Our last sweeper?

[fidelcastro]

You’re right Fidel. This is all Houseboy’s fault for getting his Marcos and his Claudios mixed up.

Yes. Given the thread title, I'd have thought it was fairly obvious we wouldn't be talking about an Italian international defender who never played for an English club, let alone Burnley!

[houseboy]

I'm talking about the player who played for Burnley (albeit very briefly) in the 1990's.

Aah! Would that be Marco Gentile who, as far as I know, never actually played a first team game. Back in the late 90's? What a wonderful memory you have sir. He went on to fame and fortune by playing a couple of games for Dumbarton. Supremely talented ( ).

[houseboy]

You’re right Fidel. This is all Houseboy’s fault for getting his Marcos and his Claudios mixed up.

I didn't even look at the first name.
I thought that Fidel was actually taking the Mick at first.
We are all but human and prone to gross error. Serves me right for not reading something properly. Considering I used to proof read editorials that is indeed a terrible error on my part. Funny though.

[fidelcastro]

Aah! Would that be Marco Gentile who, as far as I know, never actually played a first team game. Back in the late 90's? What a wonderful memory you have sir. He went on to fame and fortune by playing a couple of games for Dumbarton. Supremely talented ( ).

Yes, that's the player, who actually did play a first team game. A Cup match at Stoke, I believe.

Signed by Adrian Heath, but not wanted by Chris Waddle.

[houseboy]

Yes, that's the player, who actually did play a first team game. A Cup match at Stoke, I believe.

Signed by Adrian Heath, but not wanted by Chris Waddle.

Not sure he was wanted by anyone. Apart from Dumbarton.

[fidelcastro]

Not sure he was wanted by anyone. Apart from Dumbarton.

I didn't realise he ended up at Dumbarton!

I remember the lowdown being given on him in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, where someone (can't remember who) said he was one of the finest players in Dutch football never to be capped!

[houseboy]

I didn't realise he ended up at Dumbarton!

I remember the lowdown being given on him in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, where someone (can't remember who) said he was one of the finest players in Dutch football never to be capped!

Played 2 games for Dumbarton (yes that's how good he was). Otherwise played mainly at lesser Dutch clubs - had two spells at Willem11, who I think spend more time in the second division than the top. Maybe he was just untapped potential.

[Malvern claret]

I remember Arthur Bellamy being used as a sweeper but I also have earlier memories of a sweeper being employed. I was away at college at the time so I did not witness it but read newspaper reports of it. In the 65/66 season we were very successful playing 4-2-4 with O’Neill and Harris as the midfield two but at one point we experimented with 1-4-1-4 with Harris as a sweeper. It left O’Neill with an incredible amount of work to do as the only midfielder and the experiment did not last for long, perhaps CT can give more detail as it involved one of his favourite players!

[Royboyclaret]

I remember Arthur Bellamy being used as a sweeper but I also have earlier memories of a sweeper being employed. I was away at college at the time so I did not witness it but read newspaper reports of it. In the 65/66 season we were very successful playing 4-2-4 with O’Neill and Harris as the midfield two but at one point we experimented with 1-4-1-4 with Harris as a sweeper. It left O’Neill with an incredible amount of work to do as the only midfielder and the experiment did not last for long, perhaps CT can give more detail as it involved one of his favourite players!

Interesting comments, Malvern. Both O'Neil and Harris played 39 of the 42 games that season, but cannot recall Harris ever playing in the sweeper role. Can't imagine him ever being suited to that role either. The following season Bellamy played in several games in that position.