Battle of Oakwell 1997/98 Season.

That game should have probably been his last. I know we’re all biased towards our team but he really had a mare and that led to a lot of unrest during and after the game. We may as well have had a Liverpool staff member officiating, they couldn’t have done a worse job or favoured the other team so obviously.

 

David Mellor hosted the 606 at the time.

Claiming us northern oiks were rioting despite sitting in a London studio.

 

Doesn’t surprise me

 

My ex brother in law was head steward that day - he brought him off the pitch for his little break and at full time. Should have kicked him off the pitch....

Liverpool fans have a funny perspective on this game - every sending off justified, we were out to kick them off the park. Our fans were appalling towards them after the game.... one was my boss so had to bite my lip.

 

He also took our game at Hillsborough that season and was almost as bad that day too. I was going to say ‘refereed’ but we all know a certain Italian forward was in charge that day.

He was way past incompetent, I’m convinced something darker was going on with him.

 

Agreed - in many ways he was worse at Hillsboro


That match was a culmination of the countless appalling decisions what went against us that year. Anyone recall the Dion Dublin dive at Coventry that won them a penalty, and 3 points. Riley at old Trafford and so on. The Hillsboro shambles was up there.

Willard got it in the neck and rightly so. He completely lost control of the match v Liverpool. But it wasn’t just as a result of his woeful decisions and cretinous performance in that game alone that resulted in him having to stop the match: it was what it represented and a mark of our fans saying ‘enough is enough’.

 

He has the same impact on me as when I see Roy Link. Not altogether positive.

 

This may explain a few things ..

 

Yep, all of those. Plus Hristov sent off at Leeds for foul & abusive language despite hardly speaking a word of English, Alan Shearer being literally untouchable - booking for anyone going near him, the list went on and on.

Didn’t miss a game that season and for the most part, hated being in the prem.

 

Did you tell him he’s a big fat ******

 

As if that wasn't enough, he worked for HMRC for 20 odd years as well

 

Dave Jordan?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if we get some more dodgy decisions during the last eight games and possible play-off campaign this season. They don't want us in the top flight. They never have. You only have to go back through history to see that. Balloted out, goal average, playing on until Brighton scored, re jigging the football league, Garry Willard etc.

If ever there was club less destined for a spell in the top flight it's us.

 

Don't be down SD. We'll show 'em that we never give up....

 

The Premier League was a novelty so I can’t say I hated us being there but as the season went on the beatings and the appalling refereeing took its toll on most of us. You can’t condone people running on the pitch but I have often wondered what might have happened had Jan-Aage NOT been successful with his rugby tackle. Could have been seriously bad for the whole club.

It would be interesting to go back and have another go, with a lot less naivety this time. If the likes of Bournemouth and Huddersfield can do it we certainly can.

 

It's a shame we didn't stop treating it as a holiday until Christmas.

 

The first few months we seemed to be in awe of the teams we played, instead of getting stuck in. Even a few more points might have been enough.... ay well it's all in the past now. Hopefully we get another go sooner rather than later

 

Chris Wilder got it depot on when the Blunts went up as regards not being overseen by the opposition. I dont think Val would let us be but Steiner definitely was for the Chelsea cup game.

 

I agree and the Play-Off final defeat in 99/00 was the 97/98 season rolled into one game. If we'd gone into more business like instead of as a soft touch out for a grand day out we'd have won that day. I genuinely believe that happy to be there attitude transmitted to the players.

In 2016. The atmosphere was different Hecky made it clear we went to Wembley and had a job to do. I noticed the fans had a different attitude that day too. Whether it was down to 2000 I don't know.