Great Expectations

[vcmazz]

It amazes me that people are so surprised at where we are in the league. With this lot? I reckon it's amazing we're doing as well as we are .

Here's a little test for those old enough. Who out of our current squad would have got in to our 1991/92 team? And remember, that team only scrapped up by the skin of their teeth on a very low points total (82 I think) so why the flip do people think this shower are capable of doing it?

For me, not a single one of the current players would even make the bench (although I suppose Sealy did so perhaps that's unfair) :shrug:. What do you reckon? One rule - if you reckon any current players are good enough, you must say who they'd replace in the 91/2 team.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

List the team .....

 

[wanderer paul]

Graham Benstead
Brian Statham
Billy Manuel
Keith Millen
Terry Evans
Simon Ratcliffe
Keith Jones
Neil Smillie
Marcus Gayle
Dean Holdsworth
Gary Blissett
Detzi Kruszynski
Kevin Godfrey
Jamie Bates
Ashley Bayes
Chris Hughton
Wilf Rostron
Paul Buckle
Richard Cadette
Tony Sealy
Lee Luscombe

to name a few

 

[BeeHomeSoon]

Richard Lee for Ashley Bayes?

 

[Northwalesbee]

Richard Lee


Not knocking Benstead , I only saw the video as I was barely 8 years old at the time . Our current strike force wouldn't get close to Holdsworth and Blisset though cept the younger version of Nicky Forster .

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Woodman for Billy, Osborne pushes Millen (but doesn't quite make it). Can't really touch the forwards or midfield but would probably decimate the bench with our current team.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Richard Lee for Ashley Bayes?

:yes: :laugh:

Richard Lee


Not knocking Benstead , I only saw the video as I was barely 8 years old at the time .

NO WAY Benstead was fantastic that season

 

[Billy Hunt]

I think the current lot are all too soft to have survived in that 1991/92 team. :thetruth:

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I think the current lot are all too soft to have survived in that 1991/92 team. :thetruth:

Interesting to compare tactics with our current team though. Not much tippy tappy football from that lot.

 

[Northwalesbee]

:yes: :laugh:



NO WAY Benstead was fantastic that season

Apologies but like I said I was very young at the time only remember my Uncle being very happy about Brentford at the time. I still have his video somewhere if anyone wants to borrow it ?

 

[Billy Hunt]

Apologies but like I said I was very young at the time only remember my Uncle being very happy about Brentford at the time. I still have his video somewhere if anyone wants to borrow it ?

If it's the goals of the championship season video, it states on the cover something like 'plus the saves of Graham Benstead'. Can't recall any of our 'keepers since then being afforded the same compliment.

No need to apologise though.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Interesting to compare tactics with our current team though. Not much tippy tappy football from that lot.

Nope. We had players playing in their recognised positions and everyone knew what was required of them.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Nope. We had players playing in their recognised positions and everyone knew what was required of them.

Which is not too much to ask really is it?

 

[Billy Hunt]

Which is not too much to ask really is it?

Nope.

 

[wanderer paul]

We played some good football that season. We mixed it up. Some games called for graft and play to a system (a la Scott/MA etc) and some games showed we could play the tippy tappy stuff. Orient, Fulham, Barnet, Hull, Birmingham, Wigan, Swansea, Darlington, all home games................all with some football. Even when Bradford beat us 4-3 at home, we played football.

 

[Billy Hunt]

We played some good football that season. We mixed it up. Some games called for graft and play to a system (a la Scott/MA etc) and some games showed we could play the tippy tappy stuff. Orient, Fulham, Barnet, Hull, Birmingham, Wigan, Swansea, Darlington, all home games................all with some football. Even when Bradford beat us 4-3 at home, we played football.

I suppose. It was quick and direct and effective. Having the pace of Smillie and Gayle certainly helped.

 

[BeeHomeSoon]

Chesney maybe should have...

 

[Billy Hunt]

Chesney maybe should have...

True.

 

[wanderer paul]

Out of today's squad, Lee as cover keeper, Spillane, Woodman, Osborne, all worth a 'squad' place, maybe even Weston on form! But that is it IMO.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

We played some good football that season. We mixed it up. Some games called for graft and play to a system (a la Scott/MA etc) and some games showed we could play the tippy tappy stuff. Orient, Fulham, Barnet, Hull, Birmingham, Wigan, Swansea, Darlington, all home games................all with some football. Even when Bradford beat us 4-3 at home, we played football.

Two good wingers, balls out wide quickly, good crossing to two powerful forwards and an excellent box to box midfielder. I actually think that Scott is trying (but failing badly) to do the same.

 

[vcmazz]

Out of today's squad, Lee as cover keeper, Spillane, Woodman, Osborne, all worth a 'squad' place, maybe even Weston on form! But that is it IMO.

Yes, I was thinking in terms of starting eleven with my original post but I'd have to concede that Lee is a little better than Ashley lol. Other than that, Karleigh is the only one on your list that I'd considered but he missed out because he has a girl's name :yes:.

 

[wanderer paul]

Two good wingers, balls out wide quickly, good crossing to two powerful forwards and an excellent box to box midfielder. I actually think that Scott is trying (but failing badly) to do the same.

AS is, yes, but we played through the midfield too. What AS is failing at is "putting square pegs in round holes" (players in wrong positions IMO) and using one dimensional system of play. Back in 91-92 the team could play football, and then PH realised we had too to win the last 6 matches.

Just looking at our 4 away games before the Posh match, Wigan - lost 1-2 in front of 2371, Reading - drew 0-0 5660, Hull City - won 3-0 3770, Bolton - won 2-1 4382. The crowds at what are now/were Premier sides !

 

[Kettering Bee]

We played some good football that season. We mixed it up. Some games called for graft and play to a system (a la Scott/MA etc) and some games showed we could play the tippy tappy stuff. Orient, Fulham, Barnet, Hull, Birmingham, Wigan, Swansea, Darlington, all home games................all with some football. Even when Bradford beat us 4-3 at home, we played football.

Spot on fella. Such good players in that team and it's and insult to suggest that they didn't play much quality stuff. Phil Holder never got the credit he deserved. Overall we favoured a fast, direct attacking style, but these boys could mix it up and really play. Long ball, shot ball or passing game this team could do the lot.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Spot on fella. Such good players in that team and it's and insult to suggest that they didn't play much quality stuff. Phil Holder never got the credit he deserved. Overall we favoured a fast, direct attacking style, but these boys could mix it up and really play. Long ball, shot ball or passing game this team could do the lot.

I hope you don't think that I'm trying to insult my second favourite Brentford side! They played quality football but I didn't see a lot of Arsenal type pass and move - it was strong and direct which suited the players perfectly. It's no surprise that the players that progressed went on to Wimbledon who were very similar.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

AS is, yes, but we played through the midfield too.

I'd kill for a Keith Jones in our team now.

 

[wanderer paul]

Yes, I was thinking in terms of starting eleven with my original post but I'd have to concede that Lee is a little better than Ashley lol. Other than that, Karleigh is the only one on your list that I'd considered but he missed out because he has a girl's name :yes:.

I don't believe any of today's 'first team' would be put on front of the team that played Fulham/Peterborough. Maybe bar one :shrug:

Benstead-----------------Lee
Statham-------------Spillane
Hughton------------Woodman
Evans--------------Legge
Millen-------------Osborne
Kruszynski--------Bean
Ratcliffe-----------O'Connor
Gayle--------------Weston
Smillie------------Simpson
Holdsworth-------MacDOnald
Blissett-----------Alexander

:shrug:

 

[wanderer paul]

I'd kill for a Keith Jones in our team now.

He actually left in October 1991

A great player IMO.

 

[difford]

I wouldnt have Lee instead of Benstead in that team that year, but would have done a year later. 1991/2 you could pick up a back pass, Benstead was all at sea after that rule change.

 

[NigeriaRay]

I don't believe any of today's 'first team' would be put on front of the team that played Fulham/Peterborough. Maybe bar one :shrug:

Benstead-----------------Lee
Statham-------------Spillane
Hughton------------Woodman
Evans--------------Legge
Millen-------------Osborne
Kruszynski--------Bean
Ratcliffe-----------O'Connor
Gayle--------------Weston
Smillie------------Simpson
Holdsworth-------MacDOnald
Blissett-----------Alexander

:shrug:

I've only been to one game this season, so I can't judge Woodman, but Hughton was the final piece of the jigsaw in the 92 team. We struggled for a left back all season (and a right back, come to think of it, until Statham signed) & I thought Hughton was excellent - his experience was vital. It was no coincidence, that after a very good start, we fell apart the following season after he got injured

 

[Billy Hunt]

I thought Hughton was excellent - his experience was vital. It was no coincidence, that after a very good start, we fell apart the following season after he got injured

We were also without Evans, Smillie & Benstead through injury for long periods plus, of course, we let Deano go to Wimbledon in return for some magic beans.

 

[bostonhanwell]

Graham Benstead
Brian Statham
Billy Manuel
Keith Millen
Terry Evans
Simon Ratcliffe
Keith Jones
Neil Smillie
Marcus Gayle
Dean Holdsworth
Gary Blissett
Detzi Kruszynski
Kevin Godfrey
Jamie Bates
Ashley Bayes
Chris Hughton
Wilf Rostron
Paul Buckle
Richard Cadette
Tony Sealy
Lee Luscombe

to name a few

That was a great squad wasn't it. There was a togetherness and belief amongst them. They were organised and were mostly played in their position. Even so without Deano's incredible scoring record we probably would have scraped the playoffs just about. The attacking play generally was outstanding, who can forget that first half against Fulham on the last home game of the season. We ripped them apart. Maybe one day we shall enjoy such moments again but things are at the moment as depressing as that season was uplifting.

For the record though I still think a lot of credit should go to Perryman. He was the brain behind building that squad. Holder inherited it and rightly was praised for taking us up. Sadly he was found wanting at the higher level, sounds familiar.

 

[vcmazz]

So you see what I'm saying? If that team was just about good enough to go up, why do people keep talking about promotion with this lot? They're not good enough. Simples :shrug:.

 

[Billy Hunt]

So you see what I'm saying? If that team was just about good enough to go up, why do people keep talking about promotion with this lot? They're not good enough. Simples :shrug:.

That team would've destroyed most of the teams in League 1 now. We would have been champions by Christmas.

 

[wanderer paul]

That team would've destroyed most of the teams in League 1 now. We would have been champions by Christmas.

:bound: :bound: :bound:

Can you believe it was 20 years ago!!

You were probably still in nappies!

 

[vcmazz]

That team would've destroyed most of the teams in League 1 now. We would have been champions by Christmas.

A good point. And yet we're led to believe football is so much better these days .

 

[vcmazz]

:bound: :bound: :bound:

Can you believe it was 20 years ago!!

You were probably still in nappies!

:yes: Supping Special Brew through a teat :yes:.

 

[Billy Hunt]

:bound: :bound: :bound:

Can you believe it was 20 years ago!!

You were probably still in nappies!

You're grooming me, aren't you?

I was an angelic 16 year-old steward, protecting everyone on the New road terrace from the evil white steps.

 

[Billy Hunt]

:yes: Supping Special Brew through a teat :yes:.

Not far wrong - it was cans of Tennents Super down Crane Park, every Friday & Saturday night. :yuck:

 

[sussexb]

So you see what I'm saying? If that team was just about good enough to go up, why do people keep talking about promotion with this lot? They're not good enough. Simples :shrug:.

Overall, I agree TBH. But this level was a much higher standard in 1991, IMO. This year's league is rubbish, which is part of the reason I'm so annoyed that we've thrown some money at it and still ended up wasting it.

 

[vcmazz]

You're grooming me, aren't you?

I was an angelic 16 year-old steward, protecting everyone on the New road terrace from the evil white steps.

Just out of curiousity, when you were on your away trip benders and you yourself were the recipitent of stewarding, did you ever offer any handy tips to your fellow pros whilst being thrown arse first out of their stadiums? lol

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Just out of curiousity, when you were on your away trip benders and you yourself were the recipitent of stewarding, did you ever offer any handy tips to your fellow pros whilst being thrown arse first out of their stadiums? lol

Very difficult to be thrown out arse first I would imagine. The balance seems as though it would be all wrong.

 

[vcmazz]

Very difficult to be thrown out arse first I would imagine. The balance seems as though it would be all wrong.

Difficult, but it can be done. I've seen it in cartoons :yes:.

 

[WarrenBee]

Graham Benstead
Brian Statham
Billy Manuel
Keith Millen
Terry Evans
Simon Ratcliffe
Keith Jones
Neil Smillie
Marcus Gayle
Dean Holdsworth
Gary Blissett
Detzi Kruszynski
Kevin Godfrey
Jamie Bates
Ashley Bayes
Chris Hughton
Wilf Rostron
Paul Buckle
Richard Cadette
Tony Sealy
Lee Luscombe

to name a few

That's what you call a squad.

 

[DavidgRushden]

Probably none of the players of today would replace those of 91/92, but then we are playing in a much weaker division this season than last. We have good players, but they are totally disorientated by the actions of their Manager and have never this season, been allowed to gel as a real team, thus probably unfair to compare them with a winning team from 20 years ago.

 

[vcmazz]

That's what you call a squad.

Agreed. And Ashley Bayes and Tony Sealy are there too .

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Difficult, but it can be done. I've seen it in cartoons :yes:.

Ah I see - that's where you're going wrong. Heads don't go frying pan shape either you know .....

 

[vcmazz]

Ah I see - that's where you're going wrong. Heads don't go frying pan shape either you know .....

Oh yeah? Well how do you explain Welsh people then? :thetruth:

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Oh yeah? Well how do you explain Welsh people then? :thetruth:

I am a Welsh people. :thetruth:

 

[Stanley]

Good though the 91/92 team was I think we are deluding ourselves if we think they could even call spell tippy tappy.

Noddy's team was route one at its best. Sure we had some good games but we had dull ones as well. For every Fulham at home there was a Reading away.It was the cause of our demise the following season when better defences in Div 2 (that was) dealt with the long ball easily.

We used to wonder why Kruszynski made such a difference in the run in as he never seemed to actually touch the ball (it was generally flying over his head).

We got up largely on the basis of 38 goals from a one Mr Holdsworth...IMHO

 

[vcmazz]

I am a Welsh people. :thetruth:

In which case, I apologise. No offence intended. You must admit that you do look a little bit like a frying pan though :shrug:.