Chris Sutton has described BT Sport colleague Stephen Craigan and Michael Stewart as clueless.
After Ireland’s defeat from Denmark in midweek Martin O’Neill was under attack from all angles with Sutton springing to his defence.
A month earlier the Ireland boss had put on a master-class performance to beat Wales to clinch a play-off spot but after the Danes won 5-1 in Dublin there seemed to be no hiding place.
Almost every aspect of Ireland’s performance, and O’Neill’s tactics, were dissected.
Sutton played under O’Neill for Celtic and Aston Villa and was still defending his old gaffer in this morning’s Daily Record.
“Celtic are in safe hands with Rodgers and it’s the same for the Republic of Ireland with Martin O’Neill,” he stated. “I couldn’t believe some of the criticism of my old Parkhead boss.
“We are not on the phone every week and he doesn’t need me to fight his battles but for some to brand him clueless after losing to Denmark was absolutely outrageous.
“My BT Sport sparring partners Michael Stewart and Stephen Craigan got involved in the online debate and one of them even compared Martin to Ronny Deila. Now that really is clueless.
“Martin’s record over the years shows he’s been one of the most clued-up bosses in the game.
Ireland got stuffed by Denmark and there were probably things that could have been done differently but look at what he has done with the Republic.
“You could argue Scotland have a better squad than Ireland yet he took them to the Euros and then to the play-offs for the World Cup.
“People talk about his brand of football being boring but it’s called making the most of your resources. The folk who are pointing the finger are the ones who don’t have a clue.”
Before the October internationals it was announced that O’Neill and Roy Keane had signed new two year contracts.
That information has been altered to agreed to new contracts which puts a new light on the situation with public opinion in Ireland split over the future of their international manager.