Select a season from below
A season that promised so much under Roeder fizzled into a bottom half
of the table finish with Glen reverting to the old excuse of injuries
to explain a bad season. The chop was inevitable but then a miracle! For
those who said that the club needed change from the board right down to
the dressing room, the wish was granted. Freddie replaced Roeder with
alladyce before a stunning coup by Mike Ashley saw Shephard out of the
door as Big Sam swiftly got rid of the dead wood and started bringing
in the sort of systems and players that the club really needed. Could
this be the turning point?
Gloom, gloom and more gloom! Week after week, we had to listen to the
same tired old excuses trotted out by that dour manager called Souness.
Then, as we hurtled towards the Championship, Freddie regained his senses
and wielded his managerial axe. Roeder stepped in and suddenly, we were
Europe bound. This was also the year when a living legend left the field
of play for good. Alan Shearer fell in battle against the Mackems but
not before he gave them a dagger to the heart with a redemptive penalty.
Farewell big guy, we'll miss you!
A season that promised so much turned to disappointment. Bob got the bullet
after only four games to be replaced by the shock selection of Souness.
The surly scot went on to give the boot to plenty of our trouble players
(Bellamy and Robert to name just two) and the fans were left reeling at
the way in which the season self destructed with on field boxing matches
leading to a 14th place finish. And let's not even go into the way in
which we went out of two cup matches in one week including an amazing
capitulation in the UEFA Cup!
A disappointment or a success? We crashed out of the Champion's League
at the first hurdle but then went on a great run to a UEFA Cup semi final.
Two terrible domestic cups were followed by a respectable fifth place
finish. Okay, we missed out on a Champ's League place but we still qualified
for European football next season. Maybe we would have done a bit better
though if we'd made one or two decent signings at the start of the season
and some of the lads hadn't caused a distraction later on by getting mixed
up in a spot of bother at a London hotel!
What a year! 3rd place clinches a Champions League qualifying place for
the second year running. Amongst the highlights were: a double over the
Makems, an amazing Champs League adventure (Bellamy banned, Bellamy gets
us through to the second stage with a last gasp winner, Bellamy banned
again!). Great wins against quality European opposition and, oh yes -
the Makems relegated as the WORST ever team in Premiership history!
Joy unabounded as we swept to a Champions League qualifying place in the
last few games of the season. Highlights included: Bellamy establishing
himself as a top centre forward, memorable wins against Leeds/Arsenal/Man
U and the SAFC being tortured at the bottom of the table only just missing
out on relegation at the last game of the season. As the Doctor says:
Enjoy!
A disappointing year that was best forgotten. The Mackems had a good laugh
at us and the lads succumbed to one poor result after another leaving
the Doctor more down in the mouth than ever