| 45 years ago 17:06 - Apr 15 with 1886 views | flykickingbybgunn |
Much is said about fixture congestion. KMcK is very keen to avoid it.
45 years ago in 1981 these weeks were busy for Town
4th April WBA League away (lost 3-1)
8th April Cologne UEFA Cup Semi home (won 1-0)
11th April Man C FA Cup Semi (lost 1-0)
14th April Villa League away (won 2-1) ( Villa won the league that year and Town doubled them and beat them in the FA Cup)
18th April Arsenal League home (lost 2-1)
20th April Norwich League away (lost 1-0)
22nd April Cologne UEFA Semi away (won 1-0)
25th April Man C League home (won 1-0)
All played with a 15 man first team squad.
That team and Bobby Robson were something else. [Post edited 15 Apr 17:32]
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| 45 years ago on 17:13 - Apr 15 with 1503 views | Miaow |
And that semi against Man City went to extra time. |  |
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| 45 years ago on 17:16 - Apr 15 with 1491 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| 45 years ago on 17:13 - Apr 15 by Miaow |
And that semi against Man City went to extra time. |
Indeed. And Beattie broke his arm but we had already used our sub so he came back on with his arm in a sling and played as a forward. They dont make 'em like that any more.
Whymark dropping back into defence where he had a good game. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:18 - Apr 15 with 1479 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
And due to congestion the reason we went from triple contenders to winning a single trophy. It was great team - but also illustrates the impact of too many games towards the end of the season. |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:20 - Apr 15 with 1454 views | TripSwitch |
| 45 years ago on 17:18 - Apr 15 by SuffolkPunchFC |
And due to congestion the reason we went from triple contenders to winning a single trophy. It was great team - but also illustrates the impact of too many games towards the end of the season. |
Yes absolutely a lot of losses in there, this doesn't prove the OPs point whatsoever! |  |
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| 45 years ago on 17:25 - Apr 15 with 1429 views | DJR |
Sorry accidentally downvoted the OP.
Not only a small squad but a key player, George Burley, out for quite a bit of the latter stages of the season.
And we played far more games than Villa: a total of 66, also far more than Ipswich will play this season. [Post edited 15 Apr 17:32]
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| 45 years ago on 17:28 - Apr 15 with 1417 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Whilst I make you spot on, football was very different then too.
I wonder how many fixtures the other teams were playing, the pitches were much heavier as well. I am sure players didn't cover so much ground. It was a more physical contest. Some of the players in those days were smokers and drinkers and able to still perform at the top level. They are much more professional athletes nowadays. |  |
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| 45 years ago on 17:31 - Apr 15 with 1397 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| 45 years ago on 17:20 - Apr 15 by TripSwitch |
Yes absolutely a lot of losses in there, this doesn't prove the OPs point whatsoever! |
The OP's point was to illustrate the appalling effects of fixture congestion. That and a little visit to memory lane | | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:31 - Apr 15 with 1390 views | Blue_Heath |
| 45 years ago on 17:20 - Apr 15 by TripSwitch |
Yes absolutely a lot of losses in there, this doesn't prove the OPs point whatsoever! |
Yes, just proves too many fixtures doesn't work out well. | |
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| 45 years ago on 17:31 - Apr 15 with 1389 views | DJR |
| 45 years ago on 17:28 - Apr 15 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Whilst I make you spot on, football was very different then too.
I wonder how many fixtures the other teams were playing, the pitches were much heavier as well. I am sure players didn't cover so much ground. It was a more physical contest. Some of the players in those days were smokers and drinkers and able to still perform at the top level. They are much more professional athletes nowadays. |
Villa played 46 games, 20 less than us. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:36 - Apr 15 with 1330 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| 45 years ago on 17:25 - Apr 15 by DJR |
Sorry accidentally downvoted the OP.
Not only a small squad but a key player, George Burley, out for quite a bit of the latter stages of the season.
And we played far more games than Villa: a total of 66, also far more than Ipswich will play this season. [Post edited 15 Apr 17:32]
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Yes 66 games 24 of which were cup games. Villa who won the title were not in UEFA Cup and went out of the FA Cup (to us) in the 3rd round. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:48 - Apr 15 with 1292 views | SWLondonBlue93 |
It does amuse me a bit when that season is brought up. It was an incredible achievement overall, but we did lose seven of our last ten league games - one or two more quality players could have made the difference. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 17:50 - Apr 15 with 1284 views | algy |
They were even able to fit in an outing to an amusement park between the games at Norwich and Cologne. | |
| Never forget that on 7th. April 2021, for ITFC, the Game Changed. |
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| 45 years ago on 18:20 - Apr 15 with 1217 views | witchdoctor |
15 player squad…and Sir Bobby kinda knew his starting eleven…I wish K Mk would do the same and stick to his strongest available side…these last few games shouldn’t be trying to keep everyone happy…go for it boys… |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 19:33 - Apr 15 with 1071 views | PhilTWTD |
| 45 years ago on 17:31 - Apr 15 by DJR |
Villa played 46 games, 20 less than us. |
Russell Osman was the only player to play all 66 for us. |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 19:47 - Apr 15 with 1032 views | armchaircritic59 |
Yep, chalk and cheese. Whenever I've raised the exact same point over on the site, I frequently get shouted down by " the games much faster these days " brigade. Conveniently ignoring the fact that todays players are also in general much fitter. Also ignoring the fact that the team back then were facing opposition of a similar fitness level, just as todays team is. I'm afraid todays team would have got to February and raised the white flag, if not before! |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 20:10 - Apr 15 with 988 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| 45 years ago on 19:47 - Apr 15 by armchaircritic59 |
Yep, chalk and cheese. Whenever I've raised the exact same point over on the site, I frequently get shouted down by " the games much faster these days " brigade. Conveniently ignoring the fact that todays players are also in general much fitter. Also ignoring the fact that the team back then were facing opposition of a similar fitness level, just as todays team is. I'm afraid todays team would have got to February and raised the white flag, if not before! |
On fitness levels Alan Hunter always looked forward to his half time fag. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 20:20 - Apr 15 with 967 views | vapour_trail |
| 45 years ago on 19:33 - Apr 15 by PhilTWTD |
Russell Osman was the only player to play all 66 for us. |
And that’s not including him turning out for the POWs against the Germans. |  |
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| 45 years ago on 20:22 - Apr 15 with 959 views | norfsufblue |
| 45 years ago on 17:18 - Apr 15 by SuffolkPunchFC |
And due to congestion the reason we went from triple contenders to winning a single trophy. It was great team - but also illustrates the impact of too many games towards the end of the season. |
True, but we are going for one objective and far more squad depth!... should be a doddle eh👍
Btw that win at Villa was one of our greatest away wins ever ! |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 20:27 - Apr 15 with 937 views | BluePG |
| 45 years ago on 19:33 - Apr 15 by PhilTWTD |
Russell Osman was the only player to play all 66 for us. |
Did he also play games for England that season? | |
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| 45 years ago on 20:32 - Apr 15 with 913 views | bartyg |
| 45 years ago on 17:16 - Apr 15 by flykickingbybgunn |
Indeed. And Beattie broke his arm but we had already used our sub so he came back on with his arm in a sling and played as a forward. They dont make 'em like that any more.
Whymark dropping back into defence where he had a good game. |
Yeah bro because we realised that's a bad thing! |  |
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| 45 years ago on 20:39 - Apr 15 with 884 views | patrickswell |
| 45 years ago on 17:16 - Apr 15 by flykickingbybgunn |
Indeed. And Beattie broke his arm but we had already used our sub so he came back on with his arm in a sling and played as a forward. They dont make 'em like that any more.
Whymark dropping back into defence where he had a good game. |
Whymark in defence because of a Kevin Beattie injury?
In 1975 perhaps, but not in 1981. |  | | |
| 45 years ago on 20:59 - Apr 15 with 830 views | EC2_Blue |
| 45 years ago on 17:16 - Apr 15 by flykickingbybgunn |
Indeed. And Beattie broke his arm but we had already used our sub so he came back on with his arm in a sling and played as a forward. They dont make 'em like that any more.
Whymark dropping back into defence where he had a good game. |
May be showing my age but I'm not sure Whymark had been at the club for a few years by the time of that tired performance at Villa Park against City. | | | |
| 45 years ago on 21:37 - Apr 15 with 740 views | backwaywhen |
4 games in 8 days and one of them was away in Germany ……..unbelievable Jeff . | | | |
| 45 years ago on 22:01 - Apr 15 with 705 views | monty_radio |
| 45 years ago on 20:59 - Apr 15 by EC2_Blue |
May be showing my age but I'm not sure Whymark had been at the club for a few years by the time of that tired performance at Villa Park against City. |
He'd left two years previously. | |
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| 45 years ago on 22:20 - Apr 15 with 671 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| 45 years ago on 17:31 - Apr 15 by DJR |
Villa played 46 games, 20 less than us. |
Wow, I didn't realise that. I had assumed they were in European competition and would have had a run in the League Cup. Of course there were fewer teams in Europe then. Cup replays will have made a difference too because some matches had multiple replays in those days. | |
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