CET: Dublin sad to see city in L1 (22 Viewers)

[SBS]

Dublin was a cracking player, but two seasons after that we had Keane, who was the most talented player I've seen in a city shirt. I think losing him (and McAllister) was the start of demise

 

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[Astute]

Dublin was a cracking player, but two seasons after that we had Keane, who was the most talented player I've seen in a city shirt. I think losing him (and McAllister) was the start of demise

Keane....another player sold for a quick profit. Keane was good for us, but as he was with us for such a short time it is hard to hold him as highly as Dublin.

Then we get upset these days for losing average or just above average players

 

[Grendel]

Keane....another player sold for a quick profit. Keane was good for us, but as he was with us for such a short time it is hard to hold him as highly as Dublin.

Then we get upset these days for losing average or just above average players

But we seem not to get upset with the likes of Westwood who blatantly ran his contract down, King who made public his intent so he could get more money somewhere else and even Keogh who as soon as he saw the colour of the money did a runner.

 

[Astute]

But none of them went to Villa.......bigger rival than Brum, or was there already enough to dislike King for?

Maybe he should have not signed a new contract and left us nearly 6m out of pocket, filling his own bank account up with a 7 figure sum and also not vilified by some Cov fans. The same 6m we signed Keane for.

 

[DiveDiveWhereverYouMayBe]

I am not going to get hung up about whether he qualifies as 'City legend', but I will happily admit time softens earlier discontentment. I think I was one of the shallow few who looked back on the situation as being a particular annoyance as he went to the Villa. The way the move panned out obviously would have stuck in the craw, but it was the reflection of seeing a much-loved former player in claret and blue which I didn't like. Now I am a bit older and a touch wiser, I can reflect on just how much he contributed to my viewing of Coventry City. He always comes across well and positive about us, which is never a given trait in ex - players. I am very receptive to all he gave to us and what seem to be genuine good feelings (from a retired player looking back on his career) to the Club I support.

However, my memory is so shot after the years of indulgence that have passed, all I can really remember of him is the header he scored in the 1-3 reverse to Southampton when Grobbelaar tried to throw the game but we were too inept. And his one fingered salute. And the rumour that he had a massive length. I may also be thinking of that centre back we had on loan from the Blues for the 5-0 rout of Blackburn in the snow. Or, indeed, the capital of Ireland. Nurse...

* EDIT - maybe it wasn't just the Villa thing and I had forgotten about the relative acrimony surrounding his move, as I never reserved the same feeling of moral indignation for the likes of George Boateng. It was more than likely a combination of factors, which are all a little more distant and irrelevant to me now.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

But we seem not to get upset with the likes of Westwood who blatantly ran his contract down, King who made public his intent so he could get more money somewhere else and even Keogh who as soon as he saw the colour of the money did a runner.

Westwood-not offered a new deal until it was too late despite him publically saying he wanted to open talks when he had over 2 years left.
King-shafted over the length of his contract, the 3-year offer he had verbally agreed transforming into a 2-year one days later.
Keogh-sold after a bidding war following relegation to a division he's too good for.

Not that I'm particularly calling any of the above legends. I wouldn't consider that tag for any of our players in the last 7 or 8 years.

 

[torchomatic]

Dion Dublin has won his fight with Coventry City to have a £30,000 fine paid back to him for going on strike during his bitter transfer dispute.

The Aston Villa star took his old bosses to a football "court" at the Premier League yesterday to get his maximum penalty of two weeks' wages returned.

Dublin was furious that Coventry had punished him when he refused to play at Luton in a Worthington Cup tie at the height of his trouble with the club.

The striker claimed he was told by chairman Bryan Richardson that he had been given permission to talk to Blackburn the day before. Dublin was considering the contract offer from Blackburn and did not want to risk an injury at Luton in a game that Coventry lost.

However, Sky Blues manager Gordon Strachan was keen for Dublin to play and has stated that the striker pulled out of the fixture against his wishes.

Dublin argued that it would have been impossible to turn out for Coventry that night as he would have been negotiating with Blackburn just hours before.

Richardson had let Dublin talk to Rovers and he was scheduled to see them - for lengthy discussions. Then the striker was expected to drive back from Lancashire to team up with the players for a 7.45 kick-off. Dublin believed it was impossible to do both and give his best, making the request of the chairman and manager look silly.

He insists it was not the action of a player going on strike. However, Dublin was fined for being in breach of contract before eventually leaving for Villa and picking up a deal worth around pounds 30,000 a week in the pounds 4.5million transfer. Despite receiving that jackpot, Dublin wanted his Coventry cash back on a point of principle.

There was so much bad blood between him and the club that it became a question of honour.

Dublin's case was heard by a Premier League inquiry in London with Strachan and Richardson also giving their version of events.

A Premier League spokesman said last night: "Dion Dublin has been found not guilty of the offence. Coventry have the right to appeal if they wish."

The result is a major vindication of Dublin's actions and a further blow to Richardson, who lost the player and threatened that he had "not heard the last" of the transfer row.

 

[torchomatic]

Aaargh! Nothing to do with his move to Villa. Everything to do with his unprofessionalism.

But none of them went to Villa.......bigger rival than Brum, or was there already enough to dislike King for?

Maybe he should have not signed a new contract and left us nearly 6m out of pocket, filling his own bank account up with a 7 figure sum and also not vilified by some Cov fans. The same 6m we signed Keane for.

 

[Grendel]

Westwood-not offered a new deal until it was too late despite him publically saying he wanted to open talks when he had over 2 years left.
King-shafted over the length of his contract, the 3-year offer he had verbally agreed transforming into a 2-year one days later.
Keogh-sold after a bidding war following relegation to a division he's too good for.

Not that I'm particularly calling any of the above legends. I wouldn't consider that tag for any of our players in the last 7 or 8 years.

Of course and we believe all of them don't we. King we know is a pillar of the community and has to be taken at his word. Westwood - yes of course he wanted to stay - odd it became "too late" (even odder than Ranson publically stated he would not be leaving for free) and Keogh of course was offered a new contract and then decided to opt for the club that did not represent the best option for him in playing terms - I suppose the fell walking was the key.

Next you'll be telling us Sammy Clingan was desperate to stay and Martin Cranie had to be dragged screaming to Leeds.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

No, that would be stupid, whereas what I said has plenty of validity.

 

[skybluelee]

Westwood-not offered a new deal until it was too late despite him publically saying he wanted to open talks when he had over 2 years left.
King-shafted over the length of his contract, the 3-year offer he had verbally agreed transforming into a 2-year one days later.
Keogh-sold after a bidding war following relegation to a division he's too good for.

Not that I'm particularly calling any of the above legends. I wouldn't consider that tag for any of our players in the last 7 or 8 years.

Yeah, like Westwood would have signed a new contract if it was offered earlier...
King - you know that as fact or rumour?

 

[mattylad]

What a load of Tosh....he instigated the move not the other way round. Great player but he left because it suited him. He was not shafted and forced out at all.

Sorry but you are totally wrong, Villa wanted him on a free during the summer but he instead signed a new deal with us which prompted them to make a offer of 5m which we rejected, Blacburn came in with a higher offer of £7m which Richardson accepted (nothing to do with Dublin) however once Dublin knew the club had agreed to sell him he expressed a preference to join Villa and they eventually after much wrangling agreed to match his release clause of £6.25m

The bad blood was bcos a) as soon as Richardson got him to sign a contract decided to flog him b) He refused to sign for the higher bidder preferring to stay close to his Stratford home (well a little village just outside to be precise)

Dion will always be one of our greatest centre forwards, his top flight goals to games ratio will quite possibly never be broken.....if you want a reason to be pissed off with him its that once at Villa he came back to tap up Boateng and of course he keeps peddling that stupid Dube thing

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Yeah, like Westwood would have signed a new contract if it was offered earlier...
King - you know that as fact or rumour?

If he'd been offered an improved deal a year after signing, yeah, I think he would. We got him from L1 Carlisle, he'd have been on average Championship wages at best, despite having just proven hiomself as one of the top 2-3 Championship 'keepers. Similar things happened to Aron and Tabb when signed as relative unknowns who quickly flourished. If you reward performance you get more loyalty.

As for King, well it's what he claimed. No, I wouldn't normally take the mans word, either..but when it's King versus SISU, it's a little less black and white!

 

[LastGarrison]

But we seem not to get upset with the likes of Westwood who blatantly ran his contract down, King who made public his intent so he could get more money somewhere else and even Keogh who as soon as he saw the colour of the money did a runner.

But none of them refused to play for the club paying their wages.

In fact Westwood played the whole season knowing he was off and gave nothing but 100% every game.

That is the difference.

 

[Astute]

So a player that signed a new contract and then was sold for a lot of money when he wanted to stay is worse than a player that refused to sign a contract and left for nothing :facepalm:

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Did he ever refuse TO PLAY for us, Astute? Stop ignoring the reason why he isn't universally adored!

 

[Grendel]

Did he ever refuse TO PLAY for us, Astute? Stop ignoring the reason why he isn't universally adored!

No he just refused to sign a contract which made him money and cost us a significant fee.

 

[Astute]

Did he ever refuse TO PLAY for us, Astute? Stop ignoring the reason why he isn't universally adored!

Only after he had been sold to Villa. Some try to make it out he did it to get a move. He didn't want to go. He was due to sign the paperwork a day or two after. I suppose you wouldn't have been p!ssed off with Richardson if he had done it to you?

I can understand why some people dislike him, but I can also understand why he did it. Can't you? I suppose you are the kind of person that will let people sh!t all over you. "Hey Dion, have sold you when you want to stay, but play one more game for me" Yeah right. Let's blame it on Dion. Nothing to do with teflon Richardson, the one that put our club where it is now.

 

[torchomatic]

No, I can't understand why he did it.

I wish someone would shit £20K a week over me. Now, I would love to be treated that "badly".

Only after he had been sold to Villa. Some try to make it out he did it to get a move. He didn't want to go. He was due to sign the paperwork a day or two after. I suppose you wouldn't have been p!ssed off with Richardson if he had done it to you?

I can understand why some people dislike him, but I can also understand why he did it. Can't you? I suppose you are the kind of person that will let people sh!t all over you. "Hey Dion, have sold you when you want to stay, but play one more game for me" Yeah right. Let's blame it on Dion. Nothing to do with teflon Richardson, the one that put our club where it is now.

 

[Astute]

No, I can't understand why he did it.

I wish someone would shit £20K a week over me. Now, I would love to be treated that "badly".

Is that when someone else would have given you 1m plus to sign and then a fair bit more than 20k a week that actually wanted you at their club, not a chairman like Robinson that only wants you to sign so he could sell you to the highest bidder.

OK so some of you hate him for falling out with a chairman that did to him what he did, leaving Dion to do a major sin and refusing to play when already sold. I am wrong to see why he did it Everyone else is wrong to see it. The loudest are right again as usual.

Nobody has said they fully agree with not playing that 1 game, but it was not like some have made out it was to get a move as he was not wanted as much as Richardson wanted the money in his back pocket. How can anyone say how much they hate SISU, but say nothing against the person who put us on the slippery slope to where we are now and sold all the players he could when we were not in the position we are now, and finding a reason to blame a player for not playing a cup game and making him out to be a judas.

 

[Real]

No he just refused to sign a contract which made him money and cost us a significant fee.

Was he contracted to sign a new contract? No. Dublin was contracted to play, but he refused.

Only after he had been sold to Villa. Some try to make it out he did it to get a move. He didn't want to go. He was due to sign the paperwork a day or two after. I suppose you wouldn't have been p!ssed off with Richardson if he had done it to you?

I can understand why some people dislike him, but I can also understand why he did it. Can't you? I suppose you are the kind of person that will let people sh!t all over you. "Hey Dion, have sold you when you want to stay, but play one more game for me" Yeah right. Let's blame it on Dion. Nothing to do with teflon Richardson, the one that put our club where it is now.

If he was still contracted to play for Coventry City then he was wrong to refuse to play. To mention Westwood, King and Keogh in comparison is futile, the 1st two the contracts had ran down an they were free to move wherever they like, Dion wasn't. Keogh was sold with a year of his contract to go but when did he ever refuse to play?

 

[Real]

Is that when someone else would have given you 1m plus to sign and then a fair bit more than 20k a week that actually wanted you at their club, not a chairman like Robinson that only wants you to sign so he could sell you to the highest bidder.

OK so some of you hate him for falling out with a chairman that did to him what he did, leaving Dion to do a major sin and refusing to play when already sold. I am wrong to see why he did it Everyone else is wrong to see it. The loudest are right again as usual.

Nobody has said they fully agree with not playing that 1 game, but it was not like some have made out it was to get a move as he was not wanted as much as Richardson wanted the money in his back pocket. How can anyone say how much they hate SISU, but say nothing against the person who put us on the slippery slope to where we are now and sold all the players he could when we were not in the position we are now, and finding a reason to blame a player for not playing a cup game and making him out to be a judas.

So now it's a conspiracy, the loudest have won. Grow up. Our opinions differ, nothing more nothing less. I'll also repeat, I don't hate Dion, I never have done, I appreciate what he did while he wore the City shirt, however, his refusal to play, as well as the two fingered salute towards his own fans means the words City legend will never be uttered by myself in relation to Dion.

 

[Astute]

OK he shouldn't have signed a new contract with us and gone elsewhere, taking a big signing on fee and much higher wage. He would have left us 6m down. Much better than missing a game after he had been sold against his wishes I suppose.

Fair play to the few that can never forgive or forget. But for me I remember the good times he gave us, keeping us in the prem nearly single handed. Some say not loyal, but moved once in 10 years, and that was when sold when he wanted to stay.

I am out of here now. Have fun picking to bits a player that gave his all until forced out. I just hope none of you ever need forgiveness for a decision you ever make after giving your all.

 

[torchomatic]

It's ridiculous to suggest that all is forgiven with BR because of the way in which Dublin left the club! I am one of Richardson's fiercest critics and blame him 99% for our current position. However, you seem to be under the impression that Dublin was a total innocent who desperately wanted to stay at the club. Dublin wanted the move and threw a hissy fit because we'd already accepted a bid from Blackburn (who he'd had talks with) when he found out Villa were interested. He refused to play as he didn't want to get injured so as to not put his move in jeopardy. I don't care what his relationship was with Richardson or Strachan or whatever, he was still being paid by us and he had a duty to put on the shirt and play that final game. I was one of the unfortunate ones who went down to Kenilworth Road and not long after we arrived we heard rumours of what he had done. He even took us to a tribunal to get the money he'd been fined back after he'd gone to Villa!

Also pretty ridiculous saying that the "loudest" are right again. Why state that over a difference of opinion?

I don't care if it was one game. He shouldn't have done it.

 

[blueflint]

Top player, top bloke. When he left we lost an awesome player. Our glory days left with him, although we didn't see it that way at the time. I feel sorry in a way for all our younger supporters that have never seen players such as him playing for our club. He is about the only player I would welcome back after joining Villa. We were lucky to have him as long as we did. He was so good he would have got into just about any team. When was the last time other than Dublin we had the top scorer in any division?

mark hately comes to mind but know what u mean m8

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Is that when someone else would have given you 1m plus to sign and then a fair bit more than 20k a week that actually wanted you at their club, not a chairman like Robinson that only wants you to sign so he could sell you to the highest bidder.

OK so some of you hate him for falling out with a chairman that did to him what he did, leaving Dion to do a major sin and refusing to play when already sold. I am wrong to see why he did it Everyone else is wrong to see it. The loudest are right again as usual.

Nobody has said they fully agree with not playing that 1 game, but it was not like some have made out it was to get a move as he was not wanted as much as Richardson wanted the money in his back pocket. How can anyone say how much they hate SISU, but say nothing against the person who put us on the slippery slope to where we are now and sold all the players he could when we were not in the position we are now, and finding a reason to blame a player for not playing a cup game and making him out to be a judas.

Don't hate him, but what he did is unforgiveable and if it's so acceptable to down tools, why are there ZERO other examples of it at our club? A footballer actually refusing to play for the club that pays his wages!

What you have to appreciate is that it's him talking about how "99.9% of Coventry fans understand". Looking on here, it's more like 50%. He really does think we all love him, and when he was making his way up towards the press box at one game the season before last, the look on his face as he walked through the stand was that of a God walking among his followers.

 

[Astute]

Fatwood......

 

[torchomatic]

Thorn wouldn't play him rather than Eastwood refusing to play. Big difference.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

OK he shouldn't have signed a new contract with us and gone elsewhere, taking a big signing on fee and much higher wage. He would have left us 6m down. Much better than missing a game after he had been sold against his wishes I suppose.

Fair play to the few that can never forgive or forget. But for me I remember the good times he gave us, keeping us in the prem nearly single handed. Some say not loyal, but moved once in 10 years, and that was when sold when he wanted to stay.

I am out of here now. Have fun picking to bits a player that gave his all until forced out. I just hope none of you ever need forgiveness for a decision you ever make after giving your all.

Hang on a minute..sold against his wishes?!? So, erm..if he didn't want to move, he wouldn't have given a crap about a broken leg! Indeed, he should have thrown himself into 80/20 tackles looking for an injury, as then we wouldn't be able to sell him! It also begs the question: if he was such a militant young man, why the hell, when they agreed a sale against his wishes, why didn't he stand up to the club and say "No. I'm going nowhere. I love this club and want to stay". If he was so bleeding loyal, why the need for a get-out clause in his contract anyway? They only ever get inserted by players with one eye on the exit!

Ultimately, the guy even went to court to get his fine back as "it's the principle of the thing". Really sounds like a man who loved this club, that..no, He didn't give a shit about us by then, or our fans, and he bloody knows it. And he's only written anything positive about us as it's MEDIA WORK HE'S BEING PAID FOR!

 

[Astute]

Thorn wouldn't play him rather than Eastwood refusing to play. Big difference.

Refusing to get fit enough to play when we were desperate for players and well short of strikers is not that bad? Standing by collecting lots of money that we couldn't afford? Wasting the money we paid to sign him?

So now Dion would have been looked at much more favourably if he would have seen out his 3 year contract whilst becoming a fat slob and not caring about our club or fans?

 

[Astute]

Hang on a minute..sold against his wishes?!? So, erm..if he didn't want to move, he wouldn't have given a crap about a broken leg! Indeed, he should have thrown himself into 80/20 tackles looking for an injury, as then we wouldn't be able to sell him! It also begs the question: if he was such a militant young man, why the hell, when they agreed a sale against his wishes, why didn't he stand up to the club and say "No. I'm going nowhere. I love this club and want to stay". If he was so bleeding loyal, why the need for a get-out clause in his contract anyway? They only ever get inserted by players with one eye on the exit!

Ultimately, the guy even went to court to get his fine back as "it's the principle of the thing". Really sounds like a man who loved this club, that..no, He didn't give a shit about us by then, or our fans, and he bloody knows it. And he's only written anything positive about us as it's MEDIA WORK HE'S BEING PAID FOR!

If he wanted a move why did he sign a new contract when he could have taken a big signing on fee just months before and much higher wages?

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Refusing to get fit enough to play when we were desperate for players and well short of strikers is not that bad? Standing by collecting lots of money that we couldn't afford? Wasting the money we paid to sign him?

So now Dion would have been looked at much more favourably if he would have seen out his 3 year contract whilst becoming a fat slob and not caring about our club or fans?

You've now resorted to "yes, but it's not as bad as Eastwood"! Sorry Astute, you post a lot of sense, but for that you deserve a :facepalm:

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

If he wanted a move why did he sign a new contract when he could have taken a big signing on fee just months before and much higher wages?

If he didn't want to leave CCFC, why did he REFUSE to play for us despite still being contracted? If it was such a wrench, he certainly wouldn't have had the gumption to come back and rub our noses in it over a fine he could pay with his loose change.

 

[Astute]

Don't hate him, but what he did is unforgiveable and if it's so acceptable to down tools, why are there ZERO other examples of it at our club? A footballer actually refusing to play for the club that pays his wages!

What you have to appreciate is that it's him talking about how "99.9% of Coventry fans understand". Looking on here, it's more like 50%. He really does think we all love him, and when he was making his way up towards the press box at one game the season before last, the look on his face as he walked through the stand was that of a God walking among his followers.

You wete the one to ask this question though

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

You wete the one to ask this question though

But Eastwood is quite a different example. Maybe other managers would have still picked him? Dion was picked, and refused to play. Freddy wasn't selected.