them they’d have been relegated to the Championship or something! Oh…. wait…..
@The Grumpy Pundit: the point is he hasn’t been relevant in club football in a long time and it’s changed drastically since he was a factor. That was a blindingly obvious point.
@Brian: not relevant a club level since taking the Irish job? He has a job and has gotten good results with the talent available to him.
@Brian: No – the point is that you need to stop listening to the drivel that Dunphy spouts and actually think logically about things. Football’s not a crazy difficult game and there’s only soany ways it can evolve. An eye for a player and the ability to motivate them will go a long way whether you’re playing a sweeper keeper or a false 9.
Thank Christ.
If he gets offered it. Take it. Though I would be shocked if he was the new Everton Gaffer
Mood has changed. Maybe in the media where they have to write something everyday. But anyone who knows anything about football knows he has done a good job.
The merry-go-round goes on.
Wonder what would become of Keano then!
@Enda S: the Republic of Ireland manager. Can easily see it happening.
Personally I would love home to take it and give the national squad to Keane it’s the natural step why have him as number 2.