uncanny parallels with 1999-2000

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Well we may well have been here before...

A season that is often forgotten is our epic 1999/2000 which saw plenty of fans thinking that we were heading for the lowest tier. After a decision to ditch the attacking but ineffective football of a manager in the autumn who talked more than he delivered an unknown figure was put in charge from the back room - in this case Pardew

All did not start well and come the end of January after 25 games we had 23 points... ring any bells? fans called for the head of a manager who was yet to win a game (although cup progess was being made in LDV trophy!)

However a run of home games and some easier opposition saw reading win 4 of the next 5 and 12 wins in total saw us amazingly finish in the top half of the table.

Was there a catalyst - well on this occasion Madjeski did spend big and forked out 800k on Martin Butler - hard to believe we spent that on a striker when 3rd from bottom in League 1...

and how is this years Martin Butler - ladies and gentleman I give you Khizanavilli.....

[W&E Royal]

I like it +1

[rhroyal]

Well we may well have been here before...

A season that is often forgotten is our epic 1999/2000 which saw plenty of fans thinking that we were heading for the lowest tier. After a decision to ditch the attacking but ineffective football of a manager in the autumn who talked more than he delivered an unknown figure was put in charge from the back room - in this case Pardew

All did not start well and after 25 games we had 23 points... ring any bells? fans called for the head of a amanger who was yet to win a game (although cup progess was being made in LDV trophy!)

However a run of home games and some easier opposition saw reading win 4 of the next 5 and 12 wins in total saw us amazingly finish in the top half of the table.

Was there a catalyst - well on this occasion Madjeski did spend big and forked out 800k on Martin Butler - hard to believe we spent that on a striker when 3rd from bottom in League 1...

and how is this years Martin Butler - ladies and gentleman I give you Khizanavilli.....

You had me believing until.....

[SteveRoyal]

Optimism. I like.

[Thaumagurist*]

Matthew Robinson was the catalyst, not Martin Butler.

So this season, Andy Griffin could be our catalyst.

[Duke the Dog]

Hmmm, good point, that's cheered me up (a bit)

Pardew did have a Mad Dog at his side to scare the players into playing or get their legs biting off though didn't he. Which was alright for a season or two until he did actually start biting people and got sent to his kennel.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Matthew Robinson was the catalyst, not Martin Butler.

So this season, Andy Griffin could be our catalyst.

Strictly speaking that is true in that we won our first game when Robinson made his debut - but I think the overall catalyst was Butler who scored on his debut in the following game and whose goals and all round play were instrumental in us winning so many games.

but who is the Butler this time - that is the question....

[Thaumagurist*]

Martin Allen is another good point. Prior to his appointment, we had the god-awful John Gorman. Hoddle did us a favour when he asked him to be his assistant manager at Southampton.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

The Catalyst for that turnaround was Martin Allen.

[Alan Partridge]

More with 1997-8

Quarter FInals of a domestic cup competition

and Relegated from Div 1.

[Focher]

Could we do worse than get Allen in til the end of the season..........................

Certainly wouldnt be a popular one

[Thaumagurist*]

More with 1997-8

Quarter FInals of a domestic cup competition

and Relegated from Div 1.

Er, we went out of the League cup in the 2nd round this season. So no.

[Duke the Dog]

Could we do worse than get Allen in til the end of the season..........................

Certainly wouldnt be a popular one

I was about to say f8ck me no, but having thought about it for a small moment, he could be useful as an assistant or a coach, but manager, really really???

[Duke the Dog]

Wasn't Pardew's first signing Mr Whitehead, or did I imagine that. He was a vast improvement on Howie (and I quite liked Howie, one of Burns' better "value for money" signings).

[Thaumagurist*]

Wasn't Pardew's first signing Mr Whitehead, or did I imagine that. He was a vast improvement on Howie (and I quite liked Howie, one of Burns' better "value for money" signings).

Think you are correct.

[Focher]

Allen was new to the scene then and it worked. Now, everybody thinks he's a belmont so id say no.

[Alan Partridge]

More with 1997-8

Quarter FInals of a domestic cup competition

and Relegated from Div 1.

Er, we went out of the League cup in the 2nd round this season. So no.

FA Cup not a 'domestic cup competition' then?

[Thaumagurist*]

More with 1997-8

Quarter FInals of a domestic cup competition

and Relegated from Div 1.

Er, we went out of the League cup in the 2nd round this season. So no.

FA Cup not a 'domestic cup competition' then?

Yes, but we went out of the FA Cup in the 5th round that season. The difference between that and this season is that by January we were still in both domestic cups. This January, we aren't.

[Alan Partridge]

Quarter finals of Domestic Cup - Relegation

Possible Quarter FInals of Domestic Cup - Relegation?

No Parallel?

[Rawlie19]

I thought it was Pants Day that turned things around for us? Can we do that again to help stop us skidding down the pan?