Graham Poll on Warnock

[Bladesway]

It's a funny one, I can only remember from Bassett's tenure onwards, but the Warnock years were the best of those. Consistently building up crowds, rocking atmosphere at The Lane and players running through brick walls for us.

If you didn't enjoy those times, surely you've been sat complaining through the last twenty years*?

*probably on the internet 100s of miles away, berating other supporters still turning out ;o)

Seriously looking forward to my move back to West Yorkshire later this year. I'd enjoy sharing some blades related stories with you on the train.

 

[oldblade]

Yeah I would take being a never quite good enough manager over refereeing in world cup finals any day of the week. I bet Poll lies awake all night wishing he was Warnock. Him and Judge.

After having issued three yellow cards to one player in a single match I think he might wish he hadn't gone to those world cup finals at all.

 

[Bladesway]

It's a funny one, I can only remember from Bassett's tenure onwards, but the Warnock years were the best of those. Consistently building up crowds, rocking atmosphere at The Lane and players running through brick walls for us.

If you didn't enjoy those times, surely you've been sat complaining through the last twenty years*?

*probably on the internet 100s of miles away, berating other supporters still turning out ;o)

OK here it goes. I didnt always hate Warnock because he wasn't always a bad thing for us. In 2003 he had us in wonderland but in all honesty it only led to disappointment in 3 ways. Not his fault that one. But before we got promoted (he did have more opportunities at it than most by the way) I saw some of the dullest and most disappointing seasons of football until more recently.

In 2006 he surprised most people and fair play to him for getting us up. It wasn't on a shoestring however. Some of his signings were cheap granted but some (Akinbiyi and Horsefield anyone) cost a few bob.

Then there was the will he won't he with Portsmouth. Apparently he loved us more than anything but still (on the eve of a Derby) had us sweating over Warnock and whether he would stay. I didn't like what he did or the way he did it. But hey, we got promoted so what the hell.

That season however he came into his own. Until January (having done a bit of just being pleased to be here at the start) we all looked fair and a stay in the Premiership looked assured. Warnock then went into the transfer window and make a royal fuck up of it. Spent on some absolute dross and on players who to a man were not ready for the fight. Out of this only Jon Stead can hold his head up. McCabe apparently gave him the money he asked for.

Then when it all started to go a little awry the real Warnock came to the fore. Bitter, twisted and blaming all and everyone but himself for every single turn of fate. Benitez, Tevez, Ferguson uncle Tom Cobley and all got broadsided when he should have looked closer to home.

I have already blown a gasket many times over his handling of the Villa match where any manager worth his salt would have at least tried to score that day. A Villa side coasting themselves took us apart and suddenly we were looking down the wrong end of things. However, it couldn't go wrong could it. At home against useless Wigan on the last day and West Ham needing to win at OT.

The week before who were we talking about? Players? The Opposition? The Weather? Oh no, Neil fucking Warnock and his want for a new contract. The shitfaced wankstain couldn't hold it back for a week until the end of the season could he? So we spent the week talking about him (as he would want it) and then that fateful day when we got relegated.

After the relegation apparently Sean Bean let fly at him, McCabe dumped him and just about anyone and everyone else was to blame for our relegation. Sorry Neil, but you brought it on yourself.

Before it was the disgrace of the Battle of Bramall Lane when he sacked two stupid players in Suffo and Santos to cover for and save his own arse.

So, I haven't always loved him, but neither have I loathed him. Its sort of gathered pace since he left us. But in fairness the warning signs with Warnock were always there from the start. Reading the mans book only confirmed everything I think about him as a manager and a person. Loathsome in every aspect.

Oh and his was the first team that ever had me leave BDTBL before the end of a game. And I have been watching since the mid 70's and the early 80's regularly both at the lane and away. So please leave your remarks about spouting from 100's of miles away.

I think thats about it, but if you want more then let me know

 

[Bladesway]

After having issued three yellow cards to one player in a single match I think he might wish he hadn't gone to those world cup finals at all.

He's such a bell end he probably still thinks he is right to be fair.

 

[JohnDenver]

I think thats about it, but if you want more then let me know

More!

I agree with a lot of what you say but you're harsh on his early time here. He kept us up, and after that made us a pretty fearsome (if limited) home team. The point being, we didn't have a pot to piss in so the team was often grim viewing. Much like now in fact...

The moment he had a bit of spending power, we went up. That deserves respect, even if he is a prize socket.

 

[judge]

you were slagging warnock off from the triple assault season onwards if i remember rightly when he was booed on the pitch v millwall ( final game ) and stubbornly refused to give him any credit for any good he did subsequently so most of the stuff you have mentioned in your previous post is just a list of things that wound you up after you decided you didnt like him

been accused by you and a few others of being a warnock lover but the truth is i couldnt care less about the guys character he did a great job at the lane and thats as far as my feelings towards him run couldnt care less if he drives round on his tractor slagging everyone off ,so fucking what its not x factor

 

[Bladesway]

you were slagging warnock off from the triple assault season onwards if i remember rightly when he was booed on the pitch v millwall ( final game ) and stubbornly refused to give him any credit for any good he did subsequently so most of the stuff you have mentioned in your previous post is just a list of things that wound you up after you decided you didnt like him

been accused by you and a few others of being a warnock lover but the truth is i couldnt care less about the guys character he did a great job at the lane and thats as far as my feelings towards him run couldnt care less if he drives round on his tractor slagging everyone off ,so fucking what its not x factor

Not my recollection and your assumptions are utter crap. I dont expect you to agree with me but i never expected you to twist things out of the fact into fiction. I have always said he did well to get us up, and credit should go to him for that but he took us down and you and your like cant seem to get it into your heads that its a key reason we are where we are.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

meh petty stuff, waste of space these kind of articles, have no place in papers. papers aren't bloody gossip magazines.

 

[Superblades]

its a key reason we are where we are.

He was at fault for our relegation, agreed. Us being in league one has nothing to do with NW. He left a team which was IMO more than capable of returning the following year, what messed that up was appointing Robson.

McCabe then appointed KB who came within 1 game of returning us to the PL but it wasn't to be. The reason why we are in L1 is because we sacked KB at the wrong time. KB should have gone at the end of the previous season or let him have the remainder of that season. If KB had stayed for the remainder of the season I don't think we would of been relegated. What followed after KB was sacked was a joke and we deservedly got relegated.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If Robson had been ousted at Christmas I think Blackwell would have taken us straight back up that season.

 

[Bath Blade]

If Robson had been ousted at Christmas I think Blackwell would have taken us straight back up that season.

I don't know about that. We went on a fantastic run under Blackwell partly because we had nothing to play for and the pressure was off. Had we ever really looked like getting into the playoffs (other than for five minutes on the last day of the season), I think Blackwell would have reverted to type and gone defensive and the season would have petered out.