David Votoupal
Well-Known Member
These are three club sides that epitomised the sort of style we all want to see in a football team, so sit back and relax...
Everton (1970)
Gordon West;
Tommy Wright, Brian Labone, John Hurst, Keith Newton;
Howard Kendall, Alan Ball, Colin Harvey;
Jimmy Husband, Joe Royle, Johnny Morrissey
No exaggeration to say this was one of if not the best Everton sides ever, and one of the best post-war club sides in English football- the Harry Catterick era cemented Everton as one of the master practitioners of attractive football, a reputation sadly not upheld in the last two decades or so. The way they won what was a strong league- ahead of great Leeds and Chelsea teams- and the sheer brilliance of the players who played in that championship is etched in immortality. Four of that squad- Labone, Wright, Newton and Ball- went to Mexico with England that year. England tended to do better with Everton players in the side, in 1986 again there were four Everton players (Stevens, Steven, Reid and Lineker) and no Liverpool players! Note also that apart from Tommy Jackson and Sandy Brown who also played in that Championship season, this was an almost exclusively English lineup.
Brian Labone and John Hurst were a superb central defensive pairing, flanked by England full-backs Tommy Wright and Keith Newton. Hurst was one of the best uncapped central defenders of his era and scored a respectable amount of goals from that position. But it was the midfield "Holy Trinity" of Kendall, Ball and Harvey that stands out in Everton folklore, for it was one of the greatest midfield partnerships of all time with their spirited running, technique and creativity combined. Up front, Joe Royle was a reliable source of goals flanked by excellent wingers in Husband and Morrissey. Of course, celebrating our rich history is part of why I'm proud to be an Everton supporter.
The mid-80s championship sides that also won in Europe was another very, very, very good side.
West Ham (1981)
Phil Parkes;
Ray Stewart, Billy Bonds, Alvin Martin, Frank Lampard (snr.);
Jimmy Neighbour, Geoff Pike, Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire;
David Cross, Paul Goddard
Exactly what was this side doing in the Second Division at the time, let alone three seasons in it? John Lyall's West Ham side confirmed their quality by not only winning the FA Cup in 1980, but also by easily winning the Second Division title the following year and kicking on in the top flight over the next few seasons. Ron Greenwood and John Lyall had a combined 28 seasons in charge of the Hammers, during which they were renown for playing some of the most attractive football seen in the English game.
This particular side was loaded with quality. Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking were the heart and soul of the club, giving so many years of sterling service. Brooking, Neighbour, Pike and Devonshire all were ball players in midfield, while Stewart and Lampard were very good full-backs. On a good day they really could turn it on, and not many better at that.
Nottingham Forest (1991)
Mark Crossley;
Brian Laws, Des Walker, Steve Chettle, Stuart Pearce;
Gary Crosby, Steve Hodge, Garry Parker, Ian Woan;
Nigel Clough, Lee Glover
This was the Nottingham Forest side that hammered the nail in Liverpool's coffin in 1991, a season in which Forest reached the FA Cup Final and went on a three-game 16-goal spree late in that season- racking up scores of 4-0, 7-0 and 5-0 in succession. They were masters of one-touch football, taking great pride in playing football the right way on the ground.
They were a joy to watch at the best of times. Notice how they started with four attacking midfielders (although Hodge lost his place to debutant Roy Keane that season). Yes, four of them- Garry Parker was a quality playmaker who deserved to win an England cap, and also played well with Aston Villa and Leicester (where he famously outshone Juninho in the '97 League Cup Final and replay). And there was Ian Woan, he of the impeccable left foot and probably one of the most talented footballers never to win an England cap. Further to that, Stuart Pearce was a devastating force in lending support to the attack with his crosses and free-kicks. All was needed, really, was another decent striker and they would have gone even further. It did come with Teddy Sheringham the following season, but he was stupidly sold after a year and the house came crashing down...
Everton (1970)
Gordon West;
Tommy Wright, Brian Labone, John Hurst, Keith Newton;
Howard Kendall, Alan Ball, Colin Harvey;
Jimmy Husband, Joe Royle, Johnny Morrissey
No exaggeration to say this was one of if not the best Everton sides ever, and one of the best post-war club sides in English football- the Harry Catterick era cemented Everton as one of the master practitioners of attractive football, a reputation sadly not upheld in the last two decades or so. The way they won what was a strong league- ahead of great Leeds and Chelsea teams- and the sheer brilliance of the players who played in that championship is etched in immortality. Four of that squad- Labone, Wright, Newton and Ball- went to Mexico with England that year. England tended to do better with Everton players in the side, in 1986 again there were four Everton players (Stevens, Steven, Reid and Lineker) and no Liverpool players! Note also that apart from Tommy Jackson and Sandy Brown who also played in that Championship season, this was an almost exclusively English lineup.
Brian Labone and John Hurst were a superb central defensive pairing, flanked by England full-backs Tommy Wright and Keith Newton. Hurst was one of the best uncapped central defenders of his era and scored a respectable amount of goals from that position. But it was the midfield "Holy Trinity" of Kendall, Ball and Harvey that stands out in Everton folklore, for it was one of the greatest midfield partnerships of all time with their spirited running, technique and creativity combined. Up front, Joe Royle was a reliable source of goals flanked by excellent wingers in Husband and Morrissey. Of course, celebrating our rich history is part of why I'm proud to be an Everton supporter.
The mid-80s championship sides that also won in Europe was another very, very, very good side.
West Ham (1981)
Phil Parkes;
Ray Stewart, Billy Bonds, Alvin Martin, Frank Lampard (snr.);
Jimmy Neighbour, Geoff Pike, Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire;
David Cross, Paul Goddard
Exactly what was this side doing in the Second Division at the time, let alone three seasons in it? John Lyall's West Ham side confirmed their quality by not only winning the FA Cup in 1980, but also by easily winning the Second Division title the following year and kicking on in the top flight over the next few seasons. Ron Greenwood and John Lyall had a combined 28 seasons in charge of the Hammers, during which they were renown for playing some of the most attractive football seen in the English game.
This particular side was loaded with quality. Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking were the heart and soul of the club, giving so many years of sterling service. Brooking, Neighbour, Pike and Devonshire all were ball players in midfield, while Stewart and Lampard were very good full-backs. On a good day they really could turn it on, and not many better at that.
Nottingham Forest (1991)
Mark Crossley;
Brian Laws, Des Walker, Steve Chettle, Stuart Pearce;
Gary Crosby, Steve Hodge, Garry Parker, Ian Woan;
Nigel Clough, Lee Glover
This was the Nottingham Forest side that hammered the nail in Liverpool's coffin in 1991, a season in which Forest reached the FA Cup Final and went on a three-game 16-goal spree late in that season- racking up scores of 4-0, 7-0 and 5-0 in succession. They were masters of one-touch football, taking great pride in playing football the right way on the ground.
They were a joy to watch at the best of times. Notice how they started with four attacking midfielders (although Hodge lost his place to debutant Roy Keane that season). Yes, four of them- Garry Parker was a quality playmaker who deserved to win an England cap, and also played well with Aston Villa and Leicester (where he famously outshone Juninho in the '97 League Cup Final and replay). And there was Ian Woan, he of the impeccable left foot and probably one of the most talented footballers never to win an England cap. Further to that, Stuart Pearce was a devastating force in lending support to the attack with his crosses and free-kicks. All was needed, really, was another decent striker and they would have gone even further. It did come with Teddy Sheringham the following season, but he was stupidly sold after a year and the house came crashing down...
