The 98/99 season has drawn to a close, and Roy Evans is being hailed as some sort of guru. Here’s how the final months of 98/99 panned out.
Transfer Window
The March deadline arrives and Man Utd have one final push at retaining their title by signing this legend, but will it be enough to see off Liverpool and Blackburn?
League Cup
The first silverware of the domestic season (forget about the Charity Shield) goes to Evans’ men, with a comfortable 2-0 win over 1st Divison Middlesbrough. Simon Bochenski, signed from the lower leagues, nets at Wembley which is a mighty rise to stardom.
Liverpool are still competing on two other fronts, but they have assembled a squad that has strength in depth (and Gordon Durie)
FA Cup
I’ve got to fancy my chances of getting to Wembley but my Wimbledon team come unstuck in extra time after a 2-2 draw, ending up losing 4-2 to Martin O’Neill’s Leicester. Liverpool meanwhile reach a second final and will be strong favourites to win the cup…
…which they do with a narrow win over Leicester
It’s two out of two for Evans but can he finally bring the Premier League title to Anfield?
Premier League
Blackburn are coming on strong as we saw in the previous update, Keegan’s attacking style landing some heavy blows
However, it’s not enough and the title heads to Merseyside for the first time by one point – a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa seals it for Liverpool.
My form with Wimbledon tailed off badly after the semi final, winning only once in the remaining 12 games. Devine, who now captains Ireland for some reason, had a goal drought and Nevland wasn’t much better. Nobody is keen to join Wimbledon so I’m officially seeking new challenges, though keeping the job on until I can jump ship.
Another manager who fancies a change is Neville Southall, ashamed of his Stoke side’s pathetic attempt to stay up. Southampton aren’t much better, but Bolton put up a big fight to no avail
3 wins all season leads to Nev packing his bags
Europe
Real Madrid dominate La Liga, losing only 2 games all season on their way to 96 points, whilst PSG win the French League. The Champions League semi-finals throw up an all French affair, which Monaco sneak on penalties
Man Utd miss out on playing in their own final as it’s held at Old Trafford, but Barcelona prevail on the night against Monaco, despite Barthez’s efforts
Middlesbrough win division 1 and are promoted along with Birmingham. Everton win the playoffs meaning they only suffer one season outside of the top flight. So, as the curtain comes down on another season, here are some awards
Robbie Fowler takes the golden boot again after another prolific season, firing Liverpool to all of the domestic titles.
Big Nev is available on a free transfer since his resignation from Stoke, but he’s 41 so he’ll almost certainly retire. Speaking of retiring, this legend calls it a day
He leaves Valencia having finished third in La Liga, established as the best of the rest after the big two.
However, it’s soon decision time as Auxerre offer me the job. Auxerre have just finished 4th in Ligue 1 – is it time to make good on my promise to take on the French League?
