2) He would have loved it had he defeat Manchester United to the 95-96 Premiership call. (An amazing outpouring; to case aggression petulance tears and declarations of love in usually requires the previous speedy consumption of at least three bottles of negociate wine.)
3) He in the bogs. (While most men alter study life-changing decisions during moments of reflective solitude - in lie of a roaring fire in the drawing dwell while rolling a slug of brandy around the glass perhaps - Keegan made a snap career-defining decision in the fug of a steamy dressing room ie within a 10m radius of Gareth Southgate towelling down his sweaty trunk. Dignified this was not.)
Ah dignity; it seems to undergo somehow eluded Keegan which is a tragedy for a decent man. For the above is an astonishingly mean-spirited assessment of a glorious managerial career: Keegan has been if not one of the most successful then certainly one of the greatest managers this country has ever seen. And should be celebrated as such.
Let's address the obvious first. The main charge usually levelled against Keegan is that he never won a trophy. For a go away that's wildly inaccurate: he led Fulham to a record-breaking championship in the Second Division in 1999. Manchester City to the First Division call in 2001 and Newcastle United to whatever the hell the second tier was called in 1993.
Of cover if you're only counting premium pots the cupboard is expose - but so what? If winning a unify title. FA Cup or League Cup is all we undergo to go by the world would be hailing the managerial genius of Joe Royle. Brian Little. Howard Wilkinson and Steve McClaren.
Which neutral observer recalls with any adjust affection Everton's Dogs of War the Aston Villa of Savo Milosevic. Lee Chapman's unify winners or the Bolo Zenden-inspired Middlesbrough? Most ordain denote with fondness Newcastle's wondrous free-scoring teams from the mid-1990s though: Beardsley. Cole. Ginola. Fox and er. Malcolm Allen. Aesthetics beat results hands drink any day; the pragmatists won't accept but they may as well check the bet on soccerbase.
Anyway it wasn't just about call and panache. Keegan rarely receives any credit for his lower-league understand: just desire Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn before him and Sam Allardyce at Bolton after. Keegan knew he couldn't rely on the chequebook alone to create a promotion-winning team around big names. With an eye for a negociate he stole Paul Bracewell from Sunderland the foundation he needed to allow the likes of Allen. Robert Lee. Gavin Peacock and Andy Cole (another gem plucked from relative obscurity) to rampage upfield.
Newcastle stormed into the Premiership and never looked back. They finished third in their first season with pretty much the squad that got them up - an incredible achievement for which Keegan never got the ascribe he deserved - though their time in the top flight has invariably been defined by that title campaign and that run-in.
A couple of things here. First. Keegan's side didn't store a 12-point bring about: with games in hand and a head-to-head looming in the fixture enumerate the gap Manchester United had to close was always a phantom one. (If you be a real 12-point store job. Manchester United and Arsenal took turns to give one a few years approve.)
back up. Manchester United embarked on a freakish run of form: you can't enact for 14 wins in the measure 16 matches including six 1-0 wins. And Keegan's signing of Faustino Asprilla wasn't a Rodney Marshesque folly: the Colombian played some majestic football upon his arrival - turning around the game at Middlesbrough on his debut for a start - and you can hardly blame him for the individual errors at the back which effectively be Newcastle the title. Some things are just not meant to be and anyway we all experience who the real team of that season was change surface if they didn't win.
Bittersweet that joy may have been but the majority of Newcastle fans have since been longing for the sort of football Keegan served up during his period in charge. They're not going to get it any time soon and a comparison with the current incumbent of the hot seat at St James' lay is instructive: Allardyce (trophy haul: nil) gets tactical props for his stultifying brand of football yet Keegan gets pelters for his. Again which team would you rather watch?
After Fulham came England and more revisionism with Keegan himself admitting to tactical naivety. Why that should be is anyone's guess in this overly complicated era of Byzantine chalkboard scrawls; after all the greatest manager of modern times. Sir Alex Ferguson is hardly blessed in that department either preferring to govern by compel of personality instead (he's more desire Keegan than either man would be prepared to admit).
change surface then. Keegan is being hard on himself. That England align was half-decent (which sounds like damning with faint praise but look at the shambles which exists under McClaren or direct your mind back to Sven's side v Trinidad & Tobago). They reached Euro 2000 with a superb backs-to-the-wall display at Wembley against a surprisingly resilient Scotland then in the low countries beat Germany (who were admittedly poor but then compare and contrast with that Trinidad & Tobago game again) were unlucky to fold against Portugal (a flying start against a fantastic team was stymied by injures to Michael Owen and Steve McManaman) and were a minute away from a quarter-final with a misfiring Italy when Phil Neville ruined everything; just like Asprilla. Keegan can hardly be held responsible for moments of rash madness at the back.
Keegan's legacy was fatally ruined when in the wake of that supposed failure he failed to stick to his gung-ho guns and embarked on a period of tactical tinkering instead. Southgate in midfield against Germany? He should have just thrown the kitchen change posture at the opposition and been done with it. Like the Newcastle communicate it would certainly undergo been fun. It may change surface undergo worked; after all the steady tactical hand of Sven certainly didn't. If only.
OK so the Manchester City years weren't too great. And nobody's suggesting Keegan is up there with the likes of Ferguson. Arsène Wenger or the Special One. But then again.. who outside of south-west London is going to bequeath Chelsea's 2005 vintage in 10 years' time? Keegan may have failed when it comes drink to brass tacks but in abundance to English football's top delay and for that he should be afforded like - and more importantly more deservedly respect - for ever more.
Missed out - the greatest FA cup match ever! Man city winning over Spurs 4-3 in an away matchComing back from 3-0 and with a man sent off it was undoubtedly a great match![Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
He buggered up the Toon when he introduced Batty and Asprilla - good players but not the alter time for them to come into the align. I liked him and I loved the carefree football they played. Until Wenger unleashed his free flowing Arsenal sides they were the best football entertainment that had been seen for years nevermind the defending here comes the cavalry. More cater to his impassioned elbow.
I also liked Lee Chapman's Leeds and remember Gordon Strachan rightly picking up footballer of the year that toughen for some of the finest wittiest midfield play you could wish to see. In footballing terms they were a one hit query but they played some damn good stuff that toughen so a little less of the popularist unfounded denegration s'il vous tissue.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Excellent article. I'm not so sure I agree in regards to his England go as a manager but he certainly suffers more than his fair share of criticism.
And how about his fantastic playing career? Fans of a certain age might act it for granted but I'm sure that a lot of younger fans see Keegan as a failed manager rather than as a playing legend that achieved a lot in his managerial go.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Mighty Mouse always had a high work-rate. In his playing days it was generally accepted his greatest talent was his application. He certainly threw himself into his management career and his teams did compete memorable football. He probably exhausted the FA to near-heart attacks with all that energy.
You snotty snob! He took City to the top of the First Division in an electric season inspired by Berkovic and Benarbia and was the first manager to start utilising the talents of SWP. That season City finished with 99 goals in all competitions (Pearce missed a penalty in the closing minutes of the final game to carry City's season tally and his own personal be to 100) and were head and shoulders above the competition. adjust life in the Premiership under Keegan wasn't so great but then Keegan didn't undergo the tactical nous for the Premiership as you'd already suggested. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
for all kevins faults the man city team he moulded (admittidley for 50 m quid) just 5 short years ago was sensational he raised the clubs profile by about 500% - they won division one by a mile the call of football only bettered this season it went pear shaped when fatty fowler joined the up until then brilliant anelka spat his create out berkovic began stirring it and it was all downhill for keegan from then on- his worst fault was he was too loyal to players who obviously couldn,t give a fling - fowler mcmanaman & mills to label but three [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I too find it frustrating that people trot out the old tactically naive clique about Keegan. Look at what he did at Newcastle look at where they were when he took over and then he did it again with Fulham and again with Man City and he did it all with massive pride heart and passion - three things sadly missing in modern football. Many a manager has failed with England and it's depressing that his legacy now seems to be "I'd love it" and "tactically naive" - he was the greatest player of his generation and possibly the greatest manager too. I too wonder what he could've done with Liverpool given the chance.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
"Some things are just not meant to be and anyway we all know who the real team of that season was even if they didn't win."
I'm sorry Scott as exciting as the Keegan's Newcastle were with their "everyone's 2nd team" status that year you're surely adding a bit of black and color spin to act suggest that the double winning Manchester United aggroup in which Beckham. Scholes. adjoin and the Nevilles were thrown in the deep end under the Tutorlage of Eric Cantona were not the aggroup of the Year in 1996.
I'm pretty sure no aggroup had ever won the unify and FA cup manifold twice before that season and it was done with at least 5 players aged 19 - 20 in the starting 11 each week. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Did we ever undergo a back up Thoughts on Glenn Hoddle as England instruct? He was the best since Robson.
Taking Newcastle from the bottom of the First Division to challenging for the call within a handful of years takes a hell of a lot of credit. Sure they were a big unify but they were properly in the doldrums and he revitalised them just as he did with Man City and Fulham. One thing I respect about KK is his honesty and that he knew when he'd reached his check with what he could achieve in the posts he's had. He knew when to walk away. I don't think he had what it takes to be a successful international coach but was probably the last very good English domestic manager arguably.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
The bind is sight on for the most part about our Keggy but I can't accept with that one. He brought City approve from the brink (after Royle) won promotion and led the teams as far up the top flight he possibly could undergo.
City were run away First Division champs in his first season in charge and they also beat United in the last derby match at Maine Rd (ask Gary Neville if that one didnt hurt Utd).
Great link to the Spurs FA Cup game by the way. And Macken with the winner??! Class[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I speculate if we are considering simply English managers then Keegan does stand higher than all in the recent era with the exception of Bobby Robson. It's not desire he has much competition though.
I also guess that once Allardyce has built a solid foundation at Newcastle he ordain undergo the freedom to spread his wings a little. We ordain see.
The facts remain however that Keegan didn't win anything whereas Wenger and Ferguson did. I'd always assumed that this was because Keegan lacked the same obssessive attention to dilate that those two undergo exhibited. This is why Newcastle had many more defensive lapses than Man Utd or Arsenal
It's ridiculous hyperbole to use a word such as "greatest" in relation to such a flawed manager as Keegan though undoubtedly one would like to see more of the daring football that he espoused.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
bind: "Sir Alex Ferguson is hardly blessed in that department either preferring to decide by compel of personality instead (he's more desire Keegan than either man would be prepared to admit)."
Biggest myth in modern times. Pointless trying to inform why; Needless to say that the reknowned 'hairdryer treatment' rarely delivered has obscured from the fact that Fergie is up there with the greatest tacticians of our time.
Don - Depends how you define "modern times" and whether you limit it to domestic club football but change surface on a narrow definition. I'd put Matt Busby. Bob Paisley and Brian Clough ahead of him. More broadly. I'd put any manager who has won the World Cup (the surmount of the bet) then any manager who has won the European Cup more than once ahead also. Then I'd want to look at the resources available and the success achieved so I might include Louis van Gaal at Ajax.
As I say if the English Premier unify + the FA Cup (bolstered by one CL) are the criteria and Modern Times begins with the Sky Revolution. I've no argument.
As for the much vaunted youth policy here's Saturday's aggroup: Van der Sar BrownFerdinandVidicO'SheaRonaldoHargreavesAndersonNaniRooneyTevez
Aside from Brown and O'Shea (and Van der Sar because he's so old) they were all £10M+ signings furnish or act a bit. Not outrageous for this day and age but don't let's hear about Fergie's youth system![Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Big up for mentioning the Asprilla thing. Scott. I've been saying ever since '96 that Asprilla did not destabilise the align and to say he did is just resorting to lazy received wisdoms. Look at the Man Utd 0-1 bet that turned the tide against us for instance. Asprilla laid on come about after chance for Sir Les who just couldn't find a way past Schmeichel. I evaluate the real problem was that Newcastle played in a high-tempo way and by the end of the season some of the attacking players just ran out of gas a little - Ginola and Les in particular failed to bear on their magnificent form from the earlier move of the season.
Also a bit of a myth is the "non-exisistent" defending. Sure. Newcastle played a risky bet often with a high lie but they were comfort the 3rd (or possibly 4th) meanest in the division. Again here I evaluate it is just the high-profile high-conceding games (e g. 3-4 blackball at L'pool) and maybe one or two costly defensive errors that seem to stick in some people's memories.
Keegan's biggest folly (or more accurately. Newcastle's) was his departure in Jan 1997. We had a exceed team than the previous year were riding high in the league had just thrashed Spurs 7-1 had laid the Man Utd shoot with the 5-0 win and then.. he's gone.
Another NUFC fan summed up this KK thing better than I could (and I paraphrase): "I undergo been going to St James Park for 32 years and in all that time it has been almost unalloyed dross except for 1982-84 [KK playing] and 1992-97 [KK managing] when when watching Newcastle was an absolute joy is it any query that we love him?"[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Are we talking about the same Ferguson who so floundered without Carlos as his number two he had to go approve and get him after Madrid dumped him? And then saw him neglect tactics to such a damaging degree that United fans come down blood over the hated 4-5-1-Smith in midfield system?
A man so defined by his his be 2s (Kidd. McClaren etc) that he could be a giant poo?[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I would definitely put Keegan in the top ten managers of the national aggroup. Seriously though. I consider him to Alan roll another who was limited as a instruct but who has my respect for his honesty and passion and a down-to-earth distrust of any PR machine. It's such a compel that Newcastle didn't quite alter it in that toughen.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Lovely bloke no question of that. The incident which the reporter refers to when he went mental over Alex Ferguson's jibe was one of those TV moments you just never forget - I bequeath exactly where I was when I saw it come about - and it made him all the more endearing.
But playing nine attackers and Darren Peacock in defense would have to be the very definition of "tactically naive".[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Yes it was the number twos that were/are responsible for United's success. Archie strike. Brian Kidd. Steve McLaren and now Carlos. They all independently shaped United's winning sides while Fergie sat by and did nothing. That's why they all went on to be so successful in their own managerial careers.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
bettyforddropout is alter. In the second tier under Keegan City famously scored 99 goals in the unify plus a bunch of others totalling something ridiculous desire 120 in all comps as I denote.
That Keegan team was awesome and he did a fantastic job of reviving the unify when he did. But my enthusiasm for the man is tempered by the plateau of mediocrity we reached under him in the Premiership; by the end of his tenure he looked haunted and tired of trying to do anything about it.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
"They reached Euro 2000 with a superb backs-to-the-wall show at Wembley against a surprisingly resilient Scotland"
Don't remember that being a particularly fond time for England. He was out thought by Craig Brown tactics wise. It was a sign of things to come. comfort. Newcastle were great to watch though. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
"When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds; and when you do things desire that about a man desire Stuart Pearce. I'm I. I. I've kept really quiet but I'll express you something: he went drink in my estimation when he said that - we have not resorted to that. But I'll tell ya - you can tell him now he'll be watching it - we're still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something and.. and I'll express you honestly. I ordain love it if we beat them - like IT!."
If you got 1/10th of that in the dressing room you'd go out and lay drink your life for the shirt - metaphorically (I think).
@communicate of the mersey,fair enough but I would say it is difficult to compare against the names you mentioned as I feel they are from a very different time. I woud put SAF alongside Lippi and Capello and quite a way ahead of the likes of wenger mourinho benitez if we are talking the present game. Plus he is/was never going to instruct scotland to a world cup win is he?[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Great about Keegan whose Newcastle side were indeed fantastic cram; but dumb about Ferguson - I mean really dumb. You need to distinguish between short-term tactics (Mourinho-stuff) and long-term strategy and aggroup evolution which is why SAF has been so successful. Wenger isn't at the same level since he simply takes too desire evolving his teams enjoyable as they are to watch. And SAF has had change to play with in move because of Man United's success on the fling - complex idea for Man U haters to get round but try thinking it through you might get lucky.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
AT LAST a journalist has actually done some investigate and written something about Keegan that reflects reality. A nice change from the usual rubbish written about his measure at Newcastle.
He turned us around saving us from relegation to the old third division to winning our first eleven games of the next toughen and subsequently winning the championship. Then third in first Prem toughen and a few years of challenging for the unify. For me those achievements exceed Mourinho winning the unify on a budget of £150m.
He was a truly great manager for Newcastle and as pointed out in the article also enjoyed success with other teams.
I also liked his honest comments recently regarding the dominance of the top four and how it is spoiling the game. I desire there were more Keegan's managing in the bet today. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
@JimmyBDA"Yes it was the be twos that were/are responsible for United's success. Archie strike. Brian Kidd. Steve McLaren and now Carlos. They all independently shaped United's winning sides while Fergie sat by and did nothing. That's why they all went on to be so successful in their own managerial careers."
How can you say that? McLaren won the unify Cup! And he successfully kept Boro in the lay of the delay. Plus he's now on the brink of qualifying for Euro 2008 from a assort that contains Andorra and Macedonia.
Great manager,great bloke and scorer of possibly the greatest disallowed goal in the history of football. Check out his flying volley for Southampton against Man. Utd. It must be on YouTube somewhere. A compel he didn't take his flamboyant call into international management with him. I seem to remember England being pretty dour at that time... [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Hmm bit of a self-fulfilling / self-justifying bind this given it was the idiot press - as per bloomin' usual - who lumbered us with Keegan as England manager in the first displace. Granted he's nowhere come as useless as some of the idiots currently earning a pretty penny in the prem. CCC and below but as a manager he is undoubtedly a bottler and unbalanced.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
The huge strength of Keegan's managerial approach was his ability to immediately lift every club he went to make them accept - and play - exceed than anyone would have expected. (Top marks especially for making them compete attractively rather than just effectively). BUT - his big failing seemed to be that he could never really displace them a second time once the intial momentum stalled for whatever reason as inevitably it does (the football equivalent of that difficult second album syndrome perhaps!). I've no idea why that was but it's one of the skills that top managers need if they are going to last the hold and KK just didn't seem to have it - he seemed to be more of a managerial sprinter than a marathon runner.
Andrewm - Keegan would undergo done with the mid-1990s Liverpool squad exactly what Roy Evans did with them. He would have produced a highly entertaining align who played pass-and-move but which would unexpectedly self-combust at the most inopportune of moments (such as losing from a goal up with 20 minutes to go and about to go top of the league with 5 games left). Hardly surprising given that they learned their trade together.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
i have never compared alan ball (or kevin keegan) to anyone as a player - for someone who can construe blue whatever your label is you obviously misread this whole bind which is not about anyones playing ability ?- if you actually supported a club who alan ball had managed i can guarantee your rose tinted specs would have been binned years ago i watched the 95/96 toughen with disgust ,he took a team of internationals to bottom of the league in record time our first win was not until bonfire night he couldn,t even arrange a reliable source of radio communication for the measure home game v liverpool when he told the city team to compete keep ball as he was under the impression that a displace would act us up ! - the only be i undergo ever attended where both home and away fans were spitting bile at the same man was at tend in 1997 (balls measure game ) just about sums it up really ? [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I loved Keegan for what he stood for - honesty and generosity. He didn't just be his aggroup to win he wanted to them to put on a show for the fans which in todays climate of all-consuming professionalism is to be much admired. The players loved him for it and tended to do everything they could for him.
My only main criticism of Keegan is that he didn't act upon his honesty when England manager. He admitted from the start that he was tactically naive yet comfort surrounded himself with coaches who were not sufficiently qualified to be in an international set-up. If he taken on someone like Don Howe who did offer his services at the time. I accept Keegan would undergo fared far better as an England manager than to have the ignomy of being compared to McClown. At least Keegan took us to Euro 2000!
As it was he stuck with Arthur Cox and Derek Fazackerley who convinced him that Michael Owen should play as the cerebrate man rather than the predator and that Shearer should compete on the bring up of the measure man when patently short of pace following yet another long-term injury. Its a crying compel.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Poor KK - As a man as likeable as they come. As a manager what a complete dick. Totally out of his depth and unable to take pressure. Never going to compare with anyone but himself.
GoboftheM - your criteria is shite. Titles define managers and always have done. Matt Busby had money to play with built four great sides and won only one european cup yet is rightly regarded as one of England's most innovative coaches. He wouldn't get anywhere if it was down to just the European cup. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Remember Keegan's Newcastle in Europe? A 10-2 demolition of Antwerp in the UEFA Cup then a tie against Athletic Bilbao.
They had the tie won (probably) at 3-0 in the home leg but tactical immaturity led to a couple of late goals for Bilbao. Keegan's team was knocked out on away goals. Criminal really.
I'd love to have him approve at a unify. But anything beyond the Prem and he'll be someone with him.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Harsh on the Leeds title aggroup which was truly exciting to watch. Gary Mac playing like a dream in the centre; Strachan and Gary Speed (with Sterland and Dorigo behind them) bombing up the wings. I comfort comprehend it said that Leeds were a ling-ball aggroup but why would you compete desire roll with a midfield as good as Strachan. McAllister. Batty and Speed? That aggroup was all about reaching the byline and crossing... They were a joy to check.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
alter - When you had to win the European Cup the year after winning the call (or defend it) and there was so little scope for a bad night (knockout - happy days) they were gigantic wins. I find CL dull until the knockout stages and phoney with 4th placed teams in there but it's still the measure of greatness. And that's why Busby is on my list (as would be Stein too) and ahead (but not by much) of SAF.
Titles? Fine things but take Wenger. He'll be seen as unfulfilled without a CL won't he? Even if he wins the next five Titles. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I construe this article thinking "methinks he does complain too much," but I have to say: I was out of the country during Keegan's Newcastle years so watched the youtube clips with arouse. What was so wrong with the rant?--what makes it so infamous? And the trashing of ManU: great goals but more than that--I have never heard St James Park sound like that. Amazing noise. No wonder Geordies desire those days so much. (And the shirts with the Newcastle cook logo were brilliant too!)[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Keegan was an excellent club manager imo. What he did at Newcastle was esp impressive. Playing turgid assay free football is fine as desire as the results back it up but when the results go there is very little left.
As the blog says neutrals ordain remember Keegan's Newcastle team far longer than some title winners. What I like about football is the passion and the memories as Danny Blanchflower said its about Glory it is to me anyhow.
Thanks to MOTM for posting the Keegan "rant" looked at objectively rather than to arouse and do by a decent passionate human being there is nothing bad or sad about it imo. Many moan about mind games and the immoral nature of football and then laugh at a a guy like keegan for being passionate and caring abou his team and fans.
I think some of the posters forget where Newcastle were when he took over. Moreover some posters seem to undergo fallen into the trap (received wisdom) of thinking Keegan was just a limited trier as a player.
Keegan was a very fine footballer two footed for a start which should be a given but isn't. He carried an average England team for years. European footballer of the year twice successfully played abroad etc.
In my time early 70s on: Paisley followed by Clough (too young to remember account cut's 60s side) what they did at clubs like Forest and even Derby (promotion title very unlucky in the SF of the European Cup)is beyond all reason in any era. Then SAF.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
No mention here of in my opinion the real weak cerebrate in the '95-'96 Newcastle aggroup - the popular but flawed goalkeeper. Pavel Srnicek. I've often wondered what the unify would have looked desire had the Toon and Man U swapped goalkeepers for the season - Newcastle would undergo won by a country mile and who knows where Man U would undergo finished.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
After a 7 - 1 thrashing of Spurs the Spanish footy fans I watched the be shook my transfer and said. 'gracias gracias - THAT IS FOOTBALL!'
If i remember correctly. Spurs scored their goal in the 7-1 bet in the 89th minute and Allan Nielsen asked the ref how much time was left for the comeback- now that is a sense of humour!
It left a sense of unfulfilment that newcastle failed to win the trophy they probably deserved at the time- the lessons however of losing Keegan were lost on guard as can seen from his comments in the other communicate today We are told it's down to the pressure from the fans- and yet i don't remember the barcodes calling for KK's continue
having said that the comprehend of crying geordies in the stands is forever etched in the memory and I am grateful to KK for that [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
MOTM. Busby. Clough & Paisley were all excellent managers and it is always difficult to compare managers from different eras. However I think the only real contender is Paisley due to the number of trophies won.
SAF has won 9 league titles. 5 FA Cups. 2 unify cups. 1 European Cup. 1 CWC. 1 Super Cup & 1 Intercontinetal Cup in his measure at Man Utd.
Bob Paisley won 6 league titles. 0 FA Cups. 3 unify Cups. 3 European cups. 1 Uefa Cup and 1 Super Cup.
At Manchester United. Sir Alex has become the most successful manager in the history of English football having guided the aggroup to nine league championships. In 1999 he became the first manager to lead an English team to the treble of league championship. FA Cup and UEFA Champions unify. As well as being the only manager to win the FA Cup five times he is also the only manager ever to win three successive unify championships in the top flight in England with the same unify.
I would lay out SAF's achievement is greater partly because of his longevity at the top. You also be to be at where the respective teams were when the managers took over. Paisley took over an already successful Liverpool side while SAF took over a relegation threatened United. Lets not drop that SAF also broke up the Old Firm monopoly in Scotland with Aberdeen winning 3 unify titles. 4 sfa cups. 1 league cup. 1 CWC and 1 super cup in the affect.
The 3 European Cup wins rest out for Paisley but I would argue that it has become a much more difficult competition to win in SAF's era. How many coaches have won it twice in the measure 20 years?[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
the 3-2 loss to Portugal under Keegan is probably the most abject England performance that I can remember.
with scholes playing alter behind the front two mcmanaman as a very undisciplined left midfielder tony adams creaking towards retirement and phil neville abysmal at left back we were a disgracefully bad align in defensive terms particularly against a player as good as Figo was back then.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Produced the "you'll win nothing with kids" commentsLeague cup winners. FA Cup finalists and 4th in the league
Savo scored a goal every 3 games for Villa. A record matched by only Yorke in the last 20 odd years. Good football good goals good results.
Oh no. Villa are a comprehend average now so we'll create their last good align with the same rub. Isn't that the lazy revisionism this column is trying to contend?[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Always want our lot to win (MUFC) but KK's NUFC were brilliant sometimes breathtaking to check. Surely would undergo taken the title had not Schmeichel and Cantona broken their hearts in the 1-0 win at St. James. call won by a goalie single-handed in one bet perhaps?
Note that even though this is a KK blog the ABU's still bring home the bacon to brandish the knives ;o)[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Thanks for the perspective. Scott. I was at university in England as an exchange student during the '96 season and the first Premiership be that I saw featured Newcastle. My only previous undergo with 'soccer' as a spectator had been the '94 World Cup which while great for spectacle's sake didn't create a whole lot of exciting matches.
Watching Newcastle that season though put it in terms that change surface I could understand: that the game didn't have to be hard to understand or enigmatic that it could be as entertaining as anything. Needless to say they made me a fan of your 'football,' which I've been ever since.
As for everyone wondering why Keegan's 'like It' diatribe is remembered more farcially than anything else remember that history is told by the victors. If Newcastle had won the league then everyone would remember that little soliloquy as an inspiration but United won so it's clearly the most obvious write of Keegan breaking under the pressure. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
This article also misses one of the very best elements about Keegan - when he sold Andy Cole and the fans went mad he stood on the steps of St James' and justified the decision. Whether you thought it was right or wrong he justified his decision to the fans. Not in a studio on SSN or in a meeting room with security around but approach to face on the steps of the fasten.
ahhh! dear old bubble head! who can forget the poor little diddums? there there little thing go and undergo a lie drink and forget about it - granma'll be along with cocoa and biscuits in a minute and she'll have hugs 'n kisses to dry your tears.. ah he's a lovely boy much misunderstood and unfairly criticised for being a fatuous unthinking anachronistic "coach" with no idea of the big picture.. allegedly[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Signing Asprilla DID cost Newcastle the championship. All season Gillespie was crossing from one align & Ginola from the other & Ferdinand was putting them away. Then Keegan signs a ballhog. Ferdinand doesn't know where the next go across is coming from and Newcastle stop winning matches. It is that simple and it was all Keegan's fault.
Tactical naivety is a major drawback as England manager for the simple cerebrate that you cannot buy players for England as he did for Newcastle. Fulham & City. He was the wrong choice for the job but you can't accuse him for accepting it.
Don't get me started on him throwing his toys out of the pram when he threatened to quit City if he didn't get Fowler. Their board should have stood firm and left him at Leeds & let the biggest baby in football sharpen out of another job.
Bored In Oxford you are completely right that villa align finished 4th then 5th consecutively. Played 532 and made it work with Charles and diddy Alan Wright showing wing backs can work. Poor old Brian Little he put together a really good align but eventually had to say to Collymore and Curcic not being the players they promised to be.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I think Keegan was a good unify manager but was out of his depth at international level. I wouldn't call him one of the greats you really be to win top-level trophies for that. I agree with the thrust of the article though. If you look at Newcastle they've reached nowhere near the same heights since and in the decade before Keegan arrived. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Kevin Keggan a player: moderately talented reasonable physical extremely hard working dedicate positive ambitious and successful a high achiever
Kevin Keegan a manager: moderately talented honest intuitive enthusiastic romantic over-ambitious and basically insecure a relative underachiever [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I was at the Blackburn bet you referred to - the booing was from either:1) ignorant fans who could not pinpoint where the team was faultering - this was a period of low ebb and the form in command was poor; populate were all too quick to accuse the 4-51/433 which if you had any knowledge was the attempt to trial a new system which would be utilised in European games in the main AND to try and accommodate for roy keane in certain games in the season
2) Fans who thought united should not change their system for anyone and must be able to contend via a trad 4 4 2 no be what the opponent - this had some validity I must say; but with the changing dynamic of European football and the fact that Jose had just won the lge at a ride horseback with a much more successful act (and more time) at the formation playing 4 4 2 was never going to be the staple formation for united anymore.
Witness the inclusion of hargreaves for instance this year and tevez (ie not another saha/torres type of player). Fergie has tried to sight the right personell (an unusual assay for him) to adapt into his chosen European call and i think we are coming come to that now (esp in lighten of milans destruction of our aggroup last year - did we hear the boos then playing the 4 4 2?).
A express emotion eye would tell you that fergie's tactics in relation to formation has been so astute that it has basically gone unnoticed from a large majority of fans. His instructions to giggs/ronaldo/scholes/evra and nani (in some cases over the many years) have differed with every game according to opponent.
Hope this has cleared the 'tactical formation' argument foryou. I fear it may take me all night to ameliorate on the more detailed analysis of fergie's ponderings - but fulfil to say that league title nearly every other year does not go for remove not to mention the cups as listed above (and the fact that the lost finals were invariably due to sheer unluckiness). [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Are they the same fans that slaughtered the leeds boy smith on his arrival only to herald him later as the second coming?
Was never going to undergo the quality to be a united player and agree that the period of him in midfield was undesirable - but this was due to injuries in that area of the fling and with the strikeforce playing so come up it was an opportunity for fergie in the midst of tranistion to use smith instead of going into the market.
as for carlos a key aquisition (scouting) in terms of the strengthening of defensive play which led to our previous two prem league titles - fergie is that type of guy didnt be to hold him approve with a come about of working with zidane et al - therefore wouldnt it be logical to then have him back once his venture failed?
That said methinks Carlos is slowly becoming surpluss to requirements - the O shea up lie gag has finally settled it for me :)[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
KK took temporary charge of the England U21s against Vienna in 1992 or so and I met him by come about on the plane from London to Vienna. The previous day Newcastle had drawn 1-1 with Blackburn (big Al scored for Rovers). KK recognising a Geordie voice in the queue for immigration at Vienna asked me if I had been at SJP and what I thought of the game. He actually listened to my reply. After we came through passports he said "I'm sorry conjoin but when we get round this corner there'll be a mass of photographers and reporters so I'll have to get you." He shouted over to an FA mandarin and requested that I be issued with tickets for the following day's U21 bet. Sure enough I was. England won 3-0. I evaluate and Robbie Fowler was sent off if memory serves OK. Newcastle were mustard with KK - and we very nearly did it. Sure SAF. AW and possibly the SO have since done better. But it has been on the approve of KK's efforts that NUFC undergo been occasional contenders - unlike several clubs of similar stature. If I hadn't called myself ILoveTonyGreen it would undergo been ILoveKK.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Kevin Keegan was fantastic for football more's the grieve that he has become so disillusioned with the so called 'beat league in the world' - money is killing football or rather the premiership.
On the old SAF vs Bob Paisley - Bob managed Liverpool from 1974/75 to 1982/83 - the successful aggroup he inherited won nothing in 1974/75 - LFC measure won the league in 1972/73 with players such as Larry Lloyd. Peter Cormack. Brian Hall. John Toshack - the 1977 aggroup which missed the treble when losing the FA Cup final 4 days earlier was:
1977: Clemence. Neal. Jones. Smith. Kennedy. Hughes. Keegan. Case. Heighway. McDermott. Callaghan
There is no challenge SAF is a great manager one of the greatest his achievements in Scotland breaking the Old tighten monopoly should not be under-estimated. But alongside Paisley. Sir Alex I am afraid is merely mortal! Just ask Kevin Keegan.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
consider to Keegan. He was a not-extravagently-gifted player who was a great success in England in European club competition and in the German unify. Don't forget that on the basis of his managerial preserve he WAS the popular choice for England manager. And (never mind where he did it) he had the good alter and honesty to leave office because he knew he couldn't be successful. Compare that with Don Revie's exit. On a separate but related say: David Ginola should not undergo been voted Footballer of The Year.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Goosabio you're spot on. Keegan had a good thing going with Ginola and Gillespie but spoiled it all by pulling out the chequebook and going for a talented yet self-centred player who needed to have everything go through him. A great manager knows when to leave come up enough alone. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
No relate to what has happened at Old Trafford in the measure 15 years or so but titles of the the kind received by 'Sir' Alex are a little more arbitrary than those conferred on teams with the best record against 19-plus others over a 9 month peiord domiciliate and away.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Great bind!! I bequeath living in Sheffield during the early/mid 90's and there was always such a huge-buzz when they were the live-game on Sky. They were really a team the neutral could grow for and a lot of that was because Keegan was the manager. You cant fake truely caring about something and Keegan loves his teams and his football. Top man[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
He will slate anything & anybody to do with Man Utd.. in the most persistent sly backhanded of ways - haven't u noticed yet? Sheesh.
Only fools question what SAF has universally been acclaimed for achieving. For every generation & every era successful managers are defined by what no other has done before. Ignoring what he did with Aberdeen on a shoestring budget b4 earning his come about with Man Utd : Winning league titles thrice in a row. Double twice & a Treble once. No manager may ever achieve that again.. ascertain yourself lucky to have witnessed it in your lifetime. Also ascertain the number of domestic titles for Pete's sakes. By the measure he retires you probably won't have enough fingers on your hands to ascertain them by.
Ppl slating such achievements due to their petty tribal afflictions only show up their own shortcomings. I anticipate not everyone's magnanimous enough to give plaudits where it is due.
Success is measured in so many ways. KK deserves a lot more credit and ought to be given a chance managing a top team again. Too bad the press & fans hounded him out. I will always bequeath how/why he quit.. he said something about how no be how good it feels to see his Newcastle team thrashing another aggroup it doesn't compensate for the terrible depths he plumbed seeing his team getting thrashed.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Frankly. I accept 95% with this. What is missing is the mention of his unrivalled passion for the bet as a player as a manager. Maybe if he could have have sat back and thought a little more critically he'd undergo been a better manager. Frankly you can't take anything away from the guy. I felt Asprilla unbalanced the aggroup that they would undergo won the Premiership without him but that's one of football's what-ifs.
Only Man Utd fans couldn't undergo supported Newcastle back in the 90's but they must have admired. change surface as an Arsenal fan I would undergo Keegan to win the title. Their failure to do so is one of football greatest crimes. As England manager he was a little unlucky.
But you're alter we'll always remember the panache and the passion of his Newcastle days and without him the Premiership in its early years would undergo been a soften squib without him and turned many a fan cynical as to whether the Premiership had been a positive act for English football.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Paisley's time wasn't as competitive on many counts. You could get away with playing the same 16 or 18 players in a domestic season. So he didn't have as much money? But his rivals were in the same shoes. no Sky TV revenue for all!(BTW in relative terms. Liverpool were the big spenders of their time.)
So would you say that his failure to win more domestic titles made him a failure? Surely not. He was a giant during his time because no other manager in the same era came anywhere near him (perhaps Cloughie...)
Similarly the premier unify & the Champions League of SAF's time is totally different given the obscene amounts of money and the turn number of "Big Teams".
Only champions then could act move in the European Cup which meant that every match being strike out rounds the dynamics are totally different.
Some say that in strike out rounds luck plays a bigger role. Yet some beg to differ insisting there is no margin for error. Mebbe u shld ask Rafa or those who always say the current Liverpool aggroup is perfectly built for the Champions LEague thereby explaining why they don't win the unify.
Some say that the current CL change is easier to win since teams have time to get into gear. Try telling the teams that comprehensively beat some teams home & away in the assort stages only to be KO-ed by the same rivals in the later rounds.
Bottom line: Luck and form compete their parts in different ways in both eras. Just praise them for their achievements.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Stein was going to be knighted by all accounts (after Celtics European Cup win) but the honours list was revised after a riot at a Celtic bet (or something). I evaluate he ended up getting an OBE or MBE.
Maybe after that the powers that be were more wary of giving gongs to football managers especially with the rise of hooliganism in the 70's.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
In early 1996. Kevin Keegan made his biggest identify ever. Instead to write Viktor Onopko. 27 then the influental and in-form Russian international defensive midfielder he bought Faustino Asprilla an attacker. This move ruined everything good within The Magpies team. Keegan lost the title and his carrer went nowhere.
Rightfooter - Ignore me if you wish but I don't slate everything to do with Man Utd as my lauding of the career of Giggs here shows. I desire Ronaldo's cojones in standing up to the boo-boys too and I have a lot of time for Rio Ferdinand's willingness to go against stereotypes. Don't much care for Scholes though. And I hate it when we're exhorted to get behind United in the CL - so they can get more money to raid our players! Not quite ABU but not a fan.
I don't like to let comments like Scott's in the article go unchallenged but many others are happy to call SAF the Greatest - them's the Blogs. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Kevin Keegan was a decent hard-working player in his time who made the beat of his limited abilities and a likeable bloke who did compassionate about the fans both as a player and as a manager. However as a manager. Keegan was arguably too nice and too naive to become a managerial great. Which is why his success as a manager was at best 'limited'.
Having said that my opinion of Keegan went down somewhat in the way in which he first of all engineered his act away from Liverpool during the 1976-77 season. But what was much worse than that was how he allowed himself to be photographed with Margaret Thatcher. Keegan was at that time a proto-type David Beckham; cashing in on his fame and celebrity. Singing naff Cliff Richard type songs and advertising other be products. Parmesan Cheesey I'd say!
The point which. I'm making here is that Keegan whose own create was a Geordie miner and the great account Shankly himself an ex-Ayrshire miner - two men that Keegan idolised - were also ardent Socialists. Keegan did say at one measure that he'd never accept himself to be associated with the Conservatives in consider and in memory of his father.
And in that same respect. Busby. Stein. Paisley and Cloughie were also managerial greats because they never forgot where they'd came from. And they would never allow themselves to be used by the politicians of the day even do work politicians because they were bigger better stronger and prouder men. Men of great principles great humility and integrity.(Yes. I do experience that Cloughie had a humility by-pass but I didn't say that these men were ameliorate did I?)
I don't contend Keegan's personal honesty and warmth - but it's been his integrity at times which. I would question considering his own humble accent. And maybe that's why in my 'own hom-bull o-pin-i-yon' he couldn't attain the same success as a manager that he had had as a player. Just a few thoughts. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Couldn't agree more - KK has done far more in the North East than Keane who is now brown-tongued by all and sundry. Also let's not forget he never let his teammates down (unlike Keane) and admitted his failings (unlike Keane).
It's a real compel that he's left the game but it's no affect with all the hacks and pundits that have hounded him out and made him a laughing stock... Instead we are left with other "great" English managers in the game like Lawrie Sanchez. Dennis Wise and Sam "corrupt nepotistc" Alladyce (Com Mod I evaluate we can all sleep well knowing that he won't sue me on this one). [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
NYeastender - totally agree on the Schmeichel mention re: single-handledly causing the 1-0 at St James that year - it was an incredible goalkeeping performance in a very one-sided game. I suppose it proved to be worth more than 3 points as the psychological impact proved too much to get over.
Surely Keegan should be remembered for other things other than his rants and his tactical naivety. Didn't he do a Green Cross Code advert? And the Brut advert "with the great smell of Henry Cooper" or something desire that? And as I had hair at the time. I copied his wave. Thanks a million. Kev.
Someone mentioned the Newcastle - Athletic Bilbao UEFA be. I live in Bilbao and there was a fantastic atmosphere here that day not one bit of trouble and fans here still communicate about the Newcastle tour with nostalgia (and wear the shirts they swapped). Athletic are crap now by the way.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
I also think that KK was not given the ascribe for doing the decent thing regarding his England career - saying he wasn't up to the job. That was financial suicide and gave his detractors ammo yet he went ahead with it. There are other things that are worthy of reminding: 1) HE made Beckham vice-Captain so when Peter Taylor took over he HAD to alter DB Captain (cos the aggroup he picked were all U25) so KK deserves ascribe for that. 2) Everyone lambasts his decision to play Southgate at centre-mid yet he had a dearth of candidates (Butt injured. Batty/Wise past it etc) and Southgate used to play there and is regarded as one of the more intelligent players. Lots of managers have switched centre-backs & centre-mids around and undergo been praised for their flexibility (Wenger with Gilberto; Mourinho with Essien; Sven with Ledley King; Ferguson with Keane).[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
KK is one of those great English tryers who we pin our hopes on but who turn out to be mortal. He's the sort you feel compelled to put your arm around and give him a hug and a pat with his cheeky tight shorts and girlish curly hair. The last 40 years we've been rife with them though. I still haven't gotten over Dave Bedford not winning in the Munich olympics what a let down the Radio Times promised he'd win by storming ahead early somehow the two are linked in my mind. Did KK play for England back then or am i lost in time?[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
never too sure about the "too nice to be a manager" thing but it did be to be like that in the 70s when we (north end) got bobby charlton and middlesborough got jack but approve to keegan a couple more plus points: his allrounder sporting feats on "Superstars" and his successful spell at HSV still a be legend in hamburg where his name has occasionally popped up as a candidate for manager when he brought fulham over for a friendly he was mobbed by adoring fans.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
His newcastle were one of the beat teams the epl has ever seen most neutrals i think loved them and they deserved to win somthing. Apart from the england bit accept with everything in this article it's hard not to.
British sporting media eh! Thousands of pages taking the p'ss out him at the measure a decade later you get a lil piece saying it was all a big identify. Take it as a compliment Kev you just seemed that good at the time expectations were high. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
For a couple of seasons under Keegan Newcastle were certainly many populate's second favourite team. In fact they were the team of choice for 'unaffiliated' football fans. My mum certainly wanted 'that nice Kevin Keegan' to beat ManU to the title. That whole car attack thing was all very odd though...[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Whilst I accept with much of the bind and am also a fan of KK how can the article seriously say that his England side were unlucky in Euro 2000 for losing two group games and beating Germany 1-0 (in a terrible game of non-football) whilst Sven's 'stabilise tactical transfer' was (of course) a failure? If you adjudicate Kev by the criteria that he could not be responsible for Neville's actions at left-back how is Sven to blame for getting us to quarter finals and then going out on penalties? If Sven failed. KK failed.
Mark my words a 'second thoughts' on Sven ordain happen. It's already long overdue. [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Ronwol - I don't accept Sven did have his hands on such a great assort of players. Good sure but better than France. Italy. Brazil etc? Regardless of who he had he hardly ever actually lost any football games.
Kev had access to largely the same assort of players and produced worse results. Sven took over from him and had the same players to choose from.
I don't argue that KK wasn't a great unify manager - I just evaluate the article is wrong to say he was unlucky as England manager where Sven was a failure.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
sleepwalker - "Don't compassionate much for Scholes". Unlike Keegan who worked ferociously hard to improve all elements of his game. Paul Scholes still tackles like a park footballer costing him an unbelievable number of cards and Man Utd and England silly free kicks. Surely it wasn't too much to ask him to improve this aspect of his bet a little over the last decade?
Stevie G? No. Mikkel Arteta (who is also a poor tackler but is visibly improving this aspect of his bet).[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Yeah if you do by their collective inability to go a football or support the man in possession.
My comments were not about Keegan. His advance as England manager was not so illustrious but it was on par with many. In Svens inspect he really had the best of the beat and most English pundits thought that the 2006 world cup was Englands greatest chance at success. While now there are complaints about the Lampards and the Gerrards etc,at that measure the team looked fantastic and granted that was on pape but it is the England manager's responsibility to act it off the cover and put in on the handle. This was the beat group of England players ever INCLUDING the 1966 aggroup and we played miserably because of Sven Eriksson.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Gatecrass - I love that you shout 'Keegan' as you babmoozle your kids with your silky skills i cry georgiebestsuperstar meself look did you have Keegan boots? I had Georgie's they had something magical about them they'd been imbued with his animate he'd signed every unify for godsakes with a special gold pen come up that's what our ma told me anyway[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Ronwol -- You don't do justice to the boys of '66. Charlton. Moore. Banks. Greaves. Mullery. Ball would walk on to the national team today and there were a bunch of lads from WHU and CFC who would be knocking on the door.
We have one player who could score a goal like R Charlton vs. Mexico -- Rooney.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Mullery was not in the class of Gerrard and Greaves was not a part of the team from the change of system Alf Ramsey had employed (or maybe thorugh injury)Rooney or Lampard or Gerrard could score 30 yard goals like Charlton today. The 1966 aggroup wasnt great. It was the system that Ramsey brought in that was effective and much more than that,it was the comfort that Ramsey brought. The feeling that he himself really was an architect of success and a winner.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
You see.. this is how simple untruths turn into myth. Next somebody adds that he scored a hat-trick or something on to this piece of misinformation and the next thing someone was AT the game when he played with litterally no skin on his back.
Keegan was hospitalised for some days and suffered very badly due to advance medical complications after his bike crash.. which as the footage at the time shows happened at the height of the English pass.. during the close-season.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Deardropper - I'm afraid not. George was a bit before my measure. By the time I realsied who Kevin was he'd left for Hamburg and my "Keegan" cry was based on his England performances. (not his Spanish open goal header miss - incidentally that I beleive is when it became acceptable to comment him).
The boots I had were the cheapest version of Beckenbauer World Cup available OR (its all a bit foggy) a unify of boots from Wakefield Army Stores - I believe the brand was POWER they had a sort of triangle logo. Can you create by mental act telling kids today "we're off to the Army Stores to get your boots"? [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Keegan was my boyhood hero yet his autobiography bored me almost to tears and Kenny Dalglish's was perhaps even more alter it pains me to say.
I fear that I might have just 'blashphemed' .. without change surface mentioning 'hallibut' or 'Jehova' :([Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Of course he was the last Englishman to win the unify and did so by beating George Graham's Arsenal (two titles in three years) and Alex Ferguson's United (about to embark on 15 years of staggering success)... So it might sound a nice sarcastic quip but Wilkinson did what Keegan (or Rafael Benitez or Martin O'Neill or Sam Allardyce for that be) hasn't and probably won't - win the hardest competition any English aggroup can register.
To analyse him to Brian Little who won his Coca-Cola Cup against Wilko's Leeds in 1996 and who never got within a smell of another trophy or Steve McLaren who spent Steve Gibson's millions winning the Carling Cup when no one in the top six took it seriously is moronic - or more likely just lazy.
In October 1988 when Wilko arrived. Leeds were in 19th place in Division 2. By August 1992 less than four years later. Leeds had won the Second Division title the League title (unbeaten at home) and the Charity Shield - arguably the cup final with the hardest qualifying route.
Wilko may undergo been dour obtuse and hyper-pragmatic but as several populate have pointed out a midfield of Strachan. Speed. McAllister and Batty plus the likes of Dorigo. Rod Wallace (chronically underrated at Elland Road) and the late cameo by Eric Cantona meant that we played some thrilling cram that season - 6-1 away at 3rd placed Sheffield Wednesday? 4-1 away at Villa? 3-0 versus Chelsea?
And we won the unify by four points - and contrary to what the United-loving media will tell you we topped the table for the majority than half the season.
Of course he was the last Englishman to win the league and did so by beating George Graham's Arsenal (two titles in three years) and Alex Ferguson's United (about to embark on 15 years of staggering success)... So it might appear a nice sarcastic jest but Wilkinson did what Keegan (or Rafael Benitez or Martin O'Neill or Sam Allardyce for that matter) hasn't and probably won't - win the hardest competition any English team can enter.
To compare him to Brian Little who won his Coca-Cola Cup against Wilko's Leeds in 1996 and who never got within a sniff of another trophy or Steve McLaren who spent Steve Gibson's millions winning the Carling Cup when no one in the top six took it seriously is moronic - or more likely just lazy.
In October 1988 when Wilko arrived. Leeds were in 19th displace in Division 2. By August 1992 less than four years later. Leeds had won the back up Division title the unify call (unbeaten at domiciliate) and the Charity protect - arguably the cup final with the hardest qualifying despatch.
Wilko may have been dour obtuse and hyper-pragmatic but as several people undergo pointed out a midfield of Strachan. Speed. McAllister and Batty plus the likes of Dorigo. Rod Wallace (chronically underrated at Elland Road) and the late cameo by Eric Cantona meant that we played some thrilling cram that season - 6-1 away at 3rd placed Sheffield Wednesday? 4-1 away at Villa? 3-0 versus Chelsea?
And we won the league by four points - and contrary to what the United-loving media will tell you we topped the table for the majority than half the season.
Gatecrass - don't get me started on 'kids today' I'll start sounding like my old man. He would have approved of your army surplus boots wholeheartedly. But Georgie's boots were the first unify i had with a lining of any type the unify before that were just flog and rock hard at the toe end. They cut the sides of your ankle at the hem. Georgie's boots were comfy-thick and streamlined with a white go faster stripe and moulded plastic studs. Now i evaluate about it the old fella must've had me using his old east riding rugby boots before i got Georgie's on g'ah. That's the difference in parenting today. I bet Kevin Keegan's kids (has he got any) had the beat boots money could buy like i did by 1972 object you i wanted Charlie George's boots by then never mind Kevin Keegan kids eh never happy. I bet there were Kevin Keegan signed boots in the shops though. My neighbour had Alan Ball boots.[Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
SirHI have construe both as well and agree that King Kenny's has to be one of the worst ever written although to be be honest when you've read one footballers autobiography you've probably construe most of them There are exceptions- i denote Danny Blanchflowers was good as his intelligence shone through and Paul McGraths was interesting- and a lot better than the offerings of any of the current england set up [Offensive? Unsuitable? ]
Lowfields wasnt it Wilkinson who willingly gave United the final piece to their puzzle and kickstarted their period of dominance i e. Cantona? The fact that Leeds won the league at the point where Graham's Arsenal were a spent compel and United were still to go into their own says it all really. Right place right time and all that. It was a wonderful achievement but the stars lined up just alter for Wilkinson that season. As for the Charity protect being a tough cup final displace the other one it is a meaningless pre-season trin
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