SOTC Warnock.

[Mr Popodopolous]

11 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Djorkaef, Anelko, Hierro, Gudjohnson, etc

 

(you’re too quick Mr P)

They were a good save on Football Manager.

My take on them, although I was establish in football then Dave was a lot saw them vs Top sides on Sky or similar where yes they could be more reductive or counter attacking.  Probably 50/50 at times technique v physical ie 5 of each or 4 and 6 perhaps.

Therefore this reputation helped by the media grew. Ultimately for 4 years in their prime that mix, they were a Top 3rd side on a bottom 3rd budget which is quite remarkable.

Big Sam but for budgetary constraints looked to be building something again at Blackburn, summer 2010 linked with Guti and Raul (aging but skilful to add to the solid base), but instead got Mame Diouf and some other random- along come Venkys who probably could help him do so, they sack him, talk about unwarranted! Unlucky too. 6 months further back and who knows.

Edited Friday at 00:21 by Mr Popodopolous

[Fpcity]

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

And Allardyce had some real flair at Bolton too.

Wasn't he also the first manager here to use video analysis or something? 

[Never to the dark side]

Thought that was Alan Dicks circa 1977?

[ChippenhamRed]

On 24/12/2024 at 10:33, SODS_LAW said:

 

It’s crazy to think about how far we’ve come. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 23 years, and in the early days, we were a League One team struggling to get out of the play-offs, with 9-11,000 fans a week in a run-down stadium.

Now, we’re a solid Championship side with over 20,000 fans each week, and the Lansdowns have transformed the club massively. Yet, so many people seem to think we have a divine right to be a top Championship or Premier League team just because clubs like Brentford and Brighton have managed it.

The progress we’ve made isn’t bad at all, and some need to appreciate just how far we’ve come.

Mind you most on here can’t see that and there is not point in even trying to explain it, like banging your head against a brick wall!

I’m incredibly late replying to this but sod it here we go.

”How far we’ve come”???????!!!!!!

We are the 10th biggest city in the country. We have bounced between the second and third tier for FORTY YEARS. Just before that period in League One you mention, we’d been in the second tier. So our progress on the pitch has been minimal. There are generations of City fans like me in their forties now who have never seen us achieve anything of note. We still hark back to winning a game against Hartlepool in 2004, or Crystal Palace in 2008 because we’ve got so little else. We didn’t even get promoted after those games.

Do we have a “divine right” to be promoted? Not at all.

Might we reasonably have expected a club of our size, in a city of our size, to have at least matched the achievements of Huddersfield, Barnsley, Wigan, Bournemouth, Swansea, Cardiff, Swindon, Brentford, Blackpool, Luton, Hull, QPR, Burnley and Brighton…and actually played in the Premier League at least once? Yes, I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all. And I think the fact that we’ve never managed it makes us one of the most pathetically underachieving clubs in the UK, and some of the most long suffering fans in the country.

Yes, our stadium is greatly improved and our attendances have increased. But most stadiums have improved in the last 25 years. And no football fan lies on their deathbed thinking about attendances. They think about the great seasons, the crowning achievements…and we’ve had fewer than pretty much any club of comparable size.

If you’re satisfied with what this club has served up for decades then good luck to you. I’m not.

[The turtle]

7 hours ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

I only remember Okocha being flairy in that team I’d have to take a look.

Hierro

Campo 

Djorkaeff

Anelka

Speed (may not have quite the name, but had flair)

Gardner (I had to look him up as could picture him but not the name)

........

Gudjohnson*** I'm not sure how often they played with the above!!

 

They were the mid naughties version of mid 10s hipsters Portugal side.

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

2 hours ago, Never to the dark side said:

Thought that was Alan Dicks circa 1977?

Yes, Tony Collins was the first to use it.

[pongo88]

He’s at Ashton Gate in September and is going to make some money from it. The unreserved seats are £41 and the unreserved seats + meet and greet are £85. That’s an extra £44 for a 30 minute chat and a photograph!

https://www.fane.co.uk/neil-warnock

 

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, The turtle said:

Hierro

Campo 

Djorkaeff

Anelka

Speed (may not have quite the name, but had flair)

Gardner (I had to look him up as could picture him but not the name)

........

Gudjohnson*** I'm not sure how often they played with the above!!

 

They were the mid naughties version of mid 10s hipsters Portugal side.

 

 

I wasn’t inferring they all played in same team btw, just that Allardyce had some “flair” players, certainly not cloggers. And the cloggers like Campo could play too. 

[Chairman Mao]

No mention of the true maestro when discussing early 00s Bolton, Nicky Hunt?

[ChippenhamRed]

On 24/12/2024 at 10:48, SODS_LAW said:

I understand the points being made, but how many teams have really progressed further than us, aside from the ones I mentioned? Yes, there’s been wasted money, but it’s Lansdown’s money. I saw people today calling for Lansdown to leave, but do they honestly think there’s someone else out there willing to invest in the club like he has? It feels like this place is full of teenagers with no understanding of how the real world works. There isn’t another person out there who would spend the kind of money Lansdown has to keep the club stable. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a wealthy owner who’s also a fan of the club!

“How many teams have really progressed further than us?” Loads actually.

It’s not just about “progression”, it’s about actually achieving something. I’d swap with plenty of teams sitting below us now who have actually enjoyed exciting times at their club. Going up the mountain and coming back down again is a hell of a lot more interesting than staying at base camp forever.

All of these clubs are comparable with our own…

1. Brentford. Smaller club, smaller stadium, fewer resources. Established in the Premier League.

2. Brighton. Similar size club and fanbase, and came from a much lower starting point.

3. Ipswich. Passed us on the way up into the Premier League.

4. Bournemouth. Perennial lower league team, tiny stadium. Passed us on the way up, established in the Prem, nick all our best players.

5. Burnley. Substantial spells in the Prem, now consistent promotion challengers.

6. Sheffield United. In L1 more recently than us, been in the Prem twice since, now challenging again.

7. Swansea. Nearly fell out of the league altogether, made it to the Prem, won the league cup and played in Europe.

8. Stoke City. Enjoyed a long spell in Premier League

9. Cardiff City. Struggling currently, sure, but they’ve been promoted out of the Championship twice.

10. Hull. Also currently struggling, but got promoted to the Prem at our expense and once again since.

11. Luton. Made it to the Premier League all the way from the bottom, passed us on the way there.

Amazed how many people think our neverending mediocrity is something to celebrate. I consider myself very unfortunate to be a City fan in my 40s.

[Mr Popodopolous]

17 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

“How many teams have really progressed further than us?” Loads actually.

It’s not just about “progression”, it’s about actually achieving something. I’d swap with plenty of teams sitting below us now who have actually enjoyed exciting times at their club. Going up the mountain and coming back down again is a hell of a lot more interesting than staying at base camp forever.

All of these clubs are comparable with our own…

1. Brentford. Smaller club, smaller stadium, fewer resources. Established in the Premier League.

2. Brighton. Similar size club and fanbase, and came from a much lower starting point.

3. Ipswich. Passed us on the way up into the Premier League.

4. Bournemouth. Perennial lower league team, tiny stadium. Passed us on the way up, established in the Prem, nick all our best players.

5. Burnley. Substantial spells in the Prem, now consistent promotion challengers.

6. Sheffield United. In L1 more recently than us, been in the Prem twice since, now challenging again.

7. Swansea. Nearly fell out of the league altogether, made it to the Prem, won the league cup and played in Europe.

8. Stoke City. Enjoyed a long spell in Premier League

9. Cardiff City. Struggling currently, sure, but they’ve been promoted out of the Championship twice.

10. Hull. Also currently struggling, but got promoted to the Prem at our expense and once again since.

11. Luton. Made it to the Premier League all the way from the bottom, passed us on the way there.

Amazed how many people think our neverending mediocrity is something to celebrate. I consider myself very unfortunate to be a City fan in my 40s.

Two or three caveats to add there albeit I agree with a lot of your post.

1. Brentford, Brighton and Swansea all had very distinct models albeit Bloom had put a lot into the 2nd.

I digress on Brighton especially, it is worth noting that their Promotion in 2010-11 coincided with the Amex- that can give huge momentum in all areas not least as Turnover and Crowds went up a factor of 2.5-3 year on year.

Check us from 2014-15 to 2015-16, was nothing of the sort.

2. You neglect to mention the flagrant breach of FFP in 2014-15 by Bournemouth which got a mere few million fine. Under £10m fine, at a time it was so easy to do so.

2. Burnley are now vastly underpinned by Parachute and PL cash. The initial Promotion- Playoffs- combined with generally excellent Governance, set the ball rolling. Their brief Eddie Howe era aside, wasn't a good fit.

Excellent on and off pitch, they built up a huge Cash Surplus. Their gateway promotion came on the crest of a wave in 2008-09 beating a number of PL sides enroute to the League Cup semi final.

3. Sheffield United are a bigger club and when a bigger club get on the crest of a wave they can plough through the 2 middle divisions. Perfect storm type thing.

4. Stoke capitalised when the iron was hot, big time- we were in the same Promotion race but we hesitated! They won, we lost.

Cardiff and Hull, Promotion 1 we recall, Hull had Parachute or PL cash from 2008-09 to 2018-19 unbroken. Cardiff 2013-14 to 2020-21 unbroken but Cardiff especially spent big when easy to do so, pre FFP.

Edited Friday at 12:52 by Mr Popodopolous

[One Team]

16 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

“How many teams have really progressed further than us?” Loads actually.

It’s not just about “progression”, it’s about actually achieving something. I’d swap with plenty of teams sitting below us now who have actually enjoyed exciting times at their club. Going up the mountain and coming back down again is a hell of a lot more interesting than staying at base camp forever.

All of these clubs are comparable with our own…

1. Brentford. Smaller club, smaller stadium, fewer resources. Established in the Premier League.

2. Brighton. Similar size club and fanbase, and came from a much lower starting point.

3. Ipswich. Passed us on the way up into the Premier League.

4. Bournemouth. Perennial lower league team, tiny stadium. Passed us on the way up, established in the Prem, nick all our best players.

5. Burnley. Substantial spells in the Prem, now consistent promotion challengers.

6. Sheffield United. In L1 more recently than us, been in the Prem twice since, now challenging again.

7. Swansea. Nearly fell out of the league altogether, made it to the Prem, won the league cup and played in Europe.

8. Stoke City. Enjoyed a long spell in Premier League

9. Cardiff City. Struggling currently, sure, but they’ve been promoted out of the Championship twice.

10. Hull. Also currently struggling, but got promoted to the Prem at our expense and once again since.

11. Luton. Made it to the Premier League all the way from the bottom, passed us on the way there.

Amazed how many people think our neverending mediocrity is something to celebrate. I consider myself very unfortunate to be a City fan in my 40s.

Great post! 

Even putting to one side the ridiculous decision making, communication and crass comments (“it’s my club”) I am staggered any City fan still backs Lansdown.

Great stadium, training set up and facilities yes, but much of the football related aspects over the last 20 years are laced with a lack of achievement, put into stark contrast with your summary. 

I know people will always say “be careful what you wish for”, but surely it’s time for a change rather than another 20 years of mediocrity? 

5 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Two or three caveats to add there albeit I agree with a lot of your post.

1. Brentford, Brighton and Swansea all had very distinct models albeit Bloom had put a lot into the 2nd.

I digress on Brighton especially, it is worth noting that their Promotion in 2010-11 coincided with the Amex- that can give huge momentum in all areas not least as Turnover and Crowds went up a factor of 2.5-3 year on year.

Check us from 2014-15 to 2015-16, was nothing of the sort.

2. You neglect to mention the flagrant breach of FFP in 2014-15 by Bournemouth which got a mere few million fine. Under £10m fine, at a time it was so easy to do so.

2. Burnley are now vastly underpinned by Parachute and PL cash. The initial Promotion- Playoffs- combined with generally excellent Governance, set the ball rolling. Their brief Eddie Howe era aside, wasn't a good fit.

Excellent on and off pitch, they built up a huge Cash Surplus. Their gateway promotion came on the crest of a wave in 2008-09 beating a number of PL sides enroute to the League Cup semi final.

3. Sheffield United are a bigger club and when a bigger club get on the crest of a wave they can plough through the 2 middle divisions. Perfect storm type thing.

4. Stoke capitalised when the iron was hot, big time- we were in the same Promotion race but we hesitated! They won, we lost.

Cardiff and Hull, Promotion 1 we recall, Hull had Parachute or PL cash from 2008-09 to 2018-19 unbroken. Cardiff 2013-14 to 2020-21 unbroken but Cardiff especially spent big when easy to do so, pre FFP.

Great additions to the point Mr P!

[RollsRoyce]

40 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

“How many teams have really progressed further than us?” Loads actually.

It’s not just about “progression”, it’s about actually achieving something. I’d swap with plenty of teams sitting below us now who have actually enjoyed exciting times at their club. Going up the mountain and coming back down again is a hell of a lot more interesting than staying at base camp forever.

All of these clubs are comparable with our own…

1. Brentford. Smaller club, smaller stadium, fewer resources. Established in the Premier League.

2. Brighton. Similar size club and fanbase, and came from a much lower starting point.

3. Ipswich. Passed us on the way up into the Premier League.

4. Bournemouth. Perennial lower league team, tiny stadium. Passed us on the way up, established in the Prem, nick all our best players.

5. Burnley. Substantial spells in the Prem, now consistent promotion challengers.

6. Sheffield United. In L1 more recently than us, been in the Prem twice since, now challenging again.

7. Swansea. Nearly fell out of the league altogether, made it to the Prem, won the league cup and played in Europe.

8. Stoke City. Enjoyed a long spell in Premier League

9. Cardiff City. Struggling currently, sure, but they’ve been promoted out of the Championship twice.

10. Hull. Also currently struggling, but got promoted to the Prem at our expense and once again since.

11. Luton. Made it to the Premier League all the way from the bottom, passed us on the way there.

Amazed how many people think our neverending mediocrity is something to celebrate. I consider myself very unfortunate to be a City fan in my 40s.

We are just a bit better than where we historically have been 

Our 50 year average league position is 38th in the league ladder, and our position last year was 31st . So yes it is true after 20 years, a lot of millions, the Lansdown family have moved us up 7 places.

But during those years, Brentford go from a 50 year average of 47 th to 11 th , Bournemouth 48 th to 6 th, Fulham 31 st to 8th , Brighton 34th to 10th etc, yet there are titans that have fallen, Boro 16 th to  27th WBA 17th to 28th. 

 

[REDOXO]

It’s all very interesting. Like many I was in my 20s in 82 so I have lived the whole damn lot

For the sake of my curiosity how many of the clubs that have “bye passed” us have previously gone bust?
 

 

Edited Friday at 23:28 by REDOXO