Tooj 17 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Somebody's take from N-O on Nattrass. Nattrass was a class player - he was usually a RB, but he could play in m/f almost as well. He and Alan Kennedy were one of the best FB pairings of the 70s and had Nattrass not got badly injured(by Kenny Burns, a real ba---d during a series of bad-tempered games in league and cup against Brum), he would certainly have played for England. He was a very nice lad, but a bit deferential which meant he didn't push himself. Around 6' tall and really elegant in his play, he was one of the best prospects the club has had - never quite the same player after his ligament injury and Kennedy went on to play for Liverpool and win major trophies there despite not being as good a player as Nattrass. Nattrass was a better defender than Kennedy although the latter had a slight edge in pace coming forward. Both in the side that took us to Wembley in 76 under Gordon Lee. Suffice be it to say that we haven't had a RB as good since...not even Venison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Just before Keegan took the job as Newcastle manager, he made a video called "Keegan's Greatest Newcastle XI". In it he picked who he thought was the greatest eleven to play for Newcastle, obviously At right back he chose David Craig (not the doilum who comes on your Sky News arselicking Ashley). He played for the toon for 16 years, I don't know anything about him, but I've read stuff suggesting he was the best right back in English football, for people who saw him is this right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 I've got that video somewhere too. Keegan chilling out perm attached overlooking the Gallowgate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 3986 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I started going in 1985 when I was 7, and in the 80's probably saw 70 games maybe more. Kenny Wharton for me is looked back on positively by toon fans of that era, however, I can say in my opinion, he was fucking shite. He was hesitant, slow, awkward, and the fact he was a geordie from West Denton and had a deep love for the club overlooks how poor he was. He could play left back or midfield, but his best pal growing up Kevin Richardson was a million times better than him, he won 3 titles Richardson, used to play for Monty Boys Clue. He wouldn't have got a game or even in the squad at Liverpool, Everton, Forest, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal, Sheff Wed, Villa..nen of them. His legendary ball sit hides a multitude of sins, as does his versatility. I accept older people than me are far up his arse, but for me he was shite. Kenny Wharton was a hero of mine but in hindsight I'd tend towards your view. Having said that I never thought he was a great player - he was just a geordie through and through who got stuck in and was occasionally a righteously dirty bastard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@yourservice 67 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 The old man reckons Nattrass should've been capped, like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I've got that video somewhere too. Keegan chilling out perm attached overlooking the Gallowgate? Aye like sitting in a box in the Milburn, that's right. I must've got that video Christmas 91, and he became manager about 6 weeks later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 The old man reckons Nattrass should've been capped, like. Bit harsh surely due to his already documented knee problems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@yourservice 67 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 He must've only seen his bad games then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'll have to dig out that Newcastle United History book I got when I was 15 One of the better work nights out I had was when I was loudly slagging off Malcolm Macdonald as an unmitigated twat to someone or other and one of the old lads from the office I didn't even know followed Newcastle told me off. Ended up sat next to him for hours while he told me how good he was, and others. Woke up the next morning and could remember none of it except the telling off he gave me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 27056 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'll have to dig out that Newcastle United History book I got when I was 15 One of the better work nights out I had was when I was loudly slagging off Malcolm Macdonald as an unmitigated twat to someone or other and one of the old lads from the office I didn't even know followed Newcastle told me off. Ended up sat next to him for hours while he told me how good he was, and others. Woke up the next morning and could remember none of it except the telling off he gave me Never saw him play as it was before my time, thought he was an idiot on the radio and browbeaten by Alistair Brownlee and Slaven however just seeing footage of him and hearing the tales he was some centre forward, the commentators made it sound even better, daft as that sounds. Brilliant goals and commentary from Barry Davies with no ex-player sitting spouting shit next to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1117 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I agree with Stevie about Wharton. I went to my first match when Charlton was manage, got my season ticket the next season and I've missed about three home games since so I saw quite a bit of Wharton. I suppose the affection for him (other than him being a geordie (which was something I don't think I even realised at the time)) may well have come from how he did in the old second division because he was piss poor in division one. Until Bez signed, I think John Bailey was the best left back I'd seen play for us (I can't remember too many others in between except for the abortion that was Kenny Sansom). He was past his best but still a much better player than Wharton. TBH from the mid 80's there weren't too many quality players who played for us except for the ones (Keegan, Waddle, Beardsly, Gazza). There were cult hero's based on their effort and attitude (McCreery, John Anderson) and few young uns that looked like they would do well but failed to live up to the early promise (Spotty Mac, Stephenson, O'Neill, Darren Jackson) and the rest were mainly cloggers (Cunningham, Riley, Megson, Herd) or players who had done well elsewhere but failed to recapture that form here (Robertson, Sansom). Probably the best two players I can remember from the mid to late 80's other than those obvious ones are Roeder and Mark McGhee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I agree with Stevie about Wharton. I went to my first match when Charlton was manage, got my season ticket the next season and I've missed about three home games since so I saw quite a bit of Wharton. I suppose the affection for him (other than him being a geordie (which was something I don't think I even realised at the time)) may well have come from how he did in the old second division because he was piss poor in division one. Until Bez signed, I think John Bailey was the best left back I'd seen play for us (I can't remember too many others in between except for the abortion that was Kenny Sansom). He was past his best but still a much better player than Wharton. TBH from the mid 80's there weren't too many quality players who played for us except for the ones (Keegan, Waddle, Beardsly, Gazza). There were cult hero's based on their effort and attitude (McCreery, John Anderson) and few young uns that looked like they would do well but failed to live up to the early promise (Spotty Mac, Stephenson, O'Neill, Darren Jackson) and the rest were mainly cloggers (Cunningham, Riley, Megson, Herd) or players who had done well elsewhere but failed to recapture that form here (Robertson, Sansom). Probably the best two players I can remember from the mid to late 80's other than those obvious ones are Roeder and Mark McGhee. Wharton was remember highly for a last minute winner against Fulham in the promotion season, the fact is geordies will always look at geordies with rose tinted glasses. I think Paul Goddard deserves a mention in the good player bracket, he cost £415,000 in 1986, which was a fucking absolute fortune, probably the equivalent of £10m now, but he was very good, chipped in with the goals, always thought he had a bit of class about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1117 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Wharton was remember highly for a last minute winner against Fulham in the promotion season, the fact is geordies will always look at geordies with rose tinted glasses. I think Paul Goddard deserves a mention in the good player bracket, he cost £415,000 in 1986, which was a fucking absolute fortune, probably the equivalent of £10m now, but he was very good, chipped in with the goals, always thought he had a bit of class about him. Aye you're right I forgot about Goddard. He was a class player, probably my first favourite player who wasn't a local lad (Pedro and Gazza being my obvious early idols. I never saw Waddle play for us which probably makes it much easier for me to hate him now!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack 6914 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Somebody's take from N-O on Nattrass. That's all spot on I characterised our back four of the time (Natrass and Kennedy full backs) on NO as: The back four was like pulling a stunning bird with stunningly great legs, spread them only to find a cock waiting in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 What I wanted to do though was make this thread about ex-NUFC players, some that were a little bit before my time but that the older members of the forum could give their input as I'm a sucker for any form of NUFC history. Especially when it comes to of our players. So I'll start off with Irving Nattrass. My dad absolutely raves about him but he's a player I know very little about. Excellent player either at full back or in the middle of the back four. Read a game brilliantly and was out of the Colin Todd / Alan Hansen mould being able to play the ball out. I remember him marking Mick Channon out of the game completely, to the point he never had a kick, and he was a very good player at the time Never the same, IMO, after that twat Kenny Burns did him. I've hated Birmingham ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack 6914 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Excellent player either at full back or in the middle of the back four. Read a game brilliantly and was out of the Colin Todd / Alan Hansen mould being able to play the ball out. I remember him marking Mick Channon out of the game completely, to the point he never had a kick, and he was a very good player at the time Never the same, IMO, after that twat Kenny Burns did him. I've hated Birmingham ever since. Remember when Jinky (I think) did that Brum player (who's name completely escapes me) photo of the wound was in the Chrinicle, looked like a war wound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Tony Want. That was in the Texaco Cup and it was a terrible challenge. Nattrass paid the price though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack 6914 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Tony Want. That was in the Texaco Cup and it was a terrible challenge. Nattrass paid the price though. Aye he did, never the same after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 38893 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'll have to dig out that Newcastle United History book I got when I was 15 One of the better work nights out I had was when I was loudly slagging off Malcolm Macdonald as an unmitigated twat to someone or other and one of the old lads from the office I didn't even know followed Newcastle told me off. Ended up sat next to him for hours while he told me how good he was, and others. Woke up the next morning and could remember none of it except the telling off he gave me I was 6 when we made it to the Final in 1974, and Supermac was my hero. I remember being absolutely devastated when we lost the final- that option just hadn't entered my young head, we had Supernac, therefore we would win. He was more than just a player, he was a fecking superstar* to me and all my mates. I remember walking down Grey St with my Dad and the unmistakeable, bow legged, barrel chested figure of Supermac approached us coming up the hill. As he passed my Dad said " How Mac!" He replied " Awright Mate" ..... I was dumbstruck, my Dad was mates with Supermac! My old man reckons he was one of the few players from then who would still be a top striker in the current game. * most remember KK's bike crash on Superstars, but Supermac recorded a (then) Olympic standard time of 10.9secs for the 100m on the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 14654 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Got to say I don't remember supermac till he was at Arsenal....played in 3 FA cup finals all told and lost the lot iirc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 One of my mates dads when I was growing up, he didn't have a specialist hobby like gardening, or walking the dog, or shooting, or playing golf. All he ever did about from drink every single day, was talk about Tony Green and sing songs about him. He literally was obsessed by him even though we're talking late 80's early 90's and Green was early 70's I think. He only played something like 35 times for the toon, but the way my mates dad and other older people talk about him, you'd think you were talking about Pele, Maradona, Gazza and Matthaus rolled in to one. He must have had something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 'We got Tudor from Sheffield and Hibbitt from Leeds, MacDonald from luton and Smith Aberdeen, But we've got the greatest the world's ever seen, we bought him from Blackpool, and his name was Tony Green' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 As I've said before, Tony Green was everything people say he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 And yet, we still got beat at Hereford in the clarts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 3986 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 And yet, we still got beat at Hereford in the clarts. And funnily enough given this thread as I've said before when I forced myself to watch the full highlights a few years ago we absolutely pissed on them and Green laid on about 3 or 4 open goals for MacDonald who missed the lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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