Wally downes

[blade too long]

Whats Bob Booker doing these days ?

I know a song about him

 

[Darren]

T'old Axel takes some beating. I've never seen worse in my time watching United, although that only dates from 1996 really, and misses the glory years of 1976-1981, and also the malaise of 84-88.

Ross Davidson is my all time favourite. We picked him up from Walton and Hersham* and I have never seen a player look so much out of his depths when he played right back against Derby at the Lane in October 1995. Steve Hawes played right midfield in an unbeatable (unbeatable in the Sheffield and District under 11's league that is) right side combination.

* Fun fact, lumpen punk band Sham 69 were named after some graffiti about the said club where the first half had worn away.

 

[j j]

Not sure whether that graffiti was about the football club but "worn away" is the polite version: it originally said HERSHAM 69 (as in 1969) and the HER was erased by commuters running off the train after a few ales in town and emptying their bladders against the wall.

 

[Darren]

Not sure whether that graffiti was about the football club but "worn away" is the polite version: it originally said HERSHAM 69 (as in 1969) and the HER was erased by commuters running off the train after a few ales in town and emptying their bladders against the wall.

It apaprently referred to W&H winning the Athenian League title in 1969.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sham-69-mn0000160054

I used to go through Hersham quite a lot as it is near Esher, where my ex's parents' lived. Esher and most of the surrounding area is very posh and Hersham is extremely incongruous as it had an overspill London council estate in it - a rough bit of south London in the stockbroker belt. Hence:

"Hersham boys, hersham boys
Laced up boots and cordoroys"

 

[Silent Blade]

Yes, Williams got sent off, though it was for use of an elbow (that broke Tony Humes' nose) rather than a headbutt I think.

I recall the McCall thing because that's the only time I've ever seen that happen.

I thought it was Ian Cranson that Williams elbowed?

Dont remember the McCall disallowed goal but remember a similar thing when Colin Addison thought he scored the winner in the home game against QPR in November 1970 but the ref (Yates) had blown the whistle just before the ball entered the net

 

[Silent Blade]

He had a hernia when (or immediately after) we signed him. This was fixed in the summer and he got a yard of extra pace as well as a top partner.

He had the hernia when scoring a great goal against Man City. He was taken off the pitch not long after that. I dont think he played any more games that season. It was a pity as I liked the look of him in the Barnsley game and in the 1st half of the Man City game

 

[Sirius]

If my memory serves me correctly I saw Wally Downes make an almost identical two-footed tackle in a reserve match. He got a red card for that, too.

Did he not cause GBH allegedly, when he 'fouled' a Portsmouth player? Rumour has it that it was a case of mistaken identity and, that W.D. was seeking retribution for a tackle that had caused him pain during a previous encounter.

 

[Russ]

At least he likes red n white

 

[Guesty]

Gosh, they're getting easier aren't they?

 

[Revolution]

I thought it was Ian Cranson that Williams elbowed?

Dont remember the McCall disallowed goal but remember a similar thing when Colin Addison thought he scored the winner in the home game against QPR in November 1970 but the ref (Yates) had blown the whistle just before the ball entered the net

It was definitely Humes who Williams nailed. Cranson did not play - he had signed for Wednesday by then.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

why do we always get linked with random ex players who have played for us about 10 times?

i could understand an absolute legend like jimmy muir or deano could lift everybody, but wally downes? robert page? chris wilder? glyn hodges? a whole raft of people who just happen to have played for us at some point in the past and that is their only real qualification for the job. weird. how does having played for us help in any way?

whats ken mcnaught up to these days?

 

[SwissBlade]

why do we always get linked with random ex players who have played for us about 10 times?

i could understand an absolute legend like jimmy muir or deano could lift everybody, but wally downes? robert page? chris wilder? glyn hodges? a whole raft of people who just happen to have played for us at some point in the past and that is their only real qualification for the job. weird. how does having played for us help in any way?

whats ken mcnaught up to these days?

Apparently they know the club...

Having just finished reading "fit and proper" these ex players are probably the only ones who would come in with their eyes open to the shambolic way that the club is run and by default are less likely to walk away

Howard Kendall and Steve Bruce both walked or were on the verge of walking because of the shitty way that they were managed.

Former players like those mentioned would be forewarned and perhaps would be better armed to deal with the shite.

That said, were appearing to be maintaining the cycle of players that love the club...

I liked the way that McCall talked about the blades "I had 5 great years at the club" followed very shortly with "I've had 2 1/2 great years at Motherwell". He then went on to praise the fans.... All this straight out of the Neil Warnock book no doubt

 

[Pinchy]

View attachment 5878 At least he likes red n white

Looks a bit like Morgan, don't you think?

 

[Darren]

Apparently they know the club...

Having just finished reading "fit and proper" these ex players are probably the only ones who would come in with their eyes open to the shambolic way that the club is run and by default are less likely to walk away

Howard Kendall and Steve Bruce both walked or were on the verge of walking because of the shitty way that they were managed.

Former players like those mentioned would be forewarned and perhaps would be better armed to deal with the shite.

That said, were appearing to be maintaining the cycle of players that love the club...

I liked the way that McCall talked about the blades "I had 5 great years at the club" followed very shortly with "I've had 2 1/2 great years at Motherwell". He then went on to praise the fans.... All this straight out of the Neil Warnock book no doubt

Kendall walked because he was offered the Everton job, which was obviously a no brainer for him. He could hardly complain about the way he was managed. He was given funds any previous United manager could have only dreamed of.

 

[SwissBlade]

Kendall walked because he was offered the Everton job, which was obviously a no brainer for him. He could hardly complain about the way he was managed. He was given funds any previous United manager could have only dreamed of.

Yes he eventually walked for that reason and I don't dispute that it was too good for him to turn down, but based on what I read in 'fit and proper' it suggests that he had become disillusioned by the way the club was being run above him. Like Bassett before him.

Not sure how correct it is, but I'm just going on what the book said

 

[Darren]

Yes he eventually walked for that reason and I don't dispute that it was too good for him to turn down, but based on what I read in 'fit and proper' it suggests that he had become disillusioned by the way the club was being run above him. Like Bassett before him.

Not sure how correct it is, but I'm just going on what the book said

Kendall really had nothing to complain about. From being probably the best manager in the country in the mid 80's when he won 2 league titles, the FA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup with Everton, his career had nose dived to the extent that his last job had been taking Notts County down to the 3rd Division and being sacked by them.

United gave him the opportunity to resurrect his career by financially backing him in a way no manager had ever been backed before - 2 £1m players (Hutchison and Ebbrell) when United's previous record buy was £700K and substantial sums spent on Walker, Taylor, Vonk, Sandford, Holdsworth, Kachuro, Fjortoft and Tiler.

Despite failing to get us promoted, this was sufficiently impressive to get him a job with PL Everton (which he then proceeded to mess up). If Kendall was complaining about his treatment at the Lane, "base ingratitude" is the phrase that springs to mind.

 

[SwissBlade]

Despite failing to get us promoted, this was sufficiently impressive to get him a job with PL Everton (which he then proceeded to mess up). If Kendall was complaining about his treatment at the Lane, "base ingratitude" is the phrase that springs to mind.

I think that if I read it correctly about Kendalls era, there were forces within the club that destabilised what the football team were trying to do. One minute we had cash, the next we didn't

And I think a certain Mr Green was trying to dictate the players that we should be buying

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I think that if I read it correctly about Kendalls era, there were forces within the club that destabilised what the football team were trying to do. One minute we had cash, the next we didn't

And I think a certain Mr Green was trying to dictate the players that we should be buying

Are you sure that's not Spackman's era?
Even after Kendall left, we were still able to bring in Deane, Borbokis, Dellas, Stuart, Saunders etc..
We were unbeaten under Spackman for 16 matches and then as you say, we suddenly had no cash and the firesale started.

 

[Darren]

I think that if I read it correctly about Kendalls era, there were forces within the club that destabilised what the football team were trying to do. One minute we had cash, the next we didn't

And I think a certain Mr Green was trying to dictate the players that we should be buying

Southall Blade is right. Kendall had funds throughout his time in charge. Between January and March 1997 Kendall was given money to bring in Fjortoft, Ebbrell (equalling the club transfer record), Henry and Tiler; a total outlay of around £3m, not to mention that all except Henry were from Premier League clubs so would have been on very good wages.

We lost the play off final in May 97 and Kendall buggered off the next month.

 

[Silent Blade]

Did he not cause GBH allegedly, when he 'fouled' a Portsmouth player? Rumour has it that it was a case of mistaken identity and, that W.D. was seeking retribution for a tackle that had caused him pain during a previous encounter.

I read somewhere that Wally was targetting Mick Kennedy during that Bradford game as he had battles with him in the infamous Wimbledon v Pompey games. It was claimed that he made the two footed tackle on Karl Goddard because he thought Karl was Mick

 

[Silent Blade]

It was definitely Humes who Williams nailed. Cranson did not play - he had signed for Wednesday by then.

Ok. Did you go to the Blades v QPR game in Nov 1970? I am asking you because Colin Addison's "disallowed goal" in that match was for the same reason as McCall's in the Bradford game

 

[Silent Blade]

Kendall really had nothing to complain about. From being probably the best manager in the country in the mid 80's when he won 2 league titles, the FA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup with Everton, his career had nose dived to the extent that his last job had been taking Notts County down to the 3rd Division and being sacked by them.

Kendall leaving Everton for Atletico Bilbao was a bad decision for him

 

[Blade58]

There's no fear of Wally Downes getting the job. Well, not while Robert Page is on the shortlist anyway!

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=463&fid=221&sty=2&act=1&mid=2112683790&page=1


Pay particular attention to the op and posts 9, 53, 54, & 65!

Well Metty, not cut and dried as yet, but the dogs are definately barking now.

After the above and the link to Page's odds, I sincerely hope you got on. At least you're getting a good run for your dosh if you went and backed him

As for my bets. I've gone and backed just about every other f'ker except Page. Even tho McCabe was reported as bigging up Page, I still refused to believe he could become the next Blades manager

If he does, I will be absolutely stunned. When McCabe said he wanted a "young up and coming manager" did he really mean he wanted a "young up and coming youth team coach at a league 2 side?"

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Well Metty, not cut and dried as yet, but the dogs are definately barking now.

After the above and the link to Page's odds, I sincerely hope you got on. At least you're getting a good run for your dosh if you went and backed him

As for my bets. I've gone and backed just about every other f'ker except Page. Even tho McCabe was reported as bigging up Page, I still refused to believe he could become the next Blades manager

If he does, I will be absolutely stunned. When McCabe said he wanted a "young up and coming manager" did he really mean he wanted a "young up and coming youth team coach at a league 2 side?"

Which dickhead took on that unknown manager from St Mirren; think he is called Ferguson or sumat like that?

 

[Balham]

Which dickhead took on that unknown manager from St Mirren; think he is called Ferguson or sumat like that?

If you're referring to Manchester United's choice then it was actually a good one: Ferguson had won a considerable amount in his 7 years at Aberdeen: 3 league titles, 4 Scottish cups, a Scottish league cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.

The real leap of faith was taken by St Mirren when they approached Ferguson, who had been East Stirlingshire manager for 4 months. He rewarded them by taking them from the bottom half of the Scottish Second Division to First Division champions the following season.

Who knows what will happen if we appoint Rob Page? All I know is that he'll have my support, as would any Blades manager.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

If you're referring to Manchester United's choice then it was actually a good one: Ferguson had won a considerable amount in his 7 years at Aberdeen: 3 league titles, 4 Scottish cups, a Scottish league cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.

The real leap of faith was taken by St Mirren when they approached Ferguson, who had been East Stirlingshire manager for 4 months. He rewarded them by taking them from the bottom half of the Scottish Second Division to First Division champions the following season.

Who knows what will happen if we appoint Rob Page? All I know is that he'll have my support, as would any Blades manager.

Either way the early days of Ferguson are no different to us taking a punt on Morgan or Page.

Might work out might not but its a big gamble

 

[Balham]

Either way the early days of Ferguson are no different to us taking a punt on Morgan or Page.

Might work out might not but its a big gamble

McCabe's in a casino he can't leave and his choice for his last 50p is to buy a shit sandwich or put it on black. There's only one option: we've got to gamble. No established manager is going to take the risk.

 

[Revolution]

Ok. Did you go to the Blades v QPR game in Nov 1970? I am asking you because Colin Addison's "disallowed goal" in that match was for the same reason as McCall's in the Bradford game

No, I have read about that, but it was before my time.

a similar incident stopped Wednesday getting a draw in the 1930 Cup semi finals, which was probably just as well given they won the league the same year....

 

[Revolution]

McCabe's in a casino he can't leave and his choice for his last 50p is to buy a shit sandwich or put it on black. There's only one option: we've got to gamble. No established manager is going to take the risk.

He has another choice, which is to give the new manager a bigger budget, but the correlation between smaller budget = worse players = worse team = less chance of selling the club seems to be lost on him.

 

[Balham]

He has another choice, which is to give the new manager a bigger budget, but the correlation between smaller budget = worse players = worse team = less chance of selling the club seems to be lost on him.

He's probably looking at the shite Adams and Wilson signed with their extended budgets and thinks that bigger budget = more experienced players who are rubbish.