Duncan Edwards: The Man Who Could Have Been.

SiYuan

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Could anyone who actually supported United during the Busby days tell me more about him?

Thanks in advance :D


dunc7.jpg
 
There are other posts on here if you do a search. Poster called Julilan Denny was at the last game the Babes played in England, 5-4 win at Highbury.
 
My old man used to tell me about him when I was a kid...also not long before he died, we were chatting about the Busby Babes in the hospital and he talked a lot about Edwards, really vividly...I can't remember all that much but I'll post what I put down on here shortly afterwards...hang on...


He had everything, apparently: wonderful skill, speed, power, grace, the lot. What stood out most in my dad's mind was the impression you had when looking at him of a meeting of opposites: he was hard as rock and built like a tank, but so young, just a boy, and so fast - that's something you don't often hear about him but he was lightning apparently. A marvellous, and very clean, tackler, and a fine passer of the ball long and short. But what was most extraordinary, according to my dad, was his amazing drive - even more than Keano, he says!

He told me about one game against Everton, probably at Maine Rd he thinks because OT was still being renovated after the blitz, a bruiser of a game on a pitch thick with mud, and the leather ball caked with it and weighing a ton. Edwards had kept United in it, tackling like a man possessed, breaking things up in midfield and appearing from nowhere when the defense was breached. A few minutes from time, he picked the ball up and ran, my dad says in his mind it's three-quarters of the pitch but let's say half, and it looked for all the world like the Everton players were bouncing off him as he surged down the mddle and smashed it home.
 
Plechazunga said:
My old man used to tell me about him when I was a kid...also not long before he died, we were chatting about the Busby Babes in the hospital and he talked a lot about Edwards, really vividly...I can't remember all that much but I'll post what I put down on here shortly afterwards...hang on...


He had everything, apparently: wonderful skill, speed, power, grace, the lot. What stood out most in my dad's mind was the impression you had when looking at him of a meeting of opposites: he was hard as rock and built like a tank, but so young, just a boy, and so fast - that's something you don't often hear about him but he was lightning apparently. A marvellous, and very clean, tackler, and a fine passer of the ball long and short. But what was most extraordinary, according to my dad, was his amazing drive - even more than Keano, he says!

He told me about one game against Everton, probably at Maine Rd he thinks because OT was still being renovated after the blitz, a bruiser of a game on a pitch thick with mud, and the leather ball caked with it and weighing a ton. Edwards had kept United in it, tackling like a man possessed, breaking things up in midfield and appearing from nowhere when the defense was breached. A few minutes from time, he picked the ball up and ran, my dad says in his mind it's three-quarters of the pitch but let's say half, and it looked for all the world like the Everton players were bouncing off him as he surged down the mddle and smashed it home.
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Thanks alot Plech :angel:
 
kf said:
There are other posts on here if you do a search. Poster called Julilan Denny was at the last game the Babes played in England, 5-4 win at Highbury.
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I'll try and search for that but I'll need all that I can find for my english essay.
 
Although I'm a scouser my father in law is from Middleton. He tells me that quite simply Edwards was the best player he ever saw, an absolute brute of a man, powerful with skill to burn.

Had it not been for Munich he could well have been the one picking up the world cup instead of Bobby Moore.
 
Murphman said:
Although I'm a scouser my father in law is from Middleton. He tells me that quite simply Edwards was the best player he ever saw, an absolute brute of a man, powerful with skill to burn.

Had it not been for Munich he could well have been the one picking up the world cup instead of Bobby Moore.
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Cheers :angel:
 
I've got a question here, was Duncan Edwards a football talent the moment he touched a ball?

Or did he worked hard to get to what he had?
 
Read the thread in the Classics SiYuan, Julian Denny and others will tell you more than I can

If you read Bobby Charlton's book though, he came up against Edwards playing for the army or air force or something during National Service, possibly before even coming to United, i'm not sure, and says he was incredible even then
 
Plechazunga said:
Read the thread in the Classics SiYuan, Julian Denny and others will tell you more than I can

If you read Bobby Charlton's book though, he came up against Edwards playing for the army or air force or something during National Service, possibly before even coming to United, i'm not sure, and says he was incredible even then
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Charlton was quote saying that he was not fit even to polish Edwards book.

Edwards must be in a total difference class then.
 
Murphman said:
Although I'm a scouser my father in law is from Middleton. He tells me that quite simply Edwards was the best player he ever saw, an absolute brute of a man, powerful with skill to burn.

Had it not been for Munich he could well have been the one picking up the world cup instead of Bobby Moore.
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Heart warming coming from a scouser(s)...
 
SiYuan said:
Are you sure?

After a small search, Denis Law wrote the book.
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Absolutely Positive.
Tackle Soccer This Way

I’ve just been astonished to discover that the late (most regrettably, the late) Duncan Edwards wrote a book, Tackle Soccer This Way, and gave the manuscript to his publisher immediately before leaving on the trip that would end in Munich.

Not ghost-written, and relatively expensive to obtain now as you might expect.

http://www.morethanmindgames.co.uk/?p=120

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&y=0&tn=tackle+soccer+this+way&x=0&sortby=3
http://www.amazon.com/Tackle-soccer...ef=sr_1_2/103-2364233-0401428?ie=UTF8&s=books
 
Plechazunga said:
My old man used to tell me about him when I was a kid...also not long before he died, we were chatting about the Busby Babes in the hospital and he talked a lot about Edwards, really vividly...I can't remember all that much but I'll post what I put down on here shortly afterwards...hang on...


He had everything, apparently: wonderful skill, speed, power, grace, the lot. What stood out most in my dad's mind was the impression you had when looking at him of a meeting of opposites: he was hard as rock and built like a tank, but so young, just a boy, and so fast - that's something you don't often hear about him but he was lightning apparently. A marvellous, and very clean, tackler, and a fine passer of the ball long and short. But what was most extraordinary, according to my dad, was his amazing drive - even more than Keano, he says!

He told me about one game against Everton, probably at Maine Rd he thinks because OT was still being renovated after the blitz, a bruiser of a game on a pitch thick with mud, and the leather ball caked with it and weighing a ton. Edwards had kept United in it, tackling like a man possessed, breaking things up in midfield and appearing from nowhere when the defense was breached. A few minutes from time, he picked the ball up and ran, my dad says in his mind it's three-quarters of the pitch but let's say half, and it looked for all the world like the Everton players were bouncing off him as he surged down the mddle and smashed it home.
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Nice.
 
Not Vidic, Edwards was a midfielder, and a lot more skillful and quicker

Probably Keano was the closest we've had in recent years, but as I said, my dad regarded Gerrard as the most similar player around to him
 
There is a nice DVD out there called "And Then Came Munich", with footage from some of his games and quite a lot of revealing and sweet interview footage with his mum.

Had me crying.
 
I had the honour to see Duncan at matches and on Tv and without question - in my mind he was the best player ever - not just in UK but the world. The guy had everything - he was a complete defender and complete attacker.

When people talk legends at United then start with Duncan at the top because he is the template all other United legends should be judged. So far none has come close
 
jasonrh said:
There is a nice DVD out there called "And Then Came Munich", with footage from some of his games and quite a lot of revealing and sweet interview footage with his mum.

Had me crying.
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Cheers RH.

I will try and see if it's available at the library.
 
Plechazunga said:
Not Vidic, Edwards was a midfielder, and a lot more skillful and quicker

Probably Keano was the closest we've had in recent years, but as I said, my dad regarded Gerrard as the most similar player around to him
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sorry to differ but Gerrard is nowt like him - its like comparing chalk and cheese. For me the closest in style of play was Robson but a pale imitation was even the great Robbo
 
vijay said:
For a comparison with Di Stefano, take the best out of Keane and Zidane and add more class. Edwards would've reached that level had fate dosen't intervened.
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What was his attitude to football?

Was he like Best, whose drinking led him to skip trainings?

Or was he the lad who stayed behind after training sessions to train on his own?
 
topper said:
sorry to differ but Gerrard is nowt like him - its like comparing chalk and cheese. For me the closest in style of play was Robson but a pale imitation was even the great Robbo
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He was a hell of a lot bigger than Robbo though, wasn't he

Remember my dad talking a lot about the unusual combination of his massive physcial presence and his grace and speed
 
Plechazunga said:
He was a hell of a lot bigger than Robbo though, wasn't he

Remember my dad talking a lot about the unusual combination of his massive physcial presence and his grace and speed
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He must have it all then.

Was he a very skilful player? As in, could he dazzle past players like Best did?
 
Great thread that Plech linked to.

This is what football is about.

Can't help but love the game.
 
Murphman said:
Although I'm a scouser my father in law is from Middleton. He tells me that quite simply Edwards was the best player he ever saw, an absolute brute of a man, powerful with skill to burn.

Had it not been for Munich he could well have been the one picking up the world cup instead of Bobby Moore.
Click to expand...

nice one Murp...you wont have heard of Moore...and England and United would have won a lot more....
 
Plechazunga said:
He was a hell of a lot bigger than Robbo though, wasn't he

Remember my dad talking a lot about the unusual combination of his massive physcial presence and his grace and speed
Click to expand...


Agree he wasn't a giant but just gave that impression - its that something that Gerrard lacks that Robbo (apart from the physique) had. IMO Keane was similar in style but not physique but what Duncan had was a cool level head on the pitch - summat that Keano always lacked and one never knew what Keano would do next. Hack somebody, hit out etc

I may have mentioned on an earlier Duncan thread that in build Rooney reminds me of him
 
SiYuan said:
He must have it all then.

Was he a very skilful player? As in, could he dazzle past players like Best did?
Click to expand...

actually the reason I support United is because of my dad going on about Sir Matt and the Busby Babes...and Edwards in particular...
and then...along came Bestie....there really ever was going to be one team in my life after that...
 
SiYuan said:
He must have it all then.

Was he a very skilful player? As in, could he dazzle past players like Best did?
Click to expand...

He wasn't a winger like Best, and beating 4 men wasn't his game...He could beat a man though, and was tremendously skillful in terms of ball control, long-range passing, shooting, heading and general comfort on the ball

Correct me if I'm wrong topper
 
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