Bluesince1979
Well-Known Member
Fair enoughIt was Ian Stott not Swales and he suggested that oldham merge wuth rochdale and bury.
Fair enoughIt was Ian Stott not Swales and he suggested that oldham merge wuth rochdale and bury.
No it absolutely wasnt. I was just behind grobelaars goal as he walked back towards us shaking his head. He then got a load tooThe minute’s silence was most definitely NOT observed by City fans for Busby when we played at Anfield.
Haha it is as well, great spotThats brilliant and im sure thats tits out jackie getting shoved by a copper when the players are getting off the coach at west brom at the end
Makes you wonder, had he not took over and we had returned to our late 60s dominance, what would our fanbase been like, would we be now like the rags or scousers, would the older generation of blues still be the self deprocating grounded fans a trait we are proud of and something the next generation brought up on success probably will lose.I find Peter Swales a fascinating character. Admittedly not a description many at Maine Road would have used. What motivated him? How much of a City fan was he etc?
I suppose the way things have turned out makes me look at things in a different light.
Anyway I really enjoy threads like this. Every supporter thinks their club is unique and has a story like no other.
But we really have had a hell of a ride like no other club
There's one shot, just before he smiles, where he gives the total impression that he hasn't a fuckin' clue where he is, what he's doing, or where he's going. Swales: Is it a shit or a haircut I need? Mmmmmmm, just can't seem to make up my mind!"Yes a narcissist with a huge ego who was totally out of his depth.
We coped with Swales, we can cope with anything! This is why we don't go wrecking coaches, hacking data systems, putting up banners belittling other teams. We owe it all to Peter. Thank you, Mr. Swales.Makes you wonder, had he not took over and we had returned to our late 60s dominance, what would our fanbase been like, would we be now like the rags or scousers, would the older generation of blues still be the self deprocating grounded fans a trait we are proud of and something the next generation brought up on success probably will lose.
The man was a menace and caused us decades of pain, but it is part if our history, a history so varied of up and downs since 1894 and before his 20 years in charge is just many of them that shaped us.
Hiis treatment of Lake is unforgivable.
We owe it to ourselves, life tested us with a incompetent egotist, did we crumble? No we laughed, we cried, we got rat arsed, we stayed true to ourselves.We coped with Swales, we can cope with anything! This is why we don't go wrecking coaches, hacking data systems, putting up banners belittling other teams. We owe it all to Peter. Thank you, Mr. Swales.
I don't think the Swales effect kicked in until he brought back Allison. Tony Book's mid 70's team were brilliant but they turned out to be nearly men. Swales seemed to be doing the right things as chairman up until 79. The return of Allison in harness with a dickhead like Swales was catastrophic for the club. The fact that Swales was there for another 15 years after he sacked Allison is truly amazing and quite sad.Makes you wonder, had he not took over and we had returned to our late 60s dominance, what would our fanbase been like, would we be now like the rags or scousers, would the older generation of blues still be the self deprocating grounded fans a trait we are proud of and something the next generation brought up on success probably will lose.
The man was a menace and caused us decades of pain, but it is part if our history, a history so varied of up and downs since 1894 and before his 20 years in charge is just many of them that shaped us.
Hiis treatment of Lake is unforgivable.
Especially when the Premier league money started flowing in. Look at the difference between City and utd to all the new money. Utds investment in the early days of the Premier league set them up for 20 years of success. We got the new Platt Lane stand and Alan Kernaghan.Yes a narcissist with a huge ego who was totally out of his depth.
Would u change it?Makes you wonder, had he not took over and we had returned to our late 60s dominance, what would our fanbase been like, would we be now like the rags or scousers, would the older generation of blues still be the self deprocating grounded fans a trait we are proud of and something the next generation brought up on success probably will lose.
The man was a menace and caused us decades of pain, but it is part if our history, a history so varied of up and downs since 1894 and before his 20 years in charge is just many of them that shaped us.
Hiis treatment of Lake is unforgivable.
I don't think the Swales effect kicked in until he brought back Allison. Tony Book's mid 70's team were brilliant but they turned out to be nearly men. Swales seemed to be doing the right things as chairman up until 79. The return of Allison in harness with a dickhead like Swales was catastrophic for the club. The fact that Swales was there for another 15 years after he sacked Allison is truly amazing and quite sad.
To be fair to Swales he was talked in to bringing Allison back by Ian Niven. I’ve interviewed several of the key figures from this period including Swales, Allison & Book and they all talked of Niven being the one who pushed for Allison’s return. At the time Niven openly talked about his ‘idea’ of bringing back Mal. Decades later he changed his story to put the blame on Swales.Let's not forget that football back then was very much like this, and not only at Manchester city
most football clubs back then were not being run like a business, and it was more about the paying fans turning up that paid the wages, little to nothing in sponsorship, again little to nothing from TV it was bloody hard
yes, Peter Swales was running the show for a long time and got most things wrong, but you could never say he didn't back Malcolm Allison plans with major money for the rebuild, let's be honest here Allison was blowing smoke up Swales bum with his ideas, in fact Tony Book had built a very good team a good mix of youth and very good players that was pushing Liverpool for the title and won the league cup,
whatever went on with Swales, bringing back Malcolm Allison to replace Tony book as manager was the real reason why the club went down hill from there, Malcolm Allison must have had something on Swales and the worst decision ever at Manchester city was made
You are always and have always been a very reliable person when it’s about City and history Gary. Thx for the objective addition.To be fair to Swales he was talked in to bringing Allison back by Ian Niven. I’ve interviewed several of the key figures from this period including Swales, Allison & Book and they all talked of Niven being the one who pushed for Allison’s return. At the time Niven openly talked about his ‘idea’ of bringing back Mal. Decades later he changed his story to put the blame on Swales.
I’m totally against the majority of major decisions that happened in the boardroom during this era and I blame Swales as chairman but I also firmly believe those directors who started the 1970 takeover, treated Mercer shabbily, broke up the successful City structure of 1970-71, brought Swales in, backed him all the way then somehow clinged on to their positions when Swales went were equally to blame. Swales had only a few shares when he became chairman and the rest of the board could easily have got rid of him at any point before 1983, but they chose not to. After 83 it became more difficult to dislodge him but it has to be remembered and stressed that those directors backed Swales completely and are equally to blame.
No doubt all were inept. Swales was just the smiling face of the organisation that everyone knew and gets all the heat. The whole lot of them were a cancer to the club.To be fair to Swales he was talked in to bringing Allison back by Ian Niven. I’ve interviewed several of the key figures from this period including Swales, Allison & Book and they all talked of Niven being the one who pushed for Allison’s return. At the time Niven openly talked about his ‘idea’ of bringing back Mal. Decades later he changed his story to put the blame on Swales.
I’m totally against the majority of major decisions that happened in the boardroom during this era and I blame Swales as chairman but I also firmly believe those directors who started the 1970 takeover, treated Mercer shabbily, broke up the successful City structure of 1970-71, brought Swales in, backed him all the way then somehow clinged on to their positions when Swales went were equally to blame. Swales had only a few shares when he became chairman and the rest of the board could easily have got rid of him at any point before 1983, but they chose not to. After 83 it became more difficult to dislodge him but it has to be remembered and stressed that those directors backed Swales completely and are equally to blame.
I don't know the structure of the club and how it was run but Swales put himself out there in front of the media. Never known a chairman since who was interviewed as much as he was. So if he gets more than his fair share of the blame then as far as I'm concerned he brought it on himselfTo be fair to Swales he was talked in to bringing Allison back by Ian Niven. I’ve interviewed several of the key figures from this period including Swales, Allison & Book and they all talked of Niven being the one who pushed for Allison’s return. At the time Niven openly talked about his ‘idea’ of bringing back Mal. Decades later he changed his story to put the blame on Swales.
I’m totally against the majority of major decisions that happened in the boardroom during this era and I blame Swales as chairman but I also firmly believe those directors who started the 1970 takeover, treated Mercer shabbily, broke up the successful City structure of 1970-71, brought Swales in, backed him all the way then somehow clinged on to their positions when Swales went were equally to blame. Swales had only a few shares when he became chairman and the rest of the board could easily have got rid of him at any point before 1983, but they chose not to. After 83 it became more difficult to dislodge him but it has to be remembered and stressed that those directors backed Swales completely and are equally to blame.
To be fair to Swales he was talked in to bringing Allison back by Ian Niven. I’ve interviewed several of the key figures from this period including Swales, Allison & Book and they all talked of Niven being the one who pushed for Allison’s return. At the time Niven openly talked about his ‘idea’ of bringing back Mal. Decades later he changed his story to put the blame on Swales.
I’m totally against the majority of major decisions that happened in the boardroom during this era and I blame Swales as chairman but I also firmly believe those directors who started the 1970 takeover, treated Mercer shabbily, broke up the successful City structure of 1970-71, brought Swales in, backed him all the way then somehow clinged on to their positions when Swales went were equally to blame. Swales had only a few shares when he became chairman and the rest of the board could easily have got rid of him at any point before 1983, but they chose not to. After 83 it became more difficult to dislodge him but it has to be remembered and stressed that those directors backed Swales completely and are equally to blame.
I understand it was a group of people on the board with shares and a vote and elected chairman, so the blame for what happened to Manchester city should be on all of them also with Swales being chairman, but something was never right with the setup at that time, but after the league cup win in 1976 a major disaster happened
Manchester city were properly the one of the best challenge to Liverpool title, we pushed them close only missing out by 1 point, Tony book had built a fantastic team and had some great young players even England stars, it was a great time at Maine road,
so i great to know by yourself the inside information with Ian Niven role in bringing in malcolm allison again
I would like to know how many players of Tony book's team that malcolm allison sold, he even sold peter barnes and gary owen to WBA
I thought life was a sideshow. The real test was PS; and we survived with honours. How many of us got to go to Buck House for a gong for services to supporting a football team despite what was thrown at us? I'm still waiting for the crested HRH letter!We owe it to ourselves, life tested us with a incompetent egotist, did we crumble? No we laughed, we cried, we got rat arsed, we stayed true to ourselves.
From this 1981 Granada TV documentary for anyone who hasn’t seen it