euan2020 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 That used to always strike me as a odd one, yet speaking to a lot of older Aberdeen fans, a number of them say the same things..... watch highlights on Youtube and DVD's of him playing you wonder why this guy who could boss a midfield and have a eye for goal was never called up.... but the problem was he was very hot and cold. Would turn it on in games against Rangers, Celtic and Dundee United, but had a habit of going AWOL in games against Hamilton Accies and Dumbarton. I think if i remember correctly he was the original "ghost" title which was then given to Bobby Connor - Aberdeen fans as i recall were not fussed as i remember when he went to Celtic, although he had an indian summer there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CovGer Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 Brian Mclair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Eric Black was Crocker by the time he left for Metz Seem to recall that there was some talk of Black being in the squad for Italia 90 after a good season in France and Roxburgh getting him involved in B games in the build up to the WC, but ultimately it was his back problems that held him back (in Richard Gordons book he says he saw the best specialists and none of them could figure it out.... was only when medical technology improved that it was discovered he had a hair-line fracture in his spine, that if had been treated right at the time and only a couple of months of rehabilitation, would have seen him injury free and able to continue his career) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Eric Black was Crocker by the time he left for Metz. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I'd give a lot for a player like him in the squad now! Good Saltcoats lad. Could have a not bad Saltcoats 5 a side team. Roy Aitken, Bobby Lennox, Steve Clarke, Ray Montgomerie and me in goals. (Paul Clarke as sub) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radian_13 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 John McGovern didn't even get one?, yet captained forest to back to back European Cups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Could have a not bad Saltcoats 5 a side team. Roy Aitken, Bobby Lennox, Steve Clarke, Ray Montgomerie and me in goals. (Paul Clarke as sub) Now unlike Lennox, Roy Aitken was a player who DID get more than enough caps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CovGer Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 Alan Brazil?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow jock Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Nicholas completely underachieved after he left Celtic for Arsenal. Eric Black was Crocker by the time he left for Metz, Weir was a good club player but no better than that to be fair. McAvennie was a fairly late developer then arsed it up himself. Should have been an all time Scotland legend, should have been our all time record goal scorer, had all the talent in the world & best finisher (Scottish) of his generation. Made one bad decision in 1983 that fecked it all up for him i'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Should have been an all time Scotland legend, should have been our all time record goal scorer, had all the talent in the world & best finisher (Scottish) of his generation. Made one bad decision in 1983 that fecked it all up for him i'm afraid. Or alternatively, yet another in a long line of players who failed to live up to his earlier promise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzo Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 John McMaster Kevin McAllister John Hansen Jimmy Johnstone jinky 23 caps over 10 years that's no many Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 jinky 23 caps over 10 years that's no many Remember, he had a fear of flying, so was probably asking a bit much to get him called up for an away game (there is the famous story where Stein promised not to take him to a game in Eastern Europe if they won comfortably that night, which they did, and still ended up taking him) plus also you need to remember back then you had a number of different factors (ie no European Championships as such, not as many games per year, no sub allowed up to the late 60's when it was changed to only 1 per game). So when you talk about players from the 50's and 60's not having a large amount of cap's, you have to take in that cap's back then were nowhere near as freely handed out as they have become over the last 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzo Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Didnae know he wiz feart o flying so am a but still dae it hahaha. If you look at the likes of baxter he managed 11 mare caps in 3 years less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErsatzThistle Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 (edited) Didnae know he wiz feart o flying so am a but still dae it hahaha. If you look at the likes of baxter he managed 11 mare caps in 3 years less I know from some, who saw him play for both Celtic and Scotland, who say that Jimmy Johnstone could be very hit and miss for Scotland. Brilliant in one game and anonymous the next. Both Baxter and Johnstone it's often forgotten were sometimes criticised by their own supporters at club level for inconsistent spells they had. Reports of the time reflect that. Edited September 24, 2015 by ErsatzThistle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 (edited) Or alternatively, yet another in a long line of players who failed to live up to his earlier promise.I think going to Arsenal was probably the biggest mistake I can think of any Scottish international ever making. Absolutely the worst place he could've gone to (London I mean).Could and should have gone to Man United. Edited September 24, 2015 by DaveyDenoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Rubble Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 (edited) Remember, he had a fear of flying, so was probably asking a bit much to get him called up for an away game (there is the famous story where Stein promised not to take him to a game in Eastern Europe if they won comfortably that night, which they did, and still ended up taking him) plus also you need to remember back then you had a number of different factors (ie no European Championships as such, not as many games per year, no sub allowed up to the late 60's when it was changed to only 1 per game). So when you talk about players from the 50's and 60's not having a large amount of cap's, you have to take in that cap's back then were nowhere near as freely handed out as they have become over the last 20 years. Red Star Belgrade in 68-69. Big Jock promised JJ that if they won the first leg by 4 goals he didn't need to travel for the second leg. JJ proceeded to run absolute riot that night scoring twice and Celtic won 5-1. Big Jock kept his side of the bargain. JJ did not travel to Belgrade for the second leg which finished 1-1. Edited September 24, 2015 by Barney Rubble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Could and should have gone to Man United. Would he have progressed under Ron Atkinson? They won a couple of cups, but were still well short of competing with Liverpool.... Whereas at Liverpool he would be nurtured by Paisley and Fagan, with Dalglish and Souness to look after him plus playing beside Ian Rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Would he have progressed under Ron Atkinson? They won a couple of cups, but were still well short of competing with Liverpool.... Whereas at Liverpool he would be nurtured by Paisley and Fagan, with Dalglish and Souness to look after him plus playing beside Ian Rush. Yeah forgetting this was a little before Fergie arrived. Not sure what Big Ron would've made of him to be fair but it would surely have still been better than simply chasing the bright lights. If he'd gone there and was still there when Ferguson arrived he'd have come much closer to fulfilling his potential. Alternatively, in those days then as you rightly say Liverpool may well have been a good option also. Possibly better than United given the circumstances at the time. Either way Arsenal was a massive error both due to the London factor and the fact that their playing style could not have been a worse fit for his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I think going to Arsenal was probably the biggest mistake I can think of any Scottish international ever making. Absolutely the worst place he could've gone to (London I mean). Could and should have gone to Man United. It was and Liverpool could have made him the next Daglish. Arsenal was a really bad move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 It was and Liverpool could have made him the next Daglish. Arsenal was a really bad move. Reckon he could've been better even than that. What a waste. Maybe that's why he is so bitter towards the Scotland National Team? Pretending to hate them maybe makes it easier for him to deal with.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Reckon he could've been better even than that. What a waste. Maybe that's why he is so bitter towards the Scotland National Team? Pretending to hate them maybe makes it easier for him to deal with.... I'm not sure but he partly has only himself to blame. I imagine he had a say in which club he went to and probably had a great time as a young, rich lad living it up in London. Can't blame him really, bt it was to the detriment of his football IMO. Sadly, I think he then suffered a series of injuries after that. Even though he had a pretty successful career, he missed out on a potentially great career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Seem to recall a interview in early 90's when he was at Celtic that he admitted himself that Arsenal was the wrong move for him (saying that Arsenal fans seems to look fondly on him) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Rubble Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 He also suffered because George Graham came in as Arsenal Manager. Charlei Nicholas was the total antithesis of a George Graham footballer. And we all know what happened to George Graham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the Sunnylaw Jag Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 And we all know what happened to George Graham. Good shout Barney, he only got 12 caps; scoring three goals for Scotland. Is that what you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Rubble Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Good shout Barney, he only got 12 caps; scoring three goals for Scotland. Is that what you meant? No - I was referring to him getting found out for taking bungs and making Arsenal into one of the most boring teams of the late 80s/early 90s. Disliked the c*nt ever since the 1971 cup final when he dishonestly tried to take the glory for 'scoring' the winning goal v Liverpool in the FA Cup Final when replays showed he never touched the ball at all and Eddie Kelly was the actual goalscorer. Summed him up. He scored 3 goals for Scotland? I cannot remember a single one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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