We have had some pretty awful managers during the years that I've watched City. I have to agree with the many votes that have gone to alan ball, who was totally incompetent. But there has been only one mention of the bloke who was even worse than ball. Have to agree with Johnny Crossan, nominating George Poyser as being the worse. Now he was bad, he would even make Frank Clarke look good, and we all know that would be a difficult thing to do.
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Your Worst City Manager Since You Became A Blue ?
- Thread starter Blucamp
- Start date
As I've already said in this thread, I think there are some mitigating circumstances when comparing Ball and Clark. I believe Ball was given a directive by Franny Lee to balance the books a little, hence the sale of Flitcroft barely a few weeks before the end of the season - and possibly the sale of Terry Phelan as well. In any case, Phelan's angling for a bigger contract and general attitude was a problem that Ball had the misfortune to inherit. We can only wonder at how the 95-96 season would've panned out had Ball taken charge in say, the start of June/immediately after Horton was fired. We almost certainly would've started the season better - 8-12 may have been our eventual placing. Let's not forget unlucky defeats against Arsenal at home, United home and away and that 3-3 draw with Newcastle.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no Ball apologist, but imo Frank Clark did far more wrong than he did. Clark left Joe Royle with a top-heavy first team squad (something like 52, 54 players?!!!) and more or less took us down to the third tier despite having the rest of 96-97 to settle things down and come to terms with things, and having that summer to trim the squad.
It shouldn't be forgotten that going into the 97-98 season, with new signings, new badge, new strip, the expectation was of promotion, probably as champions. Alas, Frank Clark instead laid the vital groundwork for a descent into the uncharted waters of third division football, and derbies with Macclesfield!
Don't get me wrong, I'm no Ball apologist, but imo Frank Clark did far more wrong than he did. Clark left Joe Royle with a top-heavy first team squad (something like 52, 54 players?!!!) and more or less took us down to the third tier despite having the rest of 96-97 to settle things down and come to terms with things, and having that summer to trim the squad.
It shouldn't be forgotten that going into the 97-98 season, with new signings, new badge, new strip, the expectation was of promotion, probably as champions. Alas, Frank Clark instead laid the vital groundwork for a descent into the uncharted waters of third division football, and derbies with Macclesfield!