David Weir

[Ollessendro]

Why not offer Weir a 3 year deal on a hefty wage? Why ruin the habbit of a life time. We can then field BT, Cresswell, Weir and Simmo and go for the team with the highest paid never been's.

Being serious, I don't see anything wrong with this. We need CB cover (presumably DW does not think Ertl is up to this) and his experience would not go a miss. I would be comfortable with him stepping in if Harry or Collins got injured. That is providing he is willing to take a very low salary. Anyone think this is the stickign point and why he doesn't have a contract. Could be that he is proving his fitness, but may also be that we're negotiating a deal. If he is willing to take a pay as you play short term contract then I am fine with this.

McGrath was one of the best defenders I have seen at the Lane. Pure world class. At 38, knees gone and nopt training he was easily the best player on the pitch for all those 12 games he played. We lost one of those. Had he been fit all season I am sure we'd have gone up automatic. Add Whitehouse not getting injured and us not selling our 2 best players being sold and I think you've got a potential title on your hands!?

 

[Balham]

I would have thought that Big Davey would be looking to continue his career in the game once he stops playing and we're probably getting a decent reputation for giving rookie coaches a chance.

I would also have thought that the finances are common knowledge at all levels and that everyone is working to the same budget: ie no big contracts to anyone.

 

[Silent Blade]

Whilst by all accounts McGrath was all but drinking his own urine by that stage, I was under the impression that the main reason he didn't play more for us was that the knee injury he got against QPR finished his career.

12 games, only 1 defeat, never went out of walking pace, yet the best reader of the game I have ever seen for us.

Stanley Matthews played for England at 42.

He also played in the Football League until just after his 50th birthday.

I think he played in a competitive game at the age of 70.

No, he finished in 1965 when he was 50 (FWIW the oldest player ever in the football league was 52, and that was a one off appearance by a manager in an injury crisis).

A friend of my Dad's saw him play in his last season for Stoke. He said that teams had such respect for Matthews at that stage that defenders were very careful not to foul him and he was given a bit more space on the wing than the winger on the opposite flank...

Neil McBain was the New Brighton manager that played in goal at the age of 52 when his team didnt have a recognised keeper for a match.

I think Matthews only played about 9 league games in the 1963/64 season and the Fulham home game on his 50th birthday was his only appearance in the 1964/65 season. I read a story about Ron "Chopper" Harris' bone crunching tackle on 48 year old Matthews (Matthews said in his autobiography that he was badly hurt) in the Chelsea v Stoke match in March or April 1963 (both Stoke and Chelsea gained promotion from div 2 at the end of the season). In the Chelsea dressing room after the game the players were telling Harris that his tackle on Matthews was "too robust". Harris replied saying "It wasnt my tackle that hurt him, it was his arthritis!"

 

[Muttley]

he's training with us , probably down to BT, so he must know what wage constraints we have.

 

[alcoblade]

As for "having our pants down"; I'd rather have a memorable 10 minutes from a world class 'escort', than a full night and lasting case of VD from a toothless prossie picked up from a gutter in Neepsend.

I'd rather have neither, if they're robbing the club.

UTB

---------- Post added at 07:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:51 PM ----------

Had he been fit

A small bit of text, but it really is the main issue and says alot about where football has gone wrong. He was a woefull signing that went badly wrong. Because somebody else paid the bill, the public remembers the class 5 minutes.

UTB

 

[ghandi]

Paul McGrath did not have our pants down. His contract was terminated when McGrath approached Spackers and asked to be released as he couldn't cope any more with his knees and personal problems. This is confirmed by McGrath in his autobiography.

 

[blade too long]

As for "having our pants down"; I'd rather have a memorable 10 minutes from a world class 'escort', than a full night and lasting case of VD from a toothless prossie picked up from a gutter in Neepsend.

You knew my mother then ?

 

[Ollessendro]

A small bit of text, but it really is the main issue and says alot about where football has gone wrong. He was a woefull signing that went badly wrong. Because somebody else paid the bill, the public remembers the class 5 minutes.

UTB

Sorry alco, but you are way out here. He was a gamble certainly, but not a bad signing. It did not work out, but United hardly lost out (as Ghandi points out). The results speak for themselves and I certainly remember him being excellent before retiring. His positional sense was immense and his reading of the game second to none. I remember him outjumping Pierre Van Hoijdonk and just maiking a total mockery of him. Class act. Juts a shame that his knees could not have lasted another 8 or 9 months.

Paul McGrath did not have our pants down. His contract was terminated when McGrath approached Spackers and asked to be released as he couldn't cope any more with his knees and personal problems. This is confirmed by McGrath in his autobiography.

Spot on Ghandi. The fragrance always remains with the had that gives a rose n all that It was unfortunate that he could just not carry on. Whatever we paid him (before his contract was terminated) he was worth it. Probably the best player I have seen in a United shirt.

 

[stannyblade]

Probably the best player I have seen in a United shirt.

Would agree that he was the best defender Ive seen maybe not the best all round player for us though

 

[Darren]

Out of interest, our oldest ever player was Albert Sturgess who made his last apperance when he was 42

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Sturgess

I think McCall is the second oldest and is, I believe, the oldest player to score a goal for the club (39 when he scored v Preston on 29/11/03).

 

[super_pig]

paul macgrath was one of the best players i've ever seen in the shirt.. some of the stuff he did without seeming to even make and effort used to have us laughing our heads off

 

[alcoblade]

Sorry alco, but you are way out here. He was a gamble certainly, but not a bad signing. It did not work out, but United hardly lost out (as Ghandi points out). The results speak for themselves and I certainly remember him being excellent before retiring. His positional sense was immense and his reading of the game second to none. I remember him outjumping Pierre Van Hoijdonk and just maiking a total mockery of him. Class act. Juts a shame that his knees could not have lasted another 8 or 9 months. .

So, if we paid him £1M for what ended up being 12 games, you wouldn't consider that a bad signing? I'd consider it an outright disaster. Truth is, we don't know what he cost, but you're confirming my belief that many maintain that just because he was "class", he was worth every penny (of someone elses money). I disagree.

UTB

 

[Slugger]

May have only been a few games but what a class act he was! The fact that he's still remembered fondly nearly 15 years later by most Blades speaks volumes. McGrath was the sort of player that stay at home fans would pay to come and see. Totally agree that he may made the difference had he stayed fit for another few months. He stood in the middle of a 3-man central defence and controlled everything around him.

If we're talking about money being wasted around McGrath's time I could mention Mark Beard or Nicky Marker or of course John Ebbrell.



Incidently McGrath now has an album out now. Now it is a waste of money.

 

[JohnDenver]

If we're talking about money being wasted around McGrath's time I could mention Mark Beard or Nicky Marker or of course John Ebbrell.

Do you mean former Player Of The Year, Nicky Marker? He was fabulous the season after.

 

[Slugger]

Never rated him. Thought he was Mike Lake in disguise! (but without the long range shot)

 

[judge]

i thought nicky marker was a great player

 

[Guesty]

Aye, Marker was quality until Bruce dropped him! Not sure where you've got that from.

 

[Pinchy]

We've had a lot worse than Mike Lake as well! One of them is currently a local hero.

 

[Ollessendro]

So, if we paid him £1M for what ended up being 12 games, you wouldn't consider that a bad signing? I'd consider it an outright disaster. Truth is, we don't know what he cost, but you're confirming my belief that many maintain that just because he was "class", he was worth every penny (of someone elses money). I disagree.

UTB

Clutching at straws now alco. One million?? So you're saying that he was on approximately 100k a week. A player in their twilight, coming to a second division club in the late 90's (before salaries went mad). I know McDonald had plenty of cash (or not) but don't be daft. What is this 'raping the club' based on?

 

[Jehovah]

Montys shit

 

[Darren]

Clutching at straws now alco. One million?? So you're saying that he was on approximately 100k a week. A player in their twilight, coming to a second division club in the late 90's (before salaries went mad). I know McDonald had plenty of cash (or not) but don't be daft. What is this 'raping the club' based on?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your maths is crap. £1 million a year would be £20K a week.

 

[stannyblade]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your maths is crap. £1 million a year would be £20K a week.

Yeah but he wasnt there for a year was he?

 

[Darren]

Yeah but he wasnt there for a year was he?

We signed him on a year's contract as far as I am aware.

 

[Muttley]

Only played about 12 games, then retired through injury. I would guess that insurance paid up his contract.

 

[Darren]

Only played about 12 games, then retired through injury. I would guess that insurance paid up his contract.

I am sure that a programme only publicly announcced his retirement in April, just before the end of the season. What evidnece do we have he retired earlier?

 

[raul]

I would guess .

Suggests he doesn't actually claim to have any doesn't it?

 

[Ollessendro]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your maths is crap. £1 million a year would be £20K a week.

Sorry owd mucker, but your out with this one. Couldn't resist steaming in to another Ollessendro response. Hope you do not do that in court!?

He retired shortly after he got injured. His autobiography states that he told Spackman he could no longer play and asked for his contract to be terminated. This was shortly after getting injured against Ipswich in early November. This means he contract lasted 4 (max 5) months. So Darren, please go away and make your calculations. Then you can criticise my maths ..... or issue a humble apology.

 

[Darren]

Sorry owd mucker, but your out with this one. Couldn't resist steaming in to another Ollessendro response. Hope you do not do that in court!?

He retired shortly after he got injured. His autobiography states that he told Spackman he could no longer play and asked for his contract to be terminated. This was shortly after getting injured against Ipswich in early November. This means he contract lasted 4 (max 5) months. So Darren, please go away and make your calculations. Then you can criticise my maths ..... or issue a humble apology.

You reckon McGrath walked away in Nov, with no payments on the rest of his contract? I beg to differ. And if that was the case why was his retirement not nnounced until April?

 

[alcoblade]

Clutching at straws now alco. One million?? So you're saying that he was on approximately 100k a week. A player in their twilight, coming to a second division club in the late 90's (before salaries went mad). I know McDonald had plenty of cash (or not) but don't be daft. What is this 'raping the club' based on?

He signed a contract and barely played again, if ever. The details of which aren't known. My point is nobody (IMO) can say he was a good signing if they don't kow the details of this, but just know that he looked good in his brief spell. I'm not sure where your maths are coming from, but if we ever get that beer I'll make sure I check my change.....


---------- Post added at 07:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------

I am sure that a programme only publicly announcced his retirement in April, just before the end of the season. What evidnece do we have he retired earlier?

That was my recollection too.

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

The truth is that it is difficult to settle this argument, because there is little evidence around about it. McGraph initially came on a short term contract. He impressed Spackman and was offerred a one year deal after 5 games in October. He played another 7 games before getting injured and then never playing again. He officially retired in April. So perhaps there is something in alco's suggestion. As his last game was early to mid November then that could mean that there was 5 months that we paid him for essentially nothing. So this 'raping' that alco talks of is presumably for this 5 month period.

It is not as clear as that though. McGraph officially retired in April. This was around the time of his testimonial. The question is did he speak to Spackman before? Did his contract get terminated beforehand or did he 'bleed' us. He may have actually thought he may play again, but gave up the ghost in the mean time. He had another knee operation during this time and perhaps this influenced things. In his autobiography he states he went to Spckers and said, my knees are fooked, I'm all over the place etc and asked for his contract to be terminated. Could be bollocks, but why would he lie? The rest of his account is brutally honest. I guess the other question is when did he speak to Spackman? Was it November/December? In which case he did not rape us. Or was it in April? In which case he did get 5 months of a salary for very little. Regardless of which, his contract was until October 1998 and he quit in April. Hence he did not rape us as much as he could have, as he could have bled another 6 months out of his contract.