1999-2000
NOTE: All SW19's comments are in brown
LAST SEASON
Who was your hero of the season? :
| Kenny Cunningham | 29 % | |
| Neil Ardley | 22 % | |
| Trond Andersen | 13 % |
OTHERS : John Hartson, Neil Sullivan, Hermann Hreidarsson, Michael Hughes, Robbie Earle, Egil Olsen, No-one, Gabby Yorath, BRG, Mikey T at the Firkin in Watford
YOUR COMMENTS:
Average player who excelled when the crisis was at its worst (Ardley)
For all the dignity that he has shown all season (Sully)
She brightened up a load of dour Saturday afternoons!!! (Gabby Yorath)
Surprising winner IMO - I thought that Neil Ardley was going to get it. Ah well. KC deserves it simply because he acted as though he gave a toss. Which is more than can be said for the next bit...
Who was
your tosser of the season? :
OTHERS : Robbie Earle, Sam Hammam, Joe Kinnear, Johnathon Barnett, Pro players who can't play zonal, Vinny Jones, John Fashanu, Jeff Winter, John Hartson, WFC fan at Fulham, anyone who chanted "Olsen Out", SW19's ARMY
YOUR COMMENTS:
Another who deserves a mention was a ginger git, who slagged us off at Fulham for not being proper fans, while he was leaving 10 minutes early ‘because we’re losing’..... he even had the nerve not to be at the next game vs Cov (away).
Euell and Cort win by a country mile. One down, one to go......
| Jason Euell | 33 % | |
| Carl Cort | 31 % | |
| Egil Olsen | 8 % |
OTHERS : Robbie Earle, Sam Hammam, Joe Kinnear, Johnathon Barnett, Pro players who can't play zonal, Vinny Jones, John Fashanu, Jeff Winter, John Hartson, WFC fan at Fulham, anyone who chanted "Olsen Out", SW19's ARMY
YOUR COMMENTS:
Another who deserves a mention was a ginger git, who slagged us off at Fulham for not being proper fans, while he was leaving 10 minutes early ‘because we’re losing’..... he even had the nerve not to be at the next game vs Cov (away).
Euell and Cort win by a country mile. One down, one to go......
Who was
your most improved player of the season? :
OTHERS : None, Kenny Cunningham, Trond Andersen, John Hartson, Carl Cort, Damien Francis, Chris Wilmott, Jason Euell, Ben Thatcher, Neil Sullivan, Carl Leaburn
YOUR COMMENTS:
When fit (Hartson)
Although he is still quite slow and he is getting old but he played considerably well last season. We actually missed his presence, can you believe it? (Kimble)
34 years old and getting better. And he hit a 30 yarder at Huddersfield - we could do with that again this season. Kimble just beat out Neil Ardley, who certainly became Mr Popular after his performances since February - club captancy beckons?
| Alan Kimble | 19 % | |
| Neil Ardley | 17 % | |
| Duncan Jupp | 14 % |
OTHERS : None, Kenny Cunningham, Trond Andersen, John Hartson, Carl Cort, Damien Francis, Chris Wilmott, Jason Euell, Ben Thatcher, Neil Sullivan, Carl Leaburn
YOUR COMMENTS:
When fit (Hartson)
Although he is still quite slow and he is getting old but he played considerably well last season. We actually missed his presence, can you believe it? (Kimble)
34 years old and getting better. And he hit a 30 yarder at Huddersfield - we could do with that again this season. Kimble just beat out Neil Ardley, who certainly became Mr Popular after his performances since February - club captancy beckons?
Who was
your most deteriorated player of the season? :
(ie, who in your opinion was the player whose general play declined the most?)
OTHERS : Robbie Earle, Michael Hughes, Carl Leaburn, Neil Sullivan, Neil Ardley, Andy Roberts, John Hartson, Anders Lund, Dean Blackwell
YOUR COMMENTS:
Andreas Lund was an international top scorer who came directly from Champions League to WFC and became a nothing. This is rather remarkable and should be compared with Stale Solbakken who has been a top player wherever he has played except in WFC
RE probably because of his old age. Michael Hughes - inflexibility. I still think Drillo's criticism of him is valid. He is a skilful player but he needs be play with the rest of teams.
Although I was actually thinking more of skill level, it seems as though Euell's attitude (or lack of it) was a deciding factor in this. Interesting to see Gayle up there, I've thought he's been declining since he scored against Man U in the cup.
(ie, who in your opinion was the player whose general play declined the most?)
| Jason Euell | 42 % | |
| Carl Cort | 28 % | |
| Marcus Gayle | 10 % |
OTHERS : Robbie Earle, Michael Hughes, Carl Leaburn, Neil Sullivan, Neil Ardley, Andy Roberts, John Hartson, Anders Lund, Dean Blackwell
YOUR COMMENTS:
Andreas Lund was an international top scorer who came directly from Champions League to WFC and became a nothing. This is rather remarkable and should be compared with Stale Solbakken who has been a top player wherever he has played except in WFC
RE probably because of his old age. Michael Hughes - inflexibility. I still think Drillo's criticism of him is valid. He is a skilful player but he needs be play with the rest of teams.
Although I was actually thinking more of skill level, it seems as though Euell's attitude (or lack of it) was a deciding factor in this. Interesting to see Gayle up there, I've thought he's been declining since he scored against Man U in the cup.
Who/what
were the best and worst of last season in the following -
Game:
best:
OTHERS : Man U at SP, Man U away, Watford away, Liverpool at SP, Boro away, Bradford away, Newcastle at SP, Bradford at SP
YOUR COMMENTS:
Despite the result (Bradford a)
worst:
OTHERS : Sheff Wed away, Fulham away, Everton at SP, Derby away, Spurz away, too many to mention
The best and worst of Drillo's reign - one went gloriously right, one went horribly wrong. Watch a video of both games and gasp at the difference between the two games.
Game:
best:
| Leeds - Selhurst Park | 31 % | |
| Watford - Selhurst Park | 24 % | |
| Aston Villa - Selhurst Park | 16 % |
OTHERS : Man U at SP, Man U away, Watford away, Liverpool at SP, Boro away, Bradford away, Newcastle at SP, Bradford at SP
YOUR COMMENTS:
Despite the result (Bradford a)
worst:
| Sheffield Wednesday at Selhurst Park | 31 % | |
| Southampton - away | 18 % | |
| Bradford - away | 15 % |
OTHERS : Sheff Wed away, Fulham away, Everton at SP, Derby away, Spurz away, too many to mention
The best and worst of Drillo's reign - one went gloriously right, one went horribly wrong. Watch a video of both games and gasp at the difference between the two games.
Referee:
best:
OTHERS : Durkin, Ellary, Poll, Gallagher, Wilkes, Reed, "you should never notice a good one"
YOUR COMMENTS:
If there is one, I didn't see him last season.
Alcock - only because he was the only one to give us a league pen.
None. What a surprise. The entry for Wilkes was preceded with a "ha ha".
worst:
OTHERS : no others mentioned
Jeff Winter was lovingly described as the Bradford Cunt by one correspondent. I don't think I need to expand.
best:
| None | 42 % | |
| Alcock | 13 % | |
| Halsley | 10 % |
OTHERS : Durkin, Ellary, Poll, Gallagher, Wilkes, Reed, "you should never notice a good one"
YOUR COMMENTS:
If there is one, I didn't see him last season.
Alcock - only because he was the only one to give us a league pen.
None. What a surprise. The entry for Wilkes was preceded with a "ha ha".
worst:
| Winter | 71 % | |
| All of them / Rennie | 11 % | |
| Most of them / Knight / Poll | 2 % |
OTHERS : no others mentioned
Jeff Winter was lovingly described as the Bradford Cunt by one correspondent. I don't think I need to expand.
Fans:
best:
OTHERS : Newcastle, Sunderland, Watford, Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Leeds
Self-congratulatory lot aren't we? :) I grouped WFC as a whole, because I had a few differing entries, ie WFC at Villa, WFC at Soton, WFC first half of the season etc
Some people put down "Villa", whether they meant WFC fans at Villa or those from the Aston area of Birmingham I have no idea. So I put them down as Brummies just to make sure...
worst:
OTHERS : Bradford, Sheff Wed, Liverpool, Southampton, Barnsley, Bolton, Arsenal, Derby
YOUR COMMENTS:
Us = when tryin’ to kick out 8yr old away fans
Sheff Wed at SP - all two of them
No surprise that Spurz are top.
Some may be surprised at our high ranking. Again, I grouped WFC as a whole, and some of the comments related around people getting narked at the "Olsen Out" stuff. Despite the WTID mentality, it's clear the events of last year still rankles.
best:
| WFC | 46 % | |
| Southampton | 13 % | |
| Bradford | 9 % |
OTHERS : Newcastle, Sunderland, Watford, Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Leeds
Self-congratulatory lot aren't we? :) I grouped WFC as a whole, because I had a few differing entries, ie WFC at Villa, WFC at Soton, WFC first half of the season etc
Some people put down "Villa", whether they meant WFC fans at Villa or those from the Aston area of Birmingham I have no idea. So I put them down as Brummies just to make sure...
worst:
| Spurz | 26 % | |
| Celsi / WFC | 17 % | |
| Man U | 11 % |
OTHERS : Bradford, Sheff Wed, Liverpool, Southampton, Barnsley, Bolton, Arsenal, Derby
YOUR COMMENTS:
Us = when tryin’ to kick out 8yr old away fans
Sheff Wed at SP - all two of them
No surprise that Spurz are top.
Some may be surprised at our high ranking. Again, I grouped WFC as a whole, and some of the comments related around people getting narked at the "Olsen Out" stuff. Despite the WTID mentality, it's clear the events of last year still rankles.
Stewards:
best:
OTHERS : Fulham, Sunderland, Bradford, Derby, Leicester, Huddersfield
YOUR COMMENTS:
Derby - very helpful
Having frequented a few Night clubs in my time, the stewards at football matches are very soft when compared to the utter fuckheads that stand on the doors at clubs
The steward at McAlpine Stadium who told me to go inside the stadium cos it was less windy inside (and it was)
worst:
OTHERS : No others
Unaminous thumbs down for the SP stewards. Obviously the SW19 meeting with WFC last year about the stewarding situation fell on deaf ears.
best:
| Southampton | 22 % | |
| Leeds | 11 % | |
| None / West Ham / Never notice them / Spurz / Liverpool / Watford | 7 % |
OTHERS : Fulham, Sunderland, Bradford, Derby, Leicester, Huddersfield
YOUR COMMENTS:
Derby - very helpful
Having frequented a few Night clubs in my time, the stewards at football matches are very soft when compared to the utter fuckheads that stand on the doors at clubs
The steward at McAlpine Stadium who told me to go inside the stadium cos it was less windy inside (and it was)
worst:
| Selhurst Park | 73 % | |
| Liverpool / Derby / most of them | 5 % | |
| Soton / none / Bolton / Middlesbrough / Spurz | 3 % |
OTHERS : No others
Unaminous thumbs down for the SP stewards. Obviously the SW19 meeting with WFC last year about the stewarding situation fell on deaf ears.
Police:
best:
OTHERS : Fulham
worst:
OTHERS : None
YOUR COMMENTS:
Those who arrested Jonesy & Co (Croydon police) and Ricko (Leeds)
And once again the Selhurst Park great-and-the-good get an utter mauling.
best:
| Soton | 53 % | |
| Bradford | 18 % | |
| WFC / none | 12 % |
OTHERS : Fulham
worst:
| Selhurst Park | 33 % | |
| Leeds | 22 % | |
| Leicester / Sheff Wed / none / Spurz / Soton / Newcastle / Bradford / Celsi | 6 % |
OTHERS : None
YOUR COMMENTS:
Those who arrested Jonesy & Co (Croydon police) and Ricko (Leeds)
And once again the Selhurst Park great-and-the-good get an utter mauling.
Stadium:
best:
OTHERS : Derby, Man U, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Fulham, Soton, Aston Villa
WFC fans clearly like tradition in their stadia.
worst:
OTHERS : Leicester, Spurz, Man U, Cardiff, Celsi, Bradford
YOUR COMMENTS:
Needs some serious updating (SP)
Please God get away from this dump (SP)
And once again SP gets a well-deserved bashing. Funny that only about 7-8 months ago we were being brow-beaten into accepting it.
best:
| Arsenal | 29 % | |
| Sunderland | 13 % | |
| Spurz | 11 % |
OTHERS : Derby, Man U, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Fulham, Soton, Aston Villa
WFC fans clearly like tradition in their stadia.
worst:
| Selhurst Park | 55 % | |
| Soton | 20 % | |
| Fulham | 7 % |
OTHERS : Leicester, Spurz, Man U, Cardiff, Celsi, Bradford
YOUR COMMENTS:
Needs some serious updating (SP)
Please God get away from this dump (SP)
And once again SP gets a well-deserved bashing. Funny that only about 7-8 months ago we were being brow-beaten into accepting it.
In your
own words, sum up one incident that best described last season :
Absurd penalty against us in the 90th minute (or thereabouts) at the Coventry home game… wouldn’t happen at Man U, eh?
We lost 5-1 to Sheffield Wednesday and as I heard the third goal go in I punched the wall of the caravan I was in and shook it so hard I woke up the 5 other people in it.
Promised a lot however a certain section of the players together with SH let the fans and the people who cared about the club down
Losing 4-0 away to Derby, and watching the players just give up, knowing that it would be too much effort to try to win (though I could have chosen from 8 or 9 similar events).
The Holmesdale end against Villa after the game.
The misunderstanding between Kjell Inge Rokke and Sam Hammam in December about having to sell players – it just summed up the lack of harmony which existed within the club last season.
Players who claim to love this club but don’t have any passion, loyality and commitment, particularly when they are products of the youth system
Going one-nil down at home to Everton, I looked around at the team. Every head had dropped and that includes the so called "Crazy Gang" old-guard.
The minutes silence before Liverpool @ home, emotion welled up.
Drillo played Kimble at Right Back (v. Wednesday, lost 1-5 )
Thatcher “handball” incident vs Bradford. Following on from Jason Euell’s balloon over the bar, it spoke volumes. When I saw the linesman with his arm across his chest, I knew then we were going down.
"Coventry can expect an easy game".
Neal Ardley in tears at the end of the Southampton away game
Absurd penalty against us in the 90th minute (or thereabouts) at the Coventry home game… wouldn’t happen at Man U, eh?
We lost 5-1 to Sheffield Wednesday and as I heard the third goal go in I punched the wall of the caravan I was in and shook it so hard I woke up the 5 other people in it.
Promised a lot however a certain section of the players together with SH let the fans and the people who cared about the club down
Losing 4-0 away to Derby, and watching the players just give up, knowing that it would be too much effort to try to win (though I could have chosen from 8 or 9 similar events).
The Holmesdale end against Villa after the game.
The misunderstanding between Kjell Inge Rokke and Sam Hammam in December about having to sell players – it just summed up the lack of harmony which existed within the club last season.
Players who claim to love this club but don’t have any passion, loyality and commitment, particularly when they are products of the youth system
Going one-nil down at home to Everton, I looked around at the team. Every head had dropped and that includes the so called "Crazy Gang" old-guard.
The minutes silence before Liverpool @ home, emotion welled up.
Drillo played Kimble at Right Back (v. Wednesday, lost 1-5 )
Thatcher “handball” incident vs Bradford. Following on from Jason Euell’s balloon over the bar, it spoke volumes. When I saw the linesman with his arm across his chest, I knew then we were going down.
"Coventry can expect an easy game".
Neal Ardley in tears at the end of the Southampton away game
Additional
Comments on last season :
I could have at least accepted relegation if the players had tried. The people blaming the ‘Norwegian invasion’ really are clueless. Of the players brought in, Trond looked impressive when playing alongside Hermann, Lund showed promise but had very little service from the wings (mainly because Cort couldn’t cross if his life depended on it), Hermann (not Norwegian, but most people seem to include him) was great to start with, but after his injury he seemed not match-fit, Andresen may be good for the future, and Pederson has never really had a chance due to injury. Kjetil Waehler I refuse to pass judgement on, as I am yet to be convinced that he is real
We did not realise that we were NOT too good to go down
Maybe Zonal marking was not the way forward, but professional players should get on with the job. We should have started rebuilding after the 2 semi-final defeats, we've been treading water too long and some of the players just don't have the spirit since we got so close but won fuck all.
A missed opportunity for change. The club ultimately relegated by players who paid more attention to getting theit Manager sacked than in winning games.
Player power proved too powerful, and this cannot continue. As much as the players “disliked” Egil Olsen, you play to the best of your abilities, whatever. If I don’t like my boss (and believe me, I can’t stand the wanker), I don’t deliberately under perform in an attempt to undermine the company I work for. BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF MY COMPANY DEPENDS ON ALL OF US PERFORMING.
Unnecessary and highly avoidable. A tragedy.
If only he'd (Drillo) gone at Christmas
Whilst I myself never chanted ‘Olsen Out’ on principle, I have to concede that if more people like myself who recognized it was going horribly wrong had made a fuss, perhaps the inevitable sacking would have happened soon enough to avoid the drop He was Norwegian (In defence of the Olsen Outers, I never saw any evidence of racism – it was purely that he didn’t perform and it was obvious he was favoured by the owners and that he favoured Norwegian players). He was a nice and honest man and Wimbledon is a nice club with nice and loyal fans and there was a strong desire to give him a decent chance. Olsen himself wasn’t strong enough to bring the thing to a head early in the season, he was too willing to temporarily compromise when he needed a win (this seemed very evident with his treatment of Robbie Earle)
Worst moment was getting nicked at the Villa game for running on the pitch and thinking that I was going to be banned from football!!! (note, Jonesy did NOT write this)
Onto the next section
I could have at least accepted relegation if the players had tried. The people blaming the ‘Norwegian invasion’ really are clueless. Of the players brought in, Trond looked impressive when playing alongside Hermann, Lund showed promise but had very little service from the wings (mainly because Cort couldn’t cross if his life depended on it), Hermann (not Norwegian, but most people seem to include him) was great to start with, but after his injury he seemed not match-fit, Andresen may be good for the future, and Pederson has never really had a chance due to injury. Kjetil Waehler I refuse to pass judgement on, as I am yet to be convinced that he is real
We did not realise that we were NOT too good to go down
Maybe Zonal marking was not the way forward, but professional players should get on with the job. We should have started rebuilding after the 2 semi-final defeats, we've been treading water too long and some of the players just don't have the spirit since we got so close but won fuck all.
A missed opportunity for change. The club ultimately relegated by players who paid more attention to getting theit Manager sacked than in winning games.
Player power proved too powerful, and this cannot continue. As much as the players “disliked” Egil Olsen, you play to the best of your abilities, whatever. If I don’t like my boss (and believe me, I can’t stand the wanker), I don’t deliberately under perform in an attempt to undermine the company I work for. BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF MY COMPANY DEPENDS ON ALL OF US PERFORMING.
Unnecessary and highly avoidable. A tragedy.
If only he'd (Drillo) gone at Christmas
Whilst I myself never chanted ‘Olsen Out’ on principle, I have to concede that if more people like myself who recognized it was going horribly wrong had made a fuss, perhaps the inevitable sacking would have happened soon enough to avoid the drop He was Norwegian (In defence of the Olsen Outers, I never saw any evidence of racism – it was purely that he didn’t perform and it was obvious he was favoured by the owners and that he favoured Norwegian players). He was a nice and honest man and Wimbledon is a nice club with nice and loyal fans and there was a strong desire to give him a decent chance. Olsen himself wasn’t strong enough to bring the thing to a head early in the season, he was too willing to temporarily compromise when he needed a win (this seemed very evident with his treatment of Robbie Earle)
Worst moment was getting nicked at the Villa game for running on the pitch and thinking that I was going to be banned from football!!! (note, Jonesy did NOT write this)
Onto the next section