That Night- 20 Years On

[eamonn]

As this is Blose adjacent, if you love Bob Mortimer, Would I Lie To You? and are a Villa fan, you'll probably appreciate this:

https://mobile.twitter.com/LeModFootball/status/1631603367154790400

[curiousorange]

Worth mentioning that the season this game happened is the only time in 48 (about to be 49 given they're not coming up and we're not going down) seasons they finished above us.

It was a strange season. Sir Graham got all sorts of abuse from the start, mainly for taking the job and therefore selling out to help Ellis. He inherited a snakepit with players virtually on strike and it seemed that every time we got a good result we followed it with a bad one.

Everything went against us - Vassell had a goal disallowed at 1-1 at the Sty, then towards the end of the season we were a goal up in stoppage time at Southampton, Ronnie Jonsen skied a clearance that could have gone anywhere but fell perfectly for Kevin Davies. It was a weird final table; another three goals (I think) and we'd have finished ninth.

It was on odd season indeed. Only 7 points separated Boro in 11th and West Ham in 18th. The latter were relegated with 42 points, a total that no other relegated team has come close to achieving ever since, and one that kept us looking over our shoulder right to the end.

His season and a bit in charge was a disaster though unfortunately. Not all of his own making, as he'd inherited late Gregory era transfer mistakes like Kachloul, Hadji and Balaban, but then compounded it by signing the likes of Kinsella, Allback, UDLC and Leonhardsen. Some of that would have been due to Ellis's increasing inability to keep pace with the Premier League, but the season after under Mr Fickle we signed McCann, Sorensen, Solano and Laursen who all had a much more of a positive effect on the squad. Shame really, he should never have come back, something I reckon he might have agreed with, looking back.

He didn't regret it - he said you regret what you wish you did but didn't rather than the other way round. The game had changed and his ideas were outdated, although that was more his morals than his tactics. He also inherited a club that had splits and factions everywhere. O'Leary inherited a happier place because most of the arses had gone and there was more money available.

It felt like an old side, even though there was plenty of youth available. Tired and stale.

[Exeter 77]

That night is possibly the main reason why I would be perfectly happy never to play them again and see them dropping to play Sunday league.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I remember the atmosphere before and during the game but I must have erased the events after from my mind as I don’t remember seeing much.

As someone said earlier every game against them is a win win situation for them as they’re not expected to get a result and are under little pressure.

For some of the older generation I believe there’s more of a rivalry with The Albion, I can take or leave them but can’t stand the scummy Blues.

[wince]

Was blissfully unaware of this era as I was a 19 year old art student more interested in chasing a gorgeous fellow student and trying to stop the war in Iraq. I was unsuccessful in both enterprises but my uncle was at the match and described it as being pure liquid evil.

[SoccerHQ]

Worth mentioning that the season this game happened is the only time in 48 (about to be 49 given they're not coming up and we're not going down) seasons they finished above us.

It was a strange season. Sir Graham got all sorts of abuse from the start, mainly for taking the job and therefore selling out to help Ellis. He inherited a snakepit with players virtually on strike and it seemed that every time we got a good result we followed it with a bad one.

Everything went against us - Vassell had a goal disallowed at 1-1 at the Sty, then towards the end of the season we were a goal up in stoppage time at Southampton, Ronnie Jonsen skied a clearance that could have gone anywhere but fell perfectly for Kevin Davies. It was a weird final table; another three goals (I think) and we'd have finished ninth.

It was on odd season indeed. Only 7 points separated Boro in 11th and West Ham in 18th. The latter were relegated with 42 points, a total that no other relegated team has come close to achieving ever since, and one that kept us looking over our shoulder right to the end.

His season and a bit in charge was a disaster though unfortunately. Not all of his own making, as he'd inherited late Gregory era transfer mistakes like Kachloul, Hadji and Balaban, but then compounded it by signing the likes of Kinsella, Allback, UDLC and Leonhardsen. Some of that would have been due to Ellis's increasing inability to keep pace with the Premier League, but the season after under Mr Fickle we signed McCann, Sorensen, Solano and Laursen who all had a much more of a positive effect on the squad. Shame really, he should never have come back, something I reckon he might have agreed with, looking back.

He didn't regret it - he said you regret what you wish you did but didn't rather than the other way round. The game had changed and his ideas were outdated, although that was more his morals than his tactics. He also inherited a club that had splits and factions everywhere. O'Leary inherited a happier place because most of the arses had gone and there was more money available.

It reminds me of when Howard Kendall went back to Everton and nearly relegated them in the late 90s.

Schmechiel was pretty scathing in his book but he'd left by then. I presume SGT and Angel didn't get on one little bit, just the one goal and sporadic games before he hit 20 + the next season under O'Leary.

It was actually an odd decision to get Dublin back into the team as he was getting phased out but he'd had a decent scoring season up to the red card, 9 prem goals and a fair few in the league cup. The next season he was playing for us at CB.

Problem in those days and Sir Graham said it himself at an AGM that "everyone was bored finishing 7th" so relegation battles weren't as regular as they have been since 2010 generally at this level.

[Mister E]

I was based in Warwick in the early 2000's and took a colleague to the game. He was a vey placid Tranmere Rovers fan. He spent ,most of the game mumbling "fcukin' hell; what did I let myself in for?!"
It was a surreal night and one which he often mentions when I speak to him. He has been to a couple of Villa games with me and is always impressed with the passion that Villa fans show - that night, he was just stunned by the pure vitriol shown throughout. We didn't experience any violence at close quarters but it was clear that sporadic outbreaks were occurring around the ground.
A bizarre evening. What more can I say?

[Villan82]

A dreadful night. Can't believe it is 20 years ago. It doesn't feel like 20 years.

I couldn't understand why SGT kept Angel on the fringes that whole season. Angel has 44 premier league goals for Villa. It probably would be 55+ had SGT used him that season.

And what was 'C**tgate'? Sounds intriguing!

[dave.woodhall]

A dreadful night. Can't believe it is 20 years ago. It doesn't feel like 20 years.

I couldn't understand why SGT kept Angel on the fringes that whole season. Angel has 44 premier league goals for Villa. It probably would be 55+ had SGT used him that season.

And what was 'C**tgate'? Sounds intriguing!

Angel was injured.

[LeonW]

Before that season my only previous experience of them was the 2 legged League cup tie in 93/94. The games in 02/03 were just awful. They’ve never got any better as a fan base. They had a fan run on and assault Joe only a few years ago which resulted in some paltry fine. I could quite honestly say that I would be extremely happy if they folded or were decimated for financial irregularities. A horrible, horrible outfit in every regard.

[curiousorange]

I think part of the problem was the vast span of time between league meetings. Kind of like knowing you live on a fault line.

[Villan82]

A dreadful night. Can't believe it is 20 years ago. It doesn't feel like 20 years.

I couldn't understand why SGT kept Angel on the fringes that whole season. Angel has 44 premier league goals for Villa. It probably would be 55+ had SGT used him that season.

And what was 'C**tgate'? Sounds intriguing!

Angel was injured.

Was he? I don't remember that. I just remember him not getting games. Mind, I was partying a lot at the time!

[Clark W Griswold]

one reckons 5/600 in the trinity ffs they dont get that many in their stands

There was no way 5/600 in the Trinity that night. there were few noses scattered around, but were soon taken out by the stewards.
Pure evil that night. Even the Trinity were baying for blood.

There were 2 sat 10 rows behind me and when they wouldn’t move after some encouragement from this around them, a bloke in a Burberry Cap did a superman flying punch which put one down and the next thing was there was a melee around them, they were evicted having been on the receiving end of a lot if physical violence.

I was in the Upper Trinity but near the front of the tier. I didn't see one of their filthy lot, but heard people around me talking about them being there.

Yeah same here, about 4 rows from the front. Didn’t actually see any trouble at this or any of the other home games against them up to 2010 but I agree that the atmosphere was absolutely evil for this one. Sweet old lady had a season ticket in front of us at the time, went with her daughter who must have been well into her 50s as well. Even those two looked vaguely demonic that night, spitting poison for the full 90 mins. I never really had an issue with them though, I only ever knew about 4 of theirs. All were pretty ok too albeit two of them were complete fucking liars.

[nigel]

one reckons 5/600 in the trinity ffs they dont get that many in their stands

There was no way 5/600 in the Trinity that night. there were few noses scattered around, but were soon taken out by the stewards.
Pure evil that night. Even the Trinity were baying for blood.

They always bullsh*t their numbers
They took quite a few to Huddersfield. They was a photo and they filled half of the one end.
Someone asked how many?
One guy replied they had sold out their 1800 allocation and were given another 250(?) I don’t know the capacity of that end, but I’d guess that was probably right.
This other chap came back with ‘There was at least 3000’  😂

[SoccerHQ]

A dreadful night. Can't believe it is 20 years ago. It doesn't feel like 20 years.

I couldn't understand why SGT kept Angel on the fringes that whole season. Angel has 44 premier league goals for Villa. It probably would be 55+ had SGT used him that season.

And what was 'C**tgate'? Sounds intriguing!

Angel was injured.

He was injured for some parts but also available for others but SGT went with Crouch-Vassell at the start (even though it was too soon for Crouchy to be regularly starting) and then put in Dublin around October/November.

Angel-Vassell in the two full seasons together as first choice did very well generally hitting double figures each so surprise to me it was tinkered with for more unproven options.