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Football in the 90s
Were singing for England {In-ger-land}
Arrivederci its one one one
A new decade and suddenly "Love, had the world in motion". Democracy and Globalisation were reaching the four corners of the globe, whether they liked it or not. George Bush decided he objected to Iraq actually using the weapons his predecessor had sold them and he was going to do something about it.
So, as the curtain rose on a new decade, a 34 country coalition was forced to react to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, we learnt the Arabic for "Mother Of All Battles" (Um M'aārak) and 'Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf warned us that it wasn't going to be an "easy battle", as CNN brought us mass media, 24 hour, round the clock coverage, of devastation and destruction. Between January 12th and February 22nd we were able to see our first war, 'live and exclusive'.
Huge advances in technology meant that our homes were invaded by home computers, satellite TVs and we were rarely seen without a cellphone clamped to our ear, outside of the home. We heard 'dot-com booms' and smelt "Teen Spirit". Brit-pop did battle with Hip-Hop, Mario did battle with Sonic and Scully and Mulder did battle with unseen forces, in something so mysterious it was called "The X-Files"..
We were introduced to Cartman and Kenny, Beavis and Butthead, Hansen and Lawrenson. Our tastes and expectations rose. We knew all about fava beans, Fugees and Friends. Mr White and Mr Pink had entered our psyche, as did 'Bullet Tooth Tony', as former Crazy Gang member Vinnie Jones, carved out a new career as a 'hard man'. Gangster movies filled the cinemas and the kids filled the nightclubs, the Hacienda was where it was happening and the Happy Mondays had us up all night, with ecstasy.
In Italy, the message was slightly different, "None Shall Sleep", which didn't sound too inspiring, until we heard it in Italian, "Nessun Dorma". The curtain rose on the decade, with a memorable World Cup Final. Italia '90 put football well and truly back on the map, Argentina met West Germany in the final again, we were introduced to Toto Schillaci and Pope Jean Paul II even got to meet Jack Charlton.
Football was back and so were the English, UEFA lifted their ban and allowed English teams to travel to the continent again.
On the domestic front, Liverpool opened up the decade by recapturing their Championship trophy, having had it snatched from them, with the last minute goal by Michael Thomas, the year before, but their grip was slipping. The following year, Arsenal coasted to the title losing only one game along the way. A resurrected and resurgent Leeds United team, under the guidance of a stoic Howard Wilkinson, was to capture the final Division One title in the history of English football.
In keeping with repackaging, streamlining, rebranding and rejuvenating, the old 1st Division trimmed its size to a mere 20 teams and embracing exclusive TV rights, live games and new technology, it became The Premiership.
Whilst Liverpool, Leeds and Arsenal tussled over the dying embers of The Championship, a Scots alchemist was busy mixing formulas in his Manchester laboratory, and by all accounts, after 4 years, he wasn't getting much luck. In January 1990, his luck had all but run out, until little Mark Robins popped up with a winning goal against Brian Clough's Forest, and the blue (or should that be red) touchpaper was lit.
United went on to win the FA Cup, which gave them passage back into Europe, their league form was disappointing, but Manchester United secured England's first European trophy after years in the wilderness and Alex Ferguson's dream was starting to come true.
Manchester United's Cup Winners Cup Victory
Manchester United won the first Premiership in 1992 and it would spark a decade of dominance. Not since 66/67 had United reached the pinnacle of English football and they weren't about to let it go in a hurry, 5 titles in the decade, 2 doubles. Ferguson defied logic and the 'self appointed soccer gods', after a string of poor results, he tore up the form book, jettisoned his established stars and despite Alan Hansen's warning, that "you'll never win anything with kids", 'Fergie's Fledglings' took flight.
However Arsenal were not about to let them have it all their own way, George Graham had led them to a European Cup Winners Cup victory, in 1994, as English clubs slowly started to reassert themselves in Europe. The previous year, they had also completed a League Cup/FA Cup double, defeating Sheffield Wednesday in both finals. In 1995 however, the Arsenal challenge faltered, George Graham was removed from office, his reputation tarnished by a bung scandal and Arsenal lost the ECWC in the final, after Nayim impressively lobbed Seaman from 40 yards.
Arsene Wenger & Alex Ferguson
Ultimately, Graham was replaced by a new breed of manager, the psychologist and academic, Arsene Wenger, who provided Alex Ferguson with his only real test, as the decade drew to a close.
Spurred on and chased every step of the way by Arsenal, Manchester United rose to new heights as the decade closed. Not content with domestic doubles, in 1999, they accomplished a feat unrivalled in English football. At the Nou Camp in Barcelona, on 26th May 1999, Manchester United became only the 4th team in European football history, to win their domestic league and cup competitions and the premier European trophy, they had completed 'The Treble' and achieved the feat with 2 injury time goals against Bayern Munich.
Manchester United Complete The Treble
Managers of the era, took a step back from the steady progression we had been witnessing through the 70s and 80s, some trends were reversed, as we saw the re-emergence of centreback stoppers, midfield hardmen, flamboyant extrovert players, battering rams and loyal servants.
Top flight stalwart hardmen like Bryan Robson, Vinny Jones, Dennis Wise and Steve McMahon, were joined by 'Fine Young Bannibals' like David Batty, Gary Speed, Paul Ince, Steven Gerrard and two who would become Premiership titans, the last Brian Clough protégé Roy Keane and French World Cup winner Patrick Viera. Joining them in the midfield ranks were great technicians like Gary McAllister, Andy Townsend, 'fledgling' Paul Scholes and former AC Milan star Ruud Gullit.
Dennis Wise, Paul Scholes, Marcel Desailly, Tony Adams
At the back too, footballing centrebacks like Gary Pallister, Paul McGrath, Steve Nicol, Mark Wright, Marcel Desailly and Henning Berg, were rejoined by 'stoppers', in the forms of Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Colin Hendry, Steve Bruce, John Terry and Frank LeBoeuf. Managers looked to blend, to mix and match and pick 'n' mix, as their opposition was a changing and adaptable animal, the defences too needed to be versatile.
Premiership widemen were required to work up and down the flanks, getting crosses in, beating men, getting back to support the fullbacks, they had to be quick and have limitless stamina. Ryan Giggs best typified the new breed, Giggs picked up an incredible 12 major honours in the 90s, his wing wizardry befuddling defences across the land, other widemen of note included his team mate David Beckham, Marc Overmars, Paul Merson, Robert Pires, Andrei Kanchelskis, David Ginola, Steve McManaman, Beni Carbone and the ever youthful John Barnes.
Ryan Giggs, David Ginola, Graeme Le Saux, Stuart Pearce
Up against the widemen came the ever loyal, ever reliable fullbacks, long serving players like Dennis Irwin, Gary Neville, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Graeme Le Saux, Gary Ablett, Andy Hinchcliffe and the Cloughie protégé Psycho Stuart Pearce. These players were not only supposed to defend, but get up and support their midfield team mates.
Forwards too, became amalgamations, combinations and strange hybrids. Back came the traditional 'battering rams' in the forms of 'Big Duncan' Ferguson, John Fashanu, Lee Chapman, Dion Dublin and Tony Cascarino. But many of them now combined strength with precision, technical ability with pace. Players like Denis Bergkamp, Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Tony Yeboah, Ian Wright, Teddy Sheringham, Gianluca Vialli, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke and Jurgen Klinsmann, all made us sit up and take notice.
Duncan Ferguson, Ian Wright, Shay Given, Peter Schmeichel
Up against them, was of course, Peter Shilton but also, David Seaman, Shay Given, Dave Beasant, Dean Kiely, David James and if the Danes made goalkeepers, he'd probably be the best goalkeeper in the world, Peter Schmeichel.
We shall leave off where we started, because the 90s saw the re-emergence of the maverick superstar, the artisan, the conjuror, magician and illusionist. The 90s brought us the kind of players that made jaws drop, did things we could only dream of and gave us all 'twisted blood'. In the 90s we saw Eric Cantona grace the Premiership stage, he won the title 6 years out of the 7 he played, what stopped the clean sweep, he jumped the advertising hoardings and dropkicked a fan he took a dislike to, receiving a 9 month ban. We also saw the mesmeric trickery of Georgi Kinkladze, a Georgian with beguiling skills. Italia 90 brought the world's attention to the 'daft as a brush' antics of Paul Gascoigne, a man born to play football, fast quick, passionate, player who played with his heart on his sleeve. Matt Le Tissier was a South Coast conjuror, with laconic skills, scorer of incredible goals, sometimes lazy but capable of moments of unique magic. Gianfranco Zola joined the Italian influx at Stamford Bridge and instantly amazed us with his 'slight of foot', with a winning smile and an endearing attitude, he set about seducing the Premiership with his Sardinian surprises. Paolo Di Canio lit up Premiership stages, with his unique brand of electricity and artistry, combined with flair, charisma and skill.
Eric Cantona, Georgi Kinkladze, Matt Le Tissier, Paolo Di Canio
So.. that brings us full circle, right back where we started, stoppers and scorers, mavericks, magicians, hardmen and flyers, Newcastle goal getters, Chelsea hatchet men...
...but are they any better????
...you want the honest answer????
I don't really care, I loved them all, of course I did, did you ever doubt that????
In case you hadn't noticed, time passes, wheels turn, legends come and legends go, but the game keeps on. Today's bright young things are simply tomorrow's legends. Men spill blood in tribal combat, they strive for the Holy Grail and have done since the dawn of time.
Stars of today, are no better than the stars of yesteryear and vice versa, times change, wars come and go, people change, but the game carries on. Savour your time and enjoy the pleasure it brings ..don't ever take off your rose tinted spectacles and remember, there's always a chance.
"And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin" Bob Dylan (1963)
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