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Tony Green


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Guest Howaythetoon

A few old timers I know say Len White is the best they've seen and of course Green who ranks very highly it would seem as one of if not the best in terms of ability. Although Wor Jackie is understandably a fave, some people I know say he was all pace and powerful shooting, and that he was an average player in terms of technique and skill etc. Not a patch on Shearer, White or even Supermac. My uncles swear Supermac today would be one of the very best in the world and that they have never seen anyone as exciting to watch. No-one could catch him, no 'keeper could stop his shots and no-one had an easy game against him etc. We've been blessed with some great players over the years like.

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Nothing brings us oldies out like a Tony Green thread.

 

Anyone who saw him would have him in their all-time top five. He had amazing acceleration and a change of direction that would take him past opposing players before they'd have time to react. Breathtaking to watch.

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Nothing brings us oldies out like a Tony Green thread.

 

Anyone who saw him would have him in their all-time top five. He had amazing acceleration and a change of direction that would take him past opposing players before they'd have time to react. Breathtaking to watch.

 

Sounds like Ben Arfa.

 

 

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Nothing brings us oldies out like a Tony Green thread.

 

Anyone who saw him would have him in their all-time top five. He had amazing acceleration and a change of direction that would take him past opposing players before they'd have time to react. Breathtaking to watch.

 

Sounds like Ben Arfa.

 

 

 

Not quite as skilful but three times the work rate.

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Nothing brings us oldies out like a Tony Green thread.

 

Anyone who saw him would have him in their all-time top five. He had amazing acceleration and a change of direction that would take him past opposing players before they'd have time to react. Breathtaking to watch.

 

Sounds like Ben Arfa.

 

 

Not quite as skilful but three times the work rate.

 

Sounds like Bellamy  :laugh:

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Nothing brings us oldies out like a Tony Green thread.

 

Anyone who saw him would have him in their all-time top five. He had amazing acceleration and a change of direction that would take him past opposing players before they'd have time to react. Breathtaking to watch.

 

Sounds like Ben Arfa.

 

 

Not quite as skilful but three times the work rate.

 

Sounds like Bellamy  :laugh:

 

More skilful, just as quick, less mad.

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A few old timers I know say Len White is the best they've seen and of course Green who ranks very highly it would seem as one of if not the best in terms of ability. Although Wor Jackie is understandably a fave, some people I know say he was all pace and powerful shooting, and that he was an average player in terms of technique and skill etc. Not a patch on Shearer, White or even Supermac. My uncles swear Supermac today would be one of the very best in the world and that they have never seen anyone as exciting to watch. No-one could catch him, no 'keeper could stop his shots and no-one had an easy game against him etc. We've been blessed with some great players over the years like.

 

I saw Milburn play in a testimonial when he was in his 50s and it is not true to say he was just about pace and shooting ; he was skilful on the ball and even at that age, could turn a defender beautifully. Looked to be more comfortable on the ball than Shearer but Shearer was better at shielding it and giving defenders as good as he got. Supermac was the most exciting CF I have seen wearing the B&W, the only CF we have had for many years who could lift the crowd out of their seats with excitement by his sheer pace when running on to a through ball. What was more, he was all left foot, pace and not much else when he first arrived aged 21, but he developed so much as an all-round player that although he wasn't very tall, defenders feared his heading ability as much as his pace  - ask people who saw him score a great header against Bob Wilson/Arsenal back in 72...came back too quickly after a couple of cartilage ops when in his prime and I reckon that was why his career ended early.

Could be arrogant and selfish but boy, what a player....would have been worth a huge sum today

As for Tony Green, I have made my views about him clear before - fantastic player with electric pace over 1st 5 yards and a huge influence on a side. We were heading for relegation in late 71 until Joe Harvey signed him a few months later and he gave an immediate lift to the side. Tragically taken out by Mel Blyth at Crystal Palace in 73 and although he tried to return from cruciate ligament injury, it wasn't possible in those days. Still believe we would not have lost so easily to Liverpool - if at all - during the 74 Cup Final if Green had been playing. Another who would have been worth a fortune by today's standards and although Nasri isn't as good as Green was he was a similar type of player when at his best. Although TG only played 38 games for us, he had a big crowd for his testimonial which showed how highly he was rated by the fans. He always loved the club too and made that clear in the years after his retirement.

We have had some great, great players but those days are long gone and unlikely to return because we wouldn't be in the hunt for these players today.

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1973 - A sad time when we lost Tony Green . . .

 

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Newcastle%204/Newcastle%205/TonyGreen-November1973_0002_zps1464c6b2.jpg

 

 

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Newcastle%204/Newcastle%205/TonyGreen-November1973_0003_zps2e9c490c.jpg

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Newcastle%204/Newcastle%205/TonyGreen-November1973_0004_zps70986e88.jpg

 

 

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Newcastle%204/Newcastle%205/TonyGreen-November1973_0001_zps22e07f09.jpg

 

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:clap: Great clippings. I think the first game I went to on my own was his testimonial. Iirc I sat in the new East Stand and bizarrely Bobby Charlton turned out for us. I might have dreamt it, mind! Cba to dig the programme out right now tbh. It's probably in a box in a cupboard under a shitload of stuff with piles of useless unwieldy furniture blocking the way. I'll get it out when hell freezes over for the second time. :lol: Or never, whichever comes first.

 

Did anyone else go? A sunny day as I remember it.

 

Oh, and also he went back to Blackpool to teach and is still on the pools panel I think.

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The story behind the injury is even more tragic than you might suppose. When it first happened, the club sent him to a general surgeon who also had a seat on the Board. The bloke wasn't properly qualified and Green was given entirely the wrong treatment. After six weeks, Tony Green finally persuaded the Board to send him to a specialist, who took one look at the knee and operated on it within hours. The amateurish way in which the club was run in those days greatly reduced his chances of recovery.

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:( That first article's moved me a lot, will read the others soon. 

 

Comes across such a horrible situation, presumably these days that injury wouldn't have been the end of him.

 

Yeah, really moved by those clippings, great find. Feel really sad when I hear stuff like that, a guy as talented and passionate as that.

 

Was it a malicious tackle?

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"Of course I was a bit bitter to be finished so young - I was only 25 when a tackle by Crystal Palace's Mel Blyth cut me down"

 

"Everything went in my knee, ligaments, cartilage, the lot. I didn't have an operation for an age which I believe cost me dearly"

 

Was Jacky on the sauce or are these Tony Green quotes false?

 

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