for only the third time this season Martin O’Neill can celebrate a Premiership victory in his personal e-mail to Monsieur Salut but I’m sure that I’m not the only one who feels that there is little there that we couldn’t see for ourselves. Still on a freezing cold night, when McClean’s early strike calmed the beating hearts of the nervous and multiple layers kept the chill at bay we’ll forgive him for that. With a tricky set of fixtures in the offing let’s rejoice with the Boss.
Dear Colin,
It was a great performance, very spirited. We scored three good goals and we won the game convincingly.
The early goal was very important because recently we’ve been chasing games and sometimes we’ve given ourselves mountains to climb.
It was great to score early. I thought there were signs that James [McClean] is returning to the form we’ve seen from him before.
Steven Fletcher was magnificent. He had no training whatsoever this week and for him to start the game for us was great, but to complete the game was even better – I wasn’t expecting him to do that!
I thought he may last until half-time. He’s a fine player and he is so important for us.
I wonder where we’d be without his goals at this point. He’s done exceptionally well and I’m delighted with him.
Having him back in the side gave the dressing room a big boost. He’s a popular player, quiet but popular with the team – he’ll be even more popular tonight.
The fans were absolutely terrific. Of course they were apprehensive and nervous about the game, but they were very supportive.
If we can give that effort and commitment every week at the Stadium of Light the crowd will stay with us.
All the best,
Martin O’Neill
Fletcher might not be have to be virtually our only source of goals if O”Neill ensured that he had a decent strike partner. If Sessegnon is a striker, Freddie Flintoff is the next Ali!
I accept that O’Neill has inherited a very poor squad. I also think that his selections and tactics have significantly contributed to our present precarious position.
He [ O’Neill ] needs to work hard in the January window – priorities – right back, centre half, creative midfieder and a back-up striker.
“Steven Fletcher… I wonder where we’d be without his goals at this point.”
I’m sure MON knows exactly where we’d be….
Right – let’s get rid of O’neill whilst he’s still on a high !!
Joking apart , that was a very good win against a Reading team who aren’t half as bad as their league position suggests .
We are the only team to have beaten them by a 3 goal margin , they have lost by 2 goals just to Spurs at home and Chelsea away . the rest of their losses has been by 1 goal . At home they scored 3 against Man Utd , beat Everton 2 – 1 and were extremely unlucky only to draw 2 -2 with those funny folk down the road
So 3 – 0 was an excellent result
Three well taken goals. Good to see McClean back on the scoresheet and looking in better form.
We seemed to be picking up injuries all over the pitch tonight.
Reading never looked like threatening our goal until the very last stages. I thought we played OK if not a bit scrappy at times.
I still think that sometimes crosses were coming in and we simply didn’t have enough bodies in and around the box. Although we did break at speed sometimes.
Rose played excellent and I thought O Shea did very well too. AJ was OK. Encouraging signs. Fletch was good as usual.