Wales v Ireland

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Don't think he did. Might as well have left him where he was. That said, at least he's had the experience of being with the other lads that might whet his appetite for more.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
1-0 amen. Brilliant free kick and a combination of exuberance offsetting inexperience from the kids getting us through.
 

CroJack

Key Player
Watched the second half, and thought Walles were excellent. High pressing, high intensity, passing, counter-attacking...Giggs is doing a great job. He is much, much better than Coleman.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
He is much, much better than Coleman.
When players become managers I wonder if the position they used to play affects the type of football they prefer to coach? I suppose a number of factors will influence that including the style of the teams they used to play for and the managers/coaches who impressed them.

Certainly Giggs, a former forward, likes to see his teams attack and play open football whereas Coleman was a no-nonsense defender who preferred to see his team sit back and play from there. Gary Speed was an attack minded midfielder and his ideas for Wales were more reminiscent of Giggs than of Coleman. You could draw a parallel with the Swans when you compare the styles of football played by Martinez and Laudrup (both midfielders) with the defensive bore fest football served up under Monk who was a defender..... of sorts.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
When players become managers I wonder if the position they used to play affects the type of football they prefer to coach? I suppose a number of factors will influence that including the style of the teams they used to play for and the managers/coaches who impressed them.

Certainly Giggs, a former forward, likes to see his teams attack and play open football whereas Coleman was a no-nonsense defender who preferred to see his team sit back and play from there. Gary Speed was an attack minded midfielder and his ideas for Wales were more reminiscent of Giggs than of Coleman. You could draw a parallel with the Swans when you compare the styles of football played by Martinez and Laudrup (both midfielders) with the defensive bore fest football served up under Monk who was a defender..... of sorts.
Probably explains why there aren't many ex goalkeeper managers Ivor.:p
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
I watched the movie United again a few nights ago about the tragic airplane crash at Munich Airport that killed so many fine young footballers. Henry "Harry" Gregg became a real hero when he repeatedly ran back into the crashed, burning aircraft to drag out survivors. He saved one woman and her young daughter plus the woman was pregnant, so in that one action he saved 3 lives. I'm amazed that he didn't receive a Humanitarian award of some description for his bravery but he was awarded the MBE in 1995.

Younger posters won't be aware of how talented that team was given the young average age and, had the "Busby Babes" lived, could arguably have gone on to become the greatest club side of all time. Gregg and Sir Bobby Charlton are now the only surviving players still alive. It should also be remembered that assistant manager, Welshman Jimmy Murphy, saved the club from folding whilst Busby was recovering, by signing anyone he could to fill the gaps and keep to the fixture list. Murphy also became Wales team manager. Worth watching the film if you can. Brought a lump to my throat.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
I went through my school years with Kenny (Tiger) Morgans one of the 'Babes' then onto the schoolboys along with Herbie.When reports of the Munich crash came through there were no reports of Kenny Morgs survival, but neither were there any reports of a fatality. I went along with Herbie and a few other friends to his family home in Sebastopol Street St. Thomas, to await any news. Eventually news came through he was alive but unconscious, apparently some reporters were allowed into the plane hours later and found him under some seats right at the tail of the plane. he made a good recovery but was never the same footballer again. The last time I spoke to him was about 5/6 years ago.He was at the Liberty for some occasion and I shouted to him "Hey Tiger" which was his nickname throughout school, he turned around instantly, and we had a good old natter. Sadly he passed away not long after that. He was a brilliant left winger, there were media reports that he was going to be the next Tom Finney until that fateful day in Munich.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
I remember Kenny playing for us in the early 60s and he scored 8 goals in 54 appearances. You were right, JF, in that he was a tremendous prospect and had just become United's first choice right winger at the age of only 18. This is the very last lineup of the Busby Babes when they drew 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade. From L to R. Duncan Edwards (died), Eddie Coleman (died), Mark Jones (died), Kenny Morgans, Bobby Charlton, Dennis Violett, Tommy Taylor (died), Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Roger Byrne (died). Tragic. RIP, Ken, and all those fine young lads.

Note the picture is signed by the two players with Swans' connections: Ken and Harry Gregg. And interesting to note that one of the players that Jimmy Murphy was 'forced' to sign to muster a team to complete the season, was Colin Webster who later played for the Swans. He and Gregg both played in the FA Cup Final that year when United's scratch team amazingly fought their way there. They lost 0-2 to Bolton Wanderers after Nat Lofthouse barged Harry Gregg ball and all into the net for his second goal of the game.

 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
I remember Kenny playing for us in the early 60s and he scored 8 goals in 54 appearances. You were right, JF, in that he was a tremendous prospect and had just become United's first choice right winger at the age of only 18. This is the very last lineup of the Busby Babes when they drew 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade. From L to R. Duncan Edwards (died), Eddie Coleman (died), Mark Jones (died), Kenny Morgans, Bobby Charlton, Dennis Violett, Tommy Taylor (died), Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Roger Byrne (died). Tragic. RIP, Ken, and all those fine young lads.

Note the picture is signed by the two players with Swans' connections: Ken and Harry Gregg. And interesting to note that one of the players that Jimmy Murphy was 'forced' to sign to muster a team to complete the season, was Colin Webster who later played for the Swans. He and Gregg both played in the FA Cup Final that year when United's scratch team amazingly fought their way there. They lost 0-2 to Bolton Wanderers after Nat Lofthouse barged Harry Gregg ball and all into the net for his second goal of the game.

Yes, that was Kenny 4th from the left.
 
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