Silverhatch
Well-known member
Took a thoroughly (and rightly) deflated team and squad after Boro/Massive and got us to the Premier League the very next season and then kept us there for two campaigns. Wonderful ambassador for the club too.
Took us from being a rabble that was struggling to stay in The Championship, to playing some fantastic football on our way to Promotion, only a goalkeeping slip away from being CHAMPIONS.
Then with a squad everyone was tipping to go straight back down, a lack of that "new striker" we were all craving, he delivered survival in both years in the top flight without ever dipping into the relegation zone (bar the early tables that when I was a kid, never even used to get published).
That 1st season we finished 15th, and never even looked over our shoulders at the scramble beneath us. Home wins vs Man Utd and Arsenal, then a draw with Tottenham, and we had arrived.
Then despite very damaging injuries to key attacking threats, Gross and Izquierdo we again racked up results that had us sailing away in untroubled mid-table waters. Such a good 1st half of the season that we were able to ride out the choppy waters, and again steady the ship sufficiently for survival without ever dipping our toes in the icy waters of the bottom three.
All of this achieved with a calm grace, and professionalism that put our club in a fantastic light. While others sneer and snare, blame refs, boot water bottles and even head butt the odd player (Alan Pardew, I'm talking about you!) before taking a fine and blaming the "passion" of the game, Chris realises that as the manager, you are the face of the club. You are supposed to be setting an example for the players to follow. In Chris we had a perfect example being set, he was always dignified, and yet you could still see the anger was there, the passion was there.
A great man, a great manager, and his achievements have him right up there, top of the pile for me, as the best manager we have EVER had.
Blimey, do we really need this thread?
Absolutely superb fella. I was always very proud that he was our manager.
Produced the best football I have seen us play.
The promotion season was incredible, especially considering the despair at the end of the previous one.
Hopefully Potter can emulate some of Chris's success.
He bought a professionalism and calmness to the entire football business of the club. He typically got the best out of players and we had far more highs than we did lows. Beating ManUtd after drawing with Arsenal in that first season in the PL was a highlight for me, then putting 3 past them in the first half this season was brilliant. Who can forget the Palace at home fixture either this season, fantastic memories.
Probably - you decided that you needed to have some input, so in that case the answer is yes.
Absolutely spot on.
My view entirely. However... "ONE of the most successful"? CH was responsible for THE most successful period in the club's history. Ever. And that is Chris Hughton's rightful, enduring legacy.