rupert_bear
Well-Known Member
51 years ago We were the best team in division 3 playing the best football with the skills of Humphries, Rees, Hale and Hudson and flying towards promotion then around xmas time the wheels came off and we couldn't win for love or money drew, lost, drew, lost and slipped down from top spot with Crystal Palace and Watford overtaking us so what did Jimmy Hill do? He bought 2 players in John Smith an aggressive chunky midfielder and paid something like £10k a big fee in those days for a big rough arsed, aggressive centre forward George Kirby, some might say a bit of an animal but that would be unkind to animals, changed tack a bit we became more direct, some call that long ball, certainly more aggressive which some might say dirtier, but what happened ? we got back to winning ways and won promotion, in fact won the league. Within a year Hill sold Kirby and got most the fee he paid back.
I think we are at a similar point now. Our football is good, pleasing on the eye but it's been sussed a bit with opponents doing their homework sitting back and the longer it stays 0-0 the more dangerous they become, if we get an early goal like we did v Crewe and Gillingham we stuff teams, we don't have to change the way we play but I think we need an alternative way to play...and a centre forward !
I think we are at a similar point now. Our football is good, pleasing on the eye but it's been sussed a bit with opponents doing their homework sitting back and the longer it stays 0-0 the more dangerous they become, if we get an early goal like we did v Crewe and Gillingham we stuff teams, we don't have to change the way we play but I think we need an alternative way to play...and a centre forward !
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