O'Neill Satisfied With Season Start

Martin O'Neill has revealed he is more than happy with our start to the season, despite our blips.

Yes I am obsessed with our blips, there's no good reason why our losses to Stoke, Newcastle and Boro couldn't have gifted us a further 9 points, and had that have happened I think O'Neill would've been a bit more than happy with the start to the season....I know I would've been.

Anyway, it's quite phenomenal to think that already we have played 7 more competative games than we had done by this time last season and we still have a small squad by most comparisons so the blips are almost to be expected, but that doesn't mean I like them.

Speaking to the Mail, our manager said:

"I am satisfied with our start, 12 games and 20 points, absolutely. If we we are good enough to have qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, that is something you put aside until February, and think about it.

"But the extra 10 games we will have played this year by Christmas is a lot of games and we have been at it for a fairly lengthy time.

"Whether it eventually catches up with you we will have to look at that and try and guard against it."

Along with the obvious has the 'bubble burst' comments we have received after our on the trot defeats, many are also bringing in the tiredness aspect and whether or not we have the players, options and depth to maintain a challenge on so many fronts.

O'Neill seems happy enough that we can, and we do have players in reserve who should be used more than they have been so far. Should O'Neill start doing that then players will not get fatigued as quickly and the situation can be addressed in January.

What we certainly don't want to happen is players tire, well let's face it, they lose form because they aren't mentally ready for so many games and come January we have slipped too far away to maintain our position.

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