Bobby Robson's best game?

[Thaumagurist*]

To honour a great man, I thought we'd discuss what was his best game. It obviously has to be one of those games in Italia '90 and I can't think of any better than the one against Belgium, where David Platt scored a cracking goal.

What do you think?

[cmonurz]

That Platt volley was just sublime.

[AF1]

What do you think?

i think there's two threads already motherfucker and if someone else had made this one you'd be the first one pointing that out.

[TBM]

What do you think?

i think there's two threads already motherfucker and if someone else had made this one you'd be the first one pointing that out.

^^ what he said

Spacey

[Thaumagurist*]

What do you think?

i think there's two threads already motherfucker and if someone else had made this one you'd be the first one pointing that out.

Um, I'm talking about his games rather than the man himself.

[LUX]

I'll help you out, Spacey. The Belgium game was awful and we were fortunate to be saved by an excellent goal against the run of play. The semi v Germany was fantastic,a great performance but ultimately futile.

For excitement and happenings, the game v Cameroon was good fun.

[From Despair To Where?]

Dare I say it, vs Poland in Mexico 86. Lost to a shit Portugal side, drew with Morocco, needing a 2-0 win against a decent Poland side to progress? Barry Davies going mental, laughing his head off in the background of Motty's commentary as Lineker completed his hat-trick?

I'd also like to re-iterate what Lux said about the Belgium game in 1990. Great goal from Platt but a oxf*rd shit game of football.

[The whole year inn]

watching Italia 90 on youtube reminds me of just how good the old West Germany teams were..

The teams were often built around a world class sweeper, be it Matthaus in this example or Beckenbaur going back further..


why doesn't the modern game really use sweepers anymore?

[The whole year inn]

The pace of the modern game has made the traditional sweeper position defunct - the conclusion I came to

[Jackson Corner]

Dare I say it, vs Poland in Mexico 86. Lost to a shit Portugal side, drew with Morocco, needing a 2-0 win against a decent Poland side to progress? Barry Davies going mental, laughing his head off in the background of Motty's commentary as Lineker completed his hat-trick?

I'd also like to re-iterate what Lux said about the Belgium game in 1990. Great goal from Platt but a oxf*rd shit game of football.

I would agree with that, also against Holland in the group game in 1990 although 0-0 we were the better team and Gazza had a great game. Hard to believe he only got in becouse Niel Webb was injured.

[readingbedding]

Neil Webb was an extremely good midfielder up to that injury against Sweden.

Gascoigne was of course quality.

Both would have been in the Italia 90 squad.

[papereyes]

The pace of the modern game has made the traditional sweeper position defunct - the conclusion I came to

Tactics develop and I think the whole 'defensive midfielder' concept that has become so popular is what a sweeper essentially evolved into.

[From Despair To Where?]

Dare I say it, vs Poland in Mexico 86. Lost to a shit Portugal side, drew with Morocco, needing a 2-0 win against a decent Poland side to progress? Barry Davies going mental, laughing his head off in the background of Motty's commentary as Lineker completed his hat-trick?

I'd also like to re-iterate what Lux said about the Belgium game in 1990. Great goal from Platt but a oxf*rd shit game of football.

I would agree with that, also against Holland in the group game in 1990 although 0-0 we were the better team and Gazza had a great game. Hard to believe he only got in becouse Niel Webb was injured.

I don't think the expectation was there in 1990. There was a lot of media talk of relying too much on inexperienced players like Gascoigne, Platt, Steve Hodge but that tournament really made their careers. I suppose it's the lack of fear that low expectations gives you. I actually think the best performance in Italy was against West Germany in the semi final. Ok, the game was lost but there was a real underdog feel and England played extremely well on the night.

In 1986 there was a hell of a lot of expectation. Losing to Portugal was a huge shock. These were the days before the golden generation of 89. It was the first tournament they had qualified for since 1966. It would be like losing to someone like Slovakia today. For Robson's sake, at least Ray Wilkins copped the flack foor the draw against Morocco by getting sent off. This was the last hurrah of the great Polish side of the 70's and 80's and they were still a good team. IIRC, they got to the Quarter FInals. Robson was one game away from getting sacked. Ok, there was much talk of senior players picking the team but a 2-0 win was a big ask against a decent team and I suppose on the night, the Polish keeper was dodgy, but the first half performance was awesome.

[Maguire]

watching Italia 90 on youtube reminds me of just how good the old West Germany teams were..

The teams were often built around a world class sweeper, be it Matthaus in this example or Beckenbaur going back further..


why doesn't the modern game really use sweepers anymore?

Matthaus didn't operate as a sweeper in 1990 WC, he was a conventional midfielder who scored some good goals in the tournament. I think he played as sweeper in the 94 WC although this is going on memory and it was a long time ago.

[Ojc]

The 1981 Uefa Cup Quarter Final 1st leg St Etienne Vs Ipswich Town was the best performance by an English team in Europe ever.

http://www.tmwmtt.com/uefa81tribute/etienne.htm

[PEARCEY]

The 1981 Uefa Cup Quarter Final 1st leg St Etienne Vs Ipswich Town was the best performance by an English team in Europe ever.

http://www.tmwmtt.com/uefa81tribute/etienne.htm

Ipswich were a very fine side under Robson. They played great football with the likes of Arnold Muhren, Franz Thyssen, Eric Gates, David Johnson, Trevor Whymark etc etc...I've forgotten a number of other good players but I'm sure you are proud of what that team achieved and rightly so.

[Jackson Corner]

Ipswich were great to watch at there peak in the early 80's I remember them thrashing Man Utd 6-0 and still missing two pens.

[Thaumagurist*]

In 1986 there was a hell of a lot of expectation. Losing to Portugal was a huge shock. These were the days before the golden generation of 89. It was the first tournament they had qualified for since 1966.

Eh? Are you talking about Portugal or England here?

[papereyes]

In 1986 there was a hell of a lot of expectation. Losing to Portugal was a huge shock. These were the days before the golden generation of 89. It was the first tournament they had qualified for since 1966.

Eh? Are you talking about Portugal or England here?

Not only are you incapable of writing what you mean, you are incapable of reading what others mean. Its pretty clear.

Portugal had a golden generation of 89 and 1986 was the first tournament they had qualified for since 1966.

[readingbedding]

blimey