I am beginning to compare this season with Saints' first ever in the top division. There are similarities in the way the 1966 and 2012 teams gained promotion and the manner in which both play, scoring lots of goals but woeful in defence. If I remember correctly, Martin Chivers was sold to Tottenham in exchange for Frank Saul plus cash which was then used to buy Hugh Fisher - a solid midfielder and John McGrath or someone of similar ilk to bolster the defence. So with the January window looming who could we part with in exchange for similar? Lallana for Phil Neville plus cash to spend on a solid defender!! Thoughts folks and I'd love to see the comments of those fans who were around at the time. I should add that the outcome of that particular season was survival. Lets hope for a similar one this time.
How about this season (so far) also being a bit like our last season on the PL before relegation. I remember thinking there were so many games where we didn't play badly but just kept losing vital points, particularly getting draws after we were ahead.
Yes they did sell Chivers for what was then a record fee (£250000) wasn't it, but that was in 1968. Didn't we get Micky Channon about 1965 or so, John Magrath came in 1967. We let cliff Huxford go and his place was taken by Hughie fisher if memory serves and also Jimmy Gabriele, Ron Davies came in 1966. Strewth we had some really decent players back then did we not?
You have listed some fine players there Beddy! One of Chivers' finest games must have been when he scored 4 in the 9-3 victory against Wolves. In that particular game all the goals were scored in the first 60 minutes. We acquired Ron Davies following promotion. Week in week out Terry Paine delivered excellent crosses for Ron to head into the net. As for Jimmy Gabriel what a wonderful player and character. Many years ago I lived in Liverpool. One night I took a trip to Tranmere to see Jimmy play for Bournemouth. He was booed all night. Cue a throw-in to be taken by Jimmy, who then turned round to the baying crowd and promptly bowed to them.
I was there for that game against wolves and the next week was in London when the Saints game got called off So we went to see wolves playing. I can't for the life of me remember who it was though anyway Wolves won the game, I think it was 3-2 or some such............We actually went there to take the Piss a bit......but ended up with cake on our faces ..... Am I wrong didn't we then go and buy the goalkeeper that we had put nine past a few weeks later?
It was only £125,000 Beddy, but it was a record British transfer fee as you say. I was really upset as he was a hero second only to Big Ron. Little did I know that young Michael Channon would fill his shoes the way he did.
Wasn't that Dave McLaren who we had to get in to replace Campbell Forsyth when he broke his leg against Liverpool?
Wow, popped in here for a read and soon realised that at 43, I was too young!! Joking apart, it's great to read about you guys remembering names that I've only seen in my mum's old football books. I really appreciated the you tube link Chilco Saint (I think) posted about the 4-1 win at Old Trafford... couldn't believe how good Sydenham looked. Mods should sticky an "old timers" thread where only people who saw Saints in the 60's and earlier could post.
