21 Mar 2018 07:31:07
Redman, what a great post pre SAF. I am surprised however that you were so damming of Ron Atkinson's team.

"I went to away games because we thought we could win the league, only to be shattered by a bunch of prima donnas and that was awful in the end, nice football but nothing to show for it. "

I remember the Luton game when we were going for a 10th consecutive win at the start of the season. A season when for me when we were the best team and would have won the league barring Robson's crucial shoulder injuries. Equally we lost Hughes to Barcelona and he was no prima, indeed his return was vital. Both of these losses impacted the form of Norman Whiteside who at that point was playing out of his skin in midfield. Even without him Remi Moses and Whiteside are players we'd drool over right now.

I was 19 when he was sacked and had endured the various failures before, however I felt Atkinson was tremendously unlucky. Personally, and we all have our opinions I felt he produced an exciting team - indeed at a time when domestic cup competitions had much more value to both clubs and supporters we were one of the best. What cost him was our performances against the top-4 in the league. Ironically as we sit now a more balanced pragmatic approach then with a dose of Mourinho would have won us the league in 85/ 86.

There's many players I'd parachute from that 85 squad in to today's - indeed there's many traits of Atkinson I'd parachute in to Mourinho's outlook of the game. For me Atkinson was a key part of the transition to SAF. He brought some dignity back to the trophy cabinet and certainly put a smile on my face.


1.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 08:08:59
Totally agree timbo. Atkinson was very unlucky with injuries. At least he went out to win and entertain. Who can forget Barcelona 84, Robson 85 semi and Whiteside 85 final with 10 men. Personally loved going in the 80’s in the utd road. Standing needs to be brought back but it won’t be.


2.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 08:24:31
Timbo

I was at Luton when we drew and at Sheffield Wednesday I think it was when we lost.

It was frustrating because I had never seen us win the league in was it 18 years and they just fell apart. Yes injuries played a part but I stood on the Stretford End singing won eff all again Atkinson. Was it two FA cups in 5 years, the problem would have been Liverpool winning Leagues and European cups at the same time. Tough given the many years of failure.


3.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 10:26:15
Oh yes, Luton and the plastic pitch. I liked that team but post Christmas did we win a game, our form pre and post Christmas was polar opposites. That disappointment led to Atkinson’s downfall the year after, the interesting parallel with SAF is how his team kicked on after the disappointment of ‘92.

Hughes’s head was turned and that was a disruption but we did fall off a clifff.


4.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 12:57:56
Hmmm a side with several notorious drinkers having a dip in form after Christmas and New Year. Surely not. I jest of course. I was to young to really appreciate the Big Ron era and childhood memories always have that nostalgia tinge.


5.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 15:39:32
Timbo. I will definitely take Robson from that team. What a player and what a leader.


6.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 19:05:22
i remember once he was sacked he told the papers he had Terry Butcher and Gary Lineker lined up to join us.


7.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 19:45:33
Is that true BFB or tongue in cheek? Never heard that before.


8.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 21:35:20
No, its true. I remember it very clearly.


9.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 21:46:47
Timbo. found this : Events of the season

During the close season, there was speculation that manager Ron Atkinson was about to be sacked and that Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson was going to be appointed in his place. Atkinson tried to fight back and prove the critics wrong. He attempted to sign the England defender Terry Butcher from Ipswich Town, but lost out to Rangers (who were managed by the former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness) .

But I distinctly remember him in an interview saying Butcher and Lineker were keen on joining and that's why he was shocked he was sacked as the board were backing him to his face but going behind his back. elsewhere I read he said UTD dithered over the fee for Butcher and Rangers stepped in and offered European football.


10.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 21:51:54
Tmbo. from the independent september 2016 :

He was the one who arrived to make Manchester United great again in the 1981 penury of the pre-Ferguson years when, as he remembers it “Sir Matt Busby owned the club Megastore and only opened it on matchdays” while he, as manager, had to sell players to buy.

“I think I spent £7m and recouped £6m in all, ” he says. “The one I really wanted to buy at United was Gary Lineker. I had him all lined up from Leicester for £600,000 but we had to sell first and Everton nipped in. ” I know he also said once Utd couldn't afford 1 millon for Butcher until they sold players first.


11.) 21 Mar 2018
21 Mar 2018 23:17:07
Wow. They would have been exceptional signings.


12.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 06:33:04
I should add to this that I remember this very well as a point of frustration with Atkinson. The rumour back in 84 was actually that Atkinson ignored Lineker who the fans wanted and bought Alan Brazil instead. There was a rumour at the time which I was told by an in ground steward, that Lineker turned up to United for talks to find Atkinson had gone on holiday and he went and signed Brazil instead. We know what happened next.


13.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 07:05:52
Absolutely. Not to mention Lineker got Match of the Fay whilst Brazil ended up on Talksport. A face for radio. 😂😂.


14.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:58:58
Liniker has said he had an offer from United but that was 89 under fergy.