Toon stars show just what they’re capable of at last
I WAS magically transported back 53 years at a fizzing St James’ Park to when Manchester City won their top flight title here as the swinging 60s were about to take a final bow.
The City slickers of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison did it spectacularly 4-3 in 1968 and, this time at their coronation as champions, Newcastle’s same opposition repeated the exact same scoreline on the same pitch.
Honestly, for an hour and a half I enjoyed more fun than at the fair. Age sometimes has its ample compensations.
I was in the press box as a twenty-something-year-old when it first rained goals and here I was an OAP having to again use the fingers of both hands to keep the score.
I wrote in my Friday column that in no way was I expecting the same score again. How wrong can you be!
More than half a century ago it went like this: Mike Summerbee, City 0-1; Pop Robson, United 1-1; Neil Young, City 1-2; Jackie Sinclair, United 2-2; Young, City 2-3; Franny Lee, City 2-4; John McNamee, United 3-4.
This time in terms of launching a challenge it was even better from Newcastle. They twice led 1-0 and 3-2 but were undone by a Ferran Torres hattrick of exquisite execution. His first was masterful – back to target flicking a free-kick with his right heel when running away from goal.
However we had some rarity from Newcastle as well. Emil Krafth scored his first goal, a thumping header, and Joelinton had the guts to take a penalty when he has been unable to hit a barn door from three paces but dispatched it beautifully.
Then Joe Willock incredibly made it five goals in his last five appearances when he is a midfielder – after first exercising his right to take a spot-kick he had won only to see City’s 35-year-old debutant keeper
Scott Carson save it. Luckily the rebound headed Willock’s way and he was never going to miss a second time.
What I demanded from United regardless of the result was a performance of pride and, boy,
did we get it. They have been a breath of fresh air in the last two matches against Leicester and Man City when they have scored a staggering seven goals against quality teams.
Were these the same players who timidly surrendered time and again earlier in the season? Take the brake off them and see what you get! Steve Bruce has never been a front-foot manager preferring not to lose rather than gamble on winning. Perhaps he now has had a little glimpse of just what made Kevin Keegan so popular. City’s ‘68 vintage was full bodied too – the ultra elegant Colin Bell was the Kevin De
Bruyne of his day and was backed by tubby terror Lee, master finisher Neil Young, swaying attacker Summerbee, l’enfant terrible Tony Coleman, record appearance maker Alan Oakes who played 680 games, and an aged but quality full-back Tony Book.
Those players were as good as most of this lot, though overall the 2021 squad is stronger and could end up treble winners including the glittering prize of the Champions League.
Summerbee, the regular nightclub brother-in-arms of George Best, was reduced through age to being a spectator like me sitting in a mask watching those who try to emulate him.
When Summerbee won his title, St James’ Park was packed to the rafters; this time there was no crowd, more’s the pity.
United already possessed the basis of their Fairs Cup winners a season hence most of whom were superior to
Perhaps Steve Bruce now has had a little glimpse of just what made Kevin Keegan so popular John Gibson
today’s vintage – Bob Moncur was better, David Craig and Frank Clark better, Willie McFaul as good, Pop better, then record buy Wyn Davies better than current record buy Joelinton.
Of course City, normally so magnificently Scrooge-like at the back, missed Ederson and immaculate central defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones who were all rested.
Instead they had a 35-yearold third-choice goalkeeper while Nathan Ake had a nightmare at the centre of the defence.
However, take nothing away
from United. Instead let us encourage the new-found attitude and drive of the players. The pace of their counter attacking on rare turnovers through Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, and Willock was both exciting and stimulating.
Having been bored rigid as well as irritated and dismayed by the timid, inept performances week after week after week, this is a most welcome upturn at the death.
Now let us go on and put two relegated sides, Sheffield United and Fulham, to the sword this week.