NUFC 1970/71 - Season Review

Although United's points total was not significantly different to the last three seasons it was their lowest finish since 1966/67.

United struggled to score at home and too many games were drawn rather than won. Away from home they won more games but were defeated more often too.

They never really got going during the campaign and failed to win more than two games in a row. Similarly, they only once lost more than two games in a row.

A bad start saw United plummet to 19th by the end of August but they recovered during the next few weeks and spent the rest of the season hovering between 14th and 8th.

A run of three wins and a draw up to Easter took them into 9th place and there was an outside chance of making Europe again but a poor finish meant they finished in a disappointing 12th position.

R1 L1: United returned from the San Siro with a highly creditable draw against an Inter Milan side which included four players who played for Italy in the World Cup Finals.

R1 L2: Back on Tyneside they could not cope with United's physical approach. Keeper Vieri was sent-off after punching the referee as the Italians completely lost their cool.

R2 L1: United's aerial bombardment caused Hungarian unknowns Pesci Dozsa all sorts of trouble in the home leg and United should have scored far more than the two they got.

R2 L2: In Hungary an awful pitch and intimidating conditions were no excuse for a terrible performance in which Pesci drew level on aggregate just before the end. United took part in their first penalty shoot-out and failed with their first three to go out of the tournament.

R3: United dominated the first tie and led until fifteen minutes from time when Willie McFaul inexplicably let in a longe-range effort.

R3r: Two more defensive howlers allowed Ipswich to come from behind to win the tie.

R2: United once again fell at the first hurdle to lower-league opposition. Third Division Bristol Rovers won easily at Eastville with Dyson's consolation coming in the last seconds.

Figure in brackets relates to the number of players used in that position

01: (2) McFaul

02: (3) Craig (Craggs)

03: (2) Clark (Guthrie)

04: (2) Gibb

05; (3) McNamee or Burton

06: (2) Moncur

07: (6) Robson > Foggon

08: (6) Dyson > Tudor

09: (3) Davies > Dyson

10: (5) Smith > Arentoft > Smith

11: (6) Young > Ford > Young

Total number of players used: 25

Joe Harvey

lt was a tough old season for Joe Harvey. It was thought that the Fairs Cup campaign had given him almost £100,000 to spend but the right players were just not available at the right price.

The players he bought during the summer and early in the season either failed to impress (Ian Mitchell) or were youngsters not ready for regular first team action (Stewart Barrowclough and Tommy Cassidy).

Mid-table mediocrity, a lack of goals and the shock Fairs Cup exit all piled pressure on the manager. Pop Robson's "unprofessional" accusation and criticism of the team's style of play also undermined Harvey's authority. He might have led them to European glory in 1968/69 but there were already calls for Joe to be moved upstairs.

Joe Harvey had been struggling all season to land a player who would appease the disgruntled fans; he finally landed his man at the campaign's end.

Entertain? We prefer to win

Harvey was a motivator not a tactician and the way the team played during his thirteen-year tenure was influenced by the coaches he employed.

Dave Smith had become chief coach in the summer of 1968 and was well respected within the game. He had clear views about how football should be played and was not prepared to bow to populist pressure.

"Success must be your priority, the overriding ambition, we don't want to entertain people and become failures. What is essential is a foundation of confidence and then we can start to elaborate".

Just in case you were in any doubt about his attitude he also described Pele - whilst accepting he was a marvellous player - as "lazy".

Sick and Tired

Days after United were dumped out of the Fairs Cup by the humble Hungarians, Bryan Robson called a press conference at the Swallow Hotel in Newcastle.

He read out a prepared statement in which he stated that he was fed up of being singled out for criticism and sick of Newcastle's long-ball tactics. He also claimed that the club was unprofessional and that he wanted a transfer.

The directors summoned him to a meeting and asked him if he wanted to retract his statement; he replied in the negative and was handed a £100 fine for a breach of club discipline. He was also asked to submit a written transfer request if he wanted to leave.

When asked why he had made his grievances public he stated that he had raised his concerns in private but that nothing had done about them. He also suggested that there were other players who felt the same as he did.

Although Robson's comments were interpreted in many different ways it was believed that one of the main issues was that he was looking for a loyalty bonus as was in operation at other clubs, United didn't have such a system and therefore it encouraged players to move on and get their cut of the transfer fee. But the 5% cut was only paid if the player did not request a move. He was eventually sold to West Ham in February 1971.

He would later state "I did what I thought was right for my football career no matter what the consequences, we all have a right to our opinion and I was merely stating mine just as the club had stated theirs many times".

Tommy Gibb

Sections of the crowd became more and more abusive towards the players and Tommy Gibb was singled out for particular criticism.

The abuse was at it's zenith in the home match against Ipswich; which followed the defeat in Hungary.

After the game Frank Clark rapped the fans in the press. "It's disgraceful that they should pick out one player like this...it's completely unwarranted".

Tommy Cassidy made his home debut in the match and expressed his astonishment at the crowd's reaction and suggested that the team's form was being affected because players were frightened to make mistakes. He was subbed during the game and said "in some ways I was glad to get off, it was getting so bad".

Geoff Allen Testimonial

Geoff Allen, whose career had been ended by injury in March 1970 at the age of only 23 was awarded a well-deserved testimonial. United beat an All Stars X1 6-5 on the 5th May. A crowd of 10,000 turned up for the Walker lad who was helping with the Juniors.

Penalty Palaver

It was the first season that European games were settled by penalties when the scores were level and United took part in their first ever contest when the aggregate score was 2-2 against Pesci. The Magpies failed with their first three and as the Hungarians scored all theirs Newcastle were out. The crowd surged onto the field and the players departed. But the rules stipulated that both sides had to take all five so both sets of players had to return to finish the contest.

Snap, Crackle Pop

When Pop Robson called a personal press conference people were surprised. When be branded the club as "unprofessional" they were amazed. But what they really could not get their head around is why he was accompanied by his mother-in-law.

Thatch of the Day

A strong and gusty wind made play difficult for both Newcastle and West Ham in the last home game of the season, but it would cause referee Ricky Nicholson even more issues. He was a couple of follicles short of a barnet and on a couple of occasions sudden gusts had almost separated him from his crowning glory. When it happened a third time He took matters into his own hands - literally - by removing the aforesaid item and secreting it into his pocket. Not surprisingly the crowd had a field day.