This was just before we visited Reading. They had six points on Bolton and eight on us. Birmingham had six points on us and two on Bolton for that matter. That day we had a bit of fun. Hade was driving so Toby and Matt headed over to ours, and stopped off at the Tooting branch of Woolworth’s (now history) for some inflatables. These inflatables were to appear on countless TV cameras during the run-in, but really it was a bit of “oh well, we’re going down” fun as best I remember.
Hade and I were by the corner flag that day and early on the heavens opened. We got drenched. Then the sun came out, we scored, we hit the cross-bar three times, then finally Simon Davies put Erik Nevland through and the latter sealed the game and began a run of form that pretty much ensures that he’ll always be remembered.
We still had to beat City away, Birmingham at home and Portsmouth away, but hey, somehow all that happened and Reading went down on goal difference.
Crazy.
Now look:
No point pretending it couldn’t have been us. It could so easily have been us. It probably should have been us.
I’m not sure that being in the Premiership is the be all and end all, but let’s not forget how lucky we are. I haven’t got a particularly strong point to make here, but, well, you know where I’m coming from, right?
Liverpool tomorrow. There are many fixtures I get more excited about, but at the moment I’m living for 3pm tomorrow afternoon.
Wow, Reading really fell far.
As a Yank, that’s what makes all the Euro leagues more exciting. I also have a great deal of respect for the fans who follow their team no matter what division they’re in.
Comment by Derek — October 30, 2009 @ 11:20 pm |
Look at Hull! It’s a devastating prospect for some teams. I remember 2007-2008 and for most of the season it was downright depressing. Can you imagine what it’s like at Reading now? What it could be like for Hull, where the team may be docked points?
Comment by L — October 31, 2009 @ 1:41 am |
Yeah, it really sucks at Reading now.
And this is just a depressing reminder of how epic our collapse was at the end of that year. Combine that with y’all putting together a ridiculous run, and then add in another horrible collapse in the second half last year, and the departure of Coppell (and and League One looks like it’s just around the corner.
It’s also stunning how quickly it turned. We could have beaten Birmingham on the last match of the year and taken an automatic promotion spot. But we didn’t and so here we are.
Comment by Charles — October 31, 2009 @ 3:14 am |
DERBY in May
Pitch invasion, match abandoned, never the required replay. Fulham frustrated at missing promotion to a proven injustice. Ernie Clay sells eleven players. Supermac departs. FFC in free fall. We wake up in 4th division and 91st place.
Let us thank Chairman MO and enjoy our trip to ROMA such a change from Rochdale and Rotherham
Comment by Pensioner — October 31, 2009 @ 6:59 am |
AND our first Saturday arvo game at the Cottage. Very excited
Comment by Geoff — October 31, 2009 @ 11:30 am |
Football focus on bb1 is at the Cottage as we speak
Comment by Geoff — October 31, 2009 @ 11:32 am |
A rather late response, but I’ve only just caught up after a few days away and you’ve highlighted an interesting point here, Rich.
The key for me is that if we’d gone down but kept Roy Hodgson we’d have been O.K. No, more than O.K. Give him a budget which matches, or is even slightly smaller than his opponents and he’ll out perform them. There is a more level financial playing field in the Championship than the Premier League, where the big boys have to really mess up (see Newcastle) to get into trouble.
There was a nice quote about Roy on Garry Richardson’s Sportsweek, to the effect that he’s a better bet than Ferguson, Ancelotti or Wenger for succeeding on a Fulham sized budget.
As far as Reading are concerned, once Coppell went, anything could happen. I noticed a comment by Dave Kitson last season, who said that the togetherness and work ethic of their first Premier League season was lost the following year as players heads were turned by their success. I’m surprised that Coppell, who I rated as a manager, allowed that to happen.
Comment by Nick Johnson — November 2, 2009 @ 9:50 pm |
[...] Rich over at CCN has been having some fun with tables from days gone by to prove points about Phil Brown and Fulham’s salvation. [...]
Pingback by Tabling Tables - - The Offside - Fulham FC English Premiership Football Blog — November 2, 2009 @ 11:51 pm |