Len Cantello Memories?

[mickd1961]

I was only thinking to myself last night that Len often gets overlooked when we look back at our great side of the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s.

As I get older and memory plays tricks I started to examine how he fitted into the side, how did others view this?

If you take our seminal first 11 during that period you tend to think,

Osbourne/Godden

Mulligan/Batson

Statham

Ally Robertson/Bennett

Wile

Tony Brown

Bryan Robson

Cunningham

Willie Johnston

Ally Brown

Regis


Anyone remember who Cantello fought for his position with?

[Yarmbaggie]

I was only thinking to myself last night that Len often gets overlooked when we look back at our great side of the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s.

As I get older and memory plays tricks I started to examine how he fitted into the side, how did others view this?

If you take our seminal first 11 during that period you tend to think,

Osbourne/Godden

Mulligan/Batson

Statham

Ally Robertson/Bennett

Wile

Tony Brown

Bryan Robson

Cunningham

Willie Johnston

Ally Brown

Regis


Anyone remember who Cantello fought for his position with?

Len Cantello didn’t really fight for his position with anyone in the period 1971/76 when his lowest starting number was 34 out of 42. 76/77 he dropped down to 21 starts, then 23, and then back up to 32 in his last season with us 1978/79.

Of the list above he certainly played a lot more than Ally Brown in the period 71/76 with 78/79 being the year Ally played more.

[Dubbag]

I was only thinking to myself last night that Len often gets overlooked when we look back at our great side of the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s.

As I get older and memory plays tricks I started to examine how he fitted into the side, how did others view this?

If you take our seminal first 11 during that period you tend to think,

Osbourne/Godden

Mulligan/Batson

Statham

Ally Robertson/Bennett

Wile

Tony Brown

Bryan Robson

Cunningham

Willie Johnston

Ally Brown

Regis


Anyone remember who Cantello fought for his position with?

My best memory of Len is his lovely goal at the end of a great build up v Man Utd.3-5

[Dubbag]

Actually....I should stop watching that video.....it makes me cry.....
What great football.....

[Calgarybaggy]

Willie Johnston and Cunningham rarely played on the same team as they often competed against each other for a place. Willie was effectively replaced by Cunningham especially after the embarrassment of the whole Argentina debacle. Willie never seemed to recover from Argentina and was starting to get too old anyway. Cantello was often played at number 10 but was a versatile player so often played in whatever spot was needed. I have even seen him playing left back a number of times. I think he would have been competing with Asa Hartford, Mick Martin, Bryan Robson (at first), Cunningham (at first) and John Trewick for a spot. He was probably sold when they brought in David Mills and Len was approaching 30. He was one of those dependable players who would do a good job at any position but was not necessarily spectacular. He would also chip in with a goal here or there, usually a spectacular goal - his goal of the season at Old Trafford being an example. He actually scored the very first goal I ever saw at the Hawthorns in a 2-0 win over Swindon Town in the FA Cup in 1973 - a 20-25 yarder if I remember correctly.

[baggieal]

I was only thinking to myself last night that Len often gets overlooked when we look back at our great side of the mid to late 70’s and early 80’s.

As I get older and memory plays tricks I started to examine how he fitted into the side, how did others view this?

If you take our seminal first 11 during that period you tend to think,

Osbourne/Godden

Mulligan/Batson

Statham

Ally Robertson/Bennett

Wile

Tony Brown

Bryan Robson

Cunningham

Willie Johnston

Ally Brown

Regis


Anyone remember who Cantello fought for his position with?

Why oh why did you mention all these players Mick as I have gone into depression mode now! All these were proper players who gave sweat and blood for the badge not like the overpaid w ankers we have now!