The Whites dominant here in their First Division clash against Arsenal at Elland Road on the 25th March, 1972. United won the game 3-0 with goals from Allan Clarke, Mick Jones and Peter Lorimer in front of 45,055 fans.
Seems so many people around my age (almost 60) who love to reminisce with these great matches, takes me back to my childhood, football was everything back then, us kids out in the streets playing all day long recreating these great games, happy days
It’s well documented that Leeds came so close on many occasions. The reason is simple, they were knackered. Made latter stages in most competitions, no subs, small squads. Today, that team would clean up. Never tire of watching them. Great football era.
Absulutey,players then had to really know how to connect and manioulate that ball(with both feet and Head)quite simply better footballer.The only difference is the players look fitter,(but not better)You have to know how to play football not just run like a Track Athlete!
Here in Norway, our top commentator still ranks this game amongst his top three Match Of The Day of all time, and it’s always mentioned when classic TV matches are listed. To see a team of Arsenal’s merits and position being outplayed like this, he says, was simply blinding. In the days of one televised football match per week, Don Revie’s Super Leeds side made a big impression on Norwegian fans, and are probably a main reason why Leeds United is still one of the best supported clubs here today.
Leeds had a super side, full of talented players. And in many ways a very good manager. But it was sad to see the shameful tricks they at times used to intimidate other teams. They filly deserved their nickname - dirty-leeds
@@JohnSmith-hk1lx So many dirty tricks did you see from Leeds in this game, or the game against Man Utd which they won 5-1 or against Southampton 7-0 or Chelsea, 5-0 I think. They fully (not filly) deserved their nickname SUPER Leeds.
I fully agree - and have watched the great Forest, Liverpool and Manchester United sides since. This side were like a well oiled 'machine' with brilliant players in all positions - and defenders who could think like forwards. Bremner and Giles must be the finest midfield pairing of all time, and only their abrasive reputation stops them being more celebrated - though I think the team is beginning to be more recognised now. If four or five subs were allowed in those days they would have conquered all before them, and they were cursed with some dreadful bad luck on several occasions. The only team as good or better would be Stein's great Celtic team, but Leeds were exhausted when they took them on in 70 after twice repeated FA cup semi finals and 8 matches in 16 days. In 72, at their peak - I think they would have matched them. All the things that Revie was accused of: overlong dossiers, quick sneaky free kicks, time wasting, even diving ....... well they are all embedded firmly in today's game. He was clearly years ahead of the pack and deserves more credit for developing possession football.
The beautiful game. Been watching a few of these old Leeds matches here and what is noticeable is how much of a team they were. No reliance on a single star. Giles, Bremner, Clarke, Lorimer, Jones and Gray all stroke the ball around and go for lots of early balls confident that their team mates know in advance what they are likely to do with it.
Talent pure talent. 70'S JOHAN CRUFF Leeds V Barcerlona :- Cruyff’s warning to his team-mates and fans about the threat from Elland Road was concise and lyrical. “If you give Leeds the ball,” he remarked, “they will make you dance”. Even Arsenal's Frank Mclintock, said LEEDS "were the BEST TEAM IN THE 70'S.
@@raygrange7312 It's interesting how I'm more focused on these games from the past!.Nostalgia(a little of course)but it's really about quality,Simple as that!.You can't dismiss class and quality,and today's football with all of it's"Packaging"and "Bells and whistles"lacks it!
Classy Leeds .....2 touch football .The ball does all the work.Throw in lots of teamwork and .finesse and plenty of hardness all in poetical motion ,when football was played for pride not money ,by the British man to entertain the normal working class fan. Oh for those days back once more in England
and they hardly ever gave the ball away. They were all masters at keeping possession, both with 2 touch, instant control, and moving off the ball. And they could all shoot, and pin-point pass
@@rickwilliams7112 The most skilful British side ever on their day. They didn't win what they should have won, but by god they were brilliant. What strikes me is that the 'dirty' play they were known for hardly ever surfaces in the hundreds of slips that are available of them. Is it simply exaggerated by the London press?
Real true sportsmanship at the start from Leeds (no fake forced shaking hands). Followed by a bunch of thunderous tackles....and look no diving and rolling around by the players.
My first ever game. I was 8. My Dad brought a milk crate for me to stand on. I’m watching it again today, April 17, 2020, in tribute to Norman Hunter who has just passed away to coronavirus. RIP Norman. MOT.
I had to smile at the way, after two bad misses in a few seconds by Charlie George, Leeds 'keeper Gary Sprake pats him on the head in consolation! Great skill by Lorimer at 11:29.
love these old videos ,i remember clearly the first time i saw a picture first division league positions Arsenal were top leeds were second must have been 7o or 71 i never understood what it was all about until then ,My old man was a massive leeds fan and took me to elland rd on my 7th birthday against Huddersfield my lifelong love of leeds started then ,ive always had a soft spot for Arsenal though no idea why though
I feel the same way about Leeds as an Arsenal I have always had a soft spot for Leeds and I loved Revies Leeds the whole dirty Leeds thing was heavily exaggerated imo aswell
What ever happen That Leeds team were awesome its was like watching Brazil.Sadly those day have gone for the club that was the best in the world.There just does not seem to be teams of this quality anymore,the last one was Manu with Keen,Gigs,Beckham and Scholes as the midfield shame.Would love to see Leeds return to the big time the prem needs teams like Leeds.
I was there, aged 9. Only question was why Leeds only won by three. Many people focused on the dirty aspects, but ignored the way this team could set the park alight. If they had been based in London or Lancashire they would have been revered. At the end f this season Leeds beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup final n a Saturday, then had to play on the Monday night needing a draw at Wolves for the double. Jones was out; Clarke on painkillers, team knackered, and they lost 2-1.
Great post, classic stuff. Game continuing despite players injured, Mick Jones too brave and getting clobbered again, Norman Hunter vs Charlie George, Bob Wilson looking all at sea, "Sniffer" Clarke's feeble-looking goal celebration and Alan Ball squeaking his way into the ref's book. This is probably a good example of the "heavy metal" pressing game that Uwe Rossler wants us to play next season. No chance, Uwe!
Look at the tackles 01:46 and especially 01:55 - ouch....and no faking injury.....indeed the commentator doesn't even bat an eyelid at 01:55....the old days.
I love watching old '60s and '70s First Division matches. Reminds me that no one really knew how to celebrate after a goal. LOL Okay, throw hands up. Cool.
In Australia Brian Moore and the Big Match was aired on a Monday night, used to race home to watch it, a highlight of the week, even though we were a Rugby household. Players were honest, tough and respected each other. Best highlight was the Franny Lee/Norman Hunter stoush, top TV that was!!!!
It just occurred to me this game was the day after my nan died 24-3-72, remember being told early Friday morning by my mum about some bad news i was only 9 then, anyway great team Leeds but nobody liked them unless you were born in Leeds of course, one positive was my second favourite player of the seventies after George Best played for them - The great Eddie Gray, voted Leeds greatest ever player
Well, as a total neutral I don't see any of the so-called 'dirty Leeds' play in evidence. Both sides looked pretty physical with each other but not to excess.
Firstly, full marks for the camera work & editing, very Pathe & ooooh Arsenal haranguing the Ref fancy that! Mick Jones the forgotten man in the great Leeds team. The tackling was tough, bodies littered on the field of play. Just another day in the life & loves of Leeds United. Goin' up goin' up...
My uncle played for Everton in mid 60s .he got 38quid a week and when they won the FA cup he got 8quid a week rise so he bought his wife a new mini on HP .
Dear o` dear Arsenal were terrible, sure Leeds were good, but Arsenal,every player was bad or worse. I loved it when Alan Ball got booked (10:31) He spells his name out to the Ref A. Ball A. B....A....L...L...Classic.
That Leeds team was immense. Should have won much more silverware than they did. All players household names. Not really a weakness in that Leeds side. Fixtures were the issue with FA Cup final on the Saturday, then having to play for the league on the following Tuesday. No real dominant team then as far as silverware but a lot of decent opposition. Leeds were probably the best side at that time. Glory days tinged with disappointments. Revie would have won more if he'd stayed without a doubt.
Now 61, I remember singing ''Born under the Holte End Stand'' a Lee Marvin song in 1969, my first ever season, aged 11 following Villa! Sadly for me it was their worst ever year crashing into the old Third Division. Horrific season. Never forget it; 12 years later, we were Champions of Europe.
I think you can put that one down to the FA - refusing Leeds a break after winning the FA Cup and forcing them to play again on the Monday night away at Wolves
As I remember the Arsenal sub Peter Marinello was mooted as the new George Best when he signed for Arsenal. He didn't live up to the hype and was basically a dud signing. He only resembled Best with his off field antics
This was much better than the football of today. No hype or stupid stats about dribbles and assists. Plus most of the players and managers where British . Most teams had top Scottish or Irish players in their sides. Doesn't happen today because of the over priced overrated foreign players in the premier league.
Great side but they should have won more. The reason they didn't win more is that teams hated them and wanted to beat them....Chelsea 1970, Wolves 1972 and Sunderland 1973 to name but three. Several Wolves players said Brenner tried to bribe them, Stokoe hated Revie because he said Revie had tried to bribe him years earlier..and Chelsea just hated them. Revie was a crook.
'Jones may have fallen a little spectacularly'. Did he scream like he had 3 limbs severed at once? Did he roll over thirteen times and resemble a break dancer while doing it? Erm nope. That just shows what the game has become in the last decade or two.
They don't make players like this anymore, I don't watch the modern game, it annoys me far too much, Today, its win at any cost, back in the 70's if you wanted to wear bright coloured boots, you had to prove you were good enough on the pitch, otherwise the manager, especially Cloughy, would not allow it,Today, bang average players are parading around like they are in a fashion show, But still have no end product.
@@vinnylo6566 Paisley's Liverpool made practically every team irrelevant. Mostly because teams like Leeds, Derby, Chelsea, Mancity went through declines. Though Clough's Forest threatened to make the bin-dippers irrelevant.
most Liverpool fans accept that the great Leeds side were truly great and have respect for the club as a result. fifty years on this is still one of the most talked about teams ever to play football.
Impossible to compare realistically, as the game today is entirely different. I think most of today's players would not survive a 1972 game, with the contact rules as they were then. They would spend the game rolling around on the floor.
Season before, Arsenal did the double, you may not remember it was by a cats cock hair. Flip of a coin and Leeds could have done the double, but alas, the gods were smiling on Arsenal
