08-06-2023, 05:31 PM
(01-06-2023, 05:08 AM)TBP Wrote:I remember that Newcastle game only too well. Went up on the football special train. Left Portsmouth Harbour Station at about 6am and got back about 11.30pm. Waddle (2) and Keegan all scored for them before half-time. Then (I think) Wharton scored a 4th for them in the 2nd half before Tait and Biley scored 2 late goals to make it a less depressing return trip. It was my 1st time to Newcastle and I couldn't believe how much noise a crowd of about 25k could make in what was in those days a very open ground.(31-05-2023, 09:04 PM)DeepBlue Wrote:(31-05-2023, 08:31 PM)bluebollox Wrote:(31-05-2023, 04:33 PM)DeepBlue Wrote:You're wrong plain & simple. The defence bar Yosser was past its sell by date. Again thats why Bally said tks but no tks. They were excellent Div 3 defenders but just not up to the job in Div2, the attackers there were too powerful, too quick & too mobile for them.(31-05-2023, 03:37 PM)bluebollox Wrote: No we didn't. The defence got found out bigtime sadly. We leaked too many goals but scored more goals than Sheff Wed. who went up. We conceded 4 @ home 3 times that I can recall straight off my head, Oldham, Toon & Blackburn. We finished 16th. With a better defence with the firepower we had who knows what may've happened.
Thats why Bally shored it up straightaway after taking over. It was a league too far for the likes of McLaughlin, Sullivan & even Aizlewood. Taity-yes his commitment was second to none whatever league we were in & thats why Bally kept him.
The reason we leaked goals that season was more to do with Campbell's attacking tactics than the ability of the defenders. Which is why the team is remembered so fondly, they attacked and entertained.
I'd agree that the defence was weaker than the midfield and forwards in that team, and they were all certainly towards the end of their careers, but it was an unnecessary insult to describe what were decent enough players as a Div 4 defence.
Aizlewood was recruited in Div 4 and Sullivan in Div 3. Tait was also Div 3, as a striker. McLaughlin was recruited in Div 2. I was living in Newcastle that season and had the pleasure of seeing them lose 4-2 at Newcastle (Tait giving away a penalty) and 2-1 at Leeds.