I always felt a bit sorry for Willie McFaul. The season before he'd lead us to our highest league finish for a decade playing some great football. It only went wrong for him when the board sold his best players over his head.
I think his problem was that for the first time the board gave him money to spend and he wasted it. All 4 summer signings were gone within little over a year although to be sacked after 7 games was hasty. perhaps they were sick of starting the season poorly as this was the 3rd in a row under his management that we got off to shocking starts. Put it this way, Jim Smith wasn't the answer, thats for sure!
I moved to Newcastle that summer (I'm a Hearts supporter) and went along a few times to see how John Robertson was getting on (we had sold him to you). Was very surprised to see McFaul play him as a left-winger (he was a penalty box striker for us - a shorter version of Mick Quinn if you like) and had Beasant and Thorn hoisting high balls towards him (he is 5ft 7in). Was glad to get him back at Hearts but felt you chaps had wasted him by playing the guy out of position. If you wanted a winger, you should have bought John Colquhoun from us, not Robbo.
Thanks for the video...Up the Blades!
Don't suppose you know of footage from the 1st leg when you hammered us 3-0?
If only we had another John Hall waiting in the wings!
I always felt a bit sorry for Willie McFaul. The season before he'd lead us to our highest league finish for a decade playing some great football. It only went wrong for him when the board sold his best players over his head.
I think his problem was that for the first time the board gave him money to spend and he wasted it. All 4 summer signings were gone within little over a year although to be sacked after 7 games was hasty.
perhaps they were sick of starting the season poorly as this was the 3rd in a row under his management that we got off to shocking starts.
Put it this way, Jim Smith wasn't the answer, thats for sure!
I moved to Newcastle that summer (I'm a Hearts supporter) and went along a few times to see how John Robertson was getting on (we had sold him to you). Was very surprised to see McFaul play him as a left-winger (he was a penalty box striker for us - a shorter version of Mick Quinn if you like) and had Beasant and Thorn hoisting high balls towards him (he is 5ft 7in). Was glad to get him back at Hearts but felt you chaps had wasted him by playing the guy out of position. If you wanted a winger, you should have bought John Colquhoun from us, not Robbo.
Over his head is correct. See comment below about Hearts' John Robertson. I remember the fans singing We are the diddy men.