Dukla Prague represented a well-drilled unit within the subsequent spherical. They had been, in spite of everything, the Czechoslovak military crew. United’s thrilling attacking play was ample for a 3-0 dwelling victory which might have been considerably bigger had been it not for the professional goalkeeping of the guests. And Busby wished extra, as a result of travelling behind the Iron Curtain into Jap European was a troublesome take a look at. It was a chill and dank Prague December that created a tough pitch on which Eddie Colman was “sure-footed as a mountain goat,” in accordance with Frank Taylor, serving to United to an mixture victory.
Progress secured, United endured a depressing journey dwelling as fog compelled a major delay and re-route through Amsterdam. The Reds suffered in consequence, drawing 3-3 with Birmingham Metropolis at Outdated Trafford, main membership secretary Walter Crickmer and Busby to constitution a aircraft to take them for our subsequent European journey, to Belgrade, through Munich.
Within the days of two factors for a win, a draw after a European journey was not so dangerous — only one level dropped. However then it was one other slip-up as a late purpose condemned United to a primary dwelling defeat to Chelsea for 38 years. The Londoners had been one other direct crew whose success in opposition to United offered a basic problem to Busby’s long-term challenge and whole footballing philosophy. He wanted to do one thing to exhibit that the soccer his United crew performed was not simply enticing, however efficient, too.
Busby himself was defiant, insisting United “shall be there on the finish of the season for the League championship and the Cup.
“The crew are taking part in nice soccer, however it isn’t coming off. It occurs to everybody, however we will recover from it. We will be there as a result of I do know my boys have the standard.”
That that they had, however Busby’s public phrases and personal ideas had been, like all good soccer managers, various things. He wished extra high quality and located it in two sources: the switch market, and the youth set-up.
This was all the time the way in which with Busby — a mix of uncommon, sensible, big-money purchases with common introductions of contemporary blood from the Academy.
Albert Scanlon and Kenny Morgans had been the younger lads, alongside the marginally extra skilled Bobby Charlton, whereas Matt made Harry Gregg the world’s costliest goalkeeper as he joined from Doncaster Rovers. The Northern Irishman’s model was contemporary in its distinction to Ray Wooden, who he was changing.
Whereas Gregg stayed with captain Roger Byrne in his first few days in Manchester, he defined it to his new teammate: “The penalty field is my area and if the ball comes into it, I’ll go for it.”
Byrne inspired him on this angle. “You come and knock us out of the way in which if it’s important to! We will need to have no extra messing about within the penalty space.”
Harry made certain of that. In what the Irish press in attendance referred to as a “story-book debut,” Gregg helped United to a primary clear sheet in seven league video games and “impressed in his coolness, daring and anticipation.”
It was these three attributes that might flip him into considered one of our membership’s all-time heroes along with his actions at Munich Airport simply 47 days later.
