The Alan Ball era

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

I think Horton was widely respected by the players, and given a bit of time he could have made a decent go of it. I'd like to think top half of the table was a possibility. Ball was just a dinosaur with old and outdated ideas of how to manage a football team, both on and off the field.

Football was rapidly changing back then. The start of the sports science era. We were so far behind and the appointment of Ball and then Clarke was just old school. Its amazing how much the club changed from the Alan Ball era to Sven, 10 years in which the club was transformed in to a modern operation. Under Stuart Pearce the football was dire and we had no cash but I think the professionalism was there. A solid basis were as in the mid 90's we were a joke outfit.

 

[Bluemoon dan]

People say that the club now doesn't get or understand us as fans and the connection isn't there any more. But I remember our ironic chant of 'Alan Ball's a football genius' being turned into an official t-shirt, sold in the club shop and them getting him to sodding model it!

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Football was rapidly changing back then. The start of the sports science era. We were so far behind and the appointment of Ball and then Clarke was just old school. Its amazing how much the club changed from the Alan Ball era to Sven, 10 years in which the club was transformed in to a modern operation. Under Stuart Pearce the football was dire and we had no cash but I think the professionalism was there. A solid basis were as in the mid 90's we were a joke outfit.

I'm still shocked we managed to survive towards the end of the Swales era to be honest. At one point I thought we'd be going into administration and heading the way of Walsall or Gillingam.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

****Shudders***

Him and Frank Clarke with mentions to Neale and Coppell were a bigger disaster than anything the rags have yet achieved in the modern era, but there's still time for a Rooney, Chuckle moment.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

I always remember the ball and Clark era as total wank. Most home games so dire that I just stayed in the kippax bar drinking in the second half.

 

[kippaxneil]

Awful, awful times. Think we had to wait until October until we actually won a game, Bolton at home if I’m right. People who have only ever known us being good should be given a dvd of that season to remind them to never take it for granted.

Quite right...dreadful times. I remember that first win in October and didn't we go on a bit of a run after that and he was awarded November Manager of the Month?

After that, of course...normal service was resumed.

 

[Bill]

the worst person to walk through the doors of Manchester City.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Quite right...dreadful times. I remember that first win in October and didn't we go on a bit of a run after that and he was awarded November Manager of the Month?

After that, of course...normal service was resumed.

There was that three all draw with Newcastle that was one of the minuscule exciting and enjoyable parts of that season.

 

[Bobby the blue]

Jobs for your mates never felt more appropriate than this. Ball as a player by all accounts was very very good but his managerial experience and results before he rocked up at city were nothing short of diabolical. How did he ever get the job.

Time may be playing a part but was this around the time we thought we were getting George Graham or Dave Bassett and they both fucked it off.

Such a shit show back then. But at least we had some nice kits in those days.

 

[HelloCity]

Remember his first game,a friendly at Burnley when Lee Bradbury scored,looked at Alan Ball walking off the pitch with his flat cap,and thought he isn’t the man to take us higher.

Didn’t realise Bradbury was ever at Burnley.