Sven-Goran Eriksson: A Successful Season at City?

[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.

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.

I think you missed my point. The transformation I was talking about was in our fortunes. The Thaksin connection brought us to the attention of Sheikh Mansour and we have never looked back since then. Before Sven's season we didn't expect to win anything. That all changed with the 1st half of his season which got us all excited and dreaming of trophies again. The 2nd half was a huge let down but we still got a spot in Europe from that season.
BTW Elano has not disappeared. He kicked a referee in the Brazilian League last week !!

[HeyMark]

[youtube]8tbf5hriP0Y[/youtube]

I missed out the second aimless header but no superman pants

If only he'd have stayed. SUCH a shame.

[youtube]UmOKva_tBKQ[/youtube]

Watch this, it'll make you miss him even more

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Ahhh Sven. Strolled into town in his expensive Italian leather shoes. Handsome and modest, he took gently the hand a a lover who had been burnt several times before.

Like all good romances, this one began with a flurry of adventure into the unknown. New faces came into our lives and promised so much. Out of the darkness of a previous relationship came a light that I had not not seen since a senile Kevin Keegan paced up and down the sidelines of Division One sides around the country.

With his share of flair, cash and sophistication it was soon pretty clear that Sven had stolen my heart. Somewhere between the visits of Newcastle and Middlesbrough I gave myself, unconditionally, to him. He was still living in the hotel at the time, but the stories of him looking for a house in the area made me dream of settling down.

Still in a daydream, I'd often overlooked his shortcomings. It didn't seem to matter than there was a headless chicken and a 40-a-day middle aged man running our midfield. It didn't matter than our striker didn't have a neck, or couldn't even score goals. They were heady times indeed.

I should've seen the signs. Our romantic weekend in Chelsea was the first glimpse that all was not quite right between us. Sven had always been naive, but on this occasion he took advantage of me and things were never quite the same.

What followed is all a bit of a blur now. Things started to deteriorate at a rapid pace, the romantic spark had fizzled and, bar a glorious valentine's weekend, the relationship slowly descended into a wreck, too painful even now to pick the bones from.

Given time I was sure it'd work out between us, but the tyrant who ruled the land and that time saw fit to end our relationship early, despite all protests.

As he's done with so many subsequent lovers, Sven rode off into the sunset, financially better off than when he arrived and leaving me in tears.

I would expect nothing less from the original Swedish lothario.

Looking back now, I would say that my memories are fond ones. Whether it's my selective thoughts or the damage of the constant drug and alcohol abuse I've endured to ease my pain, I will always remember my favourite year in football.

[Moonchesteri]

Haha lovely post Lookmum. Very smart indeed

[Cocacolajojo1]

Haha lovely post Lookmum. Very smart indeed

I can't do much but to echo your sentiment. Great post lookmum. Stop it with the one-liners and write more stuff like this.

[Sister of fu]

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

probably my happiest time as a blue watching them lot as a kid. Happy days.

[Mase]

probably my happiest time as a blue watching them lot as a kid. Happy days.

Same. That keeper who came out walking on his hands. As a kid I used to look forward to that.

[s1ty m]

No. He was shit. Drinking culture aside, there were cracks from the start. The grand unravelling as the season wore on was utterly inevitable. Sure, the horrible dross from the dreadful Pearce years was bettered by Sven, but he signed nobody worth a place on the current side. As for handsome, do me a favour. His rotten teeth looked like he was eating a fucking bird.

[Dunnylad]

Loved that forward line under Horton & the glorious 5:2 v Spuds, even the relative dizzy heights under Kendall & Reid - the swashbuckling football under KK particularly in Championship when we'd win loads of matches with 10-men, when Benarbia rolled back the years & we pissed on Premiership Ipswich in the Cup live on BBC

As for old blue eyes, that first derby win, being top of the table - balanced out by possibly my most depressing, surreal & embarrassing moment watching City away at Middlesbrough (although nicking a 1:1 against Darlington in the cup came a close second)

[Sister of fu]

probably my happiest time as a blue watching them lot as a kid. Happy days.

Same. That keeper who came out walking on his hands. As a kid I used to look forward to that.

Burridge??

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Very fond memories from me.

Let's not forget the small window of opportunity he had to transform us from relegation fodder to European contenders.

We punched above our weight for a while and a few got there hopes up, but 9th and a derby double is a great season when you truly consider all the factors involved.

[Slim]

[youtube]8tbf5hriP0Y[/youtube]

I missed out the second aimless header but no superman pants

If only he'd have stayed. SUCH a shame.

Stop the video at 0:17, remind you of anything?

[dazby]

[youtube]8tbf5hriP0Y[/youtube]

I missed out the second aimless header but no superman pants

If only he'd have stayed. SUCH a shame.

[youtube]UmOKva_tBKQ[/youtube]

Watch this, it'll make you miss him even more

Number 8 was the best for me. Total class.

[clawbaggio]

Breath of fresh air after Dull Boy Pearce. After not even being to manage a goal at home it was great to win all those home games.
Started to go a bit wrong at Christmas when we were scared of Scouse 1, although we managed a 0 0.
Also, spent a lot of money on Bianchi but didn't give him a chance, then made poor, panic buy signings in January (eg Caecedo, BenJani).
Overall tho, semi decent

[Tokyo Blue]

The definition of success that season was a bit different from what we consider success by today's standards. So what standards can you use? Here are mine.

1) Entertainment, skill and goals - check.

2) Beat the filth - check and check.

3) Decent cup run - check.

4) Not get relegated - check.

Nice one, Sven.

[wolfcity]

The definition of success that season was a bit different from what we consider success by today's standards. So what standards can you use? Here are mine.

1) Entertainment, skill and goals - check.

2) Beat the filth - check and check.

3) Decent cup run - check.

4) Not get relegated - check.

Nice one, Sven.

How are you judging the cup runs? We were beaten in the 4th round of the FA Cup by Sheffield United / balloons and beaten in the Quarter Finals of the League Cup at home to Spurs that season. I think we could've edged past Spurs had we been hungry enough for it. It was a realistic chance of a trophy that season.

Our league form also dropped considerably towards the end. Relegated teams like Birmingham and Reading were beating us and then there was the capitulation at Middlesbrough. I'm not convinced he would've turned it around either and, in hindsight, I think his departure was at the right time.

[bobby brows]

We were outclassed by Spurs they scored a massively offisde goal, had a man sent off! We battered them for an hour but Berbatov was phenomenal! Then Malbranque scored a terrific goal.

[Moonchesteri]

How are you judging the cup runs? We were beaten in the 4th round of the FA Cup by Sheffield United / balloons and beaten in the Quarter Finals of the League Cup at home to Spurs that season. I think we could've edged past Spurs had we been hungry enough for it. It was a realistic chance of a trophy that season.

Our league form also dropped considerably towards the end. Relegated teams like Birmingham and Reading were beating us and then there was the capitulation at Middlesbrough. I'm not convinced he would've turned it around either and, in hindsight, I think his departure was at the right time.

At that time a place in QFs of any competition (apart Thomas Cook Trophy where I always expected a place in the final!) was a good cup run. Or at least decent. Good in my eyes. Going out in games as you mentioned was business as usual

[Tokyo Blue]

How are you judging the cup runs?

A quarter-final was as good as we had had for over a decade.

[dazby]

It was our first glimpse of the future. Central defenders were passing the ball to each other (before Dunney would get the shots and lump it) but controlling possession became the mantra.