Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Good points. I guess part of it is that "what might have been" had he not gone into TV. Similar with the stories of Clough agreeing to join us but we weren't willing to wait for him to become available.
I agree with most of what you say, I just feel that you are a little harsh on JH when you say he left us in the lurch. If you read his autobiography it explains the circumstances. He wanted a ten year contract, Robbins, the chairman at the time, wouldn’t agree. However Jimmy says that he was disappointed that the board never came back to him with a compromise offer. It sounded like he very much wanted to stay but no talks took place. He also agreed to stay on as manager until a new man was appointed. He consequently managed the club for the first 12 matches in the first division, rather than simply walking away. I wonder where the club would have got to if he had stayed as at that time and in that era, winning the league was open to virtually any club who were managed and well run and wasn’t ring fenced by money in favour of whoever is in the current top six as in the PL today.
I really like MR, liked him first time he was here and was really pleased he came back. I don’t know why but this club and Robins just seem to suit each other. However, for me he has some way to go to compete with someone like JH who transformed everything about Coventry City. In a list of all time managers I would say he was behind Hill, Sillett Milne and Storer, not that I was around during the latter’s time in charge.
No Sillets record and history was far better than robins whose performing at s very different level
Hill as a manager clearly was a massive innovator as well as his record of achievement
Serious question regarding Sillet as my memory has faded with time ( 30'plus years now) ...........
What do you (or anybody else who would like to comment) think George Curtis contribution was to the success in the mid 80s. I remember they had defined roles and GC was more like a modern day Director of football but we always sang "George and Johns Sky blue army"
Was it JS 80% and GC 20% or 50/50 or ???
If JH had stayed at the club, I don't think we would have had years of fighting relegation, probably top 6.I wonder where the club would have got to if he had stayed as at that time and in that era, winning the league was open to virtually any club who were managed and well run and wasn’t ring fenced by money in favour of whoever is in the current top six as in the PL today.
If JH had stayed at the club, I don't think we would have had years of fighting relegation, probably top 6.
Yes, but for only one season, we had to many years fighting relegation.We were top 6 the next season after the first without him
Yes, but for only one season, we had to many years fighting relegation.
How many years was JH on match of the day before he became Chairman ?It’s an interesting discussion because of course we lost a lot of money when he was chairman as he plundered a lot into into the US
Can’t compare JH and MR different times. I will say though as good JH was what he did at the end was almost unforgivable whatever was going on behind the scenes to announce his resignation on the eve of our big kick off at Burnley was crass. I Worked with Ronnie Farmer and Ernie Machin and they both told me they hadn’t the foggiest as to what was happening, imagine that. Also Hill hadn’t strengthened the squad at all in preparation for top level football, that was left to new manager Noel Cantwell three months into the new season and all through the season ultimately left us struggling all season.I agree with most of what you say, I just feel that you are a little harsh on JH when you say he left us in the lurch. If you read his autobiography it explains the circumstances. He wanted a ten year contract, Robbins, the chairman at the time, wouldn’t agree. However Jimmy says that he was disappointed that the board never came back to him with a compromise offer. It sounded like he very much wanted to stay but no talks took place. He also agreed to stay on as manager until a new man was appointed. He consequently managed the club for the first 12 matches in the first division, rather than simply walking away. I wonder where the club would have got to if he had stayed as at that time and in that era, winning the league was open to virtually any club who were managed and well run and wasn’t ring fenced by money in favour of whoever is in the current top six as in the PL today.
I really like MR, liked him first time he was here and was really pleased he came back. I don’t know why but this club and Robins just seem to suit each other. However, for me he has some way to go to compete with someone like JH who transformed everything about Coventry City. In a list of all time managers I would say he was behind Hill, Sillett Milne and Storer, not that I was around during the latter’s time in charge.
I've been thinking a little about how we would fare in the Championship - if we were promoted*. My perception is that the jump from L1 to Champ is much greater than L2 to L1 and that we would struggle. For sure, we'd change the squad around a bit, but I cannot see how a strategy of small purchases, frees and loans would cut it. And I don't think that we'd 'go for broke'.
I'm not complaining - if we could stay up for one year and build on that I'd see it as a success. However I see a real chance of us tumbling down again immediately - albeit with more money.
* Yes, I know we are only 9 games in and 'let's just focus on this year first' etc. etc. However you don't own conjecture and conversation on this board and I choose to think about it and am interested what others think.
Would a bit of yo-yoing be the worst thing in the world?
Without Jimmy Hill, there would have been no Sillett and no Curtis and 1987 would never have happened.Sillet era was amazing, the finishes in the league and cup runs were just brilliant away days. To me, he is the best ever because of the achievements at the top level.
Hill achieved something for the whole club, not just the team so comparison is not always easy, he avoided taking the challenge of the top division.
Robins is doing something great with the players and wants to play a certain way and not afraid to stick at it with the players and his philosophy.
Others have done well in stints, G is right about Phil Neal but not that was boring at times.
For me:
1. Sillet
2. Hull
Last. Tied between Thorn and Slade
Is the difference from let’s say the middle of the championship and division one that big ? Luton and Charlton haven’t done too bad so far. Robins has certainly upped our quality from last season and has brought in several young ones into our U23 squad. Of course we will need better players and it would be a case of a couple out and their transfer money to bring three or four in but I think we could hold our own in there.I've been thinking a little about how we would fare in the Championship - if we were promoted*. My perception is that the jump from L1 to Champ is much greater than L2 to L1 and that we would struggle. For sure, we'd change the squad around a bit, but I cannot see how a strategy of small purchases, frees and loans would cut it. And I don't think that we'd 'go for broke'.
I'm not complaining - if we could stay up for one year and build on that I'd see it as a success. However I see a real chance of us tumbling down again immediately - albeit with more money.
* Yes, I know we are only 9 games in and 'let's just focus on this year first' etc. etc. However you don't own conjecture and conversation on this board and I choose to think about it and am interested what others think.
The gap us huge. Barnsley struggling and they spent a bit. Rotherham always yo yo. Wigan struggling. Take ipswich this year. Clearly a top side here yet were cannon fodder last yearIs the difference from let’s say the middle of the championship and division one that big ? Luton and Charlton haven’t done too bad so far. Robins has certainly upped our quality from last season and has brought in several young ones into our U23 squad. Of course we will need better players and it would be a case of a couple out and their transfer money to bring three or four in but I think we could hold our own in there.
I'm surprised to see how little regard Sillett gets around these parts from some.
The gap us huge. Barnsley struggling and they spent a bit. Rotherham always yo yo. Wigan struggling. Take ipswich this year. Clearly a top side here yet were cannon fodder last year
Sillett oversaw a cup win and a series of very very comfortable seasons in the top flightSillett was a one hit wonder. Hill did it in easier times. Robins getting us promoted given the backdrop would be a massive achievement
George’s contribution at the time was massive far bigger than what’s been told, Sillett was more a coach than manager and Curtis more manager than coach, Sill was more media friendly and George kept out of that spotlight. Big shame he didn’t stay on in his role at the timeSerious question regarding Sillet as my memory has faded with time ( 30'plus years now) ...........
What do you (or anybody else who would like to comment) think George Curtis contribution was to the success in the mid 80s. I remember they had defined roles and GC was more like a modern day Director of football but we always sang "George and Johns Sky blue army"
Was it JS 80% and GC 20% or 50/50 or ???
George’s contribution at the time was massive far bigger than what’s been told, Sillett was more a coach than manager and Curtis more manager than coach, Sill was more media friendly and George kept out of that spotlight. Big shame he didn’t stay on in his role at the time
George’s contribution at the time was massive far bigger than what’s been told, Sillett was more a coach than manager and Curtis more manager than coach, Sill was more media friendly and George kept out of that spotlight. Big shame he didn’t stay on in his role at the time
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