Wednesday 10 March 2010

History Corner(2) - The 1991 FA Cup Final

In 1991, Nottingham Forest under the mercurial Brian Clough finally reached an FA Cup Final, where they met Terry Venables’ Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs had enjoyed a very rocky season, on and off the pitch, and had been written off by many. When May came around they were mightily relieved still to be in with a shout.

Clough had made several odd decisions in his starting line-up, and going into the match his supporters weren’t at all convinced.

The opening minutes were notable for a crazy, vicious tackle made by Paul Gascoigne, after which he was forced to leave the pitch, having damaged his own knee in the incident. Forest scored from the subsequent free kick.

With the match having gone the full distance, the scores were level at 1-1. Both teams were exhausted, and stayed on the pitch awaiting extra time.

Venables gathered his team around him and went into overdrive, inspiring them for one last great effort. But Clough was strangely ineffective and just sat on the bench, leaving his side to their own devices.

In extra time, Tottenham prevailed – with an own goal from their opponents.

ND

6 comments:

Bill Quango MP said...

I keep hoping for a super sub.
An old warhorse who has a brilliant right foot and can put one over the wall into the top corner in the last minute.

Looking at the bench though, I can see why sitting down arms folded seems like a good idea.

Jonathan said...

I think you're being optimistic in hoping that it's the players who will be able to change things

People have stopped listening to politicians and are just voting for whoever offers the least short term pain / most convincing lie. This has been Labour's strategy over the last few months, throw so much dirt and confusion that people just revert to fear and personal prejudice.

Most of the population have little idea about economics. They've little idea that in the last 10 years we've gone from a low debt nation to one that's mortgaged its grandchildren to the Chinese and would be unable to deal with any new financial shock. These are all long term problems, inconvenient truths that people just ignore since dealing with them would involve personal pain.

In 20 years time, we'll suddenly realise that we now are one of the PIGS but without the sun but no one will connect Labour to that.

CityUnslicker said...

Very true Jonathan. What I wonder at is the media conspiracy in this, not so much pro-labour as anti-economics. Refusing to spell out the truth of our situation. Normally fear sells papers well too...

Jonathan said...

CityUnslicker

Yes it's annoying how none of this is properly discussed.

There are some in the media who genuinely do believe in the Brown / Blanchflower view of the world. They are insular enough not to realise how badly we compare with the rest of the world.

I also think alot of the media fancy themselves as players and want politicians to dance to their tune before they write anything good about them or their policies.

I find I'm getting less and less bothered by it all. Cameron would be a good PM and has some nice ideas (although I know some disagree) but if the public aren't prepared for what needs to be done then it would all be wasted.

Demetrius said...

In both 1946 and 1947 a time of large national debt the balls burst and there was a delay in finding a replacement. Is this an omen?

Nick Drew said...

I would like to see Balls burst again

there would be no need of a replacement