The Alan Ball era

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 Ball was just a dinosaur with old and outdated ideas of how to manage a football team, both on and off the field.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 good to watch under Horton, three strikers and two wingers. Even Pep couldn’t think that system up.
 
My Psychiatrist as asked for this thread to be closed.

Just been on transfermarkt to reminded myself that he sold the likes of walsh, flitcroft, phelan, Coton and brought in buster Phillips, creaney, clough and according to the website a right back on loan called Giuseppe Mazzarell who I have no recollection of.

I could name some of the others but I can feel my ibs starting just thinking about it.
 
I went to that one and Im pretty sure it was 4-0 but remember those comments. If memory serves me correct we went back in the league 4 days later and got beat 6-0

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.
 
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.
 
Remember his last game at Stoke away where both sets of fans where in agreement about his being sacked in the morning and how much he was disliked by both. Arguably the worst manager ever in terms of results, connection with the players, fans and media. Telling senior pros that he was a World Cup winner and flashing his medal around 30 years after the event was only going to end in tears and it did.
 
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 Ball was just a dinosaur with old and outdated ideas of how to manage a football team, both on and off the field.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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 

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