Relegation

[Dymak]

I wonder if someone could refresh my memory.

In 1994 and again in ‘98, my recollection is mainly of the last day escapes.

To me, we arrived on the Relegation scene late…got sucked in, so to speak.

Were we this deep in the mire in the middle of March in either of those years?

The fact we have our lowest points ever at this stsge of a season suggests to me the trouble crept up on us.

1997 / 1998 was a season long struggle. We were beaten 2-1 by Palace at home on the first day and it was obvious that we would struggle.

There were other season long relegations scraps that didn't lead to a last day escape. 1994 / 1995 was a season long struggle with survival not guaranteed until beating Ipswich away in the second to last game of the season, 10 days before Wembley.

 

[sbbefc]

The problem is, even the games we won at the start of the season weren't convincing. We beat Burnley at home but for 80% of the game we were God awful. There was a mad 6 minutes where we scored 3 goals out of nowhere.

Goals at the start of the season came from brief moments of brilliance from the likes of Gray and Townsend. Granted there could be random moments of brilliance in the next few games, but we're now totally on the back foot and confidence has been sucked out of the team. Unfortunately I just can't see us turning it around.

 

[hallamblue]

I was worried before the season started, and I've been the same way for most of it since. I honestly don't know if we have enough about us to stay up.

 

[COYBL25]

I wonder if someone could refresh my memory.

In 1994 and again in ‘98, my recollection is mainly of the last day escapes.

To me, we arrived on the Relegation scene late…got sucked in, so to speak.

Were we this deep in the mire in the middle of March in either of those years?

The fact we have our lowest points ever at this stsge of a season suggests to me the trouble crept up on us.

From memory, 93 / 94 was the worst one.

Mike Walker got 6 points from his first eleven games and we were in the bottom three and adrift at the turn of the year and looked down and out.

98, was more of a slow drift downwards - much like this season.

 

[Daytripper]

The problem is, even the games we won at the start of the season weren't convincing. We beat Burnley at home but for 80% of the game we were God awful. There was a mad 6 minutes where we scored 3 goals out of nowhere.

Goals at the start of the season came from brief moments of brilliance from the likes of Gray and Townsend. Granted there could be random moments of brilliance in the next few games, but we're now totally on the back foot and confidence has been sucked out of the team. Unfortunately I just can't see us turning it around.

Good post. I do think we played well at Brighton but as you say apart from that very little else.

 

[hallamblue]

Good post. I do think we played well at Brighton but as you say apart from that very little else.

Brighton's subsequent home form has devalued that win somewhat.

 

[WilliamPerry]

From memory, 93 / 94 was the worst one.

Mike Walker got 6 points from his first eleven games and we were in the bottom three and adrift at the turn of the year and looked down and out.

98, was more of a slow drift downwards - much like this season.

We won our first 3 games In 93/94. I thought we were boss , we then lost our next 3 and I realised we weren’t boss after all . I still hate Efan Ekoku

 

[Runub]

The problem is, even the games we won at the start of the season weren't convincing. We beat Burnley at home but for 80% of the game we were God awful. There was a mad 6 minutes where we scored 3 goals out of nowhere.

Goals at the start of the season came from brief moments of brilliance from the likes of Gray and Townsend. Granted there could be random moments of brilliance in the next few games, but we're now totally on the back foot and confidence has been sucked out of the team. Unfortunately I just can't see us turning it around.

I have been thinking this as well. Creating goals from open play seems to be beyond this lot. Have to rely on the odd worldy but they are few and far between

 

[brieverton]

From memory, 93 / 94 was the worst one.

Mike Walker got 6 points from his first eleven games and we were in the bottom three and adrift at the turn of the year and looked down and out.

98, was more of a slow drift downwards - much like this season.

In 94 when Joe Royle was appointed I was absolutely certain we would not be in danger. He was exactly what we needed at exactly the right time. A pity he didn't get the job earlier, when we gave it to Walker.

We were lucky in 98 almost drifted out of the league as you say.

 

[COYBL25]

In 94 when Joe Royle was appointed I was absolutely certain we would not be in danger. He was exactly what we needed at exactly the right time. A pity he didn't get the job earlier, when we gave it to Walker.

We were lucky in 98 almost drifted out of the league as you say.

I was never really concerned that we`d go down in 98, but 93/94 was a full on season of going down.

 

[Frenk]

Anyone else feel physically sick about tonight?

I’ve been feeling sick all season.

 

[magicjuan]

Wimbledon I was bricking it, scrambled to get a ticket due to the Park end development, ended up in lower bullens, whole game was a shambles, but I spent it still stunned it had come to this,but it was all in our control.
Weirdly the Coventry game I wasn't so worried but we had to rely on others ( Chelsea iirc).
Each time we sleepwalked into it. But I believed the crowd would pull us through. Which we did. Don't know if we have it in us now, we've been battered by the club since.

 

[Raino85]

1997 / 1998 was a season long struggle. We were beaten 2-1 by Palace at home on the first day and it was obvious that we would struggle.

There were other season long relegations scraps that didn't lead to a last day escape. 1994 / 1995 was a season long struggle with survival not guaranteed until beating Ipswich away in the second to last game of the season, 10 days before Wembley.

98/99 was bad until Campbell turned up! Bar a random 4-0 win vrs Middlesbrough around Christmas time!

Another highlight from that season that sticks in my head was we didnt score a goal at home until the 6th home game of the season.
I only really remember this because football focus did a montage of the chances we missed (mainly John Spencer) acompanied to the Phil Collins track 'When will i miss again'

 

[Iana]

From memory, 93 / 94 was the worst one.

Mike Walker got 6 points from his first eleven games and we were in the bottom three and adrift at the turn of the year and looked down and out.

98, was more of a slow drift downwards - much like this season.

When Howard resigned in December 93 we were 11th and then had a disastrous run under Jimmy Gabriel and got 1 point out of 21.
By the time Walker took over we were already hovering just above the relegation places.
In 1997/98 we were struggling from day 1 and in the bottom 3 from November to early Jan. The signing of Madar led to an uptick in form but we drew 8 of the last 17 games and converting 1 or 2 of them into wins would have taken the pressure off before that Sheffield Wed game at Goodison.

Both seasons were rubbish though!

 

[varnish]

I’d forgotten we were playing tonight. Great.