BT Sport Documentary - The Team of the 80s

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by Eddie McGoldrick's tash

I have watched most of it now.

But wanted to ask a few questions to those who did watch Palace around this time - 87 was my first experience watching them so was (almost) a decade too late for the period.

1. This 'team of the 80s' tag. Ive got to be honest, barely any non-Palace fan I have ever spoke to to is aware of this tag. My Dad watched a lot of football in the 70s and had a Fulham season ticket but has no recollection of it at all. He is is just one example. So was it a term used often about us or something that was said a few times that the club and fans ran with more than anyone else?

2. Were the fans really all, collectively still behind Allison after two relegations? I know football has changed a lot and they were different times, but even in those days that is pretty unusual. Was there not any kind of split among fans about him in terms of results?

3. Am I the only one who thinks Allison comes across as cocky, arrogant and unlikeable? Did everyone at the time really buy in to his way and manner? Reminds me of a lot of the things I disliked about Simon Jordan. Lots of boasts about what he would do with the club, publicity hungry, a big ego and not backed up by the results of their performance in the job. I know it is probably an unpopular view and from someone who wasn't wrapped up in the moment of it. And I know he has his place in the Palace story and his place in the club's popular narrative.

TotE - Definitely a real thing that was repeated a lot in the media at the time (bear in mind that means newspapers and maybe MOTD back then - there wasn't anything else). Can't quite remember where it started but if I had to guess it would have been a Sun or Mirror headline? It was then bandied around by football fans. As I remember it, a bit tongue in cheek by Palace fans initially as we hadn't reached these giddy heights before and couldn't quite believe it would last and ironically by fans from other clubs. It stuck after the purple period but more as sarcasm as opposition fans felt happier that we were put back in our place

Not sure I ever got to enjoy the tag at the time. Loved winning regularly but I had never experienced that type of top tier success before at Palace and it just felt unreal/fragile, which of course it proved to be as the squad broke up. But great times, players etc. and coverage that we had rarely had before.

[Archiebald Leitch]

.....

[Archiebald Leitch]

Originally Posted by Sleeping Giant

That is hysterical, have you whooshed me there?

Nope!

[JJ]

Fantastic viewing, and what a brilliant quote from Jim Cannon when asked by the great Brian Moore what he'd learned about his team after beating reigning European Champions Nottingham Forest 1-0:

"We've learned that we can win this Championship."

[The Sniper]

Originally Posted by Eddie McGoldrick's tash

I
1. This 'team of the 80s' tag. Ive got to be honest, barely any non-Palace fan I have ever spoke to to is aware of this tag.

The team of the 80s was widely known, most older proper football supporters know it as well from most clubs and can often name a good handful of the players straight away.

[Bintang]

Originally Posted by kabbott

The away trips on the "specials" were always fun trips and going to grounds like Aldershot (on Boxing Day one year, I think), Colchester, Cambridge and Luton was always a laugh.

I went to the Aldershot game. Lost 0-1 on Dec 27th 1975. We finished 5th and they were relegated that year.

Remember being told off by some old biddy for swearing.

[Boltoneagle]

Just watched it, brilliant memories, wonderful time to be a Palace fan.

[Sleeping Giant]

My favourite memory is of Cloughie admitting he'd swap all his success to manage our kids. Loved him bemoaning how he'd coveted Burridge for years but had to make do with Shilton and how he always got a bigger buzz playing at Selhurst Park than Wembley. Ok, things are getting out of hand.

[casinocolin]

Originally Posted by ozzieEagle

I'm not aware of anyone that didn't back Allison 100pct. In fact all that happened whilst he was in charge was increase support and belief. I dont know exactly how he did it, but his manner/confidence and attitude just encouraged belief and certainty and importantly something that hasn't been mentioned a true sense of fun and total irreverance.

Palace honestly were a poor relation to the rest of the London clubs before he arrived not far removed from the likes of Orient and Brentford. Definitely thought off as the 3rd South London club.... When he turned up suddenly everything changed, in fact they were knocking on the door of being the 4th biggest team in London.... It was almost cult like...no one took the piss anymore.. When Palace were turning up at places like Tranmere, Wrexham and Chesterfield the whole town would stop for that day.

I think you really had to be there to totally get the idea, this documentary just gives one a taste.

This was how it was, the only downside to this was Big Mal was hated by all the clubs we played and they all tried harder to beat us. As fans we were 100 % behind him.

[Mad Max]

I remember when we were relegated football fans of other clubs,predominantly at work,all used that team of the 80`s tag to take the piss.Come 1984 I couldn`t believe how far we had fallen.

[Ardent Eagle Forever]

There's not many teams that have strayed out of the top two flights in the last 42 years.

[Dorking .Eagle]

Originally Posted by Ardent Eagle Forever

There's not many teams that have strayed out of the top two flights in the last 42 years.

10 or less?

Liverpool
Everton
Man United
Arsenal
Tottenham
Chelsea
Palace
West Ham?
Aston Villa?
Newcastle?

[Ardent Eagle Forever]

Also remembering that Big Mal was the only pundit to back us against Liverpool at Villa Park.

Flamboyant, controversial, two relegation, two fa youth Cup wins and a great FA Cup run in 1976 put Palace well and truly on the map.

One of the best managers we've ever had imvho opinion. Absolutely loved the guy.

[Ardent Eagle Forever]

Originally Posted by Dorking .Eagle

10 or less?

Liverpool
Everton
Man United
Arsenal
Tottenham
Chelsea
Palace
West Ham?
Aston Villa?
Newcastle?

Bloody hell, that was quick DE.

You're probably right.

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by casinocolin

This was how it was, the only downside to this was Big Mal was hated by all the clubs we played and they all tried harder to beat us. As fans we were 100 % behind him.

Remember when we were on the cup run and Port Vale I think it was, lined up and applauded Palace onto the pitch... then promptly beat us 1-0!

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

Originally Posted by 917L

Allison was flash and had a massive ego, however he also had a fantastic track record from his time at Man City.

It's difficult to explain but managers then seemed very different from today, you can see that even from the small clips of MA and Clough in this video.

I had become a regular the season before big Mal and can only remember good things about him and what he did for the club. Yes it was a disaster in terms of league results but he gave us an identity and he made everyone believe that anything was possible.

The cup games at Leeds, Sunderland and Chelsea were extraordinary. Not because of the results, but because we turned up as a 3rd division away side and played all of them off the park, and there were no weakened sides in the cup in those days

He was a fantastic coach, and helped bring through almost an entire team from the youth ranks, unprecedented until fergusons crop, and even he didn't have as many at the same time

Heady days

Actually yes, one of the things that really stood out for me watching it was that idea of being able to dream which is something I think we miss now, in our current position.

It feels like there is a glass ceiling at the moment (barring any new, huge investment - but probably not even then with FFP). We have done so well in the last 7 years but it does a feel a bit like this is it. Bar the outside chance of a cup run. In the Championship we dreamt of promotion.

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

Originally Posted by The Sniper

The team of the 80s was widely known, most older proper football supporters know it as well from most clubs and can often name a good handful of the players straight away.

I guess a lot of things get forgotten over time, and that would be by many who aren't Palace fans.

[Thanet Eagle]

Originally Posted by Ardent Eagle Forever

Also remembering that Big Mal was the only pundit to back us against Liverpool at Villa Park.

Flamboyant, controversial, two relegation, two fa youth Cup wins and a great FA Cup run in 1976 put Palace well and truly on the map.

One of the best managers we've ever had imvho opinion. Absolutely loved the guy.

And of course introduced the Red and Blue stripes and our nickname Eagles!

[Old Joe Paxton]

Originally Posted by Ardent Eagle Forever

There's not many teams that have strayed out of the top two flights in the last 42 years.

You meant to say there’s not many teams that have at stayed in the top two divisions yes?

I’ve always thought that Palace since the mid 70s despite the opposite have been quite rare in being stable and top two divisions. Or course not elite in being only one of the 2 clubs who have stayed in the top div - Arse, Everton ? - only since the 70s but pretty solid really

[Old Joe Paxton]

...sorry Liverpool too
Since mid 60s