Community Chat – A Place for Weary Flingers

[Brian N]

The only team that came close to that Brazil team was the Holland side. of 74 under Rinus Michels playing fantastic ‘total football’.Sadly they never won  a World Cup beaten by a Teutonic tactical masterclass in the final.Krol,Haan,Neeskens,Van Hanagem, Cruyff,Rep,Rensenbrink etc.

Not quite as good as Tostao,Gerson,Rivelino,Pele,Jairzinho,Carlos Alberto etc but surely the best team never to win the World Cup though I wonder if Cruyff had gone to Argentina in 78 whether they might’ve done it.

[Desperate Dan]

Some say that the Hungary team in 1954 was the greatest team never to win. And guess what?  They were also undone by the Germans in the Final. Given that Hungary had put 8 goals past Germany at the group stage (and 7 past England two months before), this was the greatest Final upset there has ever been.

[Brian N]

The mists of time make it hard to be objective and the 8-3 was misleading as W.Germany put out their B side in the group match.The Germans as ever were crafty being the first to use detatchable studs so they didn’t have to change boots in adverse weather.There were also allegations of amphetemines being injected which believe it or not wasn’t illegal back then.

[Desperate Dan]

However, 7-1 remains England’s heaviest ever defeat and they were also thumped 6-3 by Hungary at Wembley around that time. It is true that World Cup Finals rarely have any opportunity for upsets. Although there have been some unexpected teams in the semis (e.g. South Korea) it never extends to the finals themselves.

[Brian N]

Let’s be honest England were absolutely heist during this time period.Humiliated by the USA in 50 (no offence @catsnbirds) and not even getting out of the group stage .Only slightly better in 54 where they squeaked through the group but were gubbed in the qfinal by Uruguay.Think the motto’Not as good as they think they are’ applies(and still does).

Any team that goes 30 games undefeated as Hungary did before the 54 final deserve a great deal of credit and I agree that defeat was more of an upset than Holland’s in 74 but only because of the strength of that Germany team compared to it’s 54 counterparts.W. Germany came into that WC on home soil on the back victory in the 72 Euros so were slight favourites.Not many on these shores were cheering them on as the Dutch style of football was so captivating.

As for big upsets some would argue Brazil not winning at home in 50 was quite a surprise.Although technically there was no final that year the game against Uruguay which Brazil lost proved to be their undoing.

[HunnyBunny]

Wouldn’t walk underneath the ladder?
Too short to clean the tops of the windows, without ruining her Christian Laboutins?
Saw something terrible through the window?
(I had lots of scenarios in my head, most either rude or offensive)

[Brian N]

Unlike The Fall not quite a full alphabet from the boys(not surprising given 30+ studio albums v 7).No X so we go staight to Y or as @desperate-dan would say “Why???”https://youtu.be/JkhrOjLD1f0?si=oe_ksnpZFrfuWf0f

[Brian N]

Can’t imagine rude or offensive scenarios going through your head Mrs Bunny

[catsnbirds]

No offense taken @briann . Of course, I have no idea what you are talking about. Football games from 75 years ago?

[Desperate Dan]

She couldn’t stand the ukelele?

[Desperate Dan]

Allergic to glass?

[Desperate Dan]

That’s everything. It has to be one of those.

[Desperate Dan]

Ignore this @hunnybunny.

Here is a fairly ancient football question for you @brianN. Apologies if I have asked it before. In my 1970/71 football stickers album, which covered Division One (then the top flight of course) and the best players from Division Two, and which had in the region of 350 stickers, there was only 1 (one) black player. Who was that player?

The irony was, as far as foreign players went, the only one out of that lot who sounded foreign was Dick Krzywicki of Huddersfield, who was a Welsh international.

[Brian N]

Ironic to think they were such a rarity back then.I can remember two very distinctly from around that period and they were both very good players .Albert Johanson of Leeds Utd(Dirty Leeds as my Derby Co. supporting uncle always calls them with relish) and Clyde Best(George’s identical twin brother) who graced West Ham’s colours.

[Desperate Dan]

Indeed, I’m sure it was only Clyde Best who featured. I did see his identical twin play twice. Manchester United 1970. Fulham 1976.

[Desperate Dan]

The Luton v Fulham game was memorable because in the Fulham team that day were George Best, Rodney Marsh and Bobby Moore. Fulham won 2-0. I was selling programmes.

Normal Luton crowds were about 10000 (Division Two). There were 20000 at Kenilworth Road that day.  Current capacity is only 12000.

[HunnyBunny]

On Football:
Cardiff City bought a few houses (obviously nice) where I was bought up
Bobby Ferguson and Jim Eadie lived next door and John Charles around the corner
Remember them so well…

[HunnyBunny]

Come on Brian, spill the beans on wife window cleaning

[Brian N]

No spilling of beans Bunny you must use that forensically sharp ex-copper brain of yours(is that a contradiction in terms?)

John Charles what a legend brilliant centre- forward,brilliant- centre back and was a massive success in Italy.Best Welsh player ever?All round top bloke as well by all accounts.

[Desperate Dan]

Derby County and Scottish international Christian Dailly used to live round the corner from our house and next door to one of our friends in Derby. At the time Derby were a top ten Premier League team.

[Desperate Dan]

Bother, I was going to guess that you had spilled beans on her.

[Brian N]

I used to clean Pele’s windows.

[Desperate Dan]

She gave up because your pants were on fire.

[Desperate Dan]

Blimey,  we are playing for one of my trophies in the Challenge today. Thing is, it’s in Rio. Forgot I had this one. You are all welcome to it

[Brian N]

Rain on today might have a go at the Challenge but Rivelino’s gutters will have to wait.