The Martin O & # 39; Neill Forest Spell reveals similarities to the Irish fights

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The definition of insanity, they say, is to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

A horribly cliché phrase, certainly, but that is constantly applicable to the way certain managers see the game.

The stubbornness of José Mourinho led him to Manchester United unquestionably. Mauricio Sarri's inability to change his system has led to criticism from many Chelsea fans. Then there is the example of Martin O-Neill.

During the last year of his tenure with Ireland, O'Neill's negative tactics and reluctance to change his style caused him to be attacked before a string of terrible results led him to resign.

Martin O & # 39; Neill

Going forward for a few months and in his short time in Nottingham Forest, O'Neill's negative tactics and his reluctance to change his playing style caused him to stay under fire while a series of terrible results led to reports that he was about to to be fired.

The situations are strangely similar.

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Let's start with the general picture.

Since taking over the City Ground on January 15, O'Neill oversaw 16 games as a forest manager. He won five, drew three and lost eight with the club sitting 12th in the championship and out of the playoffs.

When Aitor Karanka was in charge, the owners were reportedly unhappy with the gameplay they were seeing from Forest, even though they were ninth and only a few points out of the top six.

Defeat for Sheffield United was their fourth defeat in the jump and they won only four points in their last six league games – only Bolton, the crisis club, picked up less in that period.

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Goals scored

Something that Irish fans watching on a team of Martin O & # 39; Neill are more than accustomed to.

During his last year with Boys in Green, Ireland found the net only four times in nine games, scoring just one goal on a single occasion and average of 0.4 goals per game.

It has not been as bad as Nottingham Forest, but since O'Neill arrived, his power in front of goal has dropped.

In 16 games in which he was in charge, Forest found the net on 17 occasions, just over one goal per game (1.06 to be exact). They only managed to score two or more goals on five occasions and win six blanks.

The game against Blackburn last week epitomized their fights. They had 22 shots, but they managed only one on target, a consolation goal from Ryan Yeates in a 2-1 loss.

If we look at the same period of time before he takes 16 games again, Forest scored 24 goals with Karanka. Seven more than under O'Neill, an increased average of 1.5 goals per game.

The lack of form of leading scorer Lewis Grabban certainly did not help his cause.

Grabban scored 14 goals before O'Neill's arrival but has only managed to score twice since the former Aston Villa manager took over City Ground and went in and out of the opening XI.

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Square pegs in round holes

A trademark of the last year of O & # 39; Neill's tenure was to play players in positions that simply did not match.

Conor Hourihane as midfield defender, James McClean as an occasional left-back and of course the most famous example, right-back Cyrus Christie in the midfield.

His experimental selections apparently fell into his Forest spell.

His usual left-back Jack Robinson, who had a strong debut season, has been favored occasionally by central defender O'Neill, most recently playing in the Blackburn loss.

What will also be familiar to the Irish fans was the reaction of the left-back to play out of position.

"I was a little surprised to find myself in the middle center again" he told Nottingham Live.

A confusing reaction to O'Neill asking you to play in an unfamiliar position? Where have we heard this before?

Handler Jack Colback has been the favorite in the last two games against Blackburn and Sheffield United by O'Neill, while Ben Osborne has played in four different positions since the former Irishman took over; left-back, left midfield, center-midfield and attacking midfield.

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Negative Tactics = Fan Revolt

A staple on the side of the O & # 39; eill Forest is playing with three defensive midfielders when all else fails. It has been a standard for him and Forest this season.

But in addition, his reluctance to play some of the most creative players is astounding. Take 13 million Portuguese to the highlight of João Carvalho.

He led Forest life relatively well, scoring three goals and clinching six assists in 26 of his 27 games before O'Neill arrived. Since then, he scored just one goal and played a total of ninety minutes, despite his difficulties in front of the goal.

Then there is the wonderful wonderkid Arvin Appiah. The 18-year-old is a minor international from England and has impressed in several appearances this season, but O & # 39; Neill is still clearly reluctant to throw him down deep, despite being the type of player that catches fans firmly behind his team.

Fans and the local media are starting to get tired of O'Neill's tactics as well.

In a column for advertiser Ilkeston, journalist Tom Head phoned O'Neill with a flawed appointment and said so about some of the former Irish boss's selections;

"The standard of football has been particularly appalling, which in itself could be forgiven for a new manager trying to get in and implement his own style. But O'Neill is apparently trying to commit his own acts of sabotage. One of our most creative players has been knocked over, and our 13 million pound mileage is now a punch to pull barbs off your butt. If Joao Carvalho spends more time in this bank, he will wipe out the skin worm. "

You just have to go on Twitter and watch the reaction of some of Forest's fans to today's result and the selection of the O Neill team to see if they are at the end.

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Time will tell how long O'Neill will reach the command of Nottingham Forest, but the warning signs are becoming strangely similar to those who created his ugly head during his time with Ireland.

Something simply has to change for him or it will be a disappointing end to a disappointing spell on the City Ground.

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