| Il Padrino |
Sure I saw him today and was wondering if he deserves his reputation. Yes, 2nd time round was awful but he got us up and in any other year that total would have kept us safe. Especially as he was given next to no money for that season in the prem
Thoughts please...
Hero, villain or middle of the road nice chap in loafers |
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| forsells no1 fan |
| Sloth from the Goonies? |
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| matthew |
| I saw him near Trafalgar Square on Wednesday last week. That's all I have to add. Think he was winking at me but not too sure |
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| Harry Holmesdale |
Time has been kind to him in my mind, his record was pretty good overall but he always seemed on the verge of going mad.
The Prem season will be remembered by me as the 2 cup runs, Armstrongs spliff and the fact that 4, yes younger readers FOUR were relegated for the one and only time in PL history
Saying all of the above, the team he had was good enough to stay up in those days, and I reckon we did so well in the cups cos the players were more relaxed, I reckon in the league he complicated things... fast forward to his second spell and it was almost a repeat !
Verdict overall - wonky eyed fella who was very ambitous and tried his best but kind of lost it all a bit, could have been a good manager |
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| Dorking .Eagle |
Read 'Woody and Nord' for two equally contrasting opinions on the man.
Gareth can't speak highly enough of him - toughened him up and made him the player he is today, made him captain at Palace, was in charge of him from the Youth team through the Reserves to the 1st team, father figure, etc etc
Andy Woodman REALLY hates the fella, and couldn't have made it any clearer in his book. He feels Alan Smith "shat on him from a humungous height"..."I hope Alan Smith reads this book and cringes - I want Al to realise the impact of how he handled my exit from Palace"..... |
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| Psychokiller |
Foul, self important little man who saw our club as nothing more than a vehicle to get himself into the papers. Sure, he got us promoted with the likes of Eric Young, Nigel Martyn, Chris Coleman, John Salako, Gareth Southgate and Chris Armstrong in the team. But who couldn't with a squad like that? Bear in mind also that he almost fvcked that up, and it could have been a whole different story had Liverpool not loaned us Paul Stewart.
This is the man who decided to "strengthen" the squad for the top flight with a 37 year old midfielder, a 28 year old journeyman striker from the lower divisions and a Charlton midfielder who he bizarrely saw as a right back.
Let's not also forget that he decided to open his mouth to the media about Chris Armstrong testing positive for cannabis when the FA had agreed to keep it quiet.
His second spell at the club showed his true managerial abilities. Remember that on both occasions when he took over he decided to have a swipe at his "friend" Steve Coppell.
The man is a faeces sample |
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| Travelcard |
| The promotion season during his first spell was one of my most enjoyable seasons as a Palace fan. |
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| David Amsalem |
| His a w*nker. |
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| Dorking .Eagle |
quote:
Originally posted by Travelcard
The promotion season during his first spell was one of my most enjoyable seasons as a Palace fan.
Same here. I also found him very charming when meeting with supporters, who he always had time for, replied to their letters, and faced the fans at supporter forums and both took and answered questions with total honesty.
But I can remember his less successful periods in charge, some of his strange, almost desperate ways of motivating players, and having read the book mentioned earlier, I can totally see where Woody was coming from. |
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| Psychokiller |
| Wycombe fans also hate him. He fell out with their best players too. |
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| stevek |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Foul, self important little man who saw our club as nothing more than a vehicle to get himself into the papers. Sure, he got us promoted with the likes of Eric Young, Nigel Martyn, Chris Coleman, John Salako, Gareth Southgate and Chris Armstrong in the team. But who couldn't with a squad like that? Bear in mind also that he almost fvcked that up, and it could have been a whole different story had Liverpool not loaned us Paul Stewart.
I think that's very harsh in relation to his first spell. Let's not forget he was part of Coppell's coaching team in the most successful spell the club ever had; and several of those players you mention came through the youth system he managed at the club. The experience of plenty of relegated teams shows that bouncing back - whichever players you have - is not easy. And it's not right to say he 'almost fvcked that up'. We won the league comfortably and surely it was his good management that saw the need for a player like Stewart and got him in. I've never seen anyone criticise a manager for making a good signing before. Finally, I don't think he was celebrity hungry at that stage.
However...
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
This is the man who decided to "strengthen" the squad for the top flight with a 37 year old midfielder, a 28 year old journeyman striker from the lower divisions and a Charlton midfielder who he bizarrely saw as a right back.
Let's not also forget that he decided to open his mouth to the media about Chris Armstrong testing positive for cannabis when the FA had agreed to keep it quiet.
His second spell at the club showed his true managerial abilities. Remember that on both occasions when he took over he decided to have a swipe at his "friend" Steve Coppell.
The man is a faeces sample
Not sure stuff in the 1994-95 season was down to Smith or Noades. But he clearly increasingly lost it. And his managerial abilities were indeed completely exposed second time round (as they had been at Wycombe). |
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| Pub Idol |
I would argue that our form in the early stages on 93/94 was the best in the club history. We were smashing decent teams to pieces. The Portmouth game was incredible. It was a great time to be Palace fan.
However some of the performances in the 2000/2001 were absolutley dire beyond belief. The Wolves game at home was so bad people were laughing and throwing there season tickets on the pitch. Typical Palace that one man can contrast our fortunes so much. |
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| ArthurWait |
| Yeah, but if we had signed Dowie and Houghton at the start of the season as opposed to when we were already in trouble we'd have stayed up comfortably. I don't know what his wage demands were, but it has to be one of Ron Noades worst decisions during his time at the club, not to buy Paul Stewart. No one wanted him to come to the club on loan but he won everyone over with his performances week in and week out and he would have added that bit of experience and grit they needed for a side just coming up. Interestingly, I believe that Stewart himself was devastated when the move didn't come off and his career seemed to go into rapid decline after that, ending up on loan at Burnley if I remember correctly. It was a season where we totally blew the chance to establish ourselves as a Premier League club for a number of years. |
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| Gumball |
| Better than Trevor Francis... |
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| hilairehair |
quote:
Originally posted by Gumball
Better than Trevor Francis...
Can't agree with that. Ron Noades reckoned the only reason Alan Smith had a good reputation was that he was good with the press, but hadn't a clue how to strengthen the team once it had got promoted (e.g. Andy Preece in the premiership!). I think history supports this view too. I remember an interview with Noades where he was asked what he thought of Smith as a manager a few years after the 4 down relegation, and he referred the interviewer to what Smith was up to at that time (taking Wycombe to the bottom of the old third division).
In my view Smith was worse than Taylor and Francis. Slagging your players in public is a sign of weakness, and he was often tactically naive too. (Liverpool away in the worthies semi final anyone?) |
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| milky87 |
"Ricky Newman is the best passer of the ball in the Premier League"
I think that quote sums him up really |
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| Gumball |
Yes, but some of the things Francis did were truly risible. Off the top of my head:
- Splitting up the phenomenally successful Dougie/Clinton partnership by bringing in the useless (at Palace anyway) Akinbiyi
- Slapping Kolinko in the chops in the dugout
- Always making a double substitution in the 65th minute
- Substituting a substitute
etc. etc.
At least Smith did OK the first time he was here |
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| milky87 |
quote:
Originally posted by Gumball
Yes, but some of the things Francis did were truly risible. Off the top of my head:
- Splitting up the phenomenally successful Dougie/Clinton partnership by bringing in the useless (at Palace anyway) Akinbiyi
- Slapping Kolinko in the chops in the dugout
- Always making a double substitution in the 65th minute
- Substituting a substitute
etc. etc.
At least Smith did OK the first time he was here
With the team he had he should do ok. We should have stayed up with that side as I think it is probably the strongest side Palace have had in the premiership |
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| stevek |
quote:
Originally posted by Gumball
Yes, but some of the things Francis did were truly risible. Off the top of my head:
- Splitting up the phenomenally successful Dougie/Clinton partnership by bringing in the useless (at Palace anyway) Akinbiyi
- Slapping Kolinko in the chops in the dugout
- Always making a double substitution in the 65th minute
- Substituting a substitute
etc. etc.
At least Smith did OK the first time he was here
On the other hand, he signed:
AJ
Butterfield
Granville. |
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| Man of Kent |
quote:
Originally posted by Pub Idol
.....The Wolves game at home was so bad people were laughing and throwing there season tickets on the pitch. Typical Palace that one man can contrast our fortunes so much.
I was at the Wolves game and it was dire, but the whole Season Ticket thing was a bit of a joke as it was our last home game! |
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| hilairehair |
quote:
Originally posted by stevek
On the other hand, he signed:
AJ
Butterfield
Granville.
...and arguably bought Routledge through into the first team. He made some pretty decent signings overall, but wasn't really a very good motivator (bar the Brighton 5-0 match). |
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| gold76 |
1993/94 was a special year for me too, so I choose to remember him fondly.
As an aside, I still think Francis would have turned out ok, given more time, but hey ho.. |
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| Selhurst Celtic |
| Alan Smith's son Rob is a good bloke. Despite being a Fulham fan. |
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| stevek |
quote:
Originally posted by hilairehair
...and arguably bought Routledge through into the first team. He made some pretty decent signings overall, but wasn't really a very good motivator (bar the Brighton 5-0 match).
And 2-0 at Anfield.
Actually, when you put together those two results, plus being the man who brought AJ to the club, his spell wasn't that bad really. |
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| hilairehair |
quote:
Originally posted by stevek
And 2-0 at Anfield.
Actually, when you put together those two results, plus being the man who brought AJ to the club, his spell wasn't that bad really.
It was incredibly boring most of the time though, and we never looked remotely like getting in the play offs in either of his two seasons. |
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| Mr Statto |
quote:
Originally posted by gold76
1993/94 was a special year for me too, so I choose to remember him fondly.
Me too - it was the only year (until next season) that I've had a season ticket, and what a season to have one. Only missed a couple of games that year, one of which was Portsmouth :sob: |
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| A Wooden Fish On Wheels |
His obsession with Tignana and his FFC personalised number plate were bad signs.
But when he lost the dressing room and tried to discipline his players by ridiculing them and lambasting them in his regular paper column and when he used Palace as an example of everything that is bad in the modern game when he should have been concentrating on rescuing our appalling season, he should have been taken into the Sainsbury's carpark and shot between the eyes. Errrr I meant shot between the eye. Errrr... bugger. |
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| Gumball |
Alan Smith v. Trevor Francis...
There's only one way to resolve this...
FIGHT!!! ;) |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by stevek
I think that's very harsh in relation to his first spell. Let's not forget he was part of Coppell's coaching team in the most successful spell the club ever had; and several of those players you mention came through the youth system he managed at the club. The experience of plenty of relegated teams shows that bouncing back - whichever players you have - is not easy. And it's not right to say he 'almost fvcked that up'. We won the league comfortably and surely it was his good management that saw the need for a player like Stewart and got him in. I've never seen anyone criticise a manager for making a good signing before. Finally, I don't think he was celebrity hungry at that stage.
Sorry but I think you're wearing the rose tinted specs. We had no regular partner for Chris Armstrong and it started to show during the few weeks before we got Stewart in.
And how am I criticising him for signing Stewart? I'm merely pointing out that a decent manager would have seen that we needed a decent partner for Armstrong much earlier in the season.
quote:
However...
Not sure stuff in the 1994-95 season was down to Smith or Noades.
It was down to Smith. He was the manager. He was the one who let his personal falling out with Eric Young and John Humphrey spill over into his team selection. When the penny finally dropped and he brought those two back it was already too late,. |
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| will hung |
| good tennis player |
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| Barney Gumble |
Stockport away was the last time and the first time in a long time, that tears have rolled down my face at a Palace game.
Now days I just have to think about the previous nine months of having Smith in charge to make me angry.
I know a couple of guys connected to Wycombe and they and all their supporters hate him.
I remember him in the Fans Forum, being a jumped up little prick. At least Francis was a decent bloke.
I have to say, given the chance, I would knock him spark out. |
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| SteveyHawking |
| Bumped into him at Whitgift School whilst watching Surrey play a couple of years back and called him a (This word has been edited out because the original poster isn't mature enough to be able to post without resorting to foul and abusive language)
. Perhaps a tad harsh but drink did play its part and he's a (This word has been edited out because the original poster isn't mature enough to be able to post without resorting to foul and abusive language)
. |
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| Mr Statto |
quote:
Originally posted by Gumball
Alan Smith v. Trevor Francis...
There's only one way to resolve this...
FIGHT!!! ;)
A GoogleFight gives Alan Smith a resounding victory: 3,550,000 - 268,000 |
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| Tim |
| I was talking to Matthew Upson about him & he was laughing about him & saying he was a very strange bloke. He would be in the dressing room at full time with a glass of champagne & a monacle? |
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| stevek |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Sorry but I think you're wearing the rose tinted specs. We had no regular partner for Chris Armstrong and it started to show during the few weeks before we got Stewart in.
And how am I criticising him for signing Stewart? I'm merely pointing out that a decent manager would have seen that we needed a decent partner for Armstrong much earlier in the season.
[b]
It was down to Smith. He was the manager. He was the one who let his personal falling out with Eric Young and John Humphrey spill over into his team selection. When the penny finally dropped and he brought those two back it was already too late,.
Not rose tinted at all. He got the team top of the league. We stayed top of the league. He strengthened the team and we still stayed top of the league. To criticise Smith for not strengthening earlier in such circumstances is simply churlish - or more to the point just reflecting back on his later inadequacies and trying to find something to blame him for in a very successful season.
However, the later stuff is fine :p |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by stevek
Not rose tinted at all. He got the team top of the league. We stayed top of the league. He strengthened the team and we still stayed top of the league. To criticise Smith for not strengthening earlier in such circumstances is simply churlish - or more to the point just reflecting back on his later inadequacies and trying to find something to blame him for in a very successful season.
However, the later stuff is fine :p
I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree. Even Joey Deacon could have managed that squad to glory. |
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| xab |
quote:
Originally posted by Travelcard
The promotion season during his first spell was one of my most enjoyable seasons as a Palace fan.
Was my experience too. I'd just been posted back to the U.K. and was getting in more Palace games at home than ever before. Add to that I was posted near Nuneaton and got in most of the Midlands games too, and we were good, it was a great time to be a Palace fan.
On top of that, I had a couple of months in Kuwait at the start of the next season, wrote to the club (looking for gizzits) and got a lovely letter back from Alan Smith with a signed poster of the team. :) |
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| firesign |
quote:
Originally posted by gold76
1993/94 was a special year for me too, so I choose to remember him fondly.
As an aside, I still think Francis would have turned out ok, given more time, but hey ho..
I agree with both those points. |
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| A Wooden Fish On Wheels |
I agree that the promotion season was great fun - we really looked a class above the rest on the pitch, something we haven't seen this year really.
"He's got no hair but we don't care..."
It was after his return when the chips were down that we saw the true abomination that is Alan Smith. |
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| SpikeyMatt |
Did Trevor Francis really bring AJ to the club?
He never mentions it when on telly.... |
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| Matt_Hep |
wow he sure takes a lot of stick just for having a lazy eye..
I'll always associate him for his successful days, he came into our school with Brian Moore and did a big question and answer at a time when Palace were flying high. |
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| dowieslovechild |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Foul, self important little man who saw our club as nothing more than a vehicle to get himself into the papers. Sure, he got us promoted with the likes of Eric Young, Nigel Martyn, Chris Coleman, John Salako, Gareth Southgate and Chris Armstrong in the team. But who couldn't with a squad like that? Bear in mind also that he almost fvcked that up, and it could have been a whole different story had Liverpool not loaned us Paul Stewart.
This is the man who decided to "strengthen" the squad for the top flight with a 37 year old midfielder, a 28 year old journeyman striker from the lower divisions and a Charlton midfielder who he bizarrely saw as a right back.
Let's not also forget that he decided to open his mouth to the media about Chris Armstrong testing positive for cannabis when the FA had agreed to keep it quiet.
His second spell at the club showed his true managerial abilities. Remember that on both occasions when he took over he decided to have a swipe at his "friend" Steve Coppell.
The man is a faeces sample
A DLC first Neil. I completely agree with you mate. Spot on |
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| CHE |
quote:
Originally posted by stevek
Not rose tinted at all. He got the team top of the league. We stayed top of the league. He strengthened the team and we still stayed top of the league. To criticise Smith for not strengthening earlier in such circumstances is simply churlish - or more to the point just reflecting back on his later inadequacies and trying to find something to blame him for in a very successful season.
However, the later stuff is fine :p
We didn't stay top though, we nearly threw it away, with a team that should have run away with it. He then proceeded to get a team tipped for good things relegated.
His second spell was an unmitigated disaster and his slagging off of the players publicly a disgrace.
And he brought in that •••• Glenn Cockerill |
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| Edenbridge Eagle In Exile |
| See comment below....nuff said! :grrr: |
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| Psychokiller |
The first time he took over he had a swipe at Steve Coppell suggesting he signed players on the basis of what was written in the Rothmans Football Yearbook.
The second time he took over he accused Steve Coppell of not instilling discipline into a threadbare squad that comfortably missed out on being relegated when it clearly had no right to. One of the players he singled out for having no discipline was Andy Linighan, by all accounts a model professional who had a decent career at Arsenal under George Graham.
To me that speaks volumes. To openly attack someone as decent as Steve Coppell, whose boots he wasn't fit to lick clean.
Beetroot faced one eyed wanker. |
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| Jack-the-hat |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree. Even Joey Deacon could have managed that squad to glory.
Brilliant LOL |
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| Pub Idol |
quote:
Originally posted by CHE
We didn't stay top though, we nearly threw it away, with a team that should have run away with it.
The division was very competive. Loads of good teams and we did well to win it. We werent favourites. We had lost our two best players (on paper) as well. Post summer of 94 Smith was a disaster (3 semi-finals aside) but during 93/94 he had the midas touch - the supporters loved him and everythng was rosy. I hated the guy with a passion in 2001 but in 93/94 I thought he was the bee's knees. |
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| CHE |
quote:
Originally posted by Pub Idol
The division was very competive. Loads of good teams and we did well to win it. We werent favourites. We had lost our two best players (on paper) as well. Post summer of 94 Smith was a disaster (3 semi-finals aside) but during 93/94 he had the midas touch - the supporters loved him and everythng was rosy. I hated the guy with a passion in 2001 but in 93/94 I thought he was the bee's knees.
The bloody midas touch? He retained the majority of a squad that most people thought very unlucky to be relegated and nearly cocked it up. The supporters gave him credit because he achieved promotion but loved him? I don't think so.
And as PK says, his digs at senior and dedicated players, Young, Linighan, Morrison, Mullins, to name but a few, not mention Coppell were sick making.
Plus he tried to claim all the credit for the 4-3 Semi Final win.
The guy is a clown (football wise, he may be a lovely bloke!) |
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| JHJ EAGLE |
quote:
Originally posted by xab
Was my experience too. I'd just been posted back to the U.K. and was getting in more Palace games at home than ever before. Add to that I was posted near Nuneaton and got in most of the Midlands games too, and we were good, it was a great time to be a Palace fan.
On top of that, I had a couple of months in Kuwait at the start of the next season, wrote to the club (looking for gizzits) and got a lovely letter back from Alan Smith with a signed poster of the team. :)
I was in N.Ireland at the time and also sent a letter to the club. I also got a signed poster. Well chuffed I was:) |
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| Psychokiller |
| Let's not also forget Smith's attitude when he was appointed for the second time. Telling us how he'd done us such a favour by leaving his "dream job" at Fulham and how lucky we were to have him. I seem to remember that SJ interviewed him at the Selsdon Park Hotel with a view to him becoming Steve Coppell's number two, and by the end of the interview he'd all of a sudden become Steve's replacement. |
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| La Bombonera |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Beetroot faced one eyed wanker.
:D :D :D
I'll take his first stint in charge without too much criticism of him, but his second stint was a complete and utter disaster from the outset. His constant put-down and alienation of the players only served his own over-inflated ego, as opposed to producing a positive reaction on the pitch.
Recall his appearance early in the season at the 'Fans-Forum' in the Glaziers lounge ... packed with punters supping their pints wanting answers to the debacle on the pitch and out came Smithy sporting a fine cream suit sipping away a glass of red, then he wheels out the first team squad using them to deflect any of the blame from himself (good work Alan. If in doubt, blame the workers mate!). Had it on reasonable authority at the time that his major gaff that night when the questions started flying was blurting out that Coppell "was sacked" earlier in the summer particularly when the heirachy had done their best to imply it was by mutual consent. Must have gone down well!
His reputation at Foolham was a mystery too. Cushy job, jetting-off all over the place watching various continental coaching styles ... but a Foolham season ticket holder I worked with at the time reckoned it was little more than PR on behalf of Al-Fayed. None of what he'd supposedly seen abroad appeared to have been imposed on their academy/youth set-up and virtually no players came through.
Beetroot faced LOL ... you get me Neil :p |
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| xab |
quote:
Originally posted by JHJ EAGLE
I was in N.Ireland at the time and also sent a letter to the club. I also got a signed poster. Well chuffed I was:)
Told a Raith supporting mate of mine about it, when he went to Bosnia he thought he'd try sending them a letter. Raith sent him that season's catalogue :D |
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| jone-zee |
quote:
Originally posted by xab
Told a Raith supporting mate of mine about it, when he went to Bosnia he thought he'd try sending them a letter. Raith sent him that season's catalogue :D
PMSL :D Raith were never noted for their generosity lived 200 Yards from Starks Park in the late 80's Great to see the word Gizzits being used too xab!! |
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| kolinkins |
| I'll never forget him calling Bruce Dyer "the black George Best". How far off the mark can someone be? |
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| Clapham Rover |
quote:
Originally posted by A Wooden Fish On Wheels
I agree that the promotion season was great fun - we really looked a class above the rest on the pitch, something we haven't seen this year really.
It was fun romping away with the title, but the fact is after about October we played crap football, we just had better players man-for-man than any other club in the division. remember the last game against Watford? They played us off the pitch. That happened time and again that season, the only unusual thing about the Watford game was we actually lost it.
Alan Smith got us relegated the following year. Straight away I can think of SEVEN players who instantly left the club to other Premiership sides - Martyn, Southgate, Armstrong, Gordon, Shaw, Salako and Coleman + we had another three who were obviously capable of holding down a place in a Premiership team Simon Rodger and of course Thorn and Young who regularly feature as candidates in "best ever Palace central defence partnership" polls.
The man got us relegated with basically a full on Premiership first 11.
How many players left Palace for another Premiership club last time we were up? Routledge - to become a perma-sub at Spurs (and obviously AJ could have done).
Smith completely and utterly blew it imo. Total incompetence. |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by Clapham Rover
Alan Smith got us relegated the following year. Straight away I can think of SEVEN players who instantly left the club to other Premiership sides - Martyn, Southgate, Armstrong, Gordon, Shaw, Salako and Coleman + we had another three who were obviously capable of holding down a place in a Premiership team Simon Rodger and of course Thorn and Young who regularly feature as candidates in "best ever Palace central defence partnership" polls.
.
You missed John Humphrey who was replaced with Pitcher first, then the woefully inadequate Darren Patterson. I think Smith even played Bobby Bowry at right back in one game! BY the time Humphrey and Young were brought back it was already too late. |
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| Clapham Rover |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
You missed John Humphrey who was replaced with Pitcher first, then the woefully inadequate Darren Patterson. I think Smith even played Bobby Bowry at right back in one game! BY the time Humphrey and Young were brought back it was already too late.
I'd forgotten about Humphrey. Mind you there were rumours he was having personal problems - boozing I think? Where did he go afterwards?
God Darren Pitcher...remember him marking Steve Macmanaman first game? Embarrassing. He wasn't a bad midfielder, but too slow for the Prem, and way out of place as a Prem full back.
Andy Preece was another Smith mess up. He bought him as a centre-forward where he was hopeless, then put him at left-wing (which I think he may have played for a while for Blackpool?). Palace put together a several game unbeaten run, Preece started scoring goals - I remember a freezing cold away at Coventry where we won ?3-1, Preece got at least one maybe two - and then just when it looked like Preece was working after all, he was dropped from the team and never played again. I've never heard any explanation why, and most people remember his inept displays at CF and don't ask the question, but for about 4 weeks, and with Salako and Armstrong up front, he was fine...
Which leads to the question - why did he only ever play Salako and Armstrong up front so rarely? They were dynamite on occasions...away at Arsenal, goal each and a win at Highbury (and I didn't bloody go because I was so fed up with us losing by 4 goals up there I'd sworn I'd never go again...) |
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| Il Padrino |
quote:
Originally posted by Clapham Rover
It was fun romping away with the title, but the fact is after about October we played crap football, we just had better players man-for-man than any other club in the division. remember the last game against Watford? They played us off the pitch. That happened time and again that season, the only unusual thing about the Watford game was we actually lost it.
Alan Smith got us relegated the following year. Straight away I can think of SEVEN players who instantly left the club to other Premiership sides - Martyn, Southgate, Armstrong, Gordon, Shaw, Salako and Coleman + we had another three who were obviously capable of holding down a place in a Premiership team Simon Rodger and of course Thorn and Young who regularly feature as candidates in "best ever Palace central defence partnership" polls.
The man got us relegated with basically a full on Premiership first 11.
How many players left Palace for another Premiership club last time we were up? Routledge - to become a perma-sub at Spurs (and obviously AJ could have done).
Smith completely and utterly blew it imo. Total incompetence.
To be fair, if there had been the norm of three clubs going down we would have been safe. as the centenary DVD said, 4 going down only happened once and if it ever happens again it would happen to us |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by Il Padrino
To be fair, if there had been the norm of three clubs going down we would have been safe. as the centenary DVD said, 4 going down only happened once and if it ever happens again it would happen to us
Aye, but we knew that was happening at the very beginning of the season yet the one eyed beetroot faced c-nt signed Preece, Wilkins and Pitcher and thought they would keep us up. He did some utterly bizarre things. I remember him trying to use Bobby Bowry (an ok player at Division One level but out of his depth in the Premier) as a playmaker for a couple of games and instructing the team to put everything through him. Even with the lack of decent summer signings that squad should have been good enough to finish mid table - look at the players who left after relegation: Martyn, Humphrey, Shaw, Coleman, Young, Southgate, Armstrong - that could easily have been the backbone of any Premiership side. We didn't go down that year because four teams were relegated, we went down that year because we had a clueless manager who was more interested in providing soundbites to the media and airing his and the chairman's dirty linen in public than managing a Premier League team. |
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| Il Padrino |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Aye, but we knew that was happening at the very beginning of the season yet the one eyed beetroot faced c-nt signed Preece, Wilkins and Pitcher and thought they would keep us up. He did some utterly bizarre things. I remember him trying to use Bobby Bowry (an ok player at Division One level but out of his depth in the Premier) as a playmaker for a couple of games and instructing the team to put everything through him. Even with the lack of decent summer signings that squad should have been good enough to finish mid table - look at the players who left after relegation: Martyn, Humphrey, Shaw, Coleman, Young, Southgate, Armstrong - that could easily have been the backbone of any Premiership side. We didn't go down that year because four teams were relegated, we went down that year because we had a clueless manager who was more interested in providing soundbites to the media and airing his and the chairman's dirty linen in public than managing a Premier League team.
Spot on about signings. he always harped that he wasnt given the money for Dowie, Houghton until too late but I'm sure what funds were available couldve been used far better in t he summer.
Werent we meant to be signing someone who then went and had an impressive world cup and was suddenly out of the price range?? |
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| Selhurst Celtic |
quote:
Originally posted by Il Padrino
Werent we meant to be signing someone who then went and had an impressive world cup and was suddenly out of the price range??
Kennet Anderson? |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by Il Padrino
Spot on about signings. he always harped that he wasnt given the money for Dowie, Houghton until too late but I'm sure what funds were available couldve been used far better in t he summer.
Werent we meant to be signing someone who then went and had an impressive world cup and was suddenly out of the price range??
Kennett Andersson and Gica Popescu, but I think that was a couple of seasons before.
Everyone knows how much I hate Noades but I don't think he can be blamed for this one. The money he did give Smith was wasted on the likes of Damian Matthew, Andy Preece and Darren Pitcher so it's hardly surprising if he was reluctant to give Smith any more funds.
Smith really should have been out at Christmas, and had Gordon Strachan accepted Noades's offer he would have been. |
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| Away Day Eagle |
quote:
Originally posted by Il Padrino
Werent we meant to be signing someone who then went and had an impressive world cup and was suddenly out of the price range??
Yep.
Kennet Andersson, ended up with 5 goals.
Wasn't there a deal in place or a fee to match or something pre-WC, which we didn't match ? |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by Away Day Eagle
Yep.
Kennet Andersson, ended up with 5 goals.
Wasn't there a deal in place or a fee to match or something pre-WC, which we didn't match ?
I think you're right. We went for Andersson and Popescu and ended up with Pitcher and Preece :( |
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| Away Day Eagle |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
I think you're right. We went for Andersson and Popescu and ended up with Pitcher and Preece :(
:grrr: :grrr: |
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| Il Padrino |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
I think you're right. We went for Andersson and Popescu and ended up with Pitcher and Preece :(
LOL |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by CHE
Plus he tried to claim all the credit for the 4-3 Semi Final win.
Totally bizarre given that Steve Coppell talked up Ian Branfoot's role in that win. |
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| IAN WALSH |
quote:
Originally posted by will hung
good tennis player
carl asaba's brother was his tennis coach. |
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| ElwissAtMemphis |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
This is the man who decided to "strengthen" the squad for the top flight with a 37 year old midfielder, a 28 year old journeyman striker from the lower divisions and a Charlton midfielder who he bizarrely saw as a right back.
Clearly, if the previous season's squad had been strengthened in a significant way, we'd almost certainly have stayed up. A frequent accusation, which we've had on this thread, is that signing Houghton and Dowie earlier would probably have saved us.
But surely that's much more of a criticism of Ron Noades than Smith. Wilkins was free, Preece was only a couple of hundred thousand (and was only signed to try and keep Chris Armstrong settled) and wasn't Pitcher another one of those "adjustments" to Charlton's rent arrears (a la John Humphrey). Whatever the actual cost in fees paid, it was hardly more than a bit of housekeeping and a million miles from a spending spree; it must have been one of the smallest outlays on new players by any of the top-flight clubs.
The question is, did Smith say "last season's squad's fine ... we don't need to waste money strengthening it" or did Noades say "a couple of nominal transfers is your lot and I'll see whether we can come to another arrangement with Charlton". Considering his attempt to strengthen the last genuinely successsful Palace team (ie the 90/91 side) was to restrict incoming signings to Lee Sinnott, I know which one I think is more likely.
Ultimately, why did we have to wait until it was too late to bring in a quality striker and an experienced midfielder ? Because Smith thought that they weren't necessary despite having the funds available or was it simply because the funds ... |
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| Budgie Byrne |
I have a lot of respect for Smithy, he did a lot for Palace and was responsible for the likes of Salako, Southgate and Simon Rodger.
I think the main reason the first time around he did so well as opposed to his second spell, was that most of the players in his first spell had either growun up with him or had worked with him alongside Coppell and he was able to communicate with them.
In his second spell he did not have that same relationship and in addition there was a lot of pressure on him from the chairman, in terms of getting the club back on the right track after administration. Of course most of us still wanted Sir Steve in charge!
Yes he made mistakes, but then most of us do at some stage in our jobs. His perhaps is a classic case of somebody being promoted higher than their abilities. But who can blame him for taking the chance and all in all he has done more good for the club than bad over the years.
On the Andy Woodman issue, I was sad that Andy did not get a chance at Palace and yes his departure was not done well. However I doubt if there is a manager or ex manager who has not at some stage mishandled a situation like that. Even Sir Steve has a few, thats life we cannot be perfect all the time. |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by ElwissAtMemphis
Clearly, if the previous season's squad had been strengthened in a significant way, we'd almost certainly have stayed up. A frequent accusation, which we've had on this thread, is that signing Houghton and Dowie earlier would probably have saved us.
But surely that's much more of a criticism of Ron Noades than Smith. Wilkins was free, Preece was only a couple of hundred thousand (and was only signed to try and keep Chris Armstrong settled) and wasn't Pitcher another one of those "adjustments" to Charlton's rent arrears (a la John Humphrey). Whatever the actual cost in fees paid, it was hardly more than a bit of housekeeping and a million miles from a spending spree; it must have been one of the smallest outlays on new players by any of the top-flight clubs.
The question is, did Smith say "last season's squad's fine ... we don't need to waste money strengthening it" or did Noades say "a couple of nominal transfers is your lot and I'll see whether we can come to another arrangementbe with Charlton". Considering his attempt to strengthen the last genuinely successsful Palace team (ie the 90/91 side) was to restrict incoming signings to Lee Sinnott, I know which one I think is more likely.
Ultimately, why did we have to wait until it was too late to bring in a quality striker and an experienced midfielder ? Because Smith thought that they weren't necessary despite having the funds available or was it simply because the funds ...
That season in the Premier League Smith was sniping at Noades in the press at every opportunity, they were having a continual slanging match. It made us look amateur. Smith should have been sacked at Christmas at the very latest. That defeat at home to Liverpool on the opening day of the season basically set the tone for the rest of the season. It exposed a weakness in the team that wasn't rectified until the signing of Houghton and Dowie and the reinstatement of Humphrey and Young. But by then it was too late. Any manager who plays Darren Patterson at right back over John Humphrey should really be sectioned. |
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| Eagle Of Cray |
quote:
Originally posted by kolinkins
How far off the mark can someone be?
Simon Jordan once told me, while keeping a straight face, that Smith was the best manager this club had ever had. |
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| Mister Parks |
quote:
Originally posted by Eagle Of Cray
Simon Jordan once told me, while keeping a straight face, that Smith was the best manager this club had ever had.
When did he say that?
The day after appointing him?
:rolleyes: |
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| Eagle Of Cray |
quote:
Originally posted by Mister Parks
When did he say that?
The day after appointing him?
:rolleyes:
Pretty much so yeah. It was at the open day just after he'd been appointed. |
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| hilairehair |
quote:
Originally posted by Eagle Of Cray
Pretty much so yeah. It was at the open day just after he'd been appointed.
Is it also true they are no longer on speaking terms? |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by hilairehair
Is it also true they are no longer on speaking terms?
According to SJ, Smith "took liberties with him". I can only speculate what he could have done. |
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| GDP |
quote:
Originally posted by gold76
1993/94 was a special year for me too, so I choose to remember him fondly.
Me too gold76. Was a great season! And the 2 cup runs the following season wasn't bad. |
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| Men At Work |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
Any manager who plays Darren Patterson at right back over John Humphrey should really be sectioned.
I heard of one even more stupid who decided to play Wayne Carlisle at right back at Anfield. Oh, hang on a minute... |
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| Psychokiller |
quote:
Originally posted by Men At Work
I heard of one even more stupid who decided to play Wayne Carlisle at right back at Anfield. Oh, hang on a minute...
You're forgetting putting Jamie Smith and Craig Harrison as the centre back partnership up there too! |
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| hilairehair |
quote:
Originally posted by Psychokiller
According to SJ, Smith "took liberties with him". I can only speculate what he could have done.
AS stole a years supply of fake tannning lotion from SJ's secret locker, was what I heard.... |
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| Psychokiller |
| Naah, SJ uses orange whilst AS prefers the beetroot purple look. |
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| Il Padrino |
| Thinking about it, his second run was dire. Who remembers Andy Morrison? |
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| mcduh |
| I can't believe the last time I was at Selhurst, we were shouting "Alan Smith's red n blarmy." |
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| Men At Work |
quote:
Originally posted by Il Padrino
Thinking about it, his second run was dire. Who remembers Andy Morrison?
Ah yes. The only centre-half who was magnetically stuck to the pitch and unable to rise even the slightest bit above it. He used to see where the ball was heading, get in position and brace. People would bounce off him and the ball would hit his head. Certainly the most interesting approach I've seen to heading the ball. |
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