Apart from the Pearce to Sven years it was always exciting!
My first game was 87/88 season, so missed Allison dismantling a decent side (although my dad maintains it was "his" team that got to the cup final in 81 under Bond) we got promoted 88/89 and we were decent under Reid after that.
So for me the soap opera started 93/94 with John Maddock and Brian Horton, Swales out, Lee in, Alan Ball football genius, timewasting against Liverpool when we needed another goal, Coppel in charge for about two weeks, Frank "Droopy" Clarke, Halcion days!
Joking apart it was never dull until Pearce, and as others have said it gives us a sense of perspective now. Still amazes me of all the fans, we get "Where were you when you were s**t from fans who weren't even there when they were decent.
I'm not angry it happened, that's football, for every one winner the rest are losers. The bin dippers haven't won a league title for example after dominating the 80's and having all the money. Newcastle yet to win a trophy in a generation.
For me what was important during those days was that we were there. We are a large part of the making of the club today. We could've become a Leeds, or a Sheffield club, after relegation in 98 but we came back more than ever. It felt like we had to be there as the club needed us most, and within two seasons we were back in the PL.
It's because of those days and how we rallied round the club that any jibes from rivals is like water off ducks back with me. Yes we were sh*t, we were effing laughable at times, but we were there!!
City til we die