denislawsbackheel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 28 May 2008
- Messages
- 25,868
- Team supported
- We went to Rotherham…
Before he came City were a team of direct pace. The opposition could have a corner and City could score from it seconds later due to Buzzer and Franny’s pace.As Joe Mercer said after we had thrown the title away in such glorious fashion, '£200,000 is a lot of money to spend to lose the title'.
We were 6 points clear at the top of the table when he arrived, when it was 2 points for a win with only a few games left to play. Lee and Davies had been working well together, and his arrival derailed everything.
Not only at the end of the 71-72 season. It carried on into the next. I don't think we won a game until November.
We had the title sewn up, he came in, and it all went to pot after that.
I don't blame Marsh, as he has said on numerous occasions he wasn't the right player for City and he wasn't fit enough when he joined. He was a special individual to watch when the ball was at his feet, he weaved his magic when he wanted, but I put the blame on Allison for bringing him in.
49 years later, it still rankles we lost the title in 1972 in such fashion, but it has to be said Gordon Banks had a huge part to play in our freefall that season as well.
Rodney arrived and breaks turned into platforms for his poncing about with the ball, the taking the piss that some on here seem to value.
Yes he scored some wonder goals, the casual side foot from outside the area at the swamp, the goal against Newcastle where he beat most of their defence to score and even their players applauded, but he did cost us the title.
Last edited: