Saidy Janko thanked Nottingham Forest on Instagram after announcing his return to FC Porto, but some supporters spotted a parting shot at Martin O’Neill in his short message. The 23-year-old said: “Big thanks to @officialnffc staff, players and supporters for a decent season. A club with huge potential which belongs in the prem with the right guidance..”
tiegan_oliver: “It’s okay many of us agree with the last part ????”
_nottz.eyre_: “Lets hope you come back cause every game you’ve played it has been a good performance also love the dig at O’Neil”
rileysnffc: “Loving the dig at O’Neill with that last part”
deblee11: “Yes, with the right guidance as it doesn’t have now! Spot on!????????????”
jaredarcher00: “Janko is team oneill out. Read the caption ahahahah”
Janko’s comment about “the right guidance…” is clearly insinuating that Forest don’t have the right guidance to win them promotion – Martin O’Neill as manager. Given the Swiss u21 international struggled for playing time under the Reds boss, it wouldn’t be a surprise that the pair didn’t see eye to eye. Janko was behind Tendayi Darikwa and Sam Byram in the pecking order.
Forest fell someway short of reaching the Championship playoffs this season, finishing three places and eight points adrift of sixth-placed Derby County. The Reds won their last three games of the campaign, but their form in 2019 was a problem – only six sides had lost more games (9) and Forest averaged only 1.43 points-per-game. O’Neill’s record has been scrutinised, but it appears he’ll get a full season to try again.
Janko may not be open to returning… He made only 13 Championship starts during his season-long loan spell, the last of which came against Rotherham United on April 6.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
‘An honour to represent this club’ – midfielder sends message after leaving Nottingham Forest
