Allardyce sacked

[LondonManc]

Saw Big Sam score a wonder goal circa 73/74 against Sunderland at Burnden in the Embankment End, corner, he ran into the penalty box at full pelt, leapt, and powered a thunderous header from just inside the pen. box, must have been 20 yards, we used to replay it on the football pitch/West Ward Labour Club Car Park in Halliwell. Can still hook a football stuck from under a car exhaust with my left leg. No finer feeling than car park grit embedded in your knee....

42,000 on that day....

Was on The Big Match but not online anywhere, the one he scored a season or two after is, but that was rubbish and was in the Great Lever End....

Great End names, not like now, KitKat Stand, Sponsored by Nike Stand, JD Sports Stadium....

We had those two, Manchester Road North, Manchester Road South, Wing Stand, and my spot, The Burnden Paddock.....

Looking back now, we were conned by astroturf in the 80s. But calling it "crap green carpet that will f**k your knees up" wouldn't have done much for sales I suppose.

[stek]

Looking back now, we were conned by astroturf in the 80s. But calling it "crap green carpet that will f**k your knees up" wouldn't have done much for sales I suppose.

Who had the first AstroTurf pitches? Preston NE was one, was QPR the other?

[shaunbhoy]

Didn't think it would take you long Shaun. Still, in a "who's won the World Cup" contest, you're 2-0 down. Not getting any easier, is it?

You have highlighted the whole problem with England Mordac. They are content to use Scotland as a benchmark when they really SHOULD be using major nations for comparison. Leaving aside the early anomalous performances of Uruguay, no country with the limited resources that the likes of Scotland has available can be serious about winning major competitions. Bearing that in mind, it could be argued that Scotland have in fact over-achieved just by getting to the finals as often as they have (bit out of form at the moment mind!! ).
With the far greater resources at their disposal, England really ought to be realistically expecting to at least get to the semi-finals of most major tournaments. The fact that they consistently fail to do so is the really laughable aspect to all of this.
Maybe if they got themselves a decent manager instead of insisting upon mediocre semi-talented Englishmen?

[chopper]

Maybe if they got themselves a decent manager instead of insisting upon mediocre semi-talented Englishmen?

So, someone like Fabio Capello, or Sven Goran Ericsson?

(Actually, Capello has been England's second most successful manager in terms of win rate, after Allardyce!)

[shaunbhoy]

So, someone like Fabio Capello, or Sven Goran Ericsson?

Also rans. Think Guardiola.

[Mordac]

You have highlighted the whole problem with England Mordac. They are content to use Scotland as a benchmark when they really SHOULD be using major nations for comparison. Leaving aside the early anomalous performances of Uruguay, no country with the limited resources that the likes of Scotland has available can be serious about winning major competitions. Bearing that in mind, it could be argued that Scotland have in fact over-achieved just by getting to the finals as often as they have (bit out of form at the moment mind!! ).
With the far greater resources at their disposal, England really ought to be realistically expecting to at least get to the semi-finals of most major tournaments. The fact that they consistently fail to do so is the really laughable aspect to all of this.
Maybe if they got themselves a decent manager instead of insisting upon mediocre semi-talented Englishmen?

You're absolutely right Shaun. There's no way on planet earth England should be using Scotland as a benchmark. It just isn't fair, it's not even a remotely fair contest. To be completely honest, if we're looking for a benchmark, we should be looking at the likes of Slovenia. And "mediocre semi talented Englishmen?" Is there another kind of Englishman?

[shaunbhoy]

And "mediocre semi talented Englishmen?" Is there another kind of Englishman?

Sir Bradley Wiggins?......oh wait a minute......

[Mordac]

Sir Bradley Wiggins?......oh wait a minute......

Are you referring to the fact he was on "medication" or the fact he was born in Belgium?

[LondonManc]

Who had the first AstroTurf pitches? Preston NE was one, was QPR the other?

Oldham Athletic had one, Preston and QPR had the others, correct.

Oldham played host to the Manchester Giants American football team iirc, because rugby pitches were too manly for them.

[northernladyuk]

Oldham Athletic had one, Preston and QPR had the others, correct.

Oldham played host to the Manchester Giants American football team iirc, because rugby pitches were too manly for them.

Nothing says manly like a group of gents drinking each other's bodily fluids after a vigorous group shower.