Would another promotion propel Robins into the same legendary status as Jimmy Hill (6 Viewers)

torchomatic said:

I don't remember it like that. I seem to remember reading something along the lines of Curtis was just there to help out Sillett rather than being an equal partner or anything.

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Correct

Grendel said:

Correct

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Weren't Curtis doing a more off the field role rather than anything to do with the football side?
Sacking Sillett is probably one of the biggest mistakes the club ever made? Terry Butcher turned a team into relegation strugglers and set the tone for the Prem era

torchomatic said:

I don't remember it like that. I seem to remember reading something along the lines of Curtis was just there to help out Sillett rather than being an equal partner or anything.

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They were officially joint managers for the cup winning season.

It was only after Sillett went alone. That's not to minimise his contribution either, as the league positions held up well, and we could, with a bit of luck, had another Wembley final when we played Forest in the semis.

Although I know and respect the history of Hill and Sillett, I still voted yes. For me personally he's well on his way to legendary status. Being born in 1986 into a Coventry City supporting family, Ron Atkinson was the first manager I was really concious about and have memories of. Although I loved those golden late-90's years in the Premier League at Highfield Road with Dublin, Whelan, Huckerby etc, it's this Mark Robins era that has brought me - personally - something to really cheer about. Until our Checkatrade Trophy win in 2017 all I'd ever seen Cov really do is scrape by, get knocked out of tournaments and get relegated 3 times. I still support and follow them now just as much as I did in the Premier League days, my love for the club has never gone down, but it's just so nice to see a settled manager with a real plan, vision and passion for the club. Playing interesting football and making clever signings with awful resources and non-stop politics off the pitch, it's great to see us - at least for now - having some fun with it all.

fernandopartridge said:

Weren't Curtis doing a more off the field role rather than anything to do with the football side?
Sacking Sillett is probably one of the biggest mistakes the club ever made? Terry Butcher turned a team into relegation strugglers and set the tone for the Prem era

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Yes Curtis was previously a commercial manager and managing the ticket office. I never really got his appointment but I think it was a way of getting two legends of the club together and I think he was in a motivational role.

Sillett was a manager before at Hereford and was a success. Many players say he was shrewd and a great tactician. Regis acknowledged without him he’d have been finished as a player

He was starting to decline at the point of his dismissal but removing him from the club was nonsense. He was a great energiser and a classic example of someone who could have been a director of football. Butcher was an idiotic appointment - Poynton tried to get Souness before and seemed obsessed with some big name ex player as a vision

He should have at least kept Sillett on in some capacity

Like others, agree it would be a great achievement but still second to Hill. But, if Robins was to take us up to the Prem...

Dickie said:

Like others, agree it would be a great achievement but still second to Hill. But, if Robins was to take us up to the Prem...

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It still would nowhere near be second

Grendel said:

He was starting to decline at the point of his dismissal but removing him from the club was nonsense. He was a great energiser and a classic example of someone who could have been a director of football. Butcher was an idiotic appointment - Poynton tried to get Souness before and seemed obsessed with some big name ex player as a vision

He should have at least kept Sillett on in some capacity

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The original plan was to groom Peake and Regis to take over in his place when the time was right. Of course that went out the window when Butcher was brought in, and was probably why that pair were shipped out as they were a threat.

Who knows how that'd have gone, but Peake had a half-decent career as a coach.

It’s the type of question that never will be conclusive like the Messi/Ronaldo, Federer/nadal etc etc.

All very different scenarios, I can only recall sillett in giving us the most rememberable day in our history, Hill was THE most innovative manager in the game and was the Catalyst for what football is today.

Robins would have achieved something amazing at a time when the club is at its lowest point. Qualifies as being legendary still

Grendel said:

It still would nowhere near be second

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Okay, third?

Evo1883 said:

Are you serious? That would be 3 promotions during a difficult period in the clubs history including a ground share.

3 promotions wouldn't have him second, I think you just enjoy winding people up

What I think you did was put your eggs in the Robins out basket before, and you are one of those people that irrespective of what he does from then on out, you will never truly take to him.

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I was referring to the two promotions

Evo1883 said:

Ah ok, your reply was to a post about promotion to the Premier league

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No because he said second with two promotions

Hill is the Shankly of Coventry and will always be revered and every manager of the top flight era that preserved our staus should be acknowledged as punching above our weight, even Don Mackay, Butcher and Howe, as dreadful as it was to live through. These managers presided over year of losing football but I would still state that tthe years since 2000 have made those years seem like golden periods.
Sillett and Curtis gave us peaks that should never be forgotten and deserve veneration, especially Sillett. Btw Curtis was managing director of the club too. It is sad that some were calling for Sillett's head. Be careful of what you wish for as we soon found out.
Strachan gave us some fantastic times and we certainly were very good for a period of time with great players who we had no right to have in our team.Oh to dream of those sort of players wearing our shirt in future.
Robins is an amazing manager This club is his club, there is no doubt in my mind of that. How it ends is with the footballing gods but I tell you this: in my opinion the semi final v Wycombe is the most significant game in our recent history. We were near enough down after a shockingly depressing season and getting rid of Slade and appointing Robins was the catalyst for the redemption of the Sky Blues.
Can you imagine the close season of that year with Slade, not having won at Wembley? Expectations would have been lower and more toxic than ever with no patience or goodwill whatsoever in the bank.
Robins deserves a special place in our history, how special time will tell.

riyadhskyblue said:

even Don Mackay, Butcher and Howe, as dreadful as it was to live through

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Don Mackay's biggest contribution was re-hiring Sillett

Deleted member 5849 said:

Don Mackay's biggest contribution was re-hiring Sillett

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Signing Brian Borrows as well

Grendel said:

Signing Brian Borrows as well

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True. Also Nick Pickering. tbf he did save us 84-85 as well, just couldn't build on it.

Howe's the one without any saving grace I can think of!

But in a way Sillett engineered his own downfall, he had announced he was retiring at the end of the season and yes he did mention Trevor Peake and Cyrillic Regis they in his opinion were likely lads to fill his shoes, but they were both still major players Sills timing not the best. Sillett was then hospitalised and that’s when Poynton moved for Terry Butcher and informed Sill in his hospital bed basically he was sacked shocking really.

Grendel said:

He should have at least kept Sillett on in some capacity

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See you can talk some sense, some times.

GEORGE AND JOHN'S SKY BLUE ARMY.

I worked alongside George for many yrs (before he took on the managerial role) He was always a support man for Sillet and never claimed anything else. He was as humble a person as you could ever meet and fully deserves his “legend” tag

Mask said:

Although I know and respect the history of Hill and Sillett, I still voted yes. For me personally he's well on his way to legendary status. Being born in 1986 into a Coventry City supporting family, Ron Atkinson was the first manager I was really concious about and have memories of. Although I loved those golden late-90's years in the Premier League at Highfield Road with Dublin, Whelan, Huckerby etc, it's this Mark Robins era that has brought me - personally - something to really cheer about. Until our Checkatrade Trophy win in 2017 all I'd ever seen Cov really do is scrape by, get knocked out of tournaments and get relegated 3 times. I still support and follow them now just as much as I did in the Premier League days, my love for the club has never gone down, but it's just so nice to see a settled manager with a real plan, vision and passion for the club. Playing interesting football and making clever signings with awful resources and non-stop politics off the pitch, it's great to see us - at least for now - having some fun with it all.

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Born in the same year and feel pretty much the same in that it's nice to be going to Wembley and challenging near the top of whatever league we're in, I don't care what anyone says winning a dog shit trophy at Wembley feels far better than staying up by beating Spurs on the last day of the season.
But as for the Hill/Robins debate, I think Robins would pretty much have to buy some land and build a stadium to match Hill.
Robins has been an excellent manager for us and given me some great memories but Hill was very involved off the field and Robins (probably quite wisely) largely steers clear of the off field issues.