Joe Royle - has he been acknowledged enough?

[Stephen230]

I think he gets acknowledged too much if anything.

Nobody ever seems to mention that he was the man in charge when we got relegated to the third division for the only time in our history. Everyone seems to lay that at Frank Clark’s door. And as shit as he was, I don’t think we were ever in the relegation places until after he’d left. Happy to be corrected if that’s wrong though.

I hardly think scrapping up via the play offs can really be seen as much of an achievement either, as fun as it was.

Give him his dues for the second promotion though. Nobody was expecting a serious promotion challenge that year and it was one of my favourite years following City.

Then another relegation of course.

I’ll give him one thing, it was never boring.

 

[Corky]

Royle and Bernstein changed the whole direction of the club. Royle got us promoted twice in two seasons which was a major achievement but it meant that we had players, bought to get us out of league one (as it's now called) trying to keep us in the premiership. Much as I love Andy Morrison he was never going to be the centre back to keep us in the prem. In hindsight maybe an extra year in the championship, between the two promotions, would have helped us rebuild a little further and Royle might have kept us in there. Having said that, football under Keagan was a joyous roller-coaster.

Morrison was gone in 1999 in effect, never really came back after the injury which kept him out well over a year and we signed 4 possible centre backs in that time.

 

[Cityfan]

The squad was a complete mess when he came in with far too many mediocre players on the books.
We had a far far better squad when he left, smaller with better players.
He was the first of a run of managers who with the exception of Pearce left us bin a better spot than when they arrived.

 

[1961_vintage]

Yes.

 

[BillCarlisle]

Wasn’t it Joe who coined the phrase ‘a cup for cock ups’

That was Franny Lee, in his playing days. Joe coined the word "Cityitis"

 

[Shaelumstash]

Wasn’t it Joe who coined the phrase ‘a cup for cock ups’

"Cititis" was his phrase

 

[Shaelumstash]

I think he gets acknowledged too much if anything.

Nobody ever seems to mention that he was the man in charge when we got relegated to the third division for the only time in our history. Everyone seems to lay that at Frank Clark’s door. And as shit as he was, I don’t think we were ever in the relegation places until after he’d left. Happy to be corrected if that’s wrong though.

I hardly think scrapping up via the play offs can really be seen as much of an achievement either, as fun as it was.

Give him his dues for the second promotion though. Nobody was expecting a serious promotion challenge that year and it was one of my favourite years following City.

Then another relegation of course.

I’ll give him one thing, it was never boring.

I agree broadly, but he had a horrible playing squad and a team absolutely on their arse when he arrived. I certainly wouldn't hold him solely, or even mainly responsible for the relegation to the 3rd tier.

It's on him that we didn't get promoted automatically though.

I've got time for him though, seemed like a friendly guy, great sense of humour and upbeat, which we really needed as a club in those days.

I think he gets about the right amount of credit he deserves. Fondly remembered in a very dark period, but not a legend in any sense.

The idea he saved the club from certain oblivion is just romanticism turned up to 11. He was partly responsible for us dropping so low.

 

[davyhulme blue]

liked him as a player & then later manager for us definitely has an affection for us imho . seems a great bloke.

 

[RayCTID]

Did a decent job in steadying the team and getting back to back promotions but got found out when we were in the Premier League.

 

[Stephen230]

I agree broadly, but he had a horrible playing squad and a team absolutely on their arse when he arrived. I certainly wouldn't hold him solely, or even mainly responsible for the relegation to the 3rd tier.

It's on him that we didn't get promoted automatically though.

I've got time for him though, seemed like a friendly guy, great sense of humour and upbeat, which we really needed as a club in those days.

I think he gets about the right amount of credit he deserves. Fondly remembered in a very dark period, but not a legend in any sense.

The idea he saved the club from certain oblivion is just romanticism turned up to 11. He was partly responsible for us dropping so low.

Don’t get me wrong mate, I’ve nothing against the fella. He actually gave us two free comps. for an evening game at Goodison ( 1-1 I think ) when we’d been let down by someone else, so I quite like the bloke. Always seems to speak fondly of City also.