Paul Madeley! One of LUFC's very best, surely?
Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 20:40
So last week, I placed my very best-ever Leeds United XI in the Forum, and was kind of ostracised for picking Paul Madeley instead of everybody else's pick Eddie Gray.
My team, for the record was Harvey/ Martyn, Reaney, Charlton, Hunter, Cooper, Lorimer/Currie, Bremner, Giles, Madeley, Clarke and Charles, (eventually, after some persuasion...
...I would probably go for Lorimer at 7, with my head, but Tony Currie was one of my all-time favourite players, so I put him in as a plus-sub... he's TOO GOOD to be a sub.)
We can all agree on one thing. The seven seasons 1968-75 were the seven greatest seasons in LUFC's history. They won one League Cup win in 67-68, and then a title in 92, but nothing before or after. They won five major trophies, during those seven unlucky, unjust seasons, and were runners-up on seven other occasions. Not many teams in the history of English football, except for Liverpool after 1976, or Man Utd after 96, can offer the same type of success. No other teams even get close to that. Fact.
I've scanned all my Rothmans, and Football League books from the 60s, and concluded that you don't know what you're talking about, if you think that Eddie Gray should be in an all-time LUFC XI instead of Madeley.
First, in First Division matches between 1968 and 1975, Norman Hunter was second-highest in appearances with 260 STARTS, ahead of Lorimer with 254, then Bremner with 250 with Paul Reaney fifth with 231 league starts.
Top, with 264 First Division starting appearances, though, was Paul Madeley between 1968-75.
In the Cups, in which Leeds came second on four occasions, Peter Lorimer was second-placed with 101 starting appearances in seven seasons. Bremner was third with 98, then Hunter with 96 and with Reaney in fifth with 92.
Top, with 103 Cup starting appearances between 1968 and 1975, was obviously Paul Madeley.
Now, I'm a mere Newcastle fan, and since their achievements since my birth can only dream of competing with Leeds in regards of trophy-winning successes, I can't imagine having a sub like Madeley in my team, even tough he started 367 league and cup games in seven very successful seasons (52 average games per season).
That must make people a little complacent, and like some "Scum" fans, more likely to disregard their true legends. I can only dream of such complacency... my all-time NUFC will follow in the Football thread later... but the very idea of ignoring the most prolific player in both league and cup games from the greatest period of my team's history, to be displaced by a flash and skilful winger, albeit a little inconsistent and injury-prone, is completely bizarre to me.
Paul Madeley HAS to be in LUFC's greatest ever team...
I welcome your arguments on this subject.
"How can you not put Eddie Gray in the team?" someone screeched. Well, there you are. Eddie Gray played in less than half of your games between 68-75, so you show me your hand, instead. I've just done a good night's work. In praise of one of your greatest legends, seen by you as a "decent utility player!"
My team, for the record was Harvey/ Martyn, Reaney, Charlton, Hunter, Cooper, Lorimer/Currie, Bremner, Giles, Madeley, Clarke and Charles, (eventually, after some persuasion...
...I would probably go for Lorimer at 7, with my head, but Tony Currie was one of my all-time favourite players, so I put him in as a plus-sub... he's TOO GOOD to be a sub.)
We can all agree on one thing. The seven seasons 1968-75 were the seven greatest seasons in LUFC's history. They won one League Cup win in 67-68, and then a title in 92, but nothing before or after. They won five major trophies, during those seven unlucky, unjust seasons, and were runners-up on seven other occasions. Not many teams in the history of English football, except for Liverpool after 1976, or Man Utd after 96, can offer the same type of success. No other teams even get close to that. Fact.
I've scanned all my Rothmans, and Football League books from the 60s, and concluded that you don't know what you're talking about, if you think that Eddie Gray should be in an all-time LUFC XI instead of Madeley.
First, in First Division matches between 1968 and 1975, Norman Hunter was second-highest in appearances with 260 STARTS, ahead of Lorimer with 254, then Bremner with 250 with Paul Reaney fifth with 231 league starts.
Top, with 264 First Division starting appearances, though, was Paul Madeley between 1968-75.
In the Cups, in which Leeds came second on four occasions, Peter Lorimer was second-placed with 101 starting appearances in seven seasons. Bremner was third with 98, then Hunter with 96 and with Reaney in fifth with 92.
Top, with 103 Cup starting appearances between 1968 and 1975, was obviously Paul Madeley.
Now, I'm a mere Newcastle fan, and since their achievements since my birth can only dream of competing with Leeds in regards of trophy-winning successes, I can't imagine having a sub like Madeley in my team, even tough he started 367 league and cup games in seven very successful seasons (52 average games per season).
That must make people a little complacent, and like some "Scum" fans, more likely to disregard their true legends. I can only dream of such complacency... my all-time NUFC will follow in the Football thread later... but the very idea of ignoring the most prolific player in both league and cup games from the greatest period of my team's history, to be displaced by a flash and skilful winger, albeit a little inconsistent and injury-prone, is completely bizarre to me.
Paul Madeley HAS to be in LUFC's greatest ever team...
I welcome your arguments on this subject.
"How can you not put Eddie Gray in the team?" someone screeched. Well, there you are. Eddie Gray played in less than half of your games between 68-75, so you show me your hand, instead. I've just done a good night's work. In praise of one of your greatest legends, seen by you as a "decent utility player!"