The instability thing

[Revolution]

Actually, that was the season before he was sold 76-77. In the 2nd half of 77-78, Edwards only scored 4 goals, just before he was sold.

Which was as many as Finnieston scored in the whole season, playing only half the games because of injury.

And in those days the gaps between the leagues was not as great (Forest, of course, won the league the season after promotion).

United signed a crock on the downslope, it appears.

 

[Darren]

Which was as many as Finnieston scored in the whole season, playing only half the games because of injury.

And in those days the gaps between the leagues was not as great (Forest, of course, won the league the season after promotion).

United signed a crock on the downslope, it appears.

Oh, I agree that that is what happened, but, as I say that is with the benefit of hindsight.

I was 11 in the summer of 78 and recall the excitement of signing Finnieston, Matthews and Sabella. That was for a combined cost of over £300K, which was a lot then for a 2nd division team and the most United had ever spent pre-season. It really looked like the Board were splashing out on a serious promotion bid. Edwards' departure hardly registered amongst that and I am pretty convinced that people now saying what a disaster it was are only saying that in the light of Edwards' subsequent exploits. Edwards had broken the post war scoring record for goals in consecutive games in March-April 1977 when he scored 11 in 8 games, but apart from that purple patch had not pulled up that many trees. and he was certainly not viewed as a star player in the way, say, Mick Jones, Currie, Woodward and Edwards himself post 1981 were.