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Soccer AM/MW - the home of lively and humorous discussion from the Football and Non Leagues

Monday, May 31, 2010

Quote unquote

As the curtain falls on another season, we decided to take a bit of time to reflect upon events over the last nine months.

It'll come as no surprise to anyone that the lads have had plenty to say for themselves over the course of the season.

Here we reflect upon some of the lads' pearls of wisdom - and some of the things they wish they'd never said.


On Reading's fight against Championship relegation:

"Reading would stay up if they hired a good manager, but I can't see them pulling away while a plump Heston Blumenthal stays in charge." Turls

"I don't see their new manager being able to save them." Nobes

In fact, Reading went on a rapid rise up the division under new boss Brian McDermott - eventually finishing 9th.




On Lincoln chairman Steff Wright's stewardship of the club
:

"Imps chairman Steff Wright should resign for his continued mis-handling of the club." Nobes

Nobes spoke, and he listened. In March, Wright announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season.

On Darren Ferguson being sacked by Peterborough:

"Darren 'back to back promotions' Ferguson getting the old heave ho? Ridiculous if you ask me, even if I do hate anything remotely connected to his whiney old father." Lakes

Ferguson went on to be appointed as the new manager of Lakes's team Preston. Nothing like a warm welcome, eh?

On Northampton's managerial change:

"Are Northampton doing any better now Stuart Gray has been replaced by club playing legend Ian Sampson? Not at all.

The fans might have a hero at the helm, but he cannot match his playing career with his managerial performance.
" Nobes

He wasn't at the time, but Northampton went on a strong run in the second half of the season. They eventually ended up 11th.

On Notts County's Premier League dream:

"The Notts County experiment will fail - because they are trying to achieve too much in too short a space of time." Turls

Bang-on! The Notts dream ended in tears, departures, financial ruin, and much embarrassment. They still managed to win promotion to League One as Champions, however.


On Mark Cooper's appointment as Peterborough boss:

"The Cambridgeshire outfit will pay with relegation to League One next spring playing ugly,
long-ball football." Nobes

Peterborough were indeed relegated - although Cooper had long been fired for his unattractive football and lack of results.

On Blackpool's hopes of a top six finish:

"I don't fancy [Ian] Holloway as a play-off quality manager.
" Lakes.

Not only did they make the Championship play-offs, they won all three matches to secure promotion to the top flight.


On the League One play-off race:


"I reckon Paul Ince will guide the MK Dons on an inspired end of season run which will see them glide into the play-offs." Turls

Or not. Instead Ince announced his intention to resign at the end of the campaign and the side ended the season with an 11-match winless run finishing up a disappointing 12th.

On Norwich naming Paul Lambert as their new manager:

"Should Lambert's career continue on its current upwards trajectory, then both him and City can look forward to bigger and better things in the future." Nobes

Paul Lambert and Norwich romped home to the League One title and promotion.

On Newcastle's bid for promotion:

"If they're top at Christmas they'll storm the league." Lakes

They were, and they did.

On the fight for promotion to the top flight:

"Newcastle to romp home with a few games to spare and WBA to wrap up second place around the same time. Forest to be ruing the play-off system." Turls

Three months before it happened, Turls knew what was around the corner for his beloved Forest.


On the future of Oldham boss Dave Penney:

"After underachieving this term, Penney has every right to feel nervous about his long term prospects." Nobes

He wasn't wrong. Penney was sacked the very next day.

Turls' pre-season predictions:

"With the current economic climate, it seems inevitable that more and more clubs will be going into administration and folding."

Morbid, but he wasn't wrong. Both Chester and Farsley went out of business and Crystal Palace entered administration.

Lakes' pre-season predictions:

"Boston to go bankrupt. Fergie to announce his retirement and name his successor as David Moyes."

They didn't... and no news on Ferguson's retirement.

Nobes' pre-season predictions:

"Sven will be managing Notts County before the season's out, Burnley will indeed stay up, Oxford will set a new Conference attendance record on their way to the title, and Soccer AM/MW will become an internet sensation, of course."


He didn't, they didn't, they also didn't do either, and did it? We like to think so!

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