This decade, the highs & lows, can any other team lay claim to more ?
Have I missed anything ? Please fill in the blanks.
Forgive me if I add a little poetic licence or don't get facts exactly right or suggest anything you disagree or have a different take on, but.....here goes -
2 periods in Administration. Both crippling the club.
The first forcing a 10 year loan by an anonymous Panamanian company (who are big QPR supporters and have our best interests at heart, despite something similar at Derby !) against the ground at an extortionate rate, changed at the last minute and agreed in order to be included in the upcoming seasons fixtures.
The second, seeing us hours from extinction, but hope springs eternal as we become 'the richest club in the world'.
Chris Wright and Wasps come & go.
Chairman Bill Power, big man, big fan and often found on messageboards. Often entertaining, always reassuring. The tipsy voice of reason ?
4th richest man in the world and 2 billionaires.
Flavio, Flaviogate, his interference with team selection.
Amount spent on W12, C Club, Boxes and only filling 25-30% of them. Chandeliers anyone ?
Fans clubbing together with bucket collections to acquire the services of Cullerton.
Ex Players donations to the Club. Step forward Ferdinand, Crouch & Lee Cook especially.
World Cup Winning Brazilians on the Board and he even visited us twice !
A Chairman (or Director Of Football) who divides opinion between savior and chancer.
Guns in the Boardroom at Sheffield United home game (remember the opposition !)
The ludicrous shambles of follow up investigations and courtroom drama.
Alienation of the most loyal fans but increasing Season Tickets by 50% or 200% in the case of Juniors.
Dropping them by a fraction when they notice the credit cruch, and finally realise the VAT reduction benefit. Oh and the falling gates.
Sit down, Shut up ! Now be our 12th man !
11 Managers (or Caretakers) since the start of 2006 and the ridiculous instability of the average duration of their tenure.
Ian Holloway, legend for his achievements & personality with minimal funds to turn the team around. OK, so the football wasn't always pretty to watch, but I seem to recall our league position improved in each of his 5 seasons. His fresh, unique & often hilarious interviews/comments/methods entertained us all. They even made a book about them ! And come on, own up, who didn't laugh & cry when watching his fly on the wall TV documentary. All together now, "Where's my tassles ?".
The aforementioned gardening leave, after being given permission by the club to speak to another club.
1 Manager 'removed' for spilling some beans to a fan
1 Manager Suspended for 'alleged' headbutt, and likely to be 'removed' for losing the dressing room and losing in general !
Player turnover since our current owners took over.
Bircham, that haircut & goals at Brentford.
The return of the prodigal son, Super Kev.
Clarke Carlisle winning Britain most Intelligent Footballer, then his well publicised troubles with alcohol.
Players signed without a medical (Sturridge). Another failing a medical, (allegedly) - Sorry Pete.
How many long term injuries ? Langley, Carlisle, Rowlands, Buzz, Rowlands, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Vine, Cook, Oh and Matthew Rose.
Glandular fever, Connolly & Birch.
Postponed match against Sheffield United (I'm seeing a pattern here, beware next Saturday !) for Kulscar contracting meningitis (I know technically 1999, but I wanted to get the Sheff Utd joke in)
Spending £3.5M on an unknown Argentinian 2nd divison player.
Spending anything on Pellicori, Alberti, Di Carmine, Ledesma (OK slightly harsh the last one)
Bob Malcolm
Loan signing from Real Madrid, who wasn't impressed ? Then disappointed.....
The lows of the FA Cup (Vauxhall Motors & Swansea specifically) but last victory back in 2000/01 season.
The highs of beating and relegating Luton, Oldham on that night (best atmospehere I ever recall).
2 Relegations, 1 Promotion, 1 Playoff Final v Cardiff, in Cardiff and early morning fun at the Celtic Manor hotel.
Betting kiosk come, betting kiosk go, betting kiosks come again.....
Thanks for getting to the end of this post, got anything to add ?
Have I missed anything ? Please fill in the blanks.
Forgive me if I add a little poetic licence or don't get facts exactly right or suggest anything you disagree or have a different take on, but.....here goes -
2 periods in Administration. Both crippling the club.
The first forcing a 10 year loan by an anonymous Panamanian company (who are big QPR supporters and have our best interests at heart, despite something similar at Derby !) against the ground at an extortionate rate, changed at the last minute and agreed in order to be included in the upcoming seasons fixtures.
The second, seeing us hours from extinction, but hope springs eternal as we become 'the richest club in the world'.
Chris Wright and Wasps come & go.
Chairman Bill Power, big man, big fan and often found on messageboards. Often entertaining, always reassuring. The tipsy voice of reason ?
4th richest man in the world and 2 billionaires.
Flavio, Flaviogate, his interference with team selection.
Amount spent on W12, C Club, Boxes and only filling 25-30% of them. Chandeliers anyone ?
Fans clubbing together with bucket collections to acquire the services of Cullerton.
Ex Players donations to the Club. Step forward Ferdinand, Crouch & Lee Cook especially.
World Cup Winning Brazilians on the Board and he even visited us twice !
A Chairman (or Director Of Football) who divides opinion between savior and chancer.
Guns in the Boardroom at Sheffield United home game (remember the opposition !)
The ludicrous shambles of follow up investigations and courtroom drama.
Alienation of the most loyal fans but increasing Season Tickets by 50% or 200% in the case of Juniors.
Dropping them by a fraction when they notice the credit cruch, and finally realise the VAT reduction benefit. Oh and the falling gates.
Sit down, Shut up ! Now be our 12th man !
11 Managers (or Caretakers) since the start of 2006 and the ridiculous instability of the average duration of their tenure.
Ian Holloway, legend for his achievements & personality with minimal funds to turn the team around. OK, so the football wasn't always pretty to watch, but I seem to recall our league position improved in each of his 5 seasons. His fresh, unique & often hilarious interviews/comments/methods entertained us all. They even made a book about them ! And come on, own up, who didn't laugh & cry when watching his fly on the wall TV documentary. All together now, "Where's my tassles ?".
The aforementioned gardening leave, after being given permission by the club to speak to another club.
1 Manager 'removed' for spilling some beans to a fan
1 Manager Suspended for 'alleged' headbutt, and likely to be 'removed' for losing the dressing room and losing in general !
Player turnover since our current owners took over.
Bircham, that haircut & goals at Brentford.
The return of the prodigal son, Super Kev.
Clarke Carlisle winning Britain most Intelligent Footballer, then his well publicised troubles with alcohol.
Players signed without a medical (Sturridge). Another failing a medical, (allegedly) - Sorry Pete.
How many long term injuries ? Langley, Carlisle, Rowlands, Buzz, Rowlands, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Vine, Cook, Oh and Matthew Rose.
Glandular fever, Connolly & Birch.
Postponed match against Sheffield United (I'm seeing a pattern here, beware next Saturday !) for Kulscar contracting meningitis (I know technically 1999, but I wanted to get the Sheff Utd joke in)
Spending £3.5M on an unknown Argentinian 2nd divison player.
Spending anything on Pellicori, Alberti, Di Carmine, Ledesma (OK slightly harsh the last one)
Bob Malcolm
Loan signing from Real Madrid, who wasn't impressed ? Then disappointed.....
The lows of the FA Cup (Vauxhall Motors & Swansea specifically) but last victory back in 2000/01 season.
The highs of beating and relegating Luton, Oldham on that night (best atmospehere I ever recall).
2 Relegations, 1 Promotion, 1 Playoff Final v Cardiff, in Cardiff and early morning fun at the Celtic Manor hotel.
Betting kiosk come, betting kiosk go, betting kiosks come again.....
Thanks for getting to the end of this post, got anything to add ?
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