Team of the Seventies
As usual with any "greatest" team every fan will have a different view of who should be playing, but in most positions there is a "stand out" player
And it will come as no surprise that none of the players selected were signed after 1972/73; a true indication of the decline of the Toon Empire during this decade.
In the early years Harvey performed miracles in the transfer market and signed some of the true greats: Macdonald, Green and Hibbitt. In the later years lack of money, poor judgement on behalf of his successors and a Division 2 status meant incomings measured far more in quantity than quality.
Hover over - don't click - the links below to reveal our choice.
Popular Irishman who held the Number 1 shirt for the first half of the decade before playing his final senior game at the surprisingly young age of 31
Although only 5' 10" he was extremely agile and on his day a brilliant shot stopper. Always seemed to save his best performances for the biggest games.Played six times for his country and would have won many more caps if the brilliant Pat Jennings hadn't been around .
His immediate replacement was Mick Mahoney but after being voted Player of the Year in 1976/77 he lost his confidence and his place in the side to Steve Hardwick whose United career followed a similar path
Classy right-back who seemed destined for full England honours early in his career, but whose progress was severely disrupted by injury problems.
Broke into the side in 1970/71 as a midfielder and it wasn't until 1973/74 that he took over the right-back slot from David Craig. A cool and cultured footballer he was once described by Joe Harvey as his "Paul Madeley", the so-called "Rolls Royce" footballer
He would take over as captain and his versatility aloowed him to play in a number of positions in defence and midfield.
With United ensconsed in the Second Nattrass moved to Middlesbrough. Thereafter right-back duties were shared by Peter Kelly (a great prospect whose career would be cruelly ended by injury) and experienced Scotsman John Brownlie.
In an almost mirror image of Nattrass' development Frank Clark's left-back slot was taken over by Sundeland born Alan Kennedy.
Made his debut at 18 at the end of 1972/73 but it was in the FA Cup Run of the following season that he made his mark. Strong tackling combined with surging runs down the flanks made him a terrace favourite.
Capped at U23 and B level only injury prevented him from a full cap at United, but when United were relegated he demanded a move and left for Liverpool where he acheived major success
Local lads Micky Barker and Kenny Mitchell were tried without great success before Ian Davies was brought in for a hefty fee.
The hardest shirt to fill. Incumbents included the workmanlike but derided Gibb who was replaced by the classy strong running Mcdermott who gave 22 months good service before deserting to Liverpool.
After that there was no regular owner although Tommy Cassidy played more than most; indeed The Irishman is the only player who played in every season of the decade. Finally in 1978/79 Mick "Zico" Martin arrived.
In the end we decided to give Mcdermott the nod despite question marks over his loyalty because ability wise he is the clear winner
Big John McNamee left in the early part of the decade and was replaced by the hard working and hard tackling Pat Howard. Not the most skilful of players but more than made up for this with his workrate and commitment.
Took over the Number 6 shirt vacated by Moncur before he became a victim of the Gordon Lee purge.
A number of youngsters attempted to fill the void including Keeley, McCaffrey and Barton as well as big money signing John Bird, but none of them could ruffle the feathers of opposing forwards in the way that Paddy could.
United Captain Moncur continued to steer the Good Ship United for the first four years of the decade before he was surprising released at the age of 29 after the 1974 Cup Final debacle
An excellent leader of men and a sound reader of the game United's defence did not recover from his departure for a number of years.
Pat Howard initially replaced him but when he too left the shirt was up from grabs. Experienced Scottish international John Blackley was a class player but he arrived at the club at the end of his career and at a time when the club was going down the pan.
His appearances were also restricted by injury and in the final season of the decade Bill McGarry brought in another experienced stopper when Stuart Boam arrived from 'Boro.
The right flank had been something of a problem position for United and in the first season of the decade Dyson, Foggon, Robson and Mitchell were all tried there. This was also the first season at the club for teenager Barrowclough.
After overcoming homesickness the speedy and direct winger established himself in the United side and earned England U23 honours; but despite his early promise he never made the next step up.
Lee converted him into more of a midfielder before he was allowed to leave for Birmingham. Micky Burns, Colin Suggett and Alan Shoulder all wore the Number 7 after that.
Tony Green had one of the shortest but sweetest spells on Tyneside before his injury career plagued career was brought to a premature end at the age of 27.Despite making only 35 appearances for the club he has deservedly gone down in folklore as one of United's true greats. Abundant skill combined with lightening acceleration and ceaseless energy won him international honours as well as saving United from relegation in 1971/72
BG, Keith Dyson and John Tudor shared the shirt and AG "Jinky" got a route back into the team but the highly skilled but equally inconsistent scotsman's career was also ended by injury.
None of the "followers": Alex Bruce, Ray Hudson, Tommy Cassiddy, Paul Cannell, Micky Burns, Nigel Walker and Peter Cartwright could come near to the genius of Green.
No introduction is needed for the man who was a legend in his own sideburns; the man they called Supermac. Wyn Davies struggled domestically in 1970/71 forcing Harvey to take a risk on the raw unproven talent of Macdonald.
It was an inspired signing with Mac providing pace and shooting power at equally explosive levels. For the next five seasons he was United's one true superstar.
The arrival of Gordon Lee helped him out the door and a host of players attempted to fill his boots. Micky Burns made a fist of it but like his successors; Mike Larnach, Mark McGhee and Kenny Mitchell he was not really a centre-forward. Then in 1978 Bill McGarry pulled off quite a coup when Peter Withe signed on and his all action style went down well with the Gallowgate faithful.
When the popular Pop Robson walked out Harvey turned to Sheffield United's John Tudor to replace him. His game was based on graft, courage and tactical nous but he lacked the flair that would endear him to the crowd. A target of the boo boys for a number of years he gradually won the fans over with his committed displays as he developed into a highly effecive foil for Mac.
Gordon Lee moved him on at the age of thirty and replaced him with Alan Gowling who was younger despite looking ten years older. Gangly but effective he was moved on by McGarry as the player power purge commenced.
After that Number 10 was occupied by the talented but inexperienced McGhee, then the returning Hibbitt and Billy Rafferty
Davids Young and Ford were used on the left flank before Harvey snapped up Terry Hibbitt from Leeds at a bargain price. A man who talked industrially but whose left foot more than made up for this with its eloquence. Fiercly competitive he developed a telepathic understanding with Supermac which reached it's zenith in the FA Cup semi with Burnley.
Disgracefully jettisoned by Lee another brilliant left footer took over in Tommy Craig. But when the toon went into turmoil he wanted out. Nigel Walker failed to take his chance and the experienced John Connolly arrived. He suffered injury problems and at the end of the decade the shirt was in the posession of Bobby Shinton.