1966efc
Player Valuation: £20m
@Khalekan and some others have mentioned possibly the worst week in the club's history ... March 24th - 27th 1971.
We were a delicate plant in that season - beyond dreadful in the league (plus ca change) but going well in Europe and the F A Cup. Greece (I'm told) provided a lousy pitch and, in the way of disappointed players and fans, the referee was naturally said to be bought by the opposition. (Panathinaikos went on to the final and were not disgraced by a fabulous Ajax side, so maybe they had a bit more in their locker than we gave them credit for.)
That defeat was a bitter pill to swallow but with a semi at Old Trafford coming up just two days later, there was still some optimism we'd get to Wembley.
Jimmy Husband and West were absent but there was, on paper, a reasonably strong team to take on Liverpool.
We took the lead through Bally and could well have had a second from him if Whittle hadn't been a headless chicken and taken on the shot when Bally was far better placed.
Leading at half time, we were quite perky until, in the 49th minute, Labone was forced to leave the pitch to be replaced by the very enthusiastic, but limited, Sandy Brown. Just ten short minutes later, they'd equalised and, of course, went on to win it.
We were tired and dispirited after the Greek business so I'm really not sure we had enough to see the match out in any circumstances but, the moment Labby went off injured was, for me, the real end of the 60's and the start of the new, cold Kopite world which, for us, has seen only four competitive seasons since.
Let's hope that with the fresh impetus Moshiri may bring that times are once again changing starting next Saturday.
C O Y B. It can't be that bloody difficult to win a pot ... can it?!
We were a delicate plant in that season - beyond dreadful in the league (plus ca change) but going well in Europe and the F A Cup. Greece (I'm told) provided a lousy pitch and, in the way of disappointed players and fans, the referee was naturally said to be bought by the opposition. (Panathinaikos went on to the final and were not disgraced by a fabulous Ajax side, so maybe they had a bit more in their locker than we gave them credit for.)
That defeat was a bitter pill to swallow but with a semi at Old Trafford coming up just two days later, there was still some optimism we'd get to Wembley.
Jimmy Husband and West were absent but there was, on paper, a reasonably strong team to take on Liverpool.
We took the lead through Bally and could well have had a second from him if Whittle hadn't been a headless chicken and taken on the shot when Bally was far better placed.
Leading at half time, we were quite perky until, in the 49th minute, Labone was forced to leave the pitch to be replaced by the very enthusiastic, but limited, Sandy Brown. Just ten short minutes later, they'd equalised and, of course, went on to win it.
We were tired and dispirited after the Greek business so I'm really not sure we had enough to see the match out in any circumstances but, the moment Labby went off injured was, for me, the real end of the 60's and the start of the new, cold Kopite world which, for us, has seen only four competitive seasons since.
Let's hope that with the fresh impetus Moshiri may bring that times are once again changing starting next Saturday.
C O Y B. It can't be that bloody difficult to win a pot ... can it?!
