The official "How the mighty have fallen" thread

[afeencalleddan]

Leeds and Forest are the obvious ones.

I just noticed there that Kaiserslautern are dangling just above the relegation zone in Bundesliga 2. They were in the knockout stages of the Champions league not so long ago and now in danger of falling into the obscure third tier of the domestic league just like the two above.

Anybody else have examples of this from any sport?

[pudgee]

Dundalk

[afeencalleddan]

DundalkOh god, I remember that fateful day in 1991.

To be fair to Dundalk they should really be back in the Premier. They got shafted by the league there last year.

[STEVIEG]

Oh god, I remember that fateful day in 1991.



Too right:(


Where the hell is Homer Jay these days?

He must have seen the light

Deportivo, to a smaller extent

[pudgee]

Oh god, I remember that fateful day in 1991.

To be fair to Dundalk they should really be back in the Premier. They got shafted by the league there last year.

Me too. I remember NMPP put out an issue with two different covers, victory and defeat.

Gutted, Garth. No other word for it.

[jd26]

They were never mighty as such, but I can remember Oxford Utd being in the top division. Now they are floating round a few places above the relegation zone in the conference.

In rugby, the worst example would probably be Richmond. One of the oldest teams in England, and traditionally one of the top teams. The professional era caught them by surprise. They then tried to spend their way back to their old position and pretty much sent the club to the wall. The professional portion got merged into London Irish and a smaller amateur club persists playing through the London leagues.

[afeencalleddan]

Deportivo, to a smaller extentNah, they haven't taken enough of a nose dive yet though they're in danger of it. Looks like there's a revival on the cards now though. A good win away to Betis on saturday night and Valeron's back from nowhere.

[STEVIEG]

Nah, they haven't taken enough of a nose dive yet though they're in danger of it. Looks like there's a revival on the cards now though. A good win away to Betis on saturday night and Valeron's back from nowhere.

Yup, Valeron, what a blast from the past


Player wise we could put Mendieta in this thread

It's hard with players cause of injuries and stuff though

[afeencalleddan]

They were never mighty as such, but I can remember Oxford Utd being in the top division. Now they are floating round a few places above the relegation zone in the conference.Yeah sure didn't they have Aldo, Razor and Davie Langan and they won the Milk cup in 86?

[MonTheHoops]

How many of these sides do you remember having Premiership status? A large proportion I imagine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/table/default.stm

Especially Sheff Wed.

[STEVIEG]

How many of these sides do you remember having Premiership status? A large proportion I imagine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/table/default.stm

Especially Sheff Wed.

Big club Sheff United

Blackpool used be huge too

[Edmund Blackwater]

1860 Munich are in the second division in Germany and not doing particularly well.
It's not all that long ago they were competing in the UEFA cup and not long before that, european Cups.

Luton, league cup winners in 87, I think look like their heading for the 4th divison.

Wimbledon(MK DONS), FA cup winners in 88, now in the fourth division (admittedly top).

[Mr.Mister]

Liverpool?

[keanos dog]

mike tyson would be the ultimate in how the mighty have fallen. youngest heavyweight champion to losing to yer man who's name i can't remember.

[afeencalleddan]

Wimbledon(MK DONS)Ooooooh, touchy subject around certain parts of South London.

[Edmund Blackwater]

Accrington Stanley.
Did a milk ad back in the 80s, nothing since.

yes, i realise they have been promoted to the football league.

[legend76]

Preston North End

Huddersfield

[Edmund Blackwater]

Ooooooh, touchy subject around certain parts of South London.
Well, it's the same as the manyoo and FC united thing.
the real fans set up a new team. But it was new.

[blocker]

St Finbarrs!

[pudgee]

Big club Sheff United

Blackpool used be huge too

Should keep this within living memory, ya think? I mean, when were Blackpool or PNE last actually big clubs?

ATS will remember, I s'pose.

[afeencalleddan]

Well, it's the same as the manyoo and FC united thing.Nah, not really. Manchester United are still playing at Old Trafford in the Premiership. Those FC United people are looking a bit foolish now really.

The Wimbledon thing is totally different, that feckin chairman (can't remember his name now) totally ripped the soul out of that club and moved to a place that had nothing to do with the club. I know it's oficially the same club but I for one don't acknowledge that fact.

[northmallexile]

Nah, not really. Manchester United are still playing at Old Trafford in the Premiership. Those FC United people are looking a bit foolish now really.

The Wimbledon thing is totally different, that feckin chairman (can't remember his name now) totally ripped the soul out of that club and moved to a place that had nothing to do with the club. I know it's oficially the same club but I for one don't acknowledge that fact.

Pete Winkelman.

I've been to the Dons a few times. They always seem to lose when I go, though.

[keanos dog]

Nah, not really. Manchester United are still playing at Old Trafford in the Premiership. Those FC United people are looking a bit foolish now really.


they are?


enormous price increases they predicted. check.

they also predicted old trafford 's atmosphere getting so bad fergie mentions a funeral. check

automatic cup scheme bollix losing them even more traditional supporters. check.

the fans money being used to pay off the debt, and not reinvested in the club. check. (yes i know about last summers players. the devil is in the detail, as they say.lots of payments to be made over the next few years. before last summer the glazers had an actual profit from transfers.

a large debt still hanging over a club that was debt free. check. and what could happen if there was a reccesion?


season tickets now freely available that were once like gold dust. check. don't believe the gill the spin doctor. the man could be press offficer for bertie ahern.


and meanwhile from what i've read and heard the FCer's are having a great time, following their new team, playing at 3 o clock most saturdays, running the club as they see fit and to quote one of them, "we have fallen in love with football again"

[afeencalleddan]

they are?


enormous price increases they predicted. check.

they also predicted old trafford 's atmosphere getting so bad fergie mentions a funeral. check

automatic cup scheme bollix losing them even more tradiotoanal supporters. check.

the fans money being used to pay off the debt, and not reinvested in the club. check. (yes i kno about last summers players. the devil is in the detail, as they say.lots of payments to be made over the next few uears. before last summer the glazers had an actual profit from transfers.

a large debt still hanging over a club that was debt free. check. and what could happen if there was a reccesion?


season tickets now freely available that were once like gold dust. check. don't believe the gill the spin doctor. the man could be press offficer for bertie ahern.


and meanwhle from what i've read and heard the FCer's are having a great time, following their new team, plating at 3 o clock most saturdays, running the club as they see fit and to quote one of them, "we have fallen in love with football again"Fair point, I stand corrected. As you were, FC United fans. ;)

[xvis]

Shamrock Rovers.

Dublin Gaelic Football.

American tennis players.

Ajax.

[afeencalleddan]

Shamrock Rovers.

Dublin Gaelic Football.

American tennis players.

Ajax.Hmmmmm... nah, not as bad as Kaiserslautern or Leeds.

[VzN]

Thats is what football is meant to be about.

[northmallexile]

Cavan football. 39 Ulster titles, and only one in the last 40 years.

Offaly hurling. Although it's probably more accurate to say that they spent 20 years operating above their natural level.

[afeencalleddan]

Pete Winkelman.That's not the name I remember when I went to an opening day Championship game around 7 years ago at Selhurst. 'twas a different guy they protested against. I'll look it up...

Charles Koppell, he's the one.

[xvis]

Hmmmmm... nah, not as bad as Kaiserslautern or Leeds.

Didn't the Hoops win 9 titles in a row.

Ajax 3 European Cups in a row.

..the yanks have slumped across a whole tennis generation.


..were Kaiserslautern ever really that great? ...they wouldn't be anywhere near the biggest German clubs ranging from Bayern to Hamburg.

[northmallexile]

That's not the name I remember when I went to an opening day Championship game around 7 years ago at Selhurst. 'twas a different guy they protested against. I'll look it up...

Charles Koppell, he's the one.

Winkelman's the current chairman and is the one who came up with the MK idea. But the previous owners had been looking to move for ages (to Dublin at one point) - I presume that's where Koppell comes in.

[afeencalleddan]

Didn't the Hoops win 9 titles in a row.

Ajax 3 European Cups in a row.

..the yanks have slumped across a whole tennis generation.


..were Kaiserslautern ever really that great? ...they wouldn't be anywhere near the biggest German clubs ranging from Bayern to Hamburg.I know Kaiserslautern weren't that great but they were among the top German clubs for a while and were Bundesliga champions once around late 90's early 00's from what I can remember. Rovers, Ajax and Dublin aren't what they used to be but still playing at a high level. Yankee tennis is a fair shout I suppose.

[afeencalleddan]

Winkelman's the current chairman and is the one who came up with the MK idea.I'd dispute that very much unless he was on the board when Koppell was chairman.

[northmallexile]

I'd dispute that very much unless he was on the board when Koppell was chairman.

I don't think he was. He's a Milton Keynes businessman who saw an opportunity to build a football stadium as part of a larger scheme of property development and was actively looking for a club to come play in it - he had already approached Barnet and QPR, before hooking up with Wimbledon.

Details here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,871424,00.htm l).

[afeencalleddan]

I don't think he was. He's a Milton Keynes businessman who saw an opportunity to build a football stadium as part of a larger scheme of property development and was actively looking for a club to come play in it - he had already approached Barnet and QPR, before hooking up with Wimbledon.

Details here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,871424,00.htm l).Ah right, I see now. Winklemann had the idea and Koppell got into bed with him.

[northmallexile]

Ah right, I see now. Winklemann had the idea and Koppell got into bed with him.

Zigackly.

It's an odd experience going to an MK Dons game. The atmosphere's fairly artificial, which I suppose is to be expected given that it's a essentially a fake team playing in a fake town. But you do get people who are very into it - mostly local kids who've grown up in Milton Keynes and are brought along by their Dads who can't afford to go see Chelsea or West Ham anymore.

[Berbs]

For some reason it saddens me when formerly "great" footballers fall from grace early.
Mendieta, Jardel, Boksic, Campo, Finidi George, Reizeger, that Italian striker that signed for Fulham last year whose name escapes me, Lombardo, Carbone.
I know they're all probably spoiled little millionaires but still..

[dancefreak2003]

For some reason it saddens me when formerly "great" footballers fall from grace early.
Mendieta, Jardel, Boksic, Campo, Finidi George, Reizeger, that Italian striker that signed for Fulham last year whose name escapes me, Lombardo, Carbone.
I know they're all probably spoiled little millionaires but still..

Lombardo was not a flop in fairness

[afeencalleddan]

that Italian striker that signed for Fulham last year whose name escapes meMontella.

[raZor]

Lombardo was not a flop in fairness

Campo is doing pretty well also, he wasnt exactly great at Real.

Could you add players like Beckham and possibly Juan Pablo Angel for taking the money on offer in America?

[Edmund Blackwater]

Neil Webb.

[Langer Dan]

The Glen

Sampdoria.
Parma.

[TonyCochrane]

Preston North End

Huddersfield

There are sleeping giants and there are cryogenically frozen ones like PNE.

[TonyCochrane]

Neil Webb.

He's a postman these days I think. He could always deliver well.

[AmadeusDC]

In some other sports:

Kwame Brown
Maurice Clarett
Michael Vick
Shawn Kemp towards the end of his career. 6'11" and couldn't dunk after being a high flyer!!!
Rafael Palmeiro
David Duval

-AmadeusDC-

[ebenezer]

He's a postman these days I think. He could always deliver well.

A court case with his wife, and the fact that footballers didn't earn as much as they do now forced him to get a job. A lot more respectable than writing a book.

His wife slept with Chris Kamara, and then took the house from him.

Webb is still a legend in my eyes though. :D

[Murdock]

Marion Jones.

[AmadeusDC]

Marion Jones.

Good one!

-AmadeusDC-

[Langer Dan]

A court case with his wife, and the fact that footballers didn't earn as much as they do now forced him to get a job. A lot more respectable than writing a book.

His wife slept with Chris Kamara, and then took the house from him.

Webb is still a legend in my eyes though. :D

It was the fro right?
Chicks dig the fro.

[afeencalleddan]

I think I may have found a winner...

Hellas Verona, Serie A champions in the early/mid 80's if I'm not mistaken and a decent Serie A side around the turn of the millennium, are in the shit big time. That's where Adrian Mutu made his name if my memory serves me correct. Anyway, they are rock bottom of Serie C1-A. They're on a 7 game losing run and are 2-0 down at home to the mighty AC Legnano as I type this post. If they get relegated, which is looking likely they'll be playing in Serie C2 (fourth tier) next season. Ouch!

[kevinbitzz]

Dukla Prague

[MonTheHoops]

Dukla Prague

Pretty much any of the Eastern bloc sides.

Aberdeen
Dundee United
Accrinton Stanley

[kevinbitzz]

Pretty much any of the Eastern bloc sides.

Aberdeen
Dundee United
Accrinton Stanley

true,

i just like their away kit.