The Bondsmen???????????

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Yes - I agree with you. Those were my thoughts at the time too.

However - it can't be denied that :

a) Within 2.5 seasons of him taking over we were relegated with his team;
b) His dealings meant we had a small squad with a lot of aged players;
c) Bringing in the players he did (Boyer, Hareide, Francis, Hartford, K. Bond, Baker, Cross) broke the back of the parlous finances;
d) Hutch and Gow (who played such a big role in 80/81) were finished at City in not more than a year after joining (arguably losihg us several 100k).

So - simply in terms of outcomes - I do wonder (without suggesting an answer) if in the long run (and ignoring the sticking plasters of 1981) we might have been better sticking with Allison and his kids! At least it wouldn't have put the club further in debt. And they might have managed to stay up.

However - my question was more aimed at Bond as a person. He doesn't come across well at all for me in the City video and other ones. And I got the impression a lot of the City players (Reid/ Ranson etc) weren't keen on him - although that might have been to do with money.

What was interesting was the team that Allison couldn't get to win, got to the semi final of the league cup with Bond as Hutch / B Mac and Gow were cup tied. That night at Anfield in the 2nd leg with the likes of Dave Bennett and Gary Buckley ripping into Liverpool's defence and desperately unlucky to draw 1-1 (to lose 2-1 on aggregate).
That was evidence that Allison had the right players but for whatever reason it didn't work for him with them.
Admittedly unpopular decision were made (bringing in Bond Jnr at the expense of Nicky Reid - yet Bond was voted player of the year.)

I met John Bond at a Rochdale branch meeting a few years back. He was controversial in what he said but there wasn't much he said that you could argue against. He stated (and I think he has elsewhere) that he almost resigned shortly after taking over as he realised all of Swales's promises were empty gestures.

 

[mancunial]

Alf flipping grey, hope is arse got infested

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

What was interesting was the team that Allison couldn't get to win, got to the semi final of the league cup with Bond as Hutch / B Mac and Gow were cup tied. That night at Anfield in the 2nd leg with the likes of Dave Bennett and Gary Buckley ripping into Liverpool's defence and desperately unlucky to draw 1-1 (to lose 2-1 on aggregate.
That was evidence the Allison had the right players but for whatever reason it didn't work for him with them.
Admittedly unpopular decision were made (bringing in Bond Jnr at the expense of Nicky Reid - yet Bond was voted player of the year.

I met John Bond at a Rochdale branch meeting a few years back. He was controversial in what he said but there wasn't much he said that you could argue against. He stated (and I think he has elsewhere) that he almost resigned shortly after taking over as he realised all of Swales's promises were empty gestures.

Loved that cup final team and Alf Grey absolutely robbed us. Trouble for Bond the year after was that tricky Trevor was injured half the time, Power and Tueart and Gow got serious injuries and he never replaced Tommy Hutch who was fucking fantastic the season before. Although why he/Swales sold MacKenzie and bought Bond to play instead of Nicky Reid is beyond me. Kevin Bond player of the year my arse, he was the only contender because a) he stated fit unlike the rest b) his Dad always picked him!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Alf flipping grey, hope is arse got infested

I've been effing and jeffing thinking about that **** all through this thread.

That LC first leg was a chance to get out of the hole we'd gotten into with Allison. The FA cup run had 'new' players but the LC team was Malcolm's. Progression and Wembley along with maybe a cup and who knows where we could have ended up.

Never really liked JB can't put my finger on why.

 

[LadislavMplmx]

we would have been relegated not long after xmas if Bond hadn't taked over,Allison was a fuckin disaster,was incredible he was allowed to get away with what he did,Kevin Bond was a better player than Nicky Reid...he could run all day but couldn't play IMO

 

[andyhinch]

What was interesting was the team that Allison couldn't get to win, got to the semi final of the league cup with Bond as Hutch / B Mac and Gow were cup tied. That night at Anfield in the 2nd leg with the likes of Dave Bennett and Gary Buckley ripping into Liverpool's defence and desperately unlucky to draw 1-1 (to lose 2-1 on aggregate).
That was evidence that Allison had the right players but for whatever reason it didn't work for him with them.
Admittedly unpopular decision were made (bringing in Bond Jnr at the expense of Nicky Reid - yet Bond was voted player of the year.)

I met John Bond at a Rochdale branch meeting a few years back. He was controversial in what he said but there wasn't much he said that you could argue against. He stated (and I think he has elsewhere) that he almost resigned shortly after taking over as he realised all of Swales's promises were empty gestures.

Let's not forget the ref was a complete wanker

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

we would have been relegated not long after xmas if Bond hadn't taked over,Allison was a fuckin disaster,was incredible he was allowed to get away with what he did,Kevin Bond was a better player than Nicky Reid...he could run all day but couldn't play IMO

Ladislav, come on don't you remember those barnstorming runs from defence Nicky used to a la Keith Curle?
Anyway, I just didn't like Kevin Bond

 

[LadislavMplmx]

Ladislav, come on don't you remember those barnstorming runs from defence Nicky used to a la Keith Curle?
Anyway, I just didn't like Kevin Bond

he got away with it for about half a season when we were on a crest of a wave(didn't see it like that at the time ha)with the cup run,was a headless chicken IMO,couldn't lace Curle's boots

 

[lancs blue]

That Stammers article has a few howlers in it : that Bond bought Steve McKenzie for 1 million pounds!

I think they've got addicted to exaggerating City's transfer fees. ;-)

£1m would have equalled the British transfer record at the time, although IIRC Mackenzie's £250k fee was a record for a teenager when Allison signed him.

 

[Infinite blue]

I remember john bond really well. Loved him in gold finger. Should have signed money penny to play centre half. O hang on wrong website! Sorry