Request for Questions: Viv Anderson, Tuesday 28th April, Live from Redfearn’s Bar

Well done mate, you're getting a bit good at this. Loved Viv the player, wasn't so in love with his management skills.

 

We were OK. Mel had steadied the ship and was dismissed because John Dennis didn't believe he was capable of taking us up, not because he ever thought we'd be relegated under him.

The following year we were screwed as half the ground was closed.

Andersen wasn't a manager, he's never taken the role since. He was still a magnificent player though when he came to us. He looked majestic.

 

Bromsgrove Rovers.

Who no longer exist.

What a day...

 

You're getting some cracking interviewees, Loko. I'm expecting to watch Tommy Taylor and Rev Preedy live-chats by the end of the month.

 

Scored on his debut, think he scored a few actually, early doors. Good player, but not cut out for management. I think John Dennis put it best when he said folk told him they'd appointed him and Danny in the wrong roles!

What a career though, pre-BFC.

 

Viv you experienced numerous incidents of racist abuse whilst playing, how were you received at Barnsley, being one of the first black managers in the modern game?

 

In retrospect, did you enjoy your experiences as a manager? And why didn't you try to manage anywhere else after leaving Barnsley?

What were the high points and low points of your playing and managerial careers?

If you could change anything from your time in football, what would you do differently? And why?

Who would win a fight, a beaver or a badger?

 

I'd be interested in knowing whether he ever had the chance to join the club prior to his managerial reign. Before the days of the Internet and before Ceefax had gossip pages, there were often playground rumours circulating about Viv joining the club at the back end of his career (and Ronnie Rosenthal, for some reason)

 

(Mrs Merton voice) What first attracted you to the multi-millionaire, Steve Gibson?

 

Barnsley legend for leaving us to be a number 2 at Boro because if he had stayed we'd have never seen the premier league as he was a poor manager.

 

There was talk of the play-offs at that point. Then it obviously melted away.
One of the big things that went against Viv was that Danny Wilson really didn't have a good season. He got better in the second half, but it was difficult not to compared to the first. Danny was a fantastic player as he proved the following season, but I think he was trying too hard for Viv.

To be honest, I wouldn't concentrate too much on his time here. Obviously you've got to frame it from a Barnsley angle so his memories of it, how it came about, what he thought he got right, why he left. But you've got Viv Anderson, an icon, an amazing player who won the European Cup and was the first black player to win a senior England cap.

 

This is a long time ago, and my memory ain't what it used to be, so please excuse any errors. Here goes...

We began the season with Anderson and Taggart at centre back in a back 4. Gary Fleming played right back, but I forget who was left back. Danny Wilson played in centre midfield. It was soon obvious that we were too slow at the centre of our back four. We were pushing up, but when the second ball came, it caught us too high and too square. I was interested in the technical side of the game, even then, so of course I had a solution. I suggested to my mate that Gary Fleming play between the two centre backs because he was quick. Imagine my shock, when that is exactly what Anderson did. The added bonus was that Nicky Eaden, a mid-field player who had never played full back before, was brought in to play right back. He was immediately a revelation, and the 3-5-2 system that the changes created eventually, albeit under Danny Wilson and with different playing staff, led to promotion to the Premier League. In my mind, that tiny acorn is what led to the great oak, because the system that we played was unusual then, and many teams found it hard to play against us. I do not think that Anderson was the great thinker. I believe he stumbled across the system whilst trying to solve a different problem, but it would be interesting to hear Viv Anderson describe the thought processes that led him to that solution.

Danny Wilson came to Oakwell as Anderson's playing assistant and had a very difficult first season, which multiplied Anderson's problems. The following season Wilson had a brilliant season and virtually the same team that had struggled under Anderson, had a very much better season under Wilson. Was Danny Wilson successful in that season because he arranged the team to play to his strengths, or was he just a better player/manager.

Just as Hecky is credited for our two appearances at Wembley, and Lee Johnson is barely mentioned, so Danny Wilson is given all the credit for our one visit to the Premier League and Anderson is never mentioned. However, if you follow my logic, many successful periods in a club's history build upon the work of a previous hand on the tiller, who gets no credit whatsoever, because he was not in the right place at the right time. Are there other examples?

 

That would be impressive but Chien would be even more

 

Snodin started the season at left back, but soon got injured. Gareth Williams was given a go for a while. Then Andersen got injured too. The back 5 for most of the season in various positions and formations was Taggart, Bishop, Flemming, Archdeacon and Eden. All of whom played at least 37 games. Andersen played 20. 16 of the first 18 then just 4 more.

 

Yes. Danny Wilson signed Hourihane, Winnall, Davies and Roberts....

 

Has he got the secret to eternal youth? Just watching that interview mentioned and he hardly seemed to have aged!

 

following on from Titus Magee's question --

Q. to Viv - you were/are always reminded that you were the first black player to represent England in a full International match - how did you feel about that - did you feel this reference was relevant ?