It was 20 years ago today..

[LoughboroBlade]

My recollection, which may be wrong, is that the original plan was to sell Gareth Taylor. When that prompted a bit of a fan reaction, they went for broke retaining Taylor and selling Deane and Fjortoft in a fit of petulance.

That was a terrible miscalculation, during I believe Taylor's temporary "super-sub" streak before the Charlton game. I'm sure Saunders signed around the same time on big wages – remarkable it was sanctioned given what happened afterwards.

 

[CarlingBlade]

Saw Kendall at the opening of a bar in Donny, he was enjoying a few triple vodka and cokes, I spoke to him and he was very complimentary of the Blades, I asked him why he left, his response, "Everton, I couldn't resist going back, I'd have stayed for anyone else but Everton". Seemed like he regretted going back but in many ways inevitable it was gonna happen.

 

[Silent Blade]

It certainly did. I remember the car park protest after a Tuesday night match (QPR or Ipswich I think) when much abuse was given to MacDonald and his cronies. When it started raining we went to the pub though.

Ipswich

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Disagree.

Elaborate?

 

[Weasel]

Yes. 'There's only one greedy bastard' I think.

If I remember right, I think that Gary Ablett also passed away some time ago. Think it was cancer. Dreadful disease.

Was a decent solid centre half was Ablett in his small amount of time at the Lane. Was gutted when we didn't sign him in the summer and he buggered off to the Bluenoses. RIP Gary.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Elaborate?

Post 7 above.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Wasted one of only 3 ? big cash injections since I started supporting 61 years ago. We stuttered through to the Play-Off final without ever looking busy, intense or organised, more individual player qualities saw us get there. We lost the Final to a poor side, yet again. More money, same old shite as far as I was concerned. Manchester Mafia fucked off, back to square one, plenty of mercenaries left with us with no connection or affinity with the club.

Yep agree with you Woody he had some great backing but didn't realise the full potential of the squad.When he left Spackman was doing a great job until McDonald pulled the rug from under his feet ( lost his bottle McDonald that is ) it obviously effected Spackman deeply as he has been lost to the game ever since.

 

[Superblades]

Yep agree with you Woody he had some great backing but didn't realise the full potential of the squad.When he left Spackman was doing a great job until McDonald pulled the rug from under his feet ( lost his bottle McDonald that is ) it obviously effected Spackman deeply as he has been lost to the game ever since.

He had a spell at Barnsley but other than that bit done anything in the game. Wonder what he's up to these days as it always surprises me why he didn't carry on as a manager.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

He had a spell at Barnsley but other than that bit done anything in the game. Wonder what he's up to these days as it always surprises me why he didn't carry on as a manager.

Some suggested it wasn't his doing our brief spell of success.

 

[1973Blade]

He had a spell at Barnsley but other than that bit done anything in the game. Wonder what he's up to these days as it always surprises me why he didn't carry on as a manager.

He wasn't popular as a player for us, Spackman was too slow and past it. I think the fans booed him a few times. He made a great start as manager. In some ways he was like David Weir, he had a clear idea of how he wanted us to play. It worked for Spackman though.

 

[bertieblade]

Deane was sold as he had a clause in his contract that allowed him to go if someone offered a high enough fee, he was kicked all over the park in a night match and asked to explore his options, benfica came in and he was off.
Fjortoft was sold as spackman did not rate him as a team player, stating that we were a better team and scored more goals as a team when he did not play, his agent was told to find him a club and he did. Unfortunately both of these occurred within days of each other.
We had lined up the striker who eventually went to Middlesbrough, who name I forget ( anyone ? ) but after our "fans " demonstrated outside the ground and spat at McDonald's wife, he pulled the plug on that deal and others he had lined up.
His big problem was letting Charles green bully his way through everything, and then not telling the fans what and why.
How do I know the above:---- I just do.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

That was a terrible miscalculation, during I believe Taylor's temporary "super-sub" streak before the Charlton game. I'm sure Saunders signed around the same time on big wages – remarkable it was sanctioned given what happened afterwards.

I remember my brother ringing me to say we'd sold Deane I said no you've got it wrong just heard on radioo Sheff it's Fjortoft .. only to find out later McDonald was having a fire sale !! I heard an interview with Spackman and he was going on about all the shenanigans with Green , they didn't tell Spackman they were selling those behind his back and when he saw Saunders in the Soth Stand car park apparently Spackman asked him how he was and was he down here for a disciplinary hearing ( I think at the time when Geoff Thompson was in charge of the FA they used to chair a lot of them at The Lane ) Saunders replied what are you on about ? I've just signed for you ! I think then Spackman thought his position was untenable & walked . Can't even begin to explain how gutted I was , it was the best side we'd had in years & as I said before 4 points behind leaders and 2 games in hand ... you couldn't make it up ...

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I remember my brother ringing me to say we'd sold Deane I said no you've got it wrong just heard on radioo Sheff it's Fjortoft .. only to find out later McDonald was having a fire sale !! I heard an interview with Spackman and he was going on about all the shenanigans with Green , they didn't tell Spackman they were selling those behind his back and when he saw Saunders in the Soth Stand car park apparently Spackman asked him how he was and was he down here for a disciplinary hearing ( I think at the time when Geoff Thompson was in charge of the FA they used to chair a lot of them at The Lane ) Saunders replied what are you on about ? I've just signed for you ! I think then Spackman thought his position was untenable & walked . Can't even begin to explain how gutted I was , it was the best side we'd had in years & as I said before 4 points behind leaders and 2 games in hand ... you couldn't make it up ...

I thought Spackman had insisted Saunders was signed as a means of keeping him happy after the Tiler/Ward sales, and it was one of the few he'd been allowed to do (in contrast to the other purchases till that point). It had been reported as Spackman's "birthday present" at the time when he signed in early December.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I thought Spackman had insisted Saunders was signed as a means of keeping him happy after the Tiler/Ward sales, and it was one of the few he'd been allowed to do (in contrast to the other purchases till that point). It had been reported as Spackman's "birthday present" at the time when he signed in early December.

Not sure then LB whether it was Spackman painting a different picture of events after he'd left , obviously he was pissed off & angry about it but I couldn't see any reason for him to lie about it but you never know ? I know that if someone at the time had asked me who I believed Spackman or Green , I don't think have much difficulty in making a choice !

 

[TTMeysh]

Hamilton Rickard was the player we were linked with I believe. Useful, but even if the deal had gone through, it wouldn't have compensated for losing both Deane and Fjortoft.

 

[Benny and the Blades]

Didn't Kendall sign Ebrell for £1,000,000 from Everton just before he got the job there ?

 

[John Street West Terrace]

McDonald said to Kendall buy someone to bums on seats .. so he bought Ebrell .. at least I know now Kendall had a sense of humour

 

[Silent Blade]

McDonald said to Kendall buy someone to bums on seats .. so he bought Ebrell .. at least I know now Kendall had a sense of humour

Insurance companies refused to insure him but we still went ahead to sign him, very bad decision

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Insurance companies refused to insure him but we still went ahead to sign him, very bad decision

The worst buy during my time SB .. he even had his own parking spot behind the south stand