We need some tough sod to whip the soft lads into shape don't we. Fitness has been a failing of the Ross regime.
Nearly hit the top once in that era too, preferring Dichio to Bridges set the rot in with Reid for me, after some great years, the best in my time certainly, and he went down hill from there, collapsing like a pack of cards at the finish. In contrast Big Sam left on a high after far too short a time here imo, as he was looking a perfect fit for the club. Your only as good as your last game in some peoples eyes, which is fair enough, but its not always the case, I agree.
A short period reminiscent of several short periods from several managers who failed to deliver thereafter. We'll never know how well Sam would have done the following season but no guarantee it would be better than Advocaat or DiCanio
Crazy Nige isn't a bad shout, I think he was who I wanted when we got Ross. We need someone with an edge who has some solid ostrich chat to baffle the media when required.
Reid's bloodymindedness with regard to Johnson and several others (Summerbee?) was a major part of the decline but biggest single thing for me was our failure to replace Quinny effectively.
I remember saying pretty much that on here at the time. We probably had the best team we'd had since the days of Bent, Gyan etc at that time and there was some reason to be optimistic but, like you say, no guarantees. Just because Allardyce did well for a few months then is no indicator that he'd be any good in League 1 now.
Stendel for me. No idea if he would be a success but his attitude and style of football would be a breath of fresh air
Best football we ever played in the premier league? The football was ****e by and large, until the last few games when it was **** or bust. Seems a lot of folk just go by that.
