How good was our 1991/92 team?

WestMidsClaret · Post by **WestMidsClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:29 pm

It was all long ball in most games in that league back then if not most leagues! Anyway who cares it started our journey off for where we are now. I was 14 and used to write match reports and do a league table update after every game. The match reports I'm pretty sure were shite

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:02 pm

There was a defeat at Hereford. To be honest, I dont remember much about it, but can remember a cake shop in town, and Kieran (son) coming in with about 10 mins to go pushed by the ex in a push chair. It was probably quite early in the season as the weather wad ok, and I dont recall the defeat being particular''ly significant, more what had come to be expected

JimmyRobbo · Post by **JimmyRobbo** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:33 pm

ClaretTony wrote:Not knocking it because it served a purpose, but that's exactly what it was.

No shame in that at all. It is what most of British football was back then.

It was exciting as our great club really started to breathe life again. Some goals were well-constructed. We were well-organised for the majority of matches. People knew what their job was.

A few parallels with this season according to some who think all we do is lump it under Dyche. (I do not).

Erasmus · Post by **Erasmus** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:47 pm

It wasn't just about how good we were, because good teams can be pretty boring sometimes, but it was the excitement of the matches. We were really good up front and Davis and Pender were excellent, but when Pearce was in goal it could keep you on the edge of your seat, and not in a good way. I have a Wigan supporting friend who went to the 3-2 win over Mansfield and still says it is the best match he has ever seen. Not because the standard of football was so high, but because of the sheer tension and excitement.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:52 pm

It was a good game against Mansfield. Pender header to win it?

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:55 pm

Northampton ( H ), Feb 1992, 5 - 0, Deary, Conroy, Eli, Harper, Francis....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu8y4HbPwTM

UTC..

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:18 pm

ClaretTony wrote:It was exciting because we were finally getting out of the bottom division, but it was very basic long ball football making use of pace down the flanks.

If you don`t mind me asking, ClaretTony, what is it that seems to irk you regards Jimmy Mullen and his reign at Turf Moor? Each and every time this subject comes up on here, a subject VERY dear to many people`s hearts, you seem to want to shut down the party and pop all the balloons. Was Jimmy Mullen, the man responsible for breathing life into our club (let`s face it, we were going absolutely nowhere when he took over in October 1991) not so friendly/open towards you as perhaps some other managers have been? Is it because Casper (quite possibly a favourite player of yours and many others) failed where Mullen succeeded? I say this because I read on a previous post your assertion that Casper was respected by the players whereas Mullen was not. Strange then that Casper couldn`t get anywhere near the levels of performance out of the players that Mullen effortlessly did post Casper`s departure.

We`re all entitled to our opinions, of course. It just seems strange to me that you don`t seem to want to enjoy the collective magnificence of that season along with most other contributors on this forum who experienced it firsthand and see it as the beginning of the journey which has led us to where we are now.

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:20 pm

NL Claret wrote:Some interesting away games in this season with large followings. This did seem to attract some attention from the locals or in Barnet's case the Met Police and that idiot on a horse who could quite easily have crushed a number of people.

Mansfield was a bit lively on Quarry Lane outside and the whole of Cardiff turned up to pay their respects to us.

That idiot on the horse grabbed me round the collar/neck and threatened to arrest because I questioned his actions that day.

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:23 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:We have an awful lot to thank Mullen for as that season and the play off season finishing at Wembley '94 were absolutely brilliant, especially compared to what we'd suffered before. I did understand the reasons why, but I always felt the board were far loyal to Jimmy to a fault when it was clear we (and possibly he) were out of our depth in division 1 and had they been more ruthless we might even have survived or at least been in better shape after our immediate relegation.
That 4-1 Gillingham home win is another often forgotten, but I'll never forget the return fixture which was probably our one blip on our otherwise amazing run towards promotion. A 3-0 reverse on a Tuesday night when we barely had a kick and we arrived late to find us already one down!

Our coach broke down around 2am in Crawshawbooth after that game. Not a good night!!!

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:25 pm

Erasmus wrote:It wasn't just about how good we were, because good teams can be pretty boring sometimes, but it was the excitement of the matches. We were really good up front and Davis and Pender were excellent, but when Pearce was in goal it could keep you on the edge of your seat, and not in a good way. I have a Wigan supporting friend who went to the 3-2 win over Mansfield and still says it is the best match he has ever seen. Not because the standard of football was so high, but because of the sheer tension and excitement.

I can`t quite remember the details of that match but now you have mentioned it, memories come flooding back. There was a bit of a bizarre rivalry going on and a bit of bad blood for some reason. Scorers I know not but it was a HUGE win and I think many of us after that game thought we were definitely going up!!!!!

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 8:27 am

BroadIslandClaret wrote:I can`t quite remember the details of that match but now you have mentioned it, memories come flooding back. There was a bit of a bizarre rivalry going on and a bit of bad blood for some reason. Scorers I know not but it was a HUGE win and I think many of us after that game thought we were definitely going up!!!!!

Both Mansfield games that season were crucial as they were right up there and big rivals. The 3-2 home win really was a brilliant game!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 9:35 am

BroadIslandClaret wrote:If you don`t mind me asking, ClaretTony, what is it that seems to irk you regards Jimmy Mullen and his reign at Turf Moor? Each and every time this subject comes up on here, a subject VERY dear to many people`s hearts, you seem to want to shut down the party and pop all the balloons. Was Jimmy Mullen, the man responsible for breathing life into our club (let`s face it, we were going absolutely nowhere when he took over in October 1991) not so friendly/open towards you as perhaps some other managers have been? Is it because Casper (quite possibly a favourite player of yours and many others) failed where Mullen succeeded? I say this because I read on a previous post your assertion that Casper was respected by the players whereas Mullen was not. Strange then that Casper couldn`t get anywhere near the levels of performance out of the players that Mullen effortlessly did post Casper`s departure.

We`re all entitled to our opinions, of course. It just seems strange to me that you don`t seem to want to enjoy the collective magnificence of that season along with most other contributors on this forum who experienced it firsthand and see it as the beginning of the journey which has led us to where we are now.

Nothing irks me - I don't shut down any party - never popped a balloon - it just seems strange to me that you don't seem to allow any opinions without getting personal. It was a fantastic season. All I've said on this thread is that it was basic long ball football which is exactly what it was. I also said it was exciting but, of course, you chose to ignore that and add some rather pathetic comments.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 9:36 am

Not really personal is it?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 9:39 am

Dark Cloud wrote:Both Mansfield games that season were crucial as they were right up there and big rivals. The 3-2 home win really was a brilliant game!

The away game at Mansfield was played in shocking conditions if I recall correctly with a really strong wind. The home game against them was probably the first time we thought we might be onto something because we'd just beaten the promotion favourites.

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 9:40 am

ClaretTony wrote:Nothing irks me - I don't shut down any party - never popped a balloon - it just seems strange to me that you don't seem to allow any opinions without getting personal. It was a fantastic season. All I've said on this thread is that it was basic long ball football which is exactly what it was. I also said it was exciting but, of course, you chose to ignore that.

First of all, thanks for your reply. Secondly, apologies if you think it was personal. It wasn`t meant to be. I`d merely noticed on this and previous threads your (in my opinion) coldness to Mullen. If that isn`t the case them fair enough. Did you have secondhand information though as to why you think `the players` had more respect for Casper than they did for Mullen (something you asserted on a previous thread)? Seems odd to me that the players would not have warmed to Mullen (seemed apparent by their performances).

Thanks anyway.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 9:43 am

And thirdly HiroshimaClaret - when your account was suspended last week for seven days it was not an invitation to set up a new account under the name of BroadIslandClaret

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:21 am

ClaretTony wrote:The away game at Mansfield was played in shocking conditions if I recall correctly with a really strong wind. The home game against them was probably the first time we thought we might be onto something because we'd just beaten the promotion favourites.

Absolutely right CT. The away game was EXTREMELY cold and a wind so strong that even the amazing and legendary Nicky (5 games!) Walker couldn't get a goal kick beyond the "D"!! Conroy won it for us, but the natives were restless and laid into any Clarets they could find afterwards!

NRC · Post by **NRC** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:21 am

Loved watching that team, and that season - that and the OC promotion team were great teams. This current team is a fine and efficient engine, but more of a BMW than a TR6

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:34 am

Dark Cloud wrote:Absolutely right CT. The away game was EXTREMELY cold and a wind so strong that even the amazing and legendary Nicky (5 games!) Walker couldn't get a goal kick beyond the "D"!! Conroy won it for us, but the natives were restless and laid into any Clarets they could find afterwards!

Very lively after the game I seem to remember.

Culmclaret · Post by **Culmclaret** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 6:13 pm

It was Division 4 for heaven's sake. For a start, remember what the pitches were like. We played some brilliant, swashbuckling football, which was both effective and great to watch. Yes, we played long balls, but they were well directed, often to the flanks, rather than just hoofed up the middle to a lump of a centre forward. It was a great team, full of characters who were clearly enjoying their football and their fantastic rapport with the fans. In terms of enjoyment, right up there with 72/3, 81/2, 99/00 and 2013/14

PLTMGMBJ · Post by **PLTMGMBJ** » Mon Mar 19, 2018 8:53 pm

I wouldn't go as far as to say it was kick and rush, but we implemented a style that fitted our squad to some aplomb. I'd tend to agree with ClaretTony. It wasn't a style (IMO Casper tried to play our way out of the league unsuccessfully) and we needed to adopt a lower league mentality. Nothing against JM but it wasn't the prettiest, but by God it was effective!

IronMike · Post by **IronMike** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:41 pm

I must have watched the VHS of this season countless times over the years and remember the commentary for our home against Blackpool so vividly that whenever someone asks "Who else?" in a conversation, my first response is always "Dave Bamber".

Mullen turned us into masters of winning the second ball and with express pace down the wings and good finishers in and around the box, we really did look a cut above anything else in the division.

Great season and some very happy memories both home and away - the very start of the upward curve to where we are today in my mind at least.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:48 pm

I can certainly remember that season and period in general with great affection. Think it's safe to say Jimmy Mullen played to the players strengths. I also think looking back I had begun to accept us as a yo yo team between the lower leagues. The crowds were coming back, the atmosphere was good and if I'm honest it felt good to be big boys in the lower divisions. We have a lot to thank Jimmy Mullen for.

ten bellies · Post by **ten bellies** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:31 pm

Aside the Carlisle and York games my favourite away was Northampton, Marriott's last game. It was just a great day out, with a winner near the end of the game. Does my memory let me down, but was Marriott carried aloft after the game?

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:58 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Marriott and Walker were head and shoulders above the rest. Pearce was great fun though.

No contest between the three for me, as to who was best.
Walker every second of the week.

I've never seen a keeper jump so high to take a cross into the box.
He seemed to have the ability to hang in the air as he reached up to take
the ball at its highest point. And his handling was faultless.
Hearts must have had a damn good keeper to allow him out on loan.

Then Marriott and Pearce. (Great dancer.)

Croydon Claret · Post by **Croydon Claret** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:37 pm

It was just a great time to be a claret if, like me, you'd only ever seen Burnley getting worse.

Finally we had something to be excited about, winning games with exciting play(relative to what we were used to)

Burnley had awoken and taken the first steps towards recovery and it was a damn good thing to be part of.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:09 pm

ten bellies wrote:Aside the Carlisle and York games my favourite away was Northampton, Marriott's last game. It was just a great day out, with a winner near the end of the game. Does my memory let me down, but was Marriott carried aloft after the game?

No, your memory is correct. A fantastic win and Marriott (we all knew it was his last game) was definitely mobbed by fans at the end I'm sure. I can still vividly remember Northampton equalising close to the end after we'd led for so long and my heart simply hit the concrete, only for Harper and Conroy to send us delirious moments later.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:50 am

ElectroClaret wrote:No contest between the three for me, as to who was best.
Walker every second of the week.

I've never seen a keeper jump so high to take a cross into the box.
He seemed to have the ability to hang in the air as he reached up to take
the ball at its highest point. And his handling was faultless.
Hearts must have had a damn good keeper to allow him out on loan.

Then Marriott and Pearce. (Great dancer.)

Still wonder how we got him. He was a good keeper with some pedigree at his peak. Went on to play for scotland after us

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:50 am

ten bellies wrote:Aside the Carlisle and York games my favourite away was Northampton, Marriott's last game. It was just a great day out, with a winner near the end of the game. Does my memory let me down, but was Marriott carried aloft after the game?

Your memory hasn't let you down

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:55 am

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Still wonder how we got him. He was a good keeper with some pedigree at his peak. Went on to play for scotland after us

We were able to get him because he was reserve team keeper at Hearts at the time. He'd struggled throughout his career to get first team football and was nearly 30. He was head and shoulders better than any other goalkeeper we had that season and it was a pity we only had him at Burnley for a few games.

We must have been of great help to him because, as cricketfieldclarets says, he went back to Scotland and went on to win two full international caps.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:25 am

ClaretTony wrote:We were able to get him because he was reserve team keeper at Hearts at the time. He'd struggled throughout his career to get first team football and was nearly 30. He was head and shoulders better than any other goalkeeper we had that season and it was a pity we only had him at Burnley for a few games.

We must have been of great help to him because, as cricketfieldclarets says, he went back to Scotland and went on to win two full international caps.

Sure he was in France98 or Euro96 squad too.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:30 am

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Sure he was in France98 or Euro96 squad too.

He only played two internationals - one in 1993 and the other as a late sub in 1994. He was in their Euro 1996 squad though.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:34 am

Knew i hadnt dreamt it. Remember being amazed as a kid thinking a Burnley player was in a squad!

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:42 pm

And he was so amazing he even had time to run a multi million pound biscuit business in his spare time!!! None of our other keepers even came close to that. Kendall couldn't even do his day job reet!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:45 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:And he was so amazing he even had time to run a multi million pound biscuit business in his spare time!!! None of our other keepers even came close to that. Kendall couldn't even do his day job reet!

In fairness, Kendall had already retired and was brought in as a goalkeeping coach. Then he was brought into the side and it culminated in that awful performance at Blackpool. He'd been a very good goalkeeper in his time at Spurs and Wolves but he was past it.

I don't think Nicky Walker did much with the biscuits other than supply them for the other players.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:49 pm

John Deary looked like he enjoyed a shortbread tbh!
In fairness to Kendall the team were pants that day at Blackpool and it wasn't all down to him. The generally imperious Davis definitely cocked up for one.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 2:12 pm

Wasn't that the first season that the keeper wasn't allowed to pick the
ball up from a back pass? Or the season after.
Remember how weird it seemed at first.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:29 pm

ElectroClaret wrote:Wasn't that the first season that the keeper wasn't allowed to pick the
ball up from a back pass? Or the season after.
Remember how weird it seemed at first.

Season after.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:30 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:John Deary looked like he enjoyed a shortbread tbh!
In fairness to Kendall the team were pants that day at Blackpool and it wasn't all down to him. The generally imperious Davis definitely cocked up for one.

We were awful from the highlights. My dad took me, my brother and sister. But at the last minute us three went to the pleasure beach with my mum. My dad went to the match. Think we made the better choice!

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:31 pm

This footage is excellent. We played some good football clearly!

I am sure this is a certain braindead commentating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo62y2u ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Braindead · Post by **Braindead** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:52 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:This footage is excellent. We played some good football clearly!

I am sure this is a certain braindead commentating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo62y2u ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ha ha ha cheers for posting that, haven't seen it for years, watched it with my two boys, my eldest said, 'I can see why you didn't commentate for a living'

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:55 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:This footage is excellent. We played some good football clearly!

I am sure this is a certain braindead commentating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo62y2u ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Noticed a link there to the fogged off first replay which brought back some memories! I was on all THREE cup matches! All 3 were very memorable for different reasons!

dpinsussex · Post by **dpinsussex** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:57 pm

Accy are 26 years behind us. Thats how good they were

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:13 pm

Braindead wrote:Ha ha ha cheers for posting that, haven't seen it for years, watched it with my two boys, my eldest said, 'I can see why you didn't commentate for a living'

I thought you were quite good for an amateur! No Brian Moore mind...

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:13 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:Noticed a link there to the fogged off first replay which brought back some memories! I was on all THREE cup matches! All 3 were very memorable for different reasons!

Been itching to find that for years. Thanks

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:32 pm

Just watching the interviews at the end. John Deary looks completely mental