1978-79 | The self-implosion of Manchester City

[Gingers Dad]

I watched the whole of this game back last week and also all of the Poland World Cup qualifier at Wembley in October 1973 when the 1-1 draw eliminated England from going to the finals in West Germany.
The Czech game I think was Bell's best game for England even though he started left midfield. The Poland game had me wishing Colin had more belief in his own abilities. Really wanted to see him taking responsibility and taking the initiative himself on more occasions. He was by then one of the most experienced players in the side and he had all the ability to lead from the front. At times he did look a bit passive and didn't show as much for the ball as he could of, seeming to prefer to leave it to other (inferior) team mates. Poland were underestimated by everyone and were a fine team led by Deyna, of course. Very well organized defensively with fast, attacking players ready to exploit gaps and over eagerness by England. A combination of bad luck, THAT goalkeeper, Polish solidity and crucial mistakes by Hunter and Shilton led to England going out.

I remember Clough called the Polish goalie a clown to everyone's amazement. I watched the highlights back a few years ago and Clough probably had a point. There was one shot or cross he punched towards his own net that a defender headed off the line.

 

[stan bowles]

I remember Clough called the Polish goalie a clown to everyone's amazement. I watched the highlights back a few years ago and Clough probably had a point. There was one shot or cross he punched towards his own net that a defender headed off the line.

The goalkeeper at the other end (who Clough later bought for a then world record for a GK) allowed a shot to squeeze under his body which should have been a routine save for an international GK. There again, I thought Shilton was very overrated and had serious shortcomings particularly a lack of height and mobility towards the middle and later parts of his career.

 

[paulchapo]

I remember Clough called the Polish goalie a clown to everyone's amazement. I watched the highlights back a few years ago and Clough probably had a point. There was one shot or cross he punched towards his own net that a defender headed off the line.

That game was one of the most one sided games I'd seen before we started battering sides and were similarly done by a breakaway goal and a cock up. A great report of the game below

Jan Tomaszewski – The ‘Clown’ who had the last laugh.

England had won the World Cup in 1966, and offered up a more than reasonable defence of the trophy four years later, before heat, fatigue and an absent Gordon Banks did for them in Mexico. In 1974,…

www.google.com

 

[Gingers Dad]

The goalkeeper at the other end (who Clough later bought for a then world record for a GK) allowed a shot to squeeze under his body which should have been a routine save for an international GK. There again, I thought Shilton was very overrated and had serious shortcomings particularly a lack of height and mobility towards the middle and later parts of his career.

Still think England could have won the 1990 semi final if they had picked a keeper

 

[stan bowles]

Still think England could have won the 1990 semi final if they had picked a keeper

100% agree...his (Shilton's) attempt at backpedalling to prevent their goal was comical. Likewise his attempt to clear the misplaced clearance in 1986 that became the Hand of God goal - just not good enough.

 

[Blue and still suffering]

And Phil Thompson explaining in hi post match interview that he was "sick as a parrot" because the ref had given a penalty when he, Thompson, had deliberately hacked O'hare down just outside. It did mean more even then.

Asked why he had committed the foul, he also said "I had to kick him, I just had to". Maybe it's my age but I thought the penalty was at the Scoreboard end.

 

[LongsightM13]

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I have had this conversation on here before. I also thought it was the Forest match when he did that but was corrected by a few people present at the time that it was actually the Boro game the Wednesday immediately before or after

 

[LongsightM13]

They are indeed the days. I remember asking the bloke next to me if he was going to the league cup final against Sunderland and I was gobsmacked when he said he couldn't be bothered. After 35 trophyless years I try to get to every single one, luckily only lost once domestically, bloody Wigan.

I miss the sweet sweet Carabao.
Our cup, a trophy that has been a big part of our history (last one for 34 years), loads of tickets (unlike the FA Cup final with the undeserving freebies for squaddies and County FA twats) and I’m personally gutted we aren’t heading down to that shithole in Feb

 

[paulchapo]

I miss the sweet sweet Carabao.
Our cup, a trophy that has been a big part of our history (last one for 34 years), loads of tickets (unlike the FA Cup final with the undeserving freebies for squaddies and County FA twats) and I’m personally gutted we aren’t heading down to that shithole in Feb

Me too it's usually a good overnight/weekend and winning it this year would have set a record I doubt would have been beaten.

Eleven trophies since 2008 may have watered it down slightly but I still remember watching teams like Swansea ( No disrespect ) lifting it at Wembley and thinking why the fuck we couldn't do it at least once. So I get myself down there and savour every single success now

 

[BillCarlisle]

Some great reminders of what we all endured, but by God its been one hell of a rollercoaster of a ride whatching City over the years, and looking back shows what a ride it was and still is today, from total despair to the promise land, we have seen it all.

Absolutely. It winds me up when other fans talk about us buying success, glory hunting fans blah blah blah. I always tell them they don't know what what they're fecking talking about.