Sven-Goran Eriksson: A Successful Season at City?

[Alioune DVToure]

With the benefit of hindsight, five seasons on, I'd just like to know whether or not people think he did a good job on balance.

I have no motive other than curiosity, and I've added a poll. There are only options for yes and no.

That season seems like such a weird dream to me. We were hopeless and unimaginitive during Pearce's final days in the job, and then all of a sudden we were watching players like Elano, Martin Petrov and (to a lesser extent) Geovanni open teams up, whilst Michael Johnson looked like one of the most quick-witted and promising young players in the league. Fast-forward one year and we have another completely new ownership structure, a new manager, and about 70% of the playing staff have moved on (or been moved on). That 2007/08 season seems so anomalous in my memory, like a strange sort of spin-off from the narrative of the club's history. I still struggle with how fondly I remember it. The most obvious highlight was the derby double (especially the away win) and the lowest point came - perhaps fittingly - right at the very end, when Sven was a sitting duck and we were duly thumped by a very ordinary Middlesbrough side.

All three kits, meanwhile, were simply beautiful.

As a reminder... We finished 9th on 55 points with a goal difference of -8 (having won 15, drawn 10 and lost 13 of our league games) and qualified for the UEFA Cup thanks to our performance in the 'Fair Play League'.

I've set the ball rolling by voting 'yes'. Whilst Sven didn't lay the foundations for lasting on/off-field success, he wasn't really given the chance to. What he did do was get the fans back on their feet after a season of abject performances, especially at home and, however briefly, made us think that there was better still to come.

So?

[PeterParker]

Yes, just because he won both home and away with the rags.

I think we talked about this a while back, but i think Sven had done the best he could have done with that squad. I mean with Offside Darius Vassell and Corradi, what managed could had done more?
I am curios though, what if Sven had the squad from the season when KK was in charge. With Anelka, Fowler, Mcmamananananan, Bosvelt, Reyna, Wanchope, even Macken, Shaunie.

[Swales4ever]

Too biased towards Sven.
A true gentleman, best football ever witnessed, bar Holland '74, so yes, for what my very biased opinion is worth

By the way seems to recall that he was responsible for the previous back-to-back winning derbies, before last season?
must be true, cuz if my broken memory is still at work, the one at the swamp was the last derby I attended live ----->)

[DoomMerchant]

I say yes. Tho I haven't voted cuz I can't be bothered from the mobile.

A fun season. I felt Sven was wrongly sacked and thought he deserved another season. He hasn't really recovered tbh has he? I'm sure he's made his money but his chances to manage a big club, dormant or otherwise, seems to have dissipated.

Sven had his frustrating points and it wasn't all happy times that season. He seemed to lack the energy for options much like Hughes did.

Related, who's the best middle class, up and coming manager you can think of to change up a match tactically midstream? Martinez springs to mind but he's the "not there yet but on the way" flavor of the season whom any mildly interested football fan could mention. Who do you think?

[Lev Bronstein]

I voted yes. But, if memory serves me right, the last third of the season was poor (the defeat at home to Fulham sticks in my mind). Also he seemed to be after a new job from Christmas onwards.

[Alioune DVToure]

I honestly expected a much closer vote. Still waiting for the 'no' tidal wave to come crashing in.

[Dubaimancityfan]

I voted yes because it was the start of the transformation. I especially enjoyed the first half of the season with all the new players in top form. The derby double was special of course. The low point was the loss at Boro but by then (if I remember correctly) Sven was already on his way out and the players were not interested any more or they staged some kind of a protest.

[Alioune DVToure]

I voted yes because it was the start of the transformation. I especially enjoyed the first half of the season with all the new players in top form. The derby double was special of course. The low point was the loss at Boro but by then (if I remember correctly) Sven was already on his way out and the players were not interested any more or they staged some kind of a protest.

See, I struggle with this hypothesis. The only guys still standing from back then are Hart (who he didn't fancy) and Richards. Every other player who arrived - Garrido and Corluka aside - has either disappeared almost without trace (Gelson, Geovanni, Elano), or left for a nominal fee.

And Hart and Richards (and Johnson) were here before Svennis.

[TheGOAT]

Still gutted about Bojinov's injury, would have been a great player!

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Expert conman.
he had been rumbled long before May.

[mr_nool]

Definite yes for me. We were on fire until Christmas. If my memory serves me correctly we were top 4 (or even top 3?) halfway through the season.

The bubble burst in the new year, though, but I think it was a lot down to Sven being a bit disillusioned with Taskin, not getting the transfers funds he'd been promised and realizing that the whole City project was an air castle as long as Frankie's assets were frozen.

Personally I would have had him over Mark Hughes any time of the day, but sooner or later we would have had to make the switch to a younger, more modern manager anyway.

[DoomMerchant]

Definite yes for me. We were on fire until Christmas. If my memory serves me correctly we were top 4 (or even top 3?) halfway through the season.

The bubble burst in the new year, though, but I think it was a lot down to Sven being a bit disillusioned with Taskin, not getting the transfers funds he'd been promised and realizing that the whole City project was an air castle as long as Frankie's assets were frozen.

Personally I would have had him over Mark Hughes any time of the day, but sooner or later we would have had to make the switch to a younger, more modern manager anyway.

eggfuckinsackly how i saw it my friend.

[mr_nool]

Definite yes for me. We were on fire until Christmas. If my memory serves me correctly we were top 4 (or even top 3?) halfway through the season.

The bubble burst in the new year, though, but I think it was a lot down to Sven being a bit disillusioned with Taskin, not getting the transfers funds he'd been promised and realizing that the whole City project was an air castle as long as Frankie's assets were frozen.

Personally I would have had him over Mark Hughes any time of the day, but sooner or later we would have had to make the switch to a younger, more modern manager anyway.

eggfuckinsackly how i saw it my friend.

I would love to hear henrikww's take on all this. That was one crazy fucker!

[bobby brows]

I've voted yes. Like Horton's last season in 94/95 we were just a couple of players and steal away from a solid team. This was one of my favourite seasons

Losing Distin and selling Joey in the summer weakened an already very weak squad. (imagine if they'd have stayed, behaviour permitting from Joey)

The arrival of players just days before the season starting; journo's sneering at us cos they blatently had no idea who they were; ignorant scum.

Thaskin's street party after Silva won Valencia the Thomas Cook Contact Lense. The reaction the support gave the players was overwhelming.

That scorcher of an opening day at West Ham! The support behind the goal was unreal.

The first goal in 8 months against Derby; simply Johnno

The devastation of Bojinov

8 consecutive home wins and in the top 4 at xmas.

The emergance of Joseph

the back line of a Classy Charlie; the Dunnie/Micah partnership and even Garrido until Chelsea figured him out.

Dietmar Hamann...how he didn't win player of the year i'll never know

Elano

MJ

The sheer brilliance/frustration of Petrov usually in the same game.

The anniversary derby.

The curiosity of Bianchi

Emile Mpenza

The sheer effort of Darius Vassell (our best player in the second half of that season)

Danny Sturridge's first goals

Sven trying to turn Sun Jihai and Samaras into footballers

So many good memeries and there was a sort of footballing innocence to it. We weren't sure how good or bad we'd be.

Nery Castillo

Benjani

I genuinely believe that if we'd bought a couple of holding midfield players in January, a right winger and another striker we'd have been top 6 easily

[Alioune DVToure]

I've voted yes. Like Horton's last season in 94/95 we were just a couple of players and steal away from a solid team. This was one of my favourite seasons

Losing Distin and selling Joey in the summer weakened an already very weak squad. (imagine if they'd have stayed, behaviour permitting from Joey)

The arrival of players just days before the season starting; journo's sneering at us cos they blatently had no idea who they were; ignorant scum.

Thaskin's street party after Silva won Valencia the Thomas Cook Contact Lense. The reaction the support gave the players was overwhelming.

That scorcher of an opening day at West Ham! The support behind the goal was unreal.

The first goal in 8 months against Derby; simply Johnno

The devastation of Bojinov

8 consecutive home wins and in the top 4 at xmas.

The emergance of Joseph

the back line of a Classy Charlie; the Dunnie/Micah partnership and even Garrido until Chelsea figured him out.

Dietmar Hamann...how he didn't win player of the year i'll never know

Elano

MJ

The sheer brilliance/frustration of Petrov usually in the same game.

The anniversary derby.

The curiosity of Bianchi

Emile Mpenza

The sheer effort of Darius Vassell (our best player in the second half of that season)

Danny Sturridge's first goals

Sven trying to turn Sun Jihai and Samaras into footballers

So many good memeries and there was a sort of footballing innocence to it. We weren't sure how good or bad we'd be.

Nery Castillo

Benjani

I genuinely believe that if we'd bought a couple of holding midfield players in January, a right winger and another striker we'd have been top 6 easily

The mid-Horton comparison is an excellent one which I hadn't considered.

Fuck me I loved that Beagrie, Rosler, Walsh, Quinn, Summerbee attack as a kid.

And like Sven's ensemble it came hot on the heels of some steamy shite. Horton was a lot more gung-ho than Mr Burns but otherwise the comparison stands up beautifully.

Well done.

[bobby brows]

Cheers I loved that Horton team

Coton, Edghill, Phelan, Curle, Gaudino, Rosler, Walsh, Flitcroft, Lomas, Beagrie, Summerbee, Quinn and there is probably someone i'm missing

[Alioune DVToure]

Cheers I loved that Horton team

Coton, Edghill, Phelan, Curle, Gaudino, Rosler, Walsh, Flitcroft, Lomas, Beagrie, Summerbee, Quinn and there is probably someone i'm missing

Vonk, Kernaghan and Ian Brightwell spring to mind. Fitzroy?

[Blue Blood]

Voted yes.

All good things from Sven apart from the Bianchi situation.

Bianchi could have been a real player for us but was only ever given half chances under Sven and then shipped out. Not on really.

A cult hero in the making completely mismanaged imo.

[bobby brows]

Voted yes.

All good things from Sven apart from the Bianchi situation.

Bianchi could have been a real player for us but was only ever given half chances under Sven and then shipped out. Not on really.

A cult hero in the making completely mismanaged imo.

I agree Bianchi reminded me a lot of Jelavic now but when Corradi when back to Italy Bianchi got homesick.

Corradi had the most stunning wife so I can't blame him

[bobby brows]

how could I forget?

GELSON FERNANDES!!

Sven even took him to Leicester.


There was also Stevie stook out on the right wing. Playing awful but scoring almost every other week.

The superman boxer shorts was against Sunderland on a Monday Night at the most truely awful game i've ever seen at the Etihad