Newcastle - 1974 Cup Final

[PTP]

In an attempt to post something different/move away from all the current depressing/arguing threads and silly transfer talk I thought i'd talk about the above - Though it will probably back fire as people will get depressed reminiscing about what we used to have - but thats not my intention, the reason for posting is purely to try and cheer people up and maybe educate those who haven’t seen it before.

Anyway - i'm 25(this week) - My first footballing memory is my Dad took me to the '88 Cup final and I cried my eyes out, my dad was gutted for me and he also took me to the charity shield that year when Aldo scored a quality volley and although it was only the charity shield, I was only 6 and forgot all about the cup final. I grew up watching the Reds through the 90's and so on, hearing stories about the glory days etc etc - I had watched various old clips/videos etc of the old matches and read up about the history of the club, been told and listened to the old stories etc so feel I know a far bit about LFC, - but the way football has changed the old games just seem so slow and boring, that I've never actually watched a full 90 mins of any of these legends

Anyway - due to having no money I stayed in on Sat nite and after flicking through the channels found the '74 Cup Final vs Newcastle and I started watching it.

What a cracking game of football, although(as stated above) it had that old style flow/pace to the game and it took me about 30 mins to stop shouting pass back, I really enjoyed it and it shows how great our football club was/is and how very little had changed, with the fans waving similar 'funny' banners and singing similar songs as we do now. One banner made me laugh, the Newcastle fans used to chant "Ho Way the Lads, Ho Way the Lads" constantly(well so my dad tells me) - and some liverpool fans had a big banner saying " No Way, the lads".

With regards to our players, i recognised/heard of most of them but two midfielders, **** i've forgotten the names again, but they played well. Phil Thompson had a stormer, Tommy Smith was a ****ing animal, John Toshack had a ****ing mare, (was he always that bad) gave the ball away with every touch and looked really slow even for the 70’s , Alec Lindsay scored a screamer that should of stood and Alan Kennedy had a great game for Newcastle as a youngster (19) - But two players who stood out (this is were I expect loads of “if only we had him now” replies) and the best compliment(if it makes sense) I could pay them is they were the only 2 players on the pitch who looked like modern day footballers/ahead of their time and they ran the show.

Firstly, easy to guess – Kevin Keegan, outstanding touch, movement awareness, skill, pace, strength – what a player he looked like

Secondly – this one stood out more for me, cause us youngsters have all heard how great Kenny, Keegan etc etc were superstars and although most of us may have only seen glimpses of them we can appreciate how good they were and maybe take it for granted that they are Legends. Anyway Steve Heighway, ****ing hell he was class in that game, he covered the whole pitch, ran so gracefully down both wings with the ball(he seemed to switch wings every 5 mins) he looked really skilful and the Newcastle defenders couldn’t handle him, he looked unstoppable in a similar way(hate to say it, but use it as a comparison for us younger ones to compare to) as Cristiano Ronaldo is playing at the moment.

We absolutely battered Newcastle, how it was only three nil I don’t know, but it was a good education in football and the Liverpool way and I recommend for anyone who hasn’t seen it to try and watch it.

[zimbo]

I'm guessing the two you didn't recognise were Peter Cormack and Brian Hall, both tidy players although Cormack was only around for 2 or 3 seasons.

Heighway was majestic in his prime and, for me, was certainly up there with Barnes in terms of ability to beat a man at pace, though probably less effective as a goalscorer.

To be fair Tosh did make Kuyt look like Carl Lewis, but his game was all about strength in the air and his linking with Keegan. Was better on the floor than generally given credit for, too.

The best thing about that match was how Tommo had Malcolm MacDonald in his pocket all game after ‘Supermac’ (!) had spent the entire build-up shooting his mouth off about how he was going to destroy us.

Ah, the memories!

[nobbylad]

Steve Heighway is one of my all time favourite players, sadly about the only game I remember watching him at was his testimonial.

[PTP]

that was the the two - yeah was impressed with peter cormack, it's funny how I knew/had heard of all the other players and a few newcastle players but not those two - I have been told about 'Supermac' and he had a ****ing mare too - he sliced two of the worst efforts on goal i have ever seen by a professional footballer - both of them were shocking, one after the other - near the end of the game

[hertsred]

Tommy Smith was my hero back then - stillis one of my all time favourites. he made me want to be a defender and I loved watching him play. I just went and got my 1974 Cup Final programme out and had a good look at it. Ah, happy days!

[Chiccada]

Saw this too, was on ESPN classic i think????

Loved the quote about Tommy Smith (i think it was him). "He wasn't born, he was quarried".

[PTP]

yeah espn classic - haha forgot about that quote but a brilliant saying, can't remember if it was on the same programme or if i have read it somewhere else recently but about Keegan and Toshacks parntership, it was simply "Toshack, Keegan, One-Nil"

[mersey86]

Alec Lindsay scored a screamer that should of stood

Cracking goal, his reaction to the flag was funny. The third goal was class in that game.