Blades Scapegoats

[coaxingstar71]

Dont think he got any stick or booing from the fans when he was playing for us until just after he missed that penalty (which was in the last minute of his last game for us) as he played quite well for us and scored 3 goals in 11 league matches.

And then didn't he quickly leave the country, to resurface playing in Switzerland for Neuchatel Xamax?

 

[CarlingBlade]

Started going to matches regularly in 1988 and must have been overawed as a young lad at the Lane but never really heard and shagging off of players, might have also coincided with back to back promotions and 6 seasons in the top flight. However I started getting cynical as I got older and love a good scapegoat, over the years I've hated players for just being plain terrible but in recent years the following have made the scapegoat list;
Paul Thirlwell
Jostein Flo
Alan Cork
Brian Howard
Darius Henderson
Stephen Quinn
Paul Coutts (has he signed?)

 

[Silent Blade]

And then didn't he quickly leave the country, to resurface playing in Switzerland for Neuchatel Xamax?

Yes he did

 

[coaxingstar71]

Started going to matches regularly in 1988 and must have been overawed as a young lad at the Lane but never really heard and shagging off of players, might have also coincided with back to back promotions and 6 seasons in the top flight. However I started getting cynical as I got older and love a good scapegoat, over the years I've hated players for just being plain terrible but in recent years the following have made the scapegoat list;
Paul Thirlwell
Jostein Flo
Alan Cork
Brian Howard
Darius Henderson
Stephen Quinn
Paul Coutts (has he signed?)

My Carling, you take your scapegoating to another level, but I simply can't condone the 'shagging of players' - that's just taking things a bit too far!

 

[coaxingstar71]

Yes he did

It wouldn't surprise me if some blade made the trip over to Switzerland just to boo Givens.

 

[Lane Ender]

John Gannon was quality - Anyone who gets the chance have a look at his delivery of a free kick or corner - First Class !!!
He was a top player yet often got criticised by the crowd - how I wish we had a player like him today !

I too couldn't get that with Gannon did exactly what Bassett asked of him broke up play,made himself available and a good passer of a ball.

 

[CarlingBlade]

My Carling, you take your scapegoating to another level, but I simply can't condone the 'shagging of players' - that's just taking things a bit too far!

Ooops!!!

 

[CarlingBlade]

I too couldn't get that with Gannon did exactly what Bassett asked of him broke up play,made himself available and a good passer of a ball.

Gannon had an excellent delivery of freekicks and corners, he was good on the ball and complimented others in the team who were probably viewed as grafters.

He'd walk into today's side.

 

[Gin&Juice]

I remember Jack Lester or someone getting subbed off for Wayne Allison while trailing a game and all hell broke loose. I can remember Radio Sheffield having a pop at the fans for booing what they thought was blatent targeting of Huddersfields favourite son.
My favourite though was when some angry fan called up Radio Sheffield to urge fans to lay off Keith Gillespie as he had misconstrued Keeef for boo's, "WHATS HE DONE OTHER THAN LAY ON DELICIOUS CROSSES? STOP BEING SO FICKLE BLADES" . Was quickly corrected.

 

[Silent Blade]

Gannon had an excellent delivery of freekicks and corners, he was good on the ball and complimented others in the team who were probably viewed as grafters.

He'd walk into today's side.

Not in my side. he was a good reader of the game and delivers nice passes but he was too weak and too slow

 

[sitwell]

I'm old enough Bos, and I can recall McGovern as exactly the type of player you're describing. He was busy, didn't care about anything other than acting as that glue that kept everything together and functioning as Clough would have wanted. He could be niggly, question everything, he was never the fanciest of players, but what he managed to do was take the spirit of his manager onto the pitch and ensure that his teammates always knew what was expected of them. It was at Forest that Clough and McGovern enjoyed their most successful period together, but it was built on a foundation that had been built over many years prior to the success they both enjoyed while at the City Ground.

I know McGovern quite well ,got to know him when he did a gents evening for us ,and even came and coached the team I had at the time. His relationship with Clough and his career are bizzare. He and Clough snr didn't associate at all outside football but Clough took him everywhere from Derby to Leeds to Forest and of course he had unparalleled success. So much for academies ,he never even kicked a ball let alone played in a team until he was 15 years old ,18 months later he was playing for Hartlepool. Despite all his success with the title at Derby and Forest and European cup winning captain twice with Forest he never won a cap for Scotland which I thought was due to the way Clough used his style in his formation ,but John says was due to Scotland having top class midfielders at the time ,Souness ,Gemmill ,Hartford ,Masson , Rioch ,Strachan ,Wark and both Bremners ,he never got a look in.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I know McGovern quite well ,got to know him when he did a gents evening for us ,and even came and coached the team I had at the time. His relationship with Clough and his career are bizzare. He and Clough snr didn't associate at all outside football but Clough took him everywhere from Derby to Leeds to Forest and of course he had unparalleled success. So much for academies ,he never even kicked a ball let alone played in a team until he was 15 years old ,18 months later he was playing for Hartlepool. Despite all his success with the title at Derby and Forest and European cup winning captain twice with Forest he never won a cap for Scotland which I thought was due to the way Clough used his style in his formation ,but John says was due to Scotland having top class midfielders at the time ,Souness ,Gemmill ,Hartford ,Masson , Rioch ,Strachan ,Wark and both Bremners ,he never got a look in.

At the time Souness was playing I thought he was more or less everything you'd look for in a midfield general, certainly for Liverpool he commanded those around him and his passing was about as good as anyone I've seen. Yes, he could be a nasty piece of work, but his passion was second to none. Strachan, although different, was a class player, as were Gemmill and Bremner. So I can see why McGovern might struggle to make an impact at international level. The thing is, JM was never one of those players you'd refer to as game changing. His role was far more industrial, yet just as important, and I recall a player who gave his all.

So perhaps the happy marriage that was McGovern joining Clough was the reason McGovern had such a great career. Clough's ability to read a player was peerless, and he knew that to make a machine run smoothly it took all sorts of cogs to contribute to it's effectiveness.

 

[sitwell]

At the time Souness was playing I thought he was more or less everything you'd look for in a midfield general, certainly for Liverpool he commanded those around him and his passing was about as good as anyone I've seen. Yes, he could be a nasty piece of work, but his passion was second to none. Strachan, although different, was a class player, as were Gemmill and Bremner. So I can see why McGovern might struggle to make an impact at international level. The thing is, JM was never one of those players you'd refer to as game changing. His role was far more industrial, yet just as important, and I recall a player who gave his all.

So perhaps the happy marriage that was McGovern joining Clough was the reason McGovern had such a great career. Clough's ability to read a player was peerless, and he knew that to make a machine run smoothly it took all sorts of cogs to contribute to it's effectiveness.

He did tell me Masson was the best surprisingly ,but you are right he was the catalyst for 'more talented' players to play ,Oneill ,Robertson and Gemmill mainly.

 

[itsinyerblood]

He did tell me Masson was the best surprisingly ,but you are right he was the catalyst for 'more talented' players to play ,Oneill ,Robertson and Gemmill mainly.

What I recall is at that time Liverpool were the team, and that they had great players all over the pitch, none more so than Souness. Of all the players mentioned it was Souness who was the most successful. I loved Gemmill, a right terrier of a player who had great football intelligence, and the 'fat' lad on the wing wasn't bad either - people go on about Baxter's physique now, they ought to take a look at Robertson then!

 

[CarlingBlade]

Not in my side. he was a good reader of the game and delivers nice passes but he was too weak and too slow

I'd still have him over baxter or doyle.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

At the time Souness was playing I thought he was more or less everything you'd look for in a midfield general, certainly for Liverpool he commanded those around him and his passing was about as good as anyone I've seen. Yes, he could be a nasty piece of work, but his passion was second to none. Strachan, although different, was a class player, as were Gemmill and Bremner. So I can see why McGovern might struggle to make an impact at international level. The thing is, JM was never one of those players you'd refer to as game changing. His role was far more industrial, yet just as important, and I recall a player who gave his all.

So perhaps the happy marriage that was McGovern joining Clough was the reason McGovern had such a great career. Clough's ability to read a player was peerless, and he knew that to make a machine run smoothly it took all sorts of cogs to contribute to it's effectiveness.

There was one midfielder from Sheffield , with ginger hair , who Clough signed , then said , he couldn't trap a bag of cement , if he tried.

UTB

 

[itsinyerblood]

There was one midfielder from Sheffield , with ginger hair , who Clough signed , then said , he couldn't trap a bag of cement , if he tried.

UTB

Ouch!.....but true

 

[super_pig]

I think ever since I started supporting going to Blades games, there's always been one player in the team that gets generally picked on by the fans, in some instances it has lead to managers commenting and fans booing their own player.

usually the crappest player who doesn't merit being in the team. it is easy to not be the scapegoat. IMPROVE..
btw i never boo the shirt. but i retain the right to criticise some players who don't seem much better than many watching from/ the stand.. ooh.. runs around a lot. this is football. not marathon

 

[coaxingstar71]

Bought Cloughie's (the real one) autobiography from a charity shop the other day which I intend to read on holiday but thought I'd flick through to a certain point when we consigned them to relegation in Cloughie's last home game...

"Suddenly, after the 2nd goal went in, Sheffield United's supporter, those lovely people from Yorkshire, set up the chant: 'Brian Clough, Brian Clough, Brian Clough... ' The Forest fans joined in so that, standing there in the familiar old green sweatshirt, I was singled out as the centre of attention for more than 26,000 people." "There was kindness in the air from the United fans, when we might have expected sarcasm". - just shows the class of our fans.

 

[alcoblade]

What I recall is at that time Liverpool were the team, and that they had great players all over the pitch, none more so than Souness. Of all the players mentioned it was Souness who was the most successful. I loved Gemmill, a right terrier of a player who had great football intelligence, and the 'fat' lad on the wing wasn't bad either - people go on about Baxter's physique now, they ought to take a look at Robertson then!

Robertson would really struggle in the modern game.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

Bought Cloughie's (the real one) autobiography from a charity shop the other day which I intend to read on holiday but thought I'd flick through to a certain point when we consigned them to relegation in Cloughie's last home game...

"Suddenly, after the 2nd goal went in, Sheffield United's supporter, those lovely people from Yorkshire, set up the chant: 'Brian Clough, Brian Clough, Brian Clough... ' The Forest fans joined in so that, standing there in the familiar old green sweatshirt, I was singled out as the centre of attention for more than 26,000 people." "There was kindness in the air from the United fans, when we might have expected sarcasm". - just shows the class of our fans.

I was there and it was quite moving ,he gave us the thumbs up ,I remember his face was a bit of a mess at the time. All time hero of mine ,I think he and Paisley are the greatest managers for different reasons.

 

[sitwell]

Robertson would really struggle in the modern game.

UTB

Andy reid is comparable.

 

[alcoblade]

Andy reid is comparable.

Don't you think that Andy Reid is actually a fair runner? A fat git I concede, but I always thought he'd got an engine.

UTB

 

[BushBlade]

Andy reid is comparable.

Barely had a career compared to Robertson. You could argue that if he'd been around forty years ago he'd have played for clubs that won stuff.

Charlie Adam's another throwback. As is our own budding Robin Friday, Fatty Baxter.

 

[LSF]

Barely had a career compared to Robertson. You could argue that if he'd been around forty years ago he'd have played for clubs that won stuff.

Charlie Adam's another throwback. As is our own budding Robin Friday, Fatty Baxter.

Interesting debate on the rotund footballers.
Robertson was one of my favourite players late 70s/early 80s. I loved his appearance of unkempt slovenly obesity making that yard on a fit as fuck full back and delivering a killer ball/ shot. As I was built similarly, I modelled my game on his.. LoL!
But seriously, I agree with Alco that JR in his fat prime would struggle in today's game. Maybe why I preferred what I saw back in the day compared to today's game based on cancelling each other out.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Football seems to cause memory loss. A player can be brilliant for two years and have six months of bad form. That's all it takes for them to become the proverbial scapegoat.

 

[Aston max]

The only "S" word I associated with Monty was SHIT

This is the last time I will say this I used to watch monty at junior level and his passing ability was second to none but he still combined it with coverage on the pitch (high energy game ) but a certain knob of a manager born in Birley knocked the passing out of him now a guy who played over 400 game's for the club deserves a bit of respect (nuff said )

 

[Pinchy]

This is the last time I will say this I used to watch monty at junior level and his passing ability was second to none but he still combined it with coverage on the pitch (high energy game ) but a certain knob of a manager born in Birley knocked the passing out of him now a guy who played over 400 game's for the club deserves a bit of respect (nuff said )

What sort of respect? pretending he was anything but a truly appalling footballer?

No thanks. That's hypocrisy, not respect. It's the same warped thinking that makes one unpopular for noticing the awkward truth that "Morgs" isn't a great coach and not counting the hours until the wonderfully blessed day he becomes our manager. Same goes for Brian Deane, by the way.

 

[bartman]

usually the crappest player who doesn't merit being in the team

You mean like Quinn,Flynn, Tonge etc

 

[super_pig]

You mean like Quinn,Flynn, Tonge etc

exactly