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Tony left the Bees on March 16th but the damage was already done. The Bees were 16th in the league with 7 games left and no confidence. In the 18 appearances he made in 4 months in charge he scored 10 times and led the Bees to 7 wins 3 draws and 14 defeats.
The wanker told the press on leaving:
"This has been a fantastic learning curve for me, and my experience with Barnet will stand me in good stead for the future."
"This has been a fantastic learning curve for me, and my experience with Barnet will stand me in good stead for the future."
Tony Co**ee has been called the second worst manager of the 90s by Dale Johnson of ESPN Soccernet. Tony did well to beat Kevin Keegan when he was England manager and Steve Wigley. Dale said on the list "It's a list which brings together the bad and the downright terrible. The likes of the infamous Christian Gross and the somewhat lesser known achievements of one Gordon Hill of Chester City manage to escape our list of shame.
Some you will remember well, others will be a flickering memory of football past. So as not to add further pain to those listed they come in alphabetical order - you can draw your own conclusions."
He wrote:
Tony Cottee (Barnet)
"Barnet felt they had pulled off something of a coup when persuading Tony Cottee to leave a decent playing contract at Norwich City to turn his hand to management in what was then the Third Division.
The Bees were looking up, intent on reaching at least the play-offs and booking a return to the Second Division. As with Barnes, it started so brilliantly.
In his first home match after taking over in November 2000 it was Blackpool who made the trip to Underhill. Cottee and Co dished out a 7-0 thrashing, with the boss himself scoring the opening goal. All seemed rosy... for one match.
Barnet won only two of their next ten games, including a 6-1 beating at Harlepool United. By the time Cottee left the club in mid-March they were all but relegated. He won only four League matches in what was a disastrous four-month spell in charge.
His record in all competitions was: Pld-25 Won-7 Drawn-3 Lost-15. And three of those victories came in the FA Cup First Round against Hampton & Richmond and in the LDV Vans Trophy.
They went down on the final day when they lost at home to Torquay United in a relegation shoot-out. It's taken four years for them to recover from Cottee's days in charge, finally winning promotion back to the Football League for the 2005/06 campaign."
The Bees were looking up, intent on reaching at least the play-offs and booking a return to the Second Division. As with Barnes, it started so brilliantly.
In his first home match after taking over in November 2000 it was Blackpool who made the trip to Underhill. Cottee and Co dished out a 7-0 thrashing, with the boss himself scoring the opening goal. All seemed rosy... for one match.
Barnet won only two of their next ten games, including a 6-1 beating at Harlepool United. By the time Cottee left the club in mid-March they were all but relegated. He won only four League matches in what was a disastrous four-month spell in charge.
His record in all competitions was: Pld-25 Won-7 Drawn-3 Lost-15. And three of those victories came in the FA Cup First Round against Hampton & Richmond and in the LDV Vans Trophy.
They went down on the final day when they lost at home to Torquay United in a relegation shoot-out. It's taken four years for them to recover from Cottee's days in charge, finally winning promotion back to the Football League for the 2005/06 campaign."
In the Bees game against Woking at Underhill on New years day in 2004 you could still see the hatred between Barnet fans and sh*thead. The games was shown live on Sky with Tony on the commentary team and during half time all around the ground started chants of "Cottee is a wanker" which I am told could be heard on Sky Sports. Tony was only beaten by John Barnes when he was manager of Celtic.
For the full article go to: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=336164&cc=5739
TONY'S RECORD AT BARNET FOOTBALL CLUB (THANK YOU TO FOXY) | ||||
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Anyway back to the Torquay game which came after a 3-2 defeat away at Blackpool the Bees were in bottom position and had the same points as Halifax Town and only one point away from Torquay United.
As I say at that point I wasn’t a huge Barnet fan having only been to that game but I waited in line for two hours but I still failed to get in to the game. I listened to the match on the radio and since then I have been a Barnet supporter.
As I say at that point I wasn’t a huge Barnet fan having only been to that game but I waited in line for two hours but I still failed to get in to the game. I listened to the match on the radio and since then I have been a Barnet supporter.
Match report:
A day after the 10th Anniversary for being in the Football League, Barnet FC got relegated back to the Conference. They were left cursing a penalty miss and an awful first half performance which allowed Torquay to go in 3-0 up at the break.
It was the same starting 11 that lost at Blackpool apart from Harrison replacing Naisbitt. The subs bench consisted on Toms, Gower, Bell. Naisbitt and Strevens.
All but the main stand was packed at 2pm as thousands were left outside unable to get in due to the poor decision by Kleanthous not to make the game all ticket. The problem though was Torquay out sung Barnet the whole time, the police as usual were useless and us lot standing right up against the Torquay fans had to put up with constant abuse and things thrown at us the whole time.
Due to the packed East Stand I couldn't see a thing up by the goal at the north stand. Barnet though never troubled it so although I made sure I saw the penalty I wasn't put out at all.
In the first minute Harrison got stretchered off with torn ligaments in the ankle and dropped Danny Naisbitt returned. After 10 minutes he was picking the ball out of the net.
Barnet failed to clear a free kick and Goodhind's shocking clearance fell to Jason Rees who smashed the ball home from 25 yards out. The Torquay fans were loving it as Bees fans could even tell this early that we were going out of the football league. Barnet couldn't string a pass together, Doolan was having an awful game for Barnet and when he doesn't perform, Barnet don't perform.
15 minutes later Torquay doubled their lead, a Paul Holmes' corner was met with a firm header by Kevin Hill and the ball flew into the top right-hand corner despite the best efforts of Sam Stockley to clear the ball off the line.
When Torquay weren't attacking the game was a non-event. Barnet however were thrown a life line late on in the first half. Jimmy Aggrey handled a throw in when tussling with Richards and there was no doubt at all, penalty!
Darren Currie stepped up but man of the match, Gull's keeper Jones guessed the right way and saved with ease!
Torquay went up the other end and scored straight away, retaining their place in the football league for yet another year.
A break down the left saw Richard Kell deliver a perfect cross for David Graham, to firstly see Lee Flynn fall over, then smash the ball into the roof of the net.
Gower and Toms came on at half time to replace the ineffective Brown and the hopeless Flynn as it was all out attack for Barnet.
Barnet dominated possession but couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. There were opportunities but Barnet still lacked shots on target. Doolan fluffed chance after chance smashing the ball into the park behind the South Stand for fun!
Finally in the 60th minute a Currie cross was headed in, past his own keeper by Ryan Green. A glimmer of hope.
Barnet still missed chances as a 20 yard Stockley drive was brilliantly turned behind by Jones. Currie and Gower were instrumental in every Barnet attack although for some reason John Still didn't bring on Strevens.
In the last 15 minutes Jones dropped a cross and Heald poked the ball over the line. It should have been a foul but the referee who was poor through out allowed the goal to stand.
One more quick goal and the Bees were back in it. Sadly that didn't come and Gull's ancient Striker Gayle missed many chances after being put through.
Atleast the Bees female fans had some fun with 2 male streakers running on much to the annoyance of Heald and Naisbitt as the ball was robbed from under his feet.
It was too little too late as the stupid, unable police officers allowed Torquay fans to continue their celebrations onto the pitch which really rubbed it in.
The players quickly ran into the changing rooms and whether we will ever see the likes of Currie, Stockley, Doolan, Arber and Harrison again is very unlikely.
Barnet didn't deserve to win as the fact that they can only ever perform for 1 half has cost the Bees their place in Division 3. But what do they care? They will just all bugger off to bigger clubs and forget about Barnet. Whether Tony Kleanthous will stay is highly debatable as is the fact whether Barnet FC can survive or not.
It's time for a clearout, hopefully we will sign some new players who actually give a shit and want to play for Barnet Football Club, not just for themselves.
Congratulations Torquay
Happy Anniversary! Anyone believe in fate??
Team..............................
1. Lee Harrison
2. Sam Stockley
4. Lee Flynn
5. Greg Heald (c)
6. Mark Arber
12. Warren Goodhind
19. Danny Brown
11. Darren Currie
8. John Doolan
25. Wayne Purser
29. Tony Richards
Subs..............................
13. Danny Naisbitt
16. Mark Gower
17. Ben Strevens
20. Frazer Toms
21. Leon Bell
A day after the 10th Anniversary for being in the Football League, Barnet FC got relegated back to the Conference. They were left cursing a penalty miss and an awful first half performance which allowed Torquay to go in 3-0 up at the break.
It was the same starting 11 that lost at Blackpool apart from Harrison replacing Naisbitt. The subs bench consisted on Toms, Gower, Bell. Naisbitt and Strevens.
All but the main stand was packed at 2pm as thousands were left outside unable to get in due to the poor decision by Kleanthous not to make the game all ticket. The problem though was Torquay out sung Barnet the whole time, the police as usual were useless and us lot standing right up against the Torquay fans had to put up with constant abuse and things thrown at us the whole time.
Due to the packed East Stand I couldn't see a thing up by the goal at the north stand. Barnet though never troubled it so although I made sure I saw the penalty I wasn't put out at all.
In the first minute Harrison got stretchered off with torn ligaments in the ankle and dropped Danny Naisbitt returned. After 10 minutes he was picking the ball out of the net.
Barnet failed to clear a free kick and Goodhind's shocking clearance fell to Jason Rees who smashed the ball home from 25 yards out. The Torquay fans were loving it as Bees fans could even tell this early that we were going out of the football league. Barnet couldn't string a pass together, Doolan was having an awful game for Barnet and when he doesn't perform, Barnet don't perform.
15 minutes later Torquay doubled their lead, a Paul Holmes' corner was met with a firm header by Kevin Hill and the ball flew into the top right-hand corner despite the best efforts of Sam Stockley to clear the ball off the line.
When Torquay weren't attacking the game was a non-event. Barnet however were thrown a life line late on in the first half. Jimmy Aggrey handled a throw in when tussling with Richards and there was no doubt at all, penalty!
Darren Currie stepped up but man of the match, Gull's keeper Jones guessed the right way and saved with ease!
Torquay went up the other end and scored straight away, retaining their place in the football league for yet another year.
A break down the left saw Richard Kell deliver a perfect cross for David Graham, to firstly see Lee Flynn fall over, then smash the ball into the roof of the net.
Gower and Toms came on at half time to replace the ineffective Brown and the hopeless Flynn as it was all out attack for Barnet.
Barnet dominated possession but couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. There were opportunities but Barnet still lacked shots on target. Doolan fluffed chance after chance smashing the ball into the park behind the South Stand for fun!
Finally in the 60th minute a Currie cross was headed in, past his own keeper by Ryan Green. A glimmer of hope.
Barnet still missed chances as a 20 yard Stockley drive was brilliantly turned behind by Jones. Currie and Gower were instrumental in every Barnet attack although for some reason John Still didn't bring on Strevens.
In the last 15 minutes Jones dropped a cross and Heald poked the ball over the line. It should have been a foul but the referee who was poor through out allowed the goal to stand.
One more quick goal and the Bees were back in it. Sadly that didn't come and Gull's ancient Striker Gayle missed many chances after being put through.
Atleast the Bees female fans had some fun with 2 male streakers running on much to the annoyance of Heald and Naisbitt as the ball was robbed from under his feet.
It was too little too late as the stupid, unable police officers allowed Torquay fans to continue their celebrations onto the pitch which really rubbed it in.
The players quickly ran into the changing rooms and whether we will ever see the likes of Currie, Stockley, Doolan, Arber and Harrison again is very unlikely.
Barnet didn't deserve to win as the fact that they can only ever perform for 1 half has cost the Bees their place in Division 3. But what do they care? They will just all bugger off to bigger clubs and forget about Barnet. Whether Tony Kleanthous will stay is highly debatable as is the fact whether Barnet FC can survive or not.
It's time for a clearout, hopefully we will sign some new players who actually give a shit and want to play for Barnet Football Club, not just for themselves.
Congratulations Torquay
Happy Anniversary! Anyone believe in fate??
Team..............................
1. Lee Harrison
2. Sam Stockley
4. Lee Flynn
5. Greg Heald (c)
6. Mark Arber
12. Warren Goodhind
19. Danny Brown
11. Darren Currie
8. John Doolan
25. Wayne Purser
29. Tony Richards
Subs..............................
13. Danny Naisbitt
16. Mark Gower
17. Ben Strevens
20. Frazer Toms
21. Leon Bell
The above report was written by Daniel Fox on November 5th, 2001 for his website at the Beesbeesbees.com.
