John McGovern gets National recognition

[Andy_Faber]

Derby were Champions and McGovern was playing...couldn't believe the amount of stick he and O'Hare received from the home fans. Leighton James was another to feel the wrath of his own supporters.

McGovern got a lot of stick because he looked more like the aftermath of a bad kerplunk game than a footballer and too many thick fans never saw his value. Can't recall O'Hare getting much stick, Leighton James got it simply for not being Alan Hinton.

[macstheman]

Where I stood on the Poolside O'Hare was a god!!
'He's here, he's there, he's every ****ing where, John O'Hare, John O'Hare'.

McGovern waddling like a duck did'nt help his cause but anyone with a miniscule footie brain could see his value to the team!! Breaking up play, linking defence and attack, setting up attacks and supporting Hector and O'Hare and of course chipping in with a goal or two were regular aspects of his game!! Muppets don't win a succession of titles and European Cups !! However, some nerds never got past his 'waddle'!!

[MadAmster]

A much maligned, underrated and unappreciated player in his days at Derby.... by those who only understand goals and little else. I always felt that both JM and Alan Durban got stick because they seemed to have their best games when you didn't really notice them. They had simply done their jobs well and without fuss.

I will give you an example. George Best. A genius and one of the best footballers I have ever had the fortune to see live...... until he layed against Derby. That 70s side didn't win all their games against Man U but won a far greater % than other clubs did at the time. Johnny Mac was given one role by Cloughie and told to stick to it. That job involved standing a yard off Best in a direct line between Best and the ball. The consequence of that was that Best hardly got a touch. Great tactics from Clough/Taylor perfectly executed by JM. That tactic was also used to great effect against Alan Ball.

This recognition is, IMO, well deserved.

[ramAnag]

'A much maligned, underrated and unappreciated player'...Richard Keogh anyone?

[MadAmster]

'A much maligned, underrated and unappreciated player'...Richard Keogh anyone?

Does so much right and, unfortunately for him, he seems to suffer from "goalkeeper syndrome". Any mistake seems to lead to a goal against.

He is well worth his place in any Championship side as his better moments seem to outweigh his "rabbit in the headlights" moments.

I would, however, look for another captain. A captain should be the leader on the park. An extension of the Manager. That is where he falls down. He should be organising, cajoling, commiserating and so many more things. Unfortunately, he is better known for waving his arms about like a whirling dervish, admonishing others but, seemingly unable to get things sorted.

Hudds could do the job. So could Ledley or Davies. IMO, the best we have at organising those around him is George Thorne, however, he needs to prove his fitness over the rest of this season prior to be considered for the skipper's role, possibly next season.

[ramAnag]

Totally agree with all that about Keogh MA. Still don't see a stand out alternative though. Huddlestone seems too quiet, Ledley is only under contract for another couple of months, Thorne is unavailable too often, which leaves Davies who I thought would get the job in the summer but Keogh was obviously preferred then so what's changed?
Maybe Ledley if he sticks around, but otherwise the middle of the park organiser, battler and leader (see Stimac, VdL, Mackay, Taylor, Powell) is what we still miss imo.

[Romanis]

Talking about John O'Hare, he got us the penalty that would eventually decide the replay with Liverpool. Out first major trophy under Clough/Taylor.

[Romanis]

This the goal then



Courtesy of Getty images

[Romanis]

Another angle.

Image by Alamy

[Andy_Faber]

Another angle.

Image by Alamy

We scored plenty that year, funny how so many recall that one.

My favourite was Ron Webster's header against Man City, from almost the same spot on the pitch

Slight caveat: If that was the same season!