2011-12 versus 1990-91, 1994-95, 2002-03 and 2005-06

[Darlo Dave]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

I remember him going to commentate on the 94 World Cup, and us thinking "who's he going to buy us who he scouts out there?".

John Fashanu

Not to mention only adding Nil Lamptey and Phil King.

That Summer of poor transfers did for him in the end.

Phil King was ace:

"You beauty!"

That's put a smile on my face. What a great night that was.

[Legion]

I do try to be positive...

[Steve R]

I remember some of the final home game after-match highlights from those seasons.

O'Leary hiding behind the youth team and Graham Taylor having the decency and balls to get a microphone and address the fans.

[Legion]

I remember some of the final home game after-match highlights from those seasons.

O'Leary hiding behind the youth team and Graham Taylor having the decency and balls to get a microphone and address the fans.

So do I. I posted a video of O'Leary's 'lap of shame' on Youtube. I'll see if I can find it. The reaction to Sir GTs announcement from certain sections of the crowd infuriated me to the point of exploding.

[Legion]

Coward:

[rob_bridge]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

He couldnt have been, because we played Wimbledon away the night before he was sacked. Lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up.  Leonhardsen with a last minute winner

He was commentating on Barcelona v Manchester United the night after we lost to la Coruna.

Correct, and as we left the ground after the la Coruna game, my brother turned to me and said if he turns up on TV tomorrow then he should be sacked.

I also met Doug's wife in Geneva a few weeks later, she said that Ron didn't even go into the dressing room after the game, he jumped into a taxi for the airport and that Doug stayed up all night unable to sleep, pondering what to do.

We lost to Trabzonspor - it was 1994. Ugo scored went out on away goals.
LaCoruna was 1993.

[Matt Collins]

I still think that SGT mark 2 team was the worst, just for the absolute awfulness of the midfield players we had: Kinsella, Gudjonsson, Leonhardsen. This team's still well above that lot. I think Barry was the quickest player in that midfield! Plus we'd been 6th when he took over the year before. Would have been much better if we'd been left with the memories.

[Steve kirk]

I remember all those near miss seasons very clearly, that Wimbledon away loss in 1994/95 which led to Big Rons sacking was a sickener, I was out drinking in Cov that night, when we arrived at the boozer we were 3-1 up, then it was going to the car checking scores until we had lost 4-3, I was choked and my Sky Blue mates had a field day.
However none of those campaigns felt as bad as this season, not even close. 

[eric woolban woolban]

Well if this season is bad, imagine what the next one will bring...

[woody4866]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

I remember him going to commentate on the 94 World Cup, and us thinking "who's he going to buy us who he scouts out there?".

John Fashanu

Not to mention only adding Nil Lamptey and Phil King.

That Summer of poor transfers did for him in the end.

Phil King was ace:

"You beauty!"

That's put a smile on my face. What a great night that was.

watching that, Mrs W thought I was watching a porno

[Steve kirk]

Well if this season is bad, imagine what the next one will bring...

I dread to think.

[danlanza]

Well if this season is bad, imagine what the next one will bring...

Disaster if the same bloke is our manager.

[SoccerHQ]

02/03 was awful just for the two SHA games.

Strange season though, we won 10 home games actually which we've only equaled once in 07/08. Just couldn't buy an away win that season.

This season is similar to 05/06 imo. Dire football, unpopular manager but we'll probably just about scrape survival. At least back then we had hope back then things would dramatically improve with Lerner and MON coming in. Don't get that feeling now.

[KevinGage]

Dr Jo have us that first Inter victory- as enjoyable a night has I've had at VP.  Beating a side made up from the best players of the German WC winning side and a fair chunk of the Italian national side too.  The ideas he tried to introduce such as warm downs and the like have become the standard now. 

We did have a horrible run after our defeat to Wimbledon away in the cup, but part of me felt he needed at least one more season.  Ron took over though and gave us some of the best football seen at VP.

There were definitely nerves jangling after we got turned over 0-4 at home to Arsenal in Easter 1995, and lost to a late goal v Leeds not long after.  We looked well and truly in the shit. Seem to recall that we beat Ipswich with a late, late og-  which is just as well, as during that particular period we didn't look like we had a goal in us. Sir Brian admitted that he probably moved on the likes of Richardson and Houghton too soon, and we could have done with their experience for at least a few more months. 

[PeterWithe]

Seem to recall that we beat Ipswich with a late, late og-  which is just as well,

I went to that, one of the worst games I have ever seen settled by a bizarre og from a lad named Chris Swailes, there was no-one near him and he headed it over his own keeper. It was probably the only effort on goal all game.