7 years ago today, we were away to Chelsea. I really enjoyed that day

Which is daft, given we lost 4-0 - but we played really well (even Andy Hughes had a stormer, as did Etuhu), and there was this novelty of us actually being in the FA Cup 5th round for once. Lowest ranked side left too.

There's two things I'll remember Peter The Pointer with fondness for:

1. He resigned with dignity, realising very quickly that he wasn't up to it and not hanging around to piss us all off

2. I honestly think he's the only NCFC manager since the mid-90s to have treated the FA Cup with real respect, Winning the replay against Blackpool actually felt like it meant something; unlike nowadays, for seemingly practically every club in the country, it would appear. :(

I still don't get how that side under-performed as much it did, incidentally. Hucks, Earnie, Dion, Safri, Croft, Etuhu, Marshall in goal (though injured at the Bridge, as Earnie had been injured a month earlier) - surely enough attacking talent for us to have reached the play-offs, rather than flirted with the drop? Odd. Most odd.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Feb 17, 06:49:35