RR The FIVE biggest missed opportunities in the long and storied history of Sunderland AFC

[PS]

Not getting Brian clough when he applied three times for the the job

Aye, 1,2 and 3 right there.

 

[The Hesford Diet]

I think losing out on an FA Cup Final against Newcastle in the 1950's was a huge opportunity missed. We may well have kicked on from a semi-final victory to win the final. Instead we gradually sank towards Second Division football.

 

[E Tenebris Lux]

I don’t remember any Aldridge links under Durban. Ashurst had took him from Ashurst brothers Scouse league team to Newport then tried to buy him for us but Cowie wouldn’t go an extra £5k is what I remember.


Nice one.

Oxford wanted £100,000 , we offered £70,000 and eventually Liverpool came in and paid the asking price. The rest is history.
A massive balls up as Ashurst wanted him.

 

[Fact Hunt]

Oxford wanted £100,000 , we offered £70,000 and eventually Liverpool came in and paid the asking price. The rest is history.
A massive balls up as Ashurst wanted him.

This is completely wrong.

 

[bobpc30]

Getting beat off Millwall in fa cup sf.
Wuda had euro footy if we'd beaten them ffs.
Mcateer you twat.

Why?

This Alan Durban myth is mystifying to me like.

 

[AKickUpTheBerntHaas]

Replacing Peter Reid with Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill.

 

[hank williams]

Replacing Peter Reid with Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill.

Not sacking David useless Moyes when it was obvious we were sinking quicker than the titanic

 

[Deleted member 6830]

Oxford wanted £100,000 , we offered £70,000 and eventually Liverpool came in and paid the asking price. The rest is history.
A massive balls up as Ashurst wanted him.

Was he not at Newport at the time ?

I think losing out on an FA Cup Final against Newcastle in the 1950's was a huge opportunity missed. We may well have kicked on from a semi-final victory to win the final. Instead we gradually sank towards Second Division football.

was that the one played on the waterlogged pitch - VP iirc ?

 

[bobpc30]

if he had added Keegan to that team in 82...we had first option...could have probably made the difference.

Sunderland had first option on keegan?

 

[fatha]

Top of the league at Christmas, flowing football, crest of a wave...good January window and europes in the bag.....lets buy Kilbane

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

Sunderland had first option on keegan?

He wanted to finish career in NE. We were in a division higher up than them up the road. Durban and Cowie weren't that bothered by all accounts.

 

[safcforever]

As its fantasy thread happy to join in.

1 Not signing Pele before he played in world cup at 17 years of age. Would never have been relegated in 1958

2 Not being so shit after 1958 that no decent player or manager would want to join club. Meaning 7th place is highest in over 60 years

3 Not hiring Lawrie Mac

4 Not hiring Moysey

5 Not hounding out every manager who kept you in Premier. Meaning Third Division football for at least 2 years

Though 1 apart its not really fantasy but bare faced reality

Who did we hound out after keeping us up. Or are you talking about the managers that kept us up then had even worse starts than what they took over?

Except Bruce. I liked Bruce

 

[Ramona1234]

For me the biggest missed opportunity was the early days at the SOL. Reid in charge of a committed team and a passionate full house once in the premier league. We had Makelele, Duff and Sinclair amongst others, on the verge of signing. We got just outbid everywhere and then lost Don Huchison. Investment at that point was crucial to keep momentum.

I really believe if we had a sugar Daddy back then we'd have kicked on and a second stadium capacity increase was not an unrealistic possibilty. It went the other way big time and after getting back up and beating our own low points total in prem, I really think 7-10k fans just realised we will never fulfill our potential. They became floating supporters, of which now have many more due to our current collapse.

 

[fyl2u]

Reyna was a failure?

I thought he was class, myself.

 

[Scarborough mackem]

Top of the league at Christmas, flowing football, crest of a wave...good January window and europes in the bag.....lets buy Kilbane

I can remember seeing Kilbane playing for us and just being disappointed - seemed to be nothing about him

 

[knitting away]

Reyna was a failure?

I thought he was class, myself.

Played twenty odd games in nearly 2 years. Good player but fragile as fuck.

 

[Lukas73]

Not signing Koeller or Ortega.....or Scholes....or any other class players we turned down at the time...

 

[Far Tibetan Mountain]

Good read.

Not getting Mr Clough is the big regret. He won the European cup with Notts Forrest. What could he achieved with us.

5th round of the FA cup and 8th in the second division?

 

[Cheesy Feet]

The two 7th place finishes under Reid..the opportunity then to push on..instead rumours of Reid falling out with players..Makin and Summerbee notably..players being sold due to contract disputes notably Johnston and Hutchison..what could have been.

 

[screwjack]

obviously not signing maradona when he practically begged to join us as a young’un must rank up there too