In memoriam - Football Edition

[Danh1]

Just now, OpenC said:

I wonder how a minutes silence will go

We would observe it perfectly. As would they if one of ours. 

[jack j]

13 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

We would observe it perfectly. As would they if one of ours. 

Plenty derbys where this wouldn't be the case like...

[Scoreboard82]

I was only a bairn but remember he tore us a new one in a game at St James's, late 70s maybe. Did he get a hat trick? As you can imagine he'll go down in folklore in Sunderland for that alone. Bad memory but RIP. I hope we show some class and honour any tribute tomorrow.

[Robster]

Just now, Scoreboard82 said:

I was only a bairn but remember he tore us a new one in a game at St James's, late 70s maybe. Did he get a hat trick? As you can imagine he'll go down in folklore in Sunderland for that alone. Bad memory but RIP. I hope we show some class and honour any tribute tomorrow.

He did get a hat trick, yes

[frankpingel]

Just now, Scoreboard82 said:

I was only a bairn but remember he tore us a new one in a game at St James's, late 70s maybe. Did he get a hat trick? As you can imagine he'll go down in folklore in Sunderland for that alone. Bad memory but RIP. I hope we show some class and honour any tribute tomorrow.

79 and indeed a hatrick. Still remember too well, think it was the reason I'll never look forward to Derby matches.

[Magpie Mover]

I went to school with Gary he was a good lad living his dream. Very sad news.

[Big Geordie]

He played for Sunderland just before I began supporting Newcastle. 
 

RIP Gary.

[Tsunami]

Really sad news, he was a cracking player and a right pain against us. I was there when he got that hat trick. 
 

Hope our fans do the right thing and show respect, 68 is no age and the guy was a legend for them. RIP.

[Heron]

15 minutes ago, Tsunami said:

Really sad news, he was a cracking player and a right pain against us. I was there when he got that hat trick. 
 

Hope our fans do the right thing and show respect, 68 is no age and the guy was a legend for them. RIP.

Aye. I hope our fans don't be knobs like.

[Scoreboard82]

3 hours ago, Heron said:

Aye. I hope our fans don't be knobs like.

Absolutely. Don't want any excuse for criticism from that lot. 

[Mr Misery]

RIP John Robertson.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwywvy9yj9po

[Magpie Mover]

Now he was a seriously good player, the kind of winger we need now.

[andycap]

No pace but was top notch. 

[brummie]

3 hours ago, Mr Misery said:

RIP John Robertson.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwywvy9yj9po

 

What a great player he was (as anyone in their 50s or older will tell you).

 

Little squat fat fucker who loved the tabs. Great player.

[Big Geordie]

A bit before my time - but saw enough from videos and read enough to realize that he was a real quality outside-left. 

 

RIP John Robertson. 

[brummie]

John Robertson was just one piece of proof for what a fucking genius Brian Clough was.

[Cronky]

19 minutes ago, brummie said:

John Robertson was just one piece of proof for what a fucking genius Brian Clough was.

 

That Forest team, with their First Division title directly after promotion, followed by two European Cups, was the most outrageous example of over-achievement that I've ever witnessed in football. Robertson was a major part of their success.

 

At one point, they went 42 successive First Division games without defeat. Considering the quality of their squad, that was amazing.

 

PS - 21 wins and 21 draws, as I recall, before the 3 points for a win days, when draws carried more value relatively.

 

 

Edited December 25, 2025 by Cronky

[andycap]

They had a cracking team though. 

 

[madras]

15 minutes ago, andycap said:

They had a cracking team though. 

 

They did and didnt. Clough playing of them made them like that. Lloyd, Burns, Clark, McGovern (79 V Malmo team) were players seemed either past it or no one else really wanted. Throw  in the likes of Bowyer, Robertson, even Withe from the title winning team. They done nothing new tactically he just drilled them at their jobs, he got them great at the basics.

[brummie]

It is also important to remember what Forest were before Clough, as a club. To do what he did with them was just incredible.

 

They also played some great football. Possession football, nothing particularly extravagant, but they'd move the ball around so quickly with neat passes, playing little triangles all down the pitch.

 

And if anyone other than John Robertson ever tried to take players on via the dribbling route, Clough would go bat-shit.

[Wolfcastle]

22 hours ago, Cronky said:

 

That Forest team, with their First Division title directly after promotion, followed by two European Cups, was the most outrageous example of over-achievement that I've ever witnessed in football. Robertson was a major part of their success.

 

At one point, they went 42 successive First Division games without defeat. Considering the quality of their squad, that was amazing.

 

PS - 21 wins and 21 draws, as I recall, before the 3 points for a win days, when draws carried more value relatively.

 

 

 

I put Forest and Clough as the last club/team that built "organically" for the pro PSR peddled line of "why don't you just build organically"

(possible exception of Arsenal under George Graham but they were already hovering around the top anyway)

[Cronky]

11 hours ago, Wolfcastle said:

I put Forest and Clough as the last club/team that built "organically" for the pro PSR peddled line of "why don't you just build organically"

(possible exception of Arsenal under George Graham but they were already hovering around the top anyway)

 

It was very odd how Clough managed to turn such an ordinary group of players into winners. Players can produce peak performances for periods during a game, and for the occasional game. He seemed able to get them to peak for just about 90 minutes of every game.

 

His widow once said that he 'took the fear out of football'. Perhaps because he appeared to be so fearless himself, he was able to inspire that spirit in his players. They always seemed so relaxed and focused.

 

Although he's a different character, I've seen Eddie have a similar effect. I can't get over the semis and final of last season's League Cup. Five hours of football against the top two teams in the country, and we concede only one goal and score six. That's faith in action.

[Tsunami]

Clough made a great solid base with the likes of Shelton, Lloyd, Burns, McGovern, Gemmill and then you had Robertson, Withe, Francis, Woodcock, O’Neill. They were some team when they won the League and European Cups. Mad that a club has more European Cups than League Titles.

[Miggys First Goal]

Martin Chivers. Rest in peace. 

[George Bailey]

Terry Yorath at 75 

good player. RIP