tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post115623625400956879..comments2023-09-12T14:49:27.414+01:00Comments on Some People Are On The Pitch: England In The 70's: Part 2Chris Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1157381057953105112006-09-04T15:44:00.000+01:002006-09-04T15:44:00.000+01:00See the new 'Scotland / Not England Thread' for a ...See the new 'Scotland / Not England Thread' for a continuation of this discussion!Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1157042218855271782006-08-31T17:36:00.000+01:002006-08-31T17:36:00.000+01:00In the World Cup qualifying we never got over our ...In the World Cup qualifying we never got over our dreadful start. Drawing at home with Slovenia then losing to Norway was pretty much a suicide note as far as getting to Germany was concerned.<BR/><BR/>This time yes we have a fairly difficult group. Actually who am I kidding, we have the two World Cup finalists and a quarter finalist, its a horror show, but still we have to have some confidence - we are getting better. I think we will cause problems to all three of the big teams. <BR/><BR/>I saw Italy twice during the World Cup and they were pitiful against USA and superb against Germany, so I can only hope they are still hungover or feel playing us is beneath them and play as they did against America.<BR/><BR/>France were fairly poor throughout the World Cup and are now without Zidane, so who knows. They have however absolutely stuffed us on the last two occassions we've met.<BR/><BR/>As for our team. If we are organised a the back we wil let in few goals, and for once we have a goalie you can't laugh at. Our midfield is coming together - Hartley is the star, along with Fletcher (yes Man Utd fans that Fletcher - he plays well for us almost every game) Quashie works bloody hard and kicks a few folk.<BR/><BR/>Up front we will play Kenny Miller - hopefully the one who remembers how to score and not the one Wolves seem to have sent Celtic - and Kris Boyd who certainly knows about getting goals, two goals on his debut against Bulgaria. James McFadden will almost certainly come on as substitute in every game and score. That's been his job for the last two years and he has done it well.<BR/><BR/>The only other name to fit in is Chris Burke, another two goal debutant from our trip to Japan. Injured at the moment but will feature sometime.<BR/><BR/>So as far as Scotalnd goes the future's bright, the future is Dark blue with Gold trim and a fairly bizarre shadow Y across the chest (One for your Guide to the New Season's kits there)<BR/><BR/>As for England I wish you all the best in your qualifying group against the might of Ruritania, Rockall, Smurfland and the 13th Zagreb Sea Scouts. It's not that I'm bitter, but...Flicktokickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863268660949606261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1157021562678998052006-08-31T11:52:00.000+01:002006-08-31T11:52:00.000+01:00OK FlickToKick, I'll give you due warning - I'm th...OK FlickToKick, I'll give you due warning - I'm thinking about starting this off as a thread of its own as I find it fascinating getting an angle on a team other than my own beloved England by one of its fans!<BR/><BR/>Looking at Scotland's qualification for World Cup 2006, I remind myself of the glimpses of potential that came through from time to time - the 1-1 draw with Italy, the wins against Norway and Slovenia... I remember thinking 'Will this be Scotland's year?'<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately it looks like vital points were dropped against some of the weaker teams in the group like Belarus.<BR/><BR/>Moving on from there then, do you think Scotland can register any kind of upset at all in a fearsome Euro 2008 qualifying group? If so, which players would it come from?Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156938741478721372006-08-30T12:52:00.000+01:002006-08-30T12:52:00.000+01:00The 1974 team went to the World Cup as almost the ...The 1974 team went to the World Cup as almost the ultimate underdogs. We hadn't qualified for 16 years and had a terrible record in the competition.<BR/><BR/>In the end we returned unbeaten. Scared the pants off the defending champions and were unlucky to go out (aren't we always).<BR/><BR/>The 78 team went with a huge fanfare and promptly threw away the Peru game - Masson's missed penalty - and were awful against Iran. Sure we were the only team to beat Holland in normal time (straws clutched) but it wasn't enough. <BR/><BR/>Yes the 78 team had great players and played excellent football in many games but they let us down. <BR/><BR/>The 74 team has become a team full of heroes from Big Jim Holton through to Denis Law.<BR/><BR/>Having said all that we would quite like to recapture some of the feeling of pre-June 1978 when we really believed we were the best in the world, its better than worrying whether you can beat the Faroes.Flicktokickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863268660949606261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156407718388130822006-08-24T09:21:00.000+01:002006-08-24T09:21:00.000+01:00Ah-ha! We have a Scot in our midst!Welcome on boar...Ah-ha! We have a Scot in our midst!<BR/><BR/>Welcome on board, FlickToKick! This is interesting - you say the Scots have more admiration for the 1974 team than the one in 1978?<BR/><BR/>Having done some rudimentary research, I'd say both sides had a generous share of quality players. In 1974 you had Bremner, Lorimer and Law, in 1978 you had Rioch, Gemmill, Souness and Macari and in both squads you had Dalglish, Jordan and Buchan.<BR/><BR/>What do you feel enables the 1974 Scotland World Cup squad to be held in such high esteem?Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156360331923296842006-08-23T20:12:00.000+01:002006-08-23T20:12:00.000+01:00I always thought that was the side that went to th...I always thought that was the side that went to the World Cup in Argentina......<BR/><BR/>We're on the march <BR/>We're Ally's Army......<BR/><BR/>And all that.Kedgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634799246495796347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156337844996083752006-08-23T13:57:00.000+01:002006-08-23T13:57:00.000+01:00Actually we do talk about the 74 vintage as the be...Actually we do talk about the 74 vintage as the best ever Scotland team, it's just you've never noticed.Flicktokickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863268660949606261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156326604015495922006-08-23T10:50:00.000+01:002006-08-23T10:50:00.000+01:00How good of you to write such a thorough reply, Ke...How good of you to write such a thorough reply, Kedge. You've filled in some of the gaps that I left during the composition of this article, which is a relief!<BR/><BR/>Yes of course, Brian Clough (who was working on the night of the England v Poland game as a pundit for ITV) labelled the Polish goalkeeper Tomaszewski 'a clown' but that was regarded by many as somewhat unfair. He may have had an unorthodox way of keeping goal, but it worked, which was the main thing.<BR/><BR/>And yes, Norman Hunter lost the ball at exactly the moment we didn't want him to. What chance did Shilton have after that?<BR/><BR/>As for Scotland during the 1970's, you're quite right to mention that they effectively had a sense of superiority over England by virtue of qualifying for two World Cups. And if they'd improved their goal difference just slightly, we could have been talking about arguably the greatest Scottish team ever. Thank heavens we were spared that, eh?!?Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27676150.post-1156319668870250132006-08-23T08:54:00.000+01:002006-08-23T08:54:00.000+01:00Ah! The memories you conjour up Chris. I remember ...Ah! The memories you conjour up Chris. I remember that Poland match. Such confidence we had that the lads would win through. Poland at home - no problem. <BR/>Edge of the seat stuff it was too. Enland pushing forward, it seemed to be only a matter of time before the 1st goal came, paving the way for a cricket score result in our favour. But "The Clown" had other ideas. Somehow, as you say, he saved everything.<BR/>And then, 10 minutes into the 2nd half, the moment that broke our hearts. Everyone had pushed forward, Bobby Moore, the Great Bobby Moore, one day to become Sir Bobby Moore and to have a Britannia Airway plane named after him, was caught out of position, and almost on the halfway line, close on the right touchline, the last defender, the so solid, the so dependable, Norman "bites yer legs" Hunter facing the Polish winger Lato. Stay on your feet, we shouted. Jockey him, we called. Don't commit yourself, we beseeched. What did he do? He dived in, went to ground. "Thank you" said the pole as he evaded the tackle and saw a clear route to goal. 1 on 1 with the keeper from the moment he entered the England half. The nations hopes resting on the giant hands of Shilton.<BR/>Did I say 1 on 1? What's this? Domarski had race forward, leaving the bewildered England defenders in his wake. Shilts comes out to narrow the angle as a keeper should, Lato spots his fast arriving team mate, slips the ball in field and Domarski, neatly places the ball wide of the left hand of the desperate, but ultimately vain dive of Shilton and into the net. The nation went silent. The only sound was the sobbing of England fans as they held their heads in their hands.<BR/><BR/>And what ignomy was to be heaped onto the fans following this?<BR/><BR/>Yes! Scotland qualified. And as any Scots fan will tell you ad nauseum, the Scots only just failed to make it through the group stage. The were unbeaten, and lost out on Goal Difference to BRAZIL, who they held to a goalless draw. The shame, the hurt. I can still feel the pain. That goal haunts my sleep even now. I watch replays of the match and I still shout to the defence - GET BACK, GET BACK!. <BR/><BR/>But they never do.Kedgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634799246495796347noreply@blogger.com