Squad numbers

[Bergen Blade]

Why don't we make them related to positions again?


Using this system:

1 Goalkeeper​

2 Right back​

3 Left back​

4 Central midfield​

5 Centre half​

6 Centre half​

7 Right midfield​

8 Central midfield​

9 Striker (target man)​

10 Striker​

11 Left midfield​

​

​

​

12 Right back​

13 Left back​

14 Central midfield​

15 Centre half​

16 Centre half​

17 Right midfield​

18 Central midfield​

19 Striker (target man)​

20 Striker​

21 Left midfield​

​

etc

Reserve goalkeepers would have to make do with 61 or something as the numbers ending with 1 would be reserved for left wingers.

Always number 6: Paul Beesley

 

[StarBlade]

Agree with your sentiment, but the prima donnas at FA headquarters and the egos within any team would rule supreme.

Striker #20 might not be happy that he's not striker #9, and we can't have that as he may be upset. And our fans might not know the difference between some of our players, so they need numbers, not eyes to know the difference.

Haven't seen a picture of Beesley for such a long time, thanks. Remember when we used to have a team of United players rather than a team of players who played for United? Ahhh happy days!

 

[Darren]

Why don't we make them related to positions again?


Using this system:

1 Goalkeeper​

2 Right back​

3 Left back​

4 Central midfield​

5 Centre half​

6 Centre half​

7 Right midfield​

8 Central midfield​

9 Striker (target man)​

10 Striker​

11 Left midfield​

​

​

​

12 Right back​

13 Left back​

14 Central midfield​

15 Centre half​

16 Centre half​

17 Right midfield​

18 Central midfield​

19 Striker (target man)​

20 Striker​

21 Left midfield​

​

etc

Reserve goalkeepers would have to make do with 61 or something as the numbers ending with 1 would be reserved for left wingers.

Always number 6: Paul Beesley

Except that the only time Beesley played for United in a season we had squad numbers (93-94), he was no. 16

 

[Torrix1889]

You've got far too much time on your hands Berg

 

[SotonBlade]

Agree with you're first 11, but the rest i'd have like this:

12 Defender
13 Goalkeeper
14 Defender
15 Defender
16 Midfielder
17 Midfielder
18 Striker
19 Striker
20 Defender
21 Defender
Always add the 2 numbers together so 14 is 5, 19 is 10 etc. And reserve keeper ALWAYS 13

 

[thevoot]

I remember one year in the early 90's Charlton allocated their squad numbers in alphabetical order to stop any player thinking they were/weren't first choice. Stuart Balmer, a defender, wore No. 1 all season. I don't know if a rule was made to stop that later on, or if everyone just thought it was a bit shit, but it hasn't been repeated.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Except that the only time Beesley played for United in a season we had squad numbers (93-94), he was no. 16

Still - a centre half number according to my system! Were Gayle and Tuttle 5 and 6?

 

[Darren]

Still - a centre half number according to my system! Were Gayle and Tuttle 5 and 6?

Gayle was 5, Tuttle 14. David Barnes was 6.

1. Kelly
2. Gage
3. Cowan
4. Gannon
5. Gayle
6. Barnes
7. Carr
8. Rogers
9. Littlejohn
10. Hodges
11. Ward
12. Flo
13. Tracey
14. Tuttle
15. Hartfield
16. Beesley
17. Bradshaw
18. Whitehouse
19. Falconer
20. Pemberton
21. Cork
22. Scott
23. Kamara
24. Wirmola
25. Reed
26. Hoyland
27. Davison
28. -
29. -
30. Blake
31. Bibbo
32. -
33. Nilsen

 

[super_pig]

KMac should get the 10 shirt.. it is a statement of intent.

 

[Houso]

Sal fucking Bibbo.

There's a blast from the past.

 

[Houso]

Highlighted players that would get into our current side...

Mind you, our central defence is quite strong, so not sure Tutts and Wirmola would actually sneak in.

Gayle was 5, Tuttle 14. David Barnes was 6.

1. Kelly
2. Gage
3. Cowan
4. Gannon
5. Gayle
6. Barnes
7. Carr
8. Rogers
9. Littlejohn
10. Hodges
11. Ward
12. Flo
13. Tracey
14. Tuttle
15. Hartfield
16. Beesley
17. Bradshaw
18. Whitehouse
19. Falconer
20. Pemberton
21. Cork
22. Scott
23. Kamara
24. Wirmola
25. Reed
26. Hoyland
27. Davison
28. -
29. -
30. Blake
31. Bibbo
32. -
33. Nilsen

 

[mattbianco1]

Highlighted players that would get into our current side...

Mind you, our central defence is quite strong, so not sure Tutts and Wirmola would actually sneak in.

Nilsen would get in any united side. Best player EVER!

 

[mattbianco1]

As it stands then, who gets the numbers with the squad we have.

I think it's like this:

1. Howard
2. McMahon
3. Jean Francois
4. Montgomery
5. Maguire
6. Collins
7. McDonald
8. Doyle
9. Cofie
10. Miller
11. Flynn
12. ..
13. Long
14. .
15. .
16. .
17. Cresswell
18. .
19. .
20. .
21. .
22. .
23. .
24. .
25. .
26. .
27. .
28. Quinn

Then fill in the blanks

 

[oaklandrdblade]

I remember one year in the early 90's Charlton allocated their squad numbers in alphabetical order to stop any player thinking they were/weren't first choice. Stuart Balmer, a defender, wore No. 1 all season. I don't know if a rule was made to stop that later on, or if everyone just thought it was a bit shit, but it hasn't been repeated.

Argentina did the same at the World Cup in 1982 (I think) and Ardiles wore number 1

 

[Darren]

Highlighted players that would get into our current side...

Mind you, our central defence is quite strong, so not sure Tutts and Wirmola would actually sneak in.

Most of those players held their own at the top level for at leats 3-4 years. I find it strange that you say people like Gannon, Gayle, Pemberton, Besesley and Littlejohn at their peak (8 goals in the PL in 92-93 lets not forget) would not get in a 3rd division team.

 

[Darren]

Argentina did the same at the World Cup in 1982 (I think) and Ardiles wore number 1

That was 1978. They did almost the same in 82, but gave the goalies 1, 12 and 22 (I think) and Maradona 10.

Pedantry c'est moi

 

[Houso]

Most of those players held their own at the top level for at leats 3-4 years. I find it strange that you say people like Gannon, Gayle, Pemberton, Besesley and Littlejohn at their peak (8 goals in the PL in 92-93 lets not forget) would not get in a 3rd division team.

Because I feel that football has essentially improved a fair deal since those days and the players you list were very much a means to an end insofar as our style at the time.

I also think that like for like, we have better or at least as good as players in all of the positions you allude to there.

 

[stannyblade]

As it stands then, who gets the numbers with the squad we have.

I think it's like this:

1. Howard
2. McMahon
3. Jean Francois
4. Montgomery
5. Maguire
6. Collins
7. McDonald
8. Doyle
9. Cofie
10. Miller
11. Flynn
12. ..
13. Long
14. .
15. .
16. .
17. Cresswell
18. .
19. .
20. .
21. .
22. .
23. .
24. .
25. .
26. .
27. .
28. Quinn

Then fill in the blanks

Think Porter has been given the no9 shirt

 

[Darren]

Because I feel that football has essentially improved a fair deal since those days and the players you list were very much a means to an end insofar as our style at the time.

I also think that like for like, we have better or at least as good as players in all of the positions you allude to there.

Fair point, but I don't think it has improved to the extent that PL players 20 years ago could not get in a 3rd division team now.

 

[Gareth]

Ohhh I love squad number time on Football Manger, I always follow one system

1. FT Keeper
2. FT Right Back
3. FT Left Back
4. FT Defensive Midfielder
5. Rough Centre Back (usually captain)
6. Passing Centre Back
7. FT Right Winger
8. Ball Playing midfielder
9. Goal scoring striker
10. Clogger striker
11. FT Left Winger
12. Second Right Back
13. Second GK
14. Winger
15. Centre Back
16. Centre Back
17. Ball winning centre mid
18. Creative Centre mid
19. Striker
20. Attacking Centre Mid
21. Second Left Winger
22.-30. Various slots
32. My something special, a player who can create something from nothing. Usually starts on the bench but gets his chance to shine every now and then.

 

[Kenilworth]

There was a Dutch golakeeper in the 78 World cup that had the number 8 shirt.
Was the first time I had ever seen that sort of odd numbering but was probably the first time that squad numbers were used in that way - normally, at leastin domestic football, the shirt was given to the player on the team sheet, they didn't "own" it so 1-11 were always the numbers (plus 1 sub wearing 12) whoever wore them

Cue Darren to prove me wrong 'cos he is the oracle and I am too lazy to a) commit this shit to memory and b) not anal enough to research it

 

[Houso]

Fair point, but I don't think it has improved to the extent that PL players 20 years ago could not get in a 3rd division team now.

And yep, that's a fair point too. In fact, I had potentially more from that side in the starting 11 than the current lot. Just not in the positions I point out.

Of the players you highlight, I suppose Gannon may have pushed out Doyle, but that's a stretch. I think McMahon will prove better than Pembo. Both Collins and Maguire are better than Gayle and Beesley. And Adie Littlejohn was pace and little else; I could never have imagined him scoring the goal Cofie did last night though I know he scored a couple of good uns... especially the one from pretty much on the byline against Liverpool was it?

 

[JohnDenver]

Both Collins and Maguire are better than Gayle and Beesley. ?

My vote goes the other way on that ballot paper.

 

[Darren]

There was a Dutch golakeeper in the 78 World cup that had the number 8 shirt.
Was the first time I had ever seen that sort of odd numbering but was probably the first time that squad numbers were used in that way - normally, at leastin domestic football, the shirt was given to the player on the team sheet, they didn't "own" it so 1-11 were always the numbers (plus 1 sub wearing 12) whoever wore them

Cue Darren to prove me wrong 'cos he is the oracle and I am too lazy to a) commit this shit to memory and b) not anal enough to research it

I think that was Jan Jongbloed

There had always been squad numbers in the World Cup and they were introduced into the PL in 1993, the FL following suit in 1999.

 

[Houso]

My vote goes the other way on that ballot paper.

Bees I may be being harsh on, but I never rated Brian Owen Gary Gayle.

I was very much a Tuttle and Wirmola fan boy mind.

 

[JohnDenver]

Bees I may be being harsh on, but I never rated Brian Owen Gary Gayle.

I'll grant you old Brian was not picked for his football ability.

A Bassett warrior.

 

[sheffielder]

You'll never beat Paul Beesley, he was the best I have seen until the back pass law changed then it went all a bit wrong!

 

[super_pig]

I think that was Jan Jongbloed

isn't he the guy that wore kneepads?? the ten shirt should always go to the best player, usually a forward or attacking midfielder.. i preferred it when numbers reflected the position.. back in the day you didn't say 'i'm going to play right wing'.. you said 'i'm going to play number 7'

 

[mattbianco1]

As it stands then, who gets the numbers with the squad we have.

I think it's like this:

1. Howard TICK
2. McMahon XXX
3. Jean Francois TICK
4. Montgomery TICK
5. Maguire TICK
6. Collins XXX
7. McDonald [got him and flynn mixed up]
8. Doyle TICK
9. Cofie XXX
10. Miller XXX
11. Flynn [got him and macca mixed up]
12. ..
13. Long XXX
14. .
15. .
16. .
17. Cresswell TICK
18. .
19. .
20. .
21. .
22. .
23. .
24. .
25. .
26. .
27. .
28. Quinn TICK

Then fill in the blanks

I'm so clever

 

[Kev Gee]

Typical Bergen Blade. Even has thought through the squad numbers.