Alan Ball: Did Franny Lee Really Think He Would Bring Trophies?

[Citizen of Legoland]

I’m no John Bond disciple but let’s remember in 81-82 we had a very good squad but were decimated by long term injuries - Power and Gow out for long periods, Tueart in a rich vein of form out since November, Trevor Francis only playing half the games etc - it ended up being too much and post Christmas was I agree pretty poor.
And then the money ran out and 82-83 we ended up with such stellar players like Bodak, Chris Jones, Hariede etc.
So I think you’re being harsh on Bond - some of the worst City performances I’ve ever seen came under Benson.

That is very true. When judging managers it’s not always about how good or bad they are, but also why or how they got the job in the first place. He just had no history of success and shouldn’t have been given the job but we know Swales was a poor judge of suitable people for the role. Bond was too similar to Allison but without the cups to back him up. It was a bad choice to employ someone like that and it hampered us for years. Benson of course was dreadful but he wouldn’t have got the job if Bond hadn’t been there first.

After us he went to Burnley and he couldn’t even return there later on after police advised him not to go, they really don’t rate him there.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

From expectation to desperation.

Then desperation to stark realisation :(

 

[Irish Blue82]

The sale of Coton to bring in a totally useless, past it German keeper was a huge error. I will never forgive Immel for Giggs goal in the 2-3 home Derby.
Other useless twats were Frontzeck, Creaney, Phillips, Kavilashvili and Clough.
What a 12 months of destruction.

If you watch that goal back, Keith Curle points and tells Giggs to shoot, such was the angle he didn't think he could score. He obviously forgot that it was Immel and not Coton in goals!

 

[bluemanchester]

Can someone talk more about Allison as a manager? It was before my time and nobody ever seems to talk about the total fuck up that he was without Mercer. All I really know is that he was a bit of a Big Time Charlie and in his two spells he alienated a lot of people. Is that a fair reflection?

Yes;-)

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

If you watch that goal back, Keith Curle points and tells Giggs to shoot, such was the angle he didn't think he could score. He obviously forgot that it was Immel and not Coton in goals!

That derby was such a bitter disappointment to me. Ball put out a ridiculous line up (dropped top scorer to the bench for a derby?! Brought him on then made him play on the wing) and played a weird formation. Despite that, City still managed to come from behind twice, only to basically gift them a winning goal with the foolish "invitation" to shoot.

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

This thread has certainly taken me back to the unhinged rule of the high pitched football genius.

To say those were disappointing days really doesn't cover the trauma of us getting worse and worse whilst the rags swept up. There was just so much optimism when perma tanned Franny swept out the Cuban heeled dictator. No pain, no gain....

The 90s were a very atypical decade for us. Still, at least the story's had a happy ending. ;-)

Yes I remember those days vividly, I was growing up in a heavily Man Utd supporting place, and they never ceased to rub their gratuitous success in my face as we struggled comedically. But it didn't matter to me. To me, those days will always be defiantly supporting your team no matter what, daydreaming of breaking a trophy drought, and the wailing drones of Oasis on the CD player, tuning into the soul of fellow struggling City fans.

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

That parallel world doesn't even bare thinking about. I remember sat on my seat at Wembley punching fuck out of it and thinking 'This is it, we're not coming back as a club from here'. It was without doubt,one of worst moments in my life. Within minutes that changed to one of(if not the) greatest moments. I don't know what the fuck Lee was playing at appointing Ball, but it set the club back over a decade. Not doing too bad now though hey ;-)

I remember seeing an interview on Granada (I think) shortly after City won against Gillingham and Howard Bernstein basically said TLDR that if City hadn't won that day, it was curtains financially for the club. Not beyond the realms of possibility City could have gone the way of Burnley, Wolves, or Swansea i.e., drop to the fourth flight.

 

[bluegaz13]

It’s only an opinion so no need to get your knickers in a twist. I must admit I forgot about Pearce as I was concentrating on the shambles around the 80s and 90s. Poyser and Saunders were before my time anyway and I did clarify that I wasn’t including those outside of that.

If you’re happy with Bond’s record then fine, but I think he was the wrong solution. He won fuck all as a manager, anywhere, before or after. He sold players like Lee Dixon & Dean Saunders in his management career when they were youngsters and no doubt brought in replacement players nearing their retirement. I said it was a controversial opinion seeing as he got us to a cup final and two mid-table finishes and his win percentage is quite decent.

Wasn’t a big fan of Bond….but turned City round very quickly at the end of 1980.

He was probably a short term manager, choosing experience over youth, but we played some great football on our way to the 81 Cup final.

He had a big ego….(just like Allison) but selling one of Alison’s better signings (Mackenzie) to finance the signing of his son did him no favours with the fans.

 

[Irish Blue82]

That derby was such a bitter disappointment to me. Ball put out a ridiculous line up (dropped top scorer to the bench for a derby?! Brought him on then made him play on the wing) and played a weird formation. Despite that, City still managed to come from behind twice, only to basically gift them a winning goal with the foolish "invitation" to shoot.

If I remember correctly they gifted all 3 goals. The first was a penalty from a reckless nicky Summerbee tackle. City managed an equaliser only for to go behind literally a minute later when Cole went through unchallenged and then the ridiculous Giggs goal!

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I’ve said this before, but it deserves repeating on this thread.

Ball wasn’t our worst ever manager. That has to be John Benson. By loads of different metrics.

Yeah. He should have stuck to selling beds, the useless ****.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

I remember seeing an interview on Granada (I think) shortly after City won against Gillingham and Howard Bernstein basically said TLDR that if City hadn't won that day, it was curtains financially for the club. Not beyond the realms of possibility City could have gone the way of Burnley, Wolves, or Swansea i.e., drop to the fourth flight.

Yeah, I've heard since we were doomed if Dickov hadn't scored that goal. Would we be here now looking back on the last 14 years of success if that goal hadn't gone in? Who knows, but its doubtful.

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

Yeah, I've heard since we were doomed if Dickov hadn't scored that goal. Would we be here now looking back on the last 14 years of success if that goal hadn't gone in? Who knows, but its doubtful.

I agree, hard to see how City could have attracted a billionaire oil sheikh as a fourth flight outfit. Yes, Ryan Reynolds took over Wrexham, so it can theoretically happen, but I wouldn't have banked on it.

 

[WestGorton]

Ball had Europe qualifying form for two thirds of the season but it was the first third.......

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

If I remember correctly they gifted all 3 goals. The first was a penalty from a reckless nicky Summerbee tackle. City managed an equaliser only for to go behind literally a minute later when Cole went through unchallenged and then the ridiculous Giggs goal!

Yes it was cringeworthy. Two City players also ran into each other and lost possession needlessly in the immediate run up the Giggs winning goal.

 

[OnlyOneUweRosler]

Ball had Europe qualifying form for two thirds of the season but it was the first third.......

I've never been a believer that it was all down to how City started the season. While the first ten games were atrocious, City were still pretty dire all season.

 

[LongsightM13]

Don’t ask me how but I somehow found myself in the boardroom seats at Stoke away, a miserable defeat. Ball had been their manager and they despised him. So they rejoiced at his imminent downfall
That was the game when Franny decided to sack him, 3/4 games into the new season maybe?
Went for a piss in the posh bogs and when I came out, Franny was in the corridor offering Stoke’s manager Lou Macari the City job
At least the chippy merchant had the decency to decline, given his obvious history with the odd lot
Love Franny as a player but Ball and Macari?
Daft **** not only couldn’t pick a decent manager, but almost seems like he was trolling City fans

 

[LongsightM13]

Ball had Europe qualifying form for two thirds of the season but it was the first third.......

That was when the senior players decided to ignore him

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Don’t ask me how but I somehow found myself in the boardroom seats at Stoke away, a miserable defeat. Ball had been their manager and they despised him. So they rejoiced at his imminent downfall
That was the game when Franny decided to sack him, 3/4 games into the new season maybe?
Went for a piss in the posh bogs and when I came out, Franny was in the corridor offering Stoke’s manager Lou Macari the City job
At least the chippy merchant had the decency to decline, given his obvious history with the odd lot
Love Franny as a player but Ball and Macari?
Daft **** not only couldn’t pick a decent manager, but almost seems like he was trolling City fans

Jesus christ! The mind boggles. Cups for absolute brain farts.

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Don’t ask me how but I somehow found myself in the boardroom seats at Stoke away, a miserable defeat. Ball had been their manager and they despised him. So they rejoiced at his imminent downfall
That was the game when Franny decided to sack him, 3/4 games into the new season maybe?
Went for a piss in the posh bogs and when I came out, Franny was in the corridor offering Stoke’s manager Lou Macari the City job
At least the chippy merchant had the decency to decline, given his obvious history with the odd lot
Love Franny as a player but Ball and Macari?
Daft **** not only couldn’t pick a decent manager, but almost seems like he was trolling City fans

Macari may have also looked at what a mess the club was in at the time. Certainly wouldn't have been a popular appointment but he is currently doing amazing work for the homeless in Stoke which is much more deserving of a formal honour than some other recent recipients.

 

[The Colonel]

He funded them before he took over, but he was never Chairman of Blackburn and was only allowed in the UK something like 30 days a year due to his tax exile status. He obviously had a big say in things, and was vocal about not paying the player wage demands in the late 90s, but Lee was Chairman and more hands on, and too involved with the players according to most players accounts.

The big difference was Walker had about 100 x funding available.


The shot took a massive deflection and I think that had something to do with it too, he probably didn't expect to be given that goal, but also said he took no pleasure in helping sending City down.

Didn’t Ian Rush (supposedly a Blue) score his 250th Goal or something and barely celebrated -the Scousers weren’t even bothered that day

Rush was supposedly signing for City should we have stayed up.