Man Utd vs Benfica

I was at the 79 Cup Final.

First half the genius Brady and ironically Franky Stapleton ran us ragged.

Still we should have won that Final. One of the great Cup Final goals by Sammy Mac tied it but Gary Bailey flapping about from that cross to Sunderland did for us.

I've watched a few re-runs and another that stood out was Liam Brady. Really a very good footballer from what I saw.

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Liam Brady was the David Beckham (without the circus) of his day. His crosses were pin point nearly every time.

I was in the squadron bar in NI watching the above mentioned FA Cup final. Imagine the euphoria of pulling back a 2-0 deficit only for Brady to seal it with another pin point cross for Sunderland to put in the net.

To be fair to Gary Bailly it was just out of his reach.

It's the game that turned the 8-yr-old version of me into a supporter.

It wasn't just Charlton and Best - although Charlton was the name i yelled out as I ran about the school yard - it was Kidd and Sadler as well. Stepney was a great keeper, and only behind Schmeichel and vdS as the third best keeper the club have had (happier days).

And Stiles wasn't "dirty", he was pretty tame for that era.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
I've watched a few re-runs and another that stood out was Liam Brady. Really a very good footballer from what I saw.

......

Liam Brady was the David Beckham (without the circus) of his day. His crosses were pin point nearly every time.

I was in the squadron bar in NI watching the above mentioned FA Cup final. Imagine the euphoria of pulling back a 2-0 deficit only for Brady to seal it with another pin point cross for Sunderland to put in the net.

To be fair to Gary Bailly it was just out of his reach.
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Michel Platini described Liam Brady as one of the best he ever faced.

He's certainly the best arsenal player I ever saw.

On the subject of watching past games in full, I recently watched the Brazil v Italy game from the 82 World Cup. I have to say that for a game that's so highly regarded I didn't think it was all that special, and some of the defending was shocking.

I also watched Brazil v France from the 86 World Cup, and even though it didn't have as many goals (penalty shootout excluded), I thought it was much better to watch.

I do enjoy watching old games, when team tactics are about scoring and little else.

The best attacking players of that era should do well now. And I think many of the best now would do well if they grew up in that environment themselves.

Though you wonder how defenders would do or the really dirty players back then to now. People say Ramos is dirty, but he's a kittycat compared to some back then.

I personally think that talent is talent - good players of the past would have to work a lot harder nowadays, and would have to live more professional lifestyles, but I think they'd still 'cut it'.

Similarly, modern players would probably have to toughen up a bit, or at least learn that they can't rely on the referee to bail them out, but they'd still be good players.

99 final on now.

First time I've ever watched a complete re-run - it really isn't as one-sided as I remember it.

comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 15 hours, 30 minutes ago
99 final on now.

First time I've ever watched a complete re-run - it really isn't as one-sided as I remember it.


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What was our xG?