I really have some fond memories of him. I was in my last year of school when he joined us and 21 when he left.I used to love his interviews but really as a kid, I didn't understand him. I just thought that he was a magician. I will never forget the night at Sheffield Wednesday after we confirmed promotion back to the top division, the pitch was covered and everyone got onto their knees in mock homage as they thought that Saunders was coming out.I now realize that he was a bit of a "B" to work for. It's great how many of the championship winning side still look up to him though.What did he do after football? I doubt he'd earned enough to retire on back then.
He was everything to me our saviour, our maker our 110%. Without him no promotion, no league cups, no title and no European cup. Ellis then came back into the frame and ruined everything
Quote from: wittonwarrior on December 24, 2016, 09:54:17 AMHe was everything to me our saviour, our maker our 110%. Without him no promotion, no league cups, no title and no European cup. Ellis then came back into the frame and ruined everythingDo you think if the Bendalls had stayed on there would have been more titles ?
Quote from: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on December 24, 2016, 11:18:33 AMQuote from: wittonwarrior on December 24, 2016, 09:54:17 AMHe was everything to me our saviour, our maker our 110%. Without him no promotion, no league cups, no title and no European cup. Ellis then came back into the frame and ruined everythingDo you think if the Bendalls had stayed on there would have been more titles ? Maybe so - given that he would have been unsackable he would either hve ended up like Fergie, or B. Clough.
Quote from: peter w on December 24, 2016, 07:38:53 PMQuote from: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on December 24, 2016, 11:18:33 AMQuote from: wittonwarrior on December 24, 2016, 09:54:17 AMHe was everything to me our saviour, our maker our 110%. Without him no promotion, no league cups, no title and no European cup. Ellis then came back into the frame and ruined everythingDo you think if the Bendalls had stayed on there would have been more titles ? Maybe so - given that he would have been unsackable he would either hve ended up like Fergie, or B. Clough..The question was if the Bendalls had stayed, not Saunders. Plenty you can hold Doug accountable for but Saunders left before Ellis returned. Ellis is held responsible by many for the decline post 1982. (See Wittonwarriors comment " Ellis did all he could to wreck Saunders era in the 80's"). Perhaps if the Bendalls had stayed in control, given the state of the clubs finances, there would have been a much greater spiral of decline ?
Saunders moments would have to include Graydon Wembley 75West brom , Blackpool and Sheffield wed 75West ham boxing day 76 76-77 best football everKen mcnaught and all us doubters eating our wordsThe gradual restructure of the 77 team5 goals past Liverpool no mean feat The football league championshipSetting up the team for our European cupCarrodus, Mortimer and Rimmer, Gray all great signingsJohn Robson making him the best left back n the countryPeter withe enough said110%
Well he was the bench at Rotterdam so was not as obscure to our history as perhaps I would make out.