United! BBC series

[Snowman]

Agree about Booker.
He's a Blades legend but it wasn't for his ability.

In general Booker wasn't that good but I remember him doing an interview and saying he's been at Brentford all his career and its a dream to play for a big club at the end of his career. He thanked Bassett for the transfer and promised the fans he would always give 100%, which he did. Booker always used to applaud the fans at the end and he played like he was a fan himself.

Agana was another one. In his first interview he said he played non league and thought he'd never become a pro but Watford gave him a chance and now he can't believe he's playing in front of 12,000 every week. Again said he feels humble and will give 100%.

Both were genuinely decent blokes and adopted Blades. I mentioned it the other say but having a manager with enormous character and bringing in characters like the Crazy Gang could go along way to bringing back the love.

Chris Morgan was good but not the greatest defender but what made him special was his influence. He was the type you want in the trenches. He was a winner, a battler. He give out hard tackles but willingly take hard tackles.

With Morgs in the team other players felt more up for the battle. We need no nonsense characters with influence.

I believe we do have talented players but when the going gets tough they don't want to know and can't handle pressure or expectation.

Booker. Kids don't know the half of it. Will they ever see the like again?

That, kids was a journeyman pro in our day. What is now described by Adkins as an honest hard working professional is nothing to compare with the original honest hard working professional. Ploughing through the snow against Mansfield in the worst night for football in decades, standing up for and enforcing for others in the middle of the park against players with double his ability. Filling in up front and at the back with no complaint, that was what a legend was made of and will always live on in the memory. A fans player. A United player. You give us that dedication and work, we can forgive you anything. None of the present mob will ever achieve that status. They may not care. But neither do we for them.

 

[Bath Blade]

Booker. Kids don't know the half of it. Will they ever see the like again?

That, kids was a journeyman pro in our day. What is now described by Adkins as an honest hard working professional is nothing to compare with the original honest hard working professional. Ploughing through the snow against Mansfield in the worst night for football in decades, standing up for and enforcing for others in the middle of the park against players with double his ability. Filling in up front and at the back with no complaint, that was what a legend was made of and will always live on in the memory. A fans player. A United player. You give us that dedication and work, we can forgive you anything. None of the present mob will ever achieve that status. They may not care. But neither do we for them.

Why on earth didn't he take that penalty against Southampton for his hat trick?! The one Gannon put into the Lane upper tier.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Just goes to show how good Bassets recruitment was and what you need to form a promotion winning team - young hungry players from the lower leagues with something to prove. He picked up some right gems from non-league / 3rd and 4th division. Shows all the mistakes we've made in going for the championship has beens over the past few years.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Thanks for posting these, been wanting to watch these for ages. Could only find the 'fans' one on YouTube. Remember watching these with my dad and wearing out the VHS!

 

[S60 unitedite]

What we would all give now for a fraction of the insight that series gave.

Really good TV series x

 

[coaxingstar71]

Cheers for posting those, I ended up watching 3 of them last night. What an achievement that was, I can't imagine anything like that being done now, a side bought for five eighths and three quarters of f*** all getting back to back promotions to what is now the Premier League. I'd also forgotten what a top player 'Jock' Bryson was. I bet that numpty who was moaning about signing Mark Morris and Colin Hill wishes we had them now!

Cheers for posting those, I ended up watching 3 of them last night. What an achievement that was, I can't imagine anything like that being done now, a side bought for five eighths and three quarters of f*** all getting back to back promotions to what is now the Premier League. I'd also forgotten what a top player 'Jock' Bryson was. I bet that numpty who was moaning about signing Mark Morris and Colin Hill wishes we had them now!

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'd better be careful I wouldn't be surprised if that 'numpty' is a renowned poster on here!

David Broughton wasn't it? He definitely won't have his shrine with SUFC on the ceiling because the council knocked all those maisonettes down in the 2000's.

 

[CarlingBlade]

Just watched the players episode, not seen it in 20 odd years, depressing how pampered players are these days.
Love bassett and Taylor's passion, Webster said something in the dressing room after Watford in the FA Cup, Bassetts response "let's stick your head in a fackjng gas oven, see how you like that".

 

[Sheffsteel]

I'd also forgotten what a top player 'Jock' Bryson was.

Bryson was fantastic in division 3 (although not as good as exceptionally talented Alan Roberts, mystery why he left so quickly and seemed to pack in football), good in division 2 but struggled a bit in the top flight.

We've had a few players (especially wingers) who have been brilliant at one level then struggled a bit in the higher level.

Players like Danny Webber come to mind. Probably our best talent playing really well in the Championship but for all that talent surprisingly struggled in the PL.

Paul Ifill was another one, excellent exciting winger in the 2nd tier but poor when we were promoted.

Adel Tarabt was another one. A real superstar at Championship level and one of the best individual performances I've ever seen at BL when he was taking the micky out of Morgan etc but he really struggled in the PL.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Bryson was fantastic in division 3 (although not as good as exceptionally talented Alan Roberts, mystery why he left so quickly and seemed to pack in football), good in division 2 but struggled a bit in the top flight.

We've had a few players (especially wingers) who have been brilliant at one level then struggled a bit in the higher level.

Players like Danny Webber come to mind. Probably our best talent playing really well in the Championship but for all that talent surprisingly struggled in the PL.

Paul Ifill was another one, excellent exciting winger in the 2nd tier but poor when we were promoted.

Adel Tarabt was another one. A real superstar at Championship level and one of the best individual performances I've ever seen at BL when he was taking the micky out of Morgan etc but he really struggled in the PL.

Alan Roberts had alcohol issues brownie said to me once - cracking winger though.

 

[Silent Blade]

Cheers for posting those, I ended up watching 3 of them last night. What an achievement that was, I can't imagine anything like that being done now, a side bought for five eighths and three quarters of f*** all getting back to back promotions to what is now the Premier League. I'd also forgotten what a top player 'Jock' Bryson was. I bet that numpty who was moaning about signing Mark Morris and Colin Hill wishes we had them now!

I like Colin Hill but still think Mark Morris was cack

 

[Silent Blade]

Alan Roberts had alcohol issues brownie said to me once - cracking winger though.

Didnt know that. He would play well for a hour but he then would then get tired easily and was always substituted

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Didnt know that. He would play well for a hour but he then would then get tired easily and was always substituted

But in that hour usually created stuff and was a great winger. And is probably as fast now as today's midfield incumbents.

 

[bricktop]

But in that hour usually created stuff and was a great winger. And is probably as fast now as today's midfield incumbents.

And Bassett probably realised his limitations as well, so when the time was right, he will have thanked him, looked after him and sorted him a move out.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Anyone wanting this series on DVD can get it here like I did...

http://www.freewebs.com/footballontap/documentariesetc.htm

Only costs a few quid and is a pretty good copy.

This is NOT my website, by the way.

 

[RossoDeltic]

I thought that there were things in some of the episodes that ring true today, amongst them Bassett talking about managers getting the sack and the different pressures faced.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I was 15-16 that season - shit, life was simple then.

Match on Saturday, relive it over the next few days - start looking forward to next week, watch the programme, relive it go to the match, start all over again.

The whole year just plays like a film in my head - with the viewpoint either being from the back of the kop or footage from the documentary.

Walking off the Kop to Yazz "The Only Way is Up" every week. Feels like light years away

 

[Sheffsteel]

Didnt know that. He would play well for a hour but he then would then get tired easily and was always substituted

I remember a night game at home to Newcastle in the league cup.
Think we beat them 3-0. Newcastle were in a division above us but we totally outclassed them.

In that match Alan Roberts had dribbling skill similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. He was superb and for me was the most exciting prospect of all Bassetts new signings. However he only played a few games for us, got injured then seemed to leave the club by mutual consent. Then he seemed to disappear from the game for ever.
I was convinced he had a big future in the game. As I said far more talented that Bryson.

Just checked Wikipedia, apparently Roberts left us and played a few times for Lincoln before retiring aged 25 due to injury. Real shame.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I remember a night game at home to Newcastle in the league cup.
Think we beat them 3-0. Newcastle were in a division above us but we totally outclassed them.

In that match Alan Roberts had dribbling skill similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. He was superb and for me was the most exciting prospect of all Bassetts new signings. However he only played a few games for us, got injured then seemed to leave the club by mutual consent. Then he seemed to disappear from the game for ever.
I was convinced he had a big future in the game. As I said far more talented that Bryson.

Just checked Wikipedia, apparently Roberts left us and played a few times for Lincoln before retiring aged 25 due to injury. Real shame.

I recall that game to Roberts was outstanding

 

[JJ Sefton]

At the time they were showing this (which was while they were making it) I was in a row at school with some kids taking the piss out of me for supporting United. This older kid chips in and says "So? Arsenal haven't haven't got their own TV show, have they?"

 

[JJ Sefton]

I remember a night game at home to Newcastle in the league cup.
Think we beat them 3-0. Newcastle were in a division above us but we totally outclassed them.

In that match Alan Roberts had dribbling skill similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. He was superb and for me was the most exciting prospect of all Bassetts new signings. However he only played a few games for us, got injured then seemed to leave the club by mutual consent. Then he seemed to disappear from the game for ever.
I was convinced he had a big future in the game. As I said far more talented that Bryson.

Just checked Wikipedia, apparently Roberts left us and played a few times for Lincoln before retiring aged 25 due to injury. Real shame.

I recall that game to Roberts was outstanding

You can get that match on DVD for £3 off that site I linked to above.

 

[JJ Sefton]

I was 15-16 that season - shit, life was simple then.

Match on Saturday, relive it over the next few days - start looking forward to next week, watch the programme, relive it go to the match, start all over again.

The whole year just plays like a film in my head - with the viewpoint either being from the back of the kop or footage from the documentary.

Walking off the Kop to Yazz "The Only Way is Up" every week. Feels like light years away

Steamy Windows by Tina Turner is a record I remember them playing at half time a lot.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I like Colin Hill but still think Mark Morris was cack

I think he was less 'cack' than Collins.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Bryson was fantastic in division 3 (although not as good as exceptionally talented Alan Roberts, mystery why he left so quickly and seemed to pack in football), good in division 2 but struggled a bit in the top flight.

We've had a few players (especially wingers) who have been brilliant at one level then struggled a bit in the higher level.

Players like Danny Webber come to mind. Probably our best talent playing really well in the Championship but for all that talent surprisingly struggled in the PL.

Paul Ifill was another one, excellent exciting winger in the 2nd tier but poor when we were promoted.

Adel Tarabt was another one. A real superstar at Championship level and one of the best individual performances I've ever seen at BL when he was taking the micky out of Morgan etc but he really struggled in the PL.

Jock still scored a surprising number of goals in 1st Div/Prem for us, especially in that first season.

 

[blade67]

If there's one thread that needs to be read by the Prince, Jim, McCabe, Adkins and all the players then it's this one.

This sums up what it means to be a Blade.

These guys didn't need the words 'we are all UNITED' spouted at 'em. They just did it.

Jim should definitely watch this, can someone tweet it to him. What we look like when it's going well. I loved this program

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Just been watching the "Women" one for the first time in 26 years.
I remembered liking Janet Stancliffe (looks and personality). Still do
I'd forgotten what a misery guts Jill Rostron came across as.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

I believe the quote from the board is that our ling term vision was to model ourselves on Swansea with the whole club playing tippy tappy patient possession football like Barca and Spain.

Barca style takes patience, confidence and skill of course. When's it goes well it's great and pleasing on the eye.

Whereas with the more basic Leicester style you can be playing poorly but a long punt upfield to speedy forwards and wham bam it's a goal from nothing.

Also talented players comfortable on the ball tend to cost more whereas buying athletes with only basic ability are much cheaper and can produce the goods if playing to a system.

The barca style (like every idiot, football association, football coaching course director etc. doesn't realize) also takes xavi, iniesta, messi, Suarez et al. It's so easy to say 'we're going to base our style on possession based, through the thirds, pressing, fast attacking play' and pay lip service to all that based purely on a fantasy to play like barca. It just so happens that over the past 7 years barca have had some of the greatest players to ever grace out planet!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

You have to laugh at the scene in "The Manager" episode. Bassett strolls into Dooley's office (doesn't knock)"

DB:- I've agreed a fee of 80K for Paul Wood, so as per our previous discussions, are the board happy for me to go and buy him?
DD:- Well they won't be happy to spend 80K but we know you need cover for that position.

Next scene. John Francis is sat in Bassett's office.
DB:- John, I'm selling you to Bunley for 90K

 

[diplomat]

I've not watched those episodes back yet but one thing that stands out is that despite being on course for back to back promotions the fans were still largely pessimistic and loved a scapegoat. The money that l**ds and Newcastle spent that year absolutely dwarfed our budget. West Ham too. It really was amazing in hindsight. Getting the same points as the champions was quite something. Another point and the title and I think Bassett and that team would be elevated to mythical status.

 

[bricktop]

Steamy Windows by Tina Turner is a record I remember them playing at half time a lot.

This was the song that was in the charts around that brilliant, life affirming time



I watched the first one last night, the one where Bassett tells John Francis not to Nick anything on his way out.

What struck me was how much everyone seemed to be pulling in the same direction, how much control Dave Bassett had and how after a defeat you could see how much pain everyone was in.

Could you imagine how a conversation between Bassett and Diego would go

- Alright Harry, I've come in for a new contract and I want to know why I'm not playing every game, because I've got other teams after me and I've played for the Italian u-19s

- Have you son, and what the facking he'll have you done in training to prove I should be picking you. You are not getting a game for a reason, prove to me that I should be picking you and I'll give you a game, and I'll sort you the contract but until then get out of my facking office and shut the facking door on the way out, son