Martin O’Neill is a witty man.
Too many times he has to reassure us that he’s joking. His dry sense of humour is sometimes construed as a withering – even bizarre – response to a question. Then he has to follow it up with, “that was a joke”. Not always a good sign.
For the most part though, he’s generally funny.
Before the Scotland match in June, he had the media room in stitches. When he wants to be, the Derry man is a laugh-a-minute.
Now that Ireland have qualified for Euro 2016, the dark clouds have lifted, a pool of players have appeared from nowhere and the country is excited in the build-up to France, O’Neill is relaxed. He’s ribbing players, journalists and staff members and he’s choosing to answer questions he doesn’t want to with a witticism. Or an attempt at it.
There’s a buzz around the place – the way it should be. The way it wasn’t back in 2012.
In his Sunday Independent column, Stephen Hunt gave a brilliant insight into the mood surrounding the camp back then.
“We began to realise that the familiarity we had with Trap’s ways bred something which, if it wasn’t contempt, could be mistaken for boredom,” he wrote. “The moment we arrived in Montecatini to begin our build-up to the European Championships, it was clear that time was going to drag.
“It might have dragged anyway. One problem with the European Championships was something we could do nothing about. By the time the summer came around, Trap had been manager for four years. We knew everything about him and he knew everything about us, or he had an idea of what we could do and couldn’t do and he wouldn’t budge from it.
“We knew what the training sessions would be and we knew what they wouldn’t be.”
Now, it’s all change.
Now, two of the best and most respected people of Irish sport are at the head of the camp and they’re in good form. There’s a seriously good vibe around Abbotstown and the Aviva. Most of the players in the squad are playing regular football, they’re confident, they’ve achieved something together and they have two legends overseeing the operation who are enjoying themselves too.
On Wednesday, O’Neill said that he demoted Jack Byrne back to the under-21s for boasting. He also joked about goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh feeding him information and the manager choosing to ignore it accordingly. He’s in that kind of mood.
And, with the topics that were thrown at him during Thursday’s pre-Switzerland press conference, he carried on his carry on.
Good Friday drinks
On Friday, the Aviva Stadium is one of the few places where alcoholic beverages can be purchased. The question was put to O’Neill, would he rather people watch his match or not.
– “Would you want them to watch the game or stay in the bar?” the question came.
– “What do you think?” the response was.
And he continued.
"Are you saying people want to come here because it's the only place they can get a drink?
Mmm
I was wondering why my family wanted to come"— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 24, 2016
Phone goes off
When the communications manager’s phone went off, he politely cleared the room as soon as possible and dealt with the call. O’Neill was reminded that it was his second last day. Cut him a bit of slack and all that.
“It might be his last day,” he quipped.
Nudging O’Shea into retirement
“One or two of the senior players – not including John – will be finishing this year,” the manager pondered post-tournament Ireland with John O’Shea sitting by his side. “Or perhaps including John.”
Advice for Jack Byrne
Simple.
Martin O'Neill offers Jack Byrne advice ahead of Ireland's under-21 game with Italy:
"Don't be so cocky" pic.twitter.com/WCP1vRLmRe
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 24, 2016
WAGs
A misguided attempt at humour when asked whether he will allow wives and girlfriends at the tournament or not.
“Well, it depends on how good looking the girls are. If they are really attractive, they’re very, very welcome. The uglier ones, I’m afraid not.”
The last question
“It’s a real surprise that you’re the last man to ask a question,” he went for a bit of sarcasm. “We had a bet on it. John and I had a bet on it. Honestly. And I won. By a distance. John gave me 8/11. Unbelievable. I took it by a mile, won by a distance.”
