Why Didn't We Sign Chris Marsden in 1994? (1 Viewer)

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
We'd used up our quota of bald or balding players on David Rennie
 

torchomatic

Well-Known Member

Finham

Well-Known Member
OK I've finished watching Coventry murder Swindon 1-1 in 1994. Bastard Swindon last minute Andy Mutch equaliser, we were all over them but didn't take our chances!

Marsden was as good as I remember him & people's points about his strengths are absolutely spot on. He also made 4-5 good ball winning challenges as the game went on. He played a significant part in a goal that was uncannily similar to our breaks from the back last season-I think it's around 1:33:50. Gray singled him out for showing composure in carrying the ball out of defence then passing it rather than hoofing. Keys quipped "It's only a matter of time before the price goes up I think...". Thanks, Richard, well done. All I can think is that either yeah, Wolves outbid us, or it was off-pitch issues, because he was quality.

Peter Withe (who was post-match analysis & had also signed Marsden for Huddersfield) said Marsden was let go by Bassett at Sheff U as he wanted to play long but Marsden wanted to play passing football. The reason he was available from Huddersfield is because Neil Warnock had just got the Huddersfield job and the VERY same situation emerged!

My match ratings (and whether they'd get in the team now):

Oggy-7. Such good hands. Forget the bit in Staying Up that swoons over Hedman's technique, he was just old by then. Peak Oggy was better. (YES)
Borrows-8. Class act. Hit the bar with a trademark piledriver. Still very fast at this stage too. Top player. (YES)
Morgan-3. Quick/strong but headless/weak positioning/passing. Babb & Marsden kept having to tell him where to stand. Not great for the goal. (NO)
Atherton-6. Did alright. (YES)
Babb-6. Not his best game, but had his hands full managing Morgan. (YES)
Flynn-6. Awful passing first half but battled SO hard & in the second half made the goal with an inch-perfect through ball. (NO, because it would be Biamou all over!)
Darby-4.5. Sorry NW, not on this showing. Tried, had a good early shot, but faded fast & passing/first touch were very poor. (NO)
Marsden-8. See above. Fantastic passing/composure/awareness. (YES. Perfect competition for Sheaf & Gus if he doesn't allegedly etc.).
Ndlovu-8.5. Frustrating at times, not least as he was having shit kicked out of him by one Nicky Summerbee. Came to life second half, some superb skill/pace, shot cleared off the line, had a good pen shout & one wonderful 40 yard pass created a chance that Quinn fluffed. (YES. Would get so much more protection now.)
Williams-4. Head had dropped by this stage of his City career (post-Gould). Pace was often a threat but very poor passing/technique. (NO)
Wegerle-8. Ha, how do your rate a 70's throwback in a 90's match being watched in 2022?? Better than I remember, I suppose as this would be Prime Wegerle at City, but did really tend to overplay rather than shoot/pass when the option was there. Brilliant skill though, cracking strike for the goal too. (YES. He'd drive Robins mental, but yes just for the entertainment value).
Sub-Quinn-5. One good pass but missed a couple of very good chances. (NO, based on this was him very much on the way out.)
The Mad Hatters-7. Featured prominently throughout, hugged by Wegerle when he scored, haven't aged much. (YES, as they're still here.)
 

TomRad85

Well-Known Member
OK I've finished watching Coventry murder Swindon 1-1 in 1994. Bastard Swindon last minute Andy Mutch equaliser, we were all over them but didn't take our chances!

Marsden was as good as I remember him & people's points about his strengths are absolutely spot on. He also made 4-5 good ball winning challenges as the game went on. He played a significant part in a goal that was uncannily similar to our breaks from the back last season-I think it's around 1:33:50. Gray singled him out for showing composure in carrying the ball out of defence then passing it rather than hoofing. Keys quipped "It's only a matter of time before the price goes up I think...". Thanks, Richard, well done. All I can think is that either yeah, Wolves outbid us, or it was off-pitch issues, because he was quality.

Peter Withe (who was post-match analysis & had also signed Marsden for Huddersfield) said Marsden was let go by Bassett at Sheff U as he wanted to play long but Marsden wanted to play passing football. The reason he was available from Huddersfield is because Neil Warnock had just got the Huddersfield job and the VERY same situation emerged!

My match ratings (and whether they'd get in the team now):

Oggy-7. Such good hands. Forget the bit in Staying Up that swoons over Hedman's technique, he was just old by then. Peak Oggy was better. (YES)
Borrows-8. Class act. Hit the bar with a trademark piledriver. Still very fast at this stage too. Top player. (YES)
Morgan-3. Quick/strong but headless/weak positioning/passing. Babb & Marsden kept having to tell him where to stand. Not great for the goal. (NO)
Atherton-6. Did alright. (YES)
Babb-6. Not his best game, but had his hands full managing Morgan. (YES)
Flynn-6. Awful passing first half but battled SO hard & in the second half made the goal with an inch-perfect through ball. (NO, because it would be Biamou all over!)
Darby-4.5. Sorry NW, not on this showing. Tried, had a good early shot, but faded fast & passing/first touch were very poor. (NO)
Marsden-8. See above. Fantastic passing/composure/awareness. (YES. Perfect competition for Sheaf & Gus if he doesn't allegedly etc.).
Ndlovu-8.5. Frustrating at times, not least as he was having shit kicked out of him by one Nicky Summerbee. Came to life second half, some superb skill/pace, shot cleared off the line, had a good pen shout & one wonderful 40 yard pass created a chance that Quinn fluffed. (YES. Would get so much more protection now.)
Williams-4. Head had dropped by this stage of his City career (post-Gould). Pace was often a threat but very poor passing/technique. (NO)
Wegerle-8. Ha, how do your rate a 70's throwback in a 90's match being watched in 2022?? Better than I remember, I suppose as this would be Prime Wegerle at City, but did really tend to overplay rather than shoot/pass when the option was there. Brilliant skill though, cracking strike for the goal too. (YES. He'd drive Robins mental, but yes just for the entertainment value).
Sub-Quinn-5. One good pass but missed a couple of very good chances. (NO, based on this was him very much on the way out.)
The Mad Hatters-7. Featured prominently throughout, hugged by Wegerle when he scored, haven't aged much. (YES, as they're still here.)
I think that was my first ever live game. I remember nothing other than the score. That and I watched us beat Ipswich 1-0 around the same time.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 

Offhegoes

Well-Known Member
Along with the selling of Robert Rosario in 92/93, not buying Chris Marsden was one of the worst transfer decisions this club has made. We looked a different team when he played, beating Spur 2-1 just after Xmas, and then he ran the show against Swindon a few days later.
 

ProfessorbyGrace

Well-Known Member
Perhaps Darby was…prepare yourselves…BETTER OFF THE BALL THAN ON IT.

Seriously though, was it a case of not being played to his strengths? IE bursting into the box, finishing, direct build up play…
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
Along with the selling of Robert Rosario in 92/93, not buying Chris Marsden was one of the worst transfer decisions this club has made. We looked a different team when he played, beating Spur 2-1 just after Xmas, and then he ran the show against Swindon a few days later.
I thought Rosario was really disappointing until he started playing in midfield/dropped deeper, and looked like a different player. It made no sense selling him just when he started to play well.
 

SkyblueDad

Well-Known Member
When Marsden didn’t sign all sorts of crazy rumours did the circuit, I think this was the early days of chairman Bryan Richardson I did hear at the time we fucked Huddersfield about re the fee and they basically stuck their fingers up to us and flogged him to Wolves. Never a Phil Neal fan but in fairness he had started to get us better and difficult to beat with some poor players but once we missed out on Marsden it seemed to take the wind out of Neals sails, not that much longer he was replaced by Ron Atkinson to start a whole different chapter at CVFC.
 

ovduk78

Well-Known Member
When Marsden didn’t sign all sorts of crazy rumours did the circuit, I think this was the early days of chairman Bryan Richardson I did hear at the time we fucked Huddersfield about re the fee and they basically stuck their fingers up to us and flogged him to Wolves. Never a Phil Neal fan but in fairness he had started to get us better and difficult to beat with some poor players but once we missed out on Marsden it seemed to take the wind out of Neals sails, not that much longer he was replaced by Ron Atkinson to start a whole different chapter at CVFC.
Phil Neal didn't leave until the following season. He also bought Dion Dublin a month into 94/95 season so couldn't have thought his time at CCFC was limited.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
When Marsden didn’t sign all sorts of crazy rumours did the circuit, I think this was the early days of chairman Bryan Richardson I did hear at the time we fucked Huddersfield about re the fee and they basically stuck their fingers up to us and flogged him to Wolves. Never a Phil Neal fan but in fairness he had started to get us better and difficult to beat with some poor players but once we missed out on Marsden it seemed to take the wind out of Neals sails, not that much longer he was replaced by Ron Atkinson to start a whole different chapter at CVFC.

He was booted out of wolves after they bought him from Huddersfield and hardky featured for Notts county when they took him on
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
OK I've finished watching Coventry murder Swindon 1-1 in 1994. Bastard Swindon last minute Andy Mutch equaliser, we were all over them but didn't take our chances!

Marsden was as good as I remember him & people's points about his strengths are absolutely spot on. He also made 4-5 good ball winning challenges as the game went on. He played a significant part in a goal that was uncannily similar to our breaks from the back last season-I think it's around 1:33:50. Gray singled him out for showing composure in carrying the ball out of defence then passing it rather than hoofing. Keys quipped "It's only a matter of time before the price goes up I think...". Thanks, Richard, well done. All I can think is that either yeah, Wolves outbid us, or it was off-pitch issues, because he was quality.

Peter Withe (who was post-match analysis & had also signed Marsden for Huddersfield) said Marsden was let go by Bassett at Sheff U as he wanted to play long but Marsden wanted to play passing football. The reason he was available from Huddersfield is because Neil Warnock had just got the Huddersfield job and the VERY same situation emerged!

My match ratings (and whether they'd get in the team now):

Oggy-7. Such good hands. Forget the bit in Staying Up that swoons over Hedman's technique, he was just old by then. Peak Oggy was better. (YES)
Borrows-8. Class act. Hit the bar with a trademark piledriver. Still very fast at this stage too. Top player. (YES)
Morgan-3. Quick/strong but headless/weak positioning/passing. Babb & Marsden kept having to tell him where to stand. Not great for the goal. (NO)
Atherton-6. Did alright. (YES)
Babb-6. Not his best game, but had his hands full managing Morgan. (YES)
Flynn-6. Awful passing first half but battled SO hard & in the second half made the goal with an inch-perfect through ball. (NO, because it would be Biamou all over!)
Darby-4.5. Sorry NW, not on this showing. Tried, had a good early shot, but faded fast & passing/first touch were very poor. (NO)
Marsden-8. See above. Fantastic passing/composure/awareness. (YES. Perfect competition for Sheaf & Gus if he doesn't allegedly etc.).
Ndlovu-8.5. Frustrating at times, not least as he was having shit kicked out of him by one Nicky Summerbee. Came to life second half, some superb skill/pace, shot cleared off the line, had a good pen shout & one wonderful 40 yard pass created a chance that Quinn fluffed. (YES. Would get so much more protection now.)
Williams-4. Head had dropped by this stage of his City career (post-Gould). Pace was often a threat but very poor passing/technique. (NO)
Wegerle-8. Ha, how do your rate a 70's throwback in a 90's match being watched in 2022?? Better than I remember, I suppose as this would be Prime Wegerle at City, but did really tend to overplay rather than shoot/pass when the option was there. Brilliant skill though, cracking strike for the goal too. (YES. He'd drive Robins mental, but yes just for the entertainment value).
Sub-Quinn-5. One good pass but missed a couple of very good chances. (NO, based on this was him very much on the way out.)
The Mad Hatters-7. Featured prominently throughout, hugged by Wegerle when he scored, haven't aged much. (YES, as they're still here.)

Interesting reading the ratings, this period was Wegerle's peak at City. He was probably a bit too clever for some of the team mates he had around him.
 

Moff

Well-Known Member
He was booted out of wolves after they bought him from Huddersfield and hardky featured for Notts county when they took him on

But then played over 100 times in the Premier League for Southampton, and played in the FA Cup final that Strachan took them to.

Was gutted when we didn't sign him, even more so when I saw Robertson play!
 

The Philosopher

Well-Known Member
Dougie McGuire was brilliant. Remember seeing him at a preseason game at Racing Club Warwick and he was unplayable. And yes, I get who the opposition were, but he was so skillful.

Sandy Robertson was good too. We'll be talking about Richie Partridge next.
I remember watching McGuire in the reserves and he was brilliant.

I remember one particular match against Liverpool reserves. Liverpool reserves at the time were a match for most mid table top flight teams and on this day I think McMahan, Nicol, McMananam, Molby and a load of other seriously good players we’re playing; so quite different to RC Warwick.

McGuire tore them apart as he usually did. It was the year that David Smith had his good season. Both went downhill from there.

McGuire and Keith Thompson (also at that time) were overlooked in my opinion.
 

Finham

Well-Known Member
Along with the selling of Robert Rosario in 92/93, not buying Chris Marsden was one of the worst transfer decisions this club has made. We looked a different team when he played, beating Spur 2-1 just after Xmas, and then he ran the show against Swindon a few days later.
Absolutely bang on, that.
 

Finham

Well-Known Member
Interesting reading the ratings, this period was Wegerle's peak at City. He was probably a bit too clever for some of the team mates he had around him.
Mate, he was too clever for HIMSELF! Andy Gray pointed a couple of times when he could have passed or shot for an opportunity but instead took too many fancy touches and it was cleared/taken off him. That said, he was brilliant when it came off, and in his early period at City it did more often than not and he was great to watch.
 

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