Tangenitally to to the worse ever player thread, how about the worst ever misses by United players - i.e. the sort of chances the proverbial granny could have scored but which our hero missed.
I have 2 nominations:
1. Paul Williams: its the vital 2nd leg play off game against Bristol City in May 1988. United had lost the first leg 0-1 and had gone 1-0 down early on in the second leg at the Lane. Colin Morris equalised with a great goal just after half time and United were pressing for the goal that would take it to extra time. With about 10 mins to go, Richard Cadette went on a mazy run that took him into City area where his shot was parried by the goalie straight to Paul Williams facing an empty goal about 10 yards out. It was a simple tap in. However, Williams took ages to get the ball under control which allowed the goalie and about 8 defenders to get back and smother the shot when it eventually came. That was that, the game ended 1-1 and we were down.
2. Axel Smeets. Home to Walsall August 1999, Adrian Heath's first matach at the Lane as manager. Shaun Murphy had put us 1-0 up in the first couple of minutes. After about 20 minutes, the Walsall offside track was sprung and a player who I can't recall bore down with the ball on the goalie with Smeets at his side. The goalie came out and the ball was passed to Smeets who took it past the goalie to the edge of the 6 yards box. However, he was so slow about it that a couple of defenders had got back on the line, but from 6 yards you would expect him to be able to find a bit of the goal not occupied by a defender. Not our Axel. He tamely hit the ball straight to a defender and it was cleared. Walsall equalised shortly aftewards, the game finished 1-1 and we knew we were in for a long hard season.
I have 2 nominations:
1. Paul Williams: its the vital 2nd leg play off game against Bristol City in May 1988. United had lost the first leg 0-1 and had gone 1-0 down early on in the second leg at the Lane. Colin Morris equalised with a great goal just after half time and United were pressing for the goal that would take it to extra time. With about 10 mins to go, Richard Cadette went on a mazy run that took him into City area where his shot was parried by the goalie straight to Paul Williams facing an empty goal about 10 yards out. It was a simple tap in. However, Williams took ages to get the ball under control which allowed the goalie and about 8 defenders to get back and smother the shot when it eventually came. That was that, the game ended 1-1 and we were down.
2. Axel Smeets. Home to Walsall August 1999, Adrian Heath's first matach at the Lane as manager. Shaun Murphy had put us 1-0 up in the first couple of minutes. After about 20 minutes, the Walsall offside track was sprung and a player who I can't recall bore down with the ball on the goalie with Smeets at his side. The goalie came out and the ball was passed to Smeets who took it past the goalie to the edge of the 6 yards box. However, he was so slow about it that a couple of defenders had got back on the line, but from 6 yards you would expect him to be able to find a bit of the goal not occupied by a defender. Not our Axel. He tamely hit the ball straight to a defender and it was cleared. Walsall equalised shortly aftewards, the game finished 1-1 and we knew we were in for a long hard season.
