This.
City were badly run postwar with a lack of ambition.
Late 60's early 70's divisions and boardroom struggles took their toll culminating in the appointment of carpetbagger Swales as chairman. This started the rot that continued until he was forced out. Exemplified by first side-lining Joe Mercer and then a dispute with Francis Lee that took him to Derby and another champions medal under Clough.
Swales continued in this vein all his time at City. Mid 70's Tony Book resuscitated the dying patient but Swales showed little support and quickly reverted to type as the small time huckster surrounded by cronies. Swales interest was in using City as a paycheck, massaging his ego and as stepping stone to social climbing within the FA
Joe Mercer had brought wisdom and integrity. Malcolm Allison a vision and recipe for success. Neither were valued with players treated as pawns, all secondary to the interests and whims of those who ran City. It was a prewar mentality in a postwar age. Players and staff were expected to know their place. This took precedence over results on the field.
I was at that game . Good old Tommy Booth nicking the ball of Colins toe.On a lighter note could you ever imagine this happening with our chairman Khaldoon. When we beat Everton in a nail biting semi at Villa Park in 69 our dear old chairman Albert Alexander walked into the dressing room as the players and management were joyfully celebrating and said " Well done lads now we are at Wembley we will make some money and we can buy some decent players". Classic.
Clough had left Derby before Lee arrived. Dave Mackay had replaced Clough by then.swales did his dirty work behind the scenes on the board and unrest was filtering down to the team and manager and coach. from about 1970 city went on free fall and fast for a top team. the squad of players and club was really the best in england and should have won more titles and cups after 1970
like you said franny lee went to derby and won the title with a lesser team in derby. ok clough was manager but it was early in his career as manager. but he added 2 or 3 players and derby took off
Clough had left Derby before Lee arrived. Dave Mackay had replaced Clough by then.
but lee turned derby in league champions and that was the question in lee summerbee and bell was still good enough to win titles after 1970. city had turned sour and when swales rocked up in 1973 as chairman we was a shambles and at best a cup team
That's a good point. Who did we sign after winning the 1st Division title ? Bobby Owen from Bury for £100,000 (a lot of money in those days) ! He scored in the Charity Shield win over WBA 6-1 but don't remember him doing much after that.Also, clubs were ran by a Chairman/owner but not so much as a big business like now. They didnt spend big to keep the clubs at the top. A team who had done well kept the same players to try and do it again, and more players came through from the reserves than by being bought.
Cloughie had resigned from Derby before Franny signed for them. It was Dave Mackay who guided them to the league title in 74-75swales did his dirty work behind the scenes on the board and unrest was filtering down to the team and manager and coach. from about 1970 city went on free fall and fast for a top team. the squad of players and club was really the best in england and should have won more titles and cups after 1970
like you said franny lee went to derby and won the title with a lesser team in derby. ok clough was manager but it was early in his career as manager. but he added 2 or 3 players and derby took off
why did city not go on to much greater things is a puzzle ? maybe football was different back then and we had 4 or 5 teams that was up and coming like liverpool and notts forest and city should have been on par with both of them
swales really did not know much football and run a campaign in the back ground once he got a good foot hold on the board. pressure was used and money and power got the better of manchester city board and swales was unleashed as chairman