RLB SMASH FORMER NOTHING FOREST LEGEND FOR CALLING SUNDERLAND “NEARLY-MEN.” PUBLICLY ON HIS PRESS CONFERENCE INTERVIEW. THIS IS TERRIFYING
Regis Le Bris hits back at premier league legend over ‘nearly-men’ jibe at Sunderland
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has issued a sharp and unexpected response to former England and Nottingham Forest legend Martin O’Neill, after the ex-midfielder publicly labelled the Black Cats “nearly-men” during a punditry appearance on Sky Sports. The remark immediately circulated across social media, sparking heated debate among fans and pundits.
But the main point of today’s story came during Sunderland’s scheduled press conference, where Le Bris strongly dismissed O’Neill’s claim, calling it “lazy analysis” and insisting the club is “far from a nearly-men project” but rather “a team built on long-term structure, development and ambition, not shortcuts or nostalgia”.
Le Bris’ reaction was unusually firm for a manager known for his calm and measured public tone. The 48-year-old Frenchman, who joined Sunderland with a reputation for youth development and tactical innovation, took time to address the remark at length after being asked about it by a BBC Sport reporter. He said that while he respected O’Neill’s legendary career, the assessment did not reflect the reality of Sunderland’s ongoing rebuild under new sporting leadership.
“I understand the history and I respect the man,” Le Bris said. “But to call Sunderland ‘nearly-men’ is an idea that belongs to the past, not to what we are building today. This club has changed direction, changed culture and changed identity. We are not a team stumbling at the final step. We are a team learning, growing and climbing. And when you look closely, you see progress, not failure.”
The Sunderland boss went on to defend the club’s record over the past two seasons, pointing out significant improvements in squad structure, recruitment strategy and competitive consistency. “You cannot compare where Sunderland were three, four, or five years ago to where we are today,” he continued. “The work done by the club, by the players and by the staff deserves recognition, not reduction to a simplistic tag.”
O’Neill’s comment had initially been made during a conversation about teams capable of challenging for promotion. While analysing recent setbacks involving Sunderland, he remarked that “the story always feels familiar they get close, they excite people, but they don’t finish the job.” The phrasing quickly spread across social networks, with supporters split between dismissing the comment and embracing it as motivation.
Le Bris was clearly aware of that debate and took care to emphasise that such commentary can shape public perception unfairly. “Words matter,” he said. “Supporters hear these things. Players hear these things. And when someone of Martin’s stature speaks, it carries weight. But weight should be accompanied by accuracy.”
The Frenchman also highlighted the level of competition within the Championship, suggesting that comparisons with O’Neill’s era were not appropriate. “The league is a different world today,” he added. “The financial gaps, the tactical profiles, the intensity everything has evolved. In this environment, progress is measured over seasons, not single moments.”
Supporters of the Black Cats quickly rallied behind their manager. Online reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Le Bris for standing up for the club and challenging what they viewed as outdated narratives. Some fans pointed out that Sunderland’s resurgence after years of relegations, managerial instability and financial uncertainty should be seen as one of the strongest rebuilds in modern English football outside the Premier League.
A number of pundits also supported Le Bris’ stance, arguing that Sunderland’s long-term recruitment model, built around young and developing players, naturally involves fluctuations in performance. BBC pundit Pat Nevin said, “When you choose development over expensive shortcuts, you will have ups and downs. That doesn’t make you nearly-men it makes you a club that’s building something sustainable.”
Others, however, defended O’Neill, stating that the phrase was not meant as an insult but as a shorthand description of Sunderland’s recent playoff disappointments. “Martin speaks plainly,” said former Premier League forward Chris Sutton. “He’s old-school and he doesn’t sugar-coat things. I don’t think he meant it maliciously.”
O’Neill himself has not yet responded directly to Le Bris’ comments, though those close to him have indicated that he was surprised by the scale of the reaction. The former Forest star, who also enjoyed spells with Norwich City, Manchester City, Notts County and Fulham, has long been known for his straightforward and sometimes blunt assessments of clubs’ psychological barriers in high-pressure moments.
For now, Sunderland’s focus remains firmly on their campaign. Club insiders have suggested that Le Bris did not intend to escalate tensions but simply wanted to challenge a narrative he viewed as inaccurate. “The manager believes in this project,” one source told BBC Sport. “He doesn’t want people rewriting the story.”
Whether O’Neill chooses to clarify his remarks or stand by them, the exchange has already become one of the most discussed football talking points of the week. And for Sunderland supporters, it may end up serving as an unexpected rallying cry one that reinforces the message Le Bris wanted to deliver: this is not a club defined by what it almost achieves, but by what it is steadily becoming.
