Season Review 1974/75 - The Squad
Intro
One again United's season was disrupted by an inordinate number of injuries; especially in defence and midfield. As a result ten players made their debuts: the five new signings plus five youngsters.
Twenty nine players were used in all with only Malcolm Macdonald playing in every game
Note that statistics do not include Texaco Cup games
Keepers
Iam McFaul [47 - 0 ]
McFaul was only 31 and had a decent enough season despite playing behind an ever changing defence and conceding a hatful of goals. Indeed he talked of feeling more confident than ever. But at the end of the season he decided to retire and take up a coaching role.
Tony Bell [1 - 0]
With Burleigh sold, teenager Bell was thrown in at the deep end when United travelled with a makeshift team to White Hart Lane. It was to be a traumatic game for the lad from North Shields and brought an abrupt end to his professional career.
Mick Mahoney [2 - 0]
Twenty four year old who signed from Torquay in March where he had been their Player of the Year for the past two seasons. Made his debut in the 1-0 home defeat against Everton.
Defenders
Irving Nattrass [41 - 0]
Nattrass was back from his serious knee injury and established himself as the first choice right back. He also had a couple of run outs in midfield as Harvey tried to add a bit of bite early doors.
David Craig [13/2 - ]
No longer regarded as first choice the unlucky Irishman had another injury plagued season. Man of the Month for March he was rewarded for his 15 years service at the club with a testimonial match against Sunderland.
Peter Kelly [2 - 0 ]
Drafted in for the March home defeat against Derby, full-back Kelly had made his debut in the home League Cup tie against Chester.
Ray Blackhall [1 - 0 ]
Made his first appearance for the club at the age of eighteen as a centre-back in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in March.
David Crosson [1 - ]
Perennial reserve who was brought in for the 3-0 defeat at Highbury as United's defensive crisis escalated.
Frank Clark [24 - ]
Made club captain following the departure of Moncur, but was ruled out at the beginning of the season through a pelvic injury and then when he returned he badly gashed his leg on a corner flag. Further injuries restricted his appearances as did the startling progress of Alan Kennedy. Surprisigly given a free transfer at the end of the season.
Alan Kennedy [34 - 3]
Twenty year old Kennedy established hiself in the first team, doing so well that he made his England U23 debut against Czechoslovakia and was called up for the full squad for the West Germany match; although he had to pull out through injury.
His barnstorming full-back play made him an instant favourite with the fans and he also put in some excellent performances as an emergency midfielder.
Micky Barker [2 - 0]
Nineteen year old left-back Barker made his first team debut in the 1-0 victory at Upton Park at the end of February after Kennedy joined Clark on the injured list. His second and final game was the 5-4 defeat at Portman Road. He wouldn't feature again until 1977/78.
Pat Howard [44/1 - 4 ]
With Moncur gone Howard had to assume extra responsibility at the back. Playing in a deeper, sweeper role he had one of his best seasons for the club but still couldn't hold United's makeshift defence together. Captained United when Clark was absent and went down with the mumps in March.
Glen Keeley [47 - 3]
Teenager signed from Ipswich as a replacement for Moncur; his lack of experience (he had only played five times for the Suffolk side) let him down on numerous occasions in an error strewn season.
Aiden McCaffrey [2/1 - ]
Jarrow born seventeen year old McCaffrey only signed professional forms in January and found himself making his debut a couple of months later in the 5-4 defeat at Portman Road.
Dennis Laughton [1/1 - ]
Scottish centre-half who only lasted two years on Tyneside before succumbing to a bad knee injury and retiring at the end of the season.
Midfielders
Terry Hibbitt [29 - ]
Player of the Year in the past two seasons Hibbit was performing well again until he damaged his knee ligaments in November. While he was out Tommy Craig was signed and on his return he found himself playing a couple of games at left-back.
Harvey experimented with both Craig and Hibbit in the side for the last few games, but their games were very similar and it was difficult to see how they could play together. It would be an interesting dilemna for the new manager.
Tommy Gibb [15/3 - ]
In his last season on Tyneside Gibb - now 30 - was a bit part player. Went to Sunderland on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Terry McDermott [14 - 1]
Made the England U23 squad but there were rumours of a clash with manager Harvey. Transferred to his hometown team in November for £170,000.
Stewart Barrowclough [26/3 - 4]
Another frustrating season for the Yorkshireman. Out of the picture for the first couple of months he appeared likely to be offloaded; but he was still there at the end of the campaign.
Jimmy Smith [22/3 - ]
Still a terrace favourite but the management had allegedly lost patience with his inconsistency and were looking to sell. There were no takers and media speculaton suggested that was a result of his "difficult" reputation.
Had an altercation with Burky when he refused to be subbed.
Hampered by a knee injury from which he never fully recoverd he played his last game for the club in the 4-0 drubbing at Anfield.
Tommy Cassiddy [11/2 - 1 ]
Hardly figured due to a number of injury problems.
Geoff Nulty [22 - 2]
With Gibb and Cassiddy injured or out of favour and McDermott moving on Harvey made a long search for a combative midfielder. Nulty arrived from Burnley in December and retained his place in the side for the rest of the season.
Tommy Craig [21/1 - 2 ]
Once Britain's most expensive teenager Craig made an excellent start to his United career as he deputised for the injured Hibbitt. He was rewarded with the February "Man of the Month" as well as being made captain of the Scotland Under 23 team.
Ray Hudson [1 - ]
Spent some time on loan to Morton, Rocky - was one of ten debutants in this injury plagued season. Unfortunately his first game - coming just after he left his teenage years behind -was the 4-0 rout at Leicester.
Attackers
Malcolm Macdonald [50 - 27]
A fantastic season for Supermac as he didn't miss a game, finished as the top scorer in Division 1 and broke the England goalscoring record.
Macdonald had been accused of laziness during games and in not bothering to address his weaknesses during training. He had chosen not to listen in the past, as far as he was concerned his job was simply goal scoring, but he appeared too have changed is tune.
He stated that coach Burkinshaw and the other players "were always on at me" but that following a pre-seson meeting with Burky, Clarky and Tudor he was willing to compromise. "I'm prepared to concede that maybe these critics were right. Maybe I should have been more involved in general play".
And despite suffering his longest goalless run in his time on Tyneside he hit 27 goals in total as well as contributing far more to the general play.
New England manager Don Revie ignored him at first but drafted him in for the West Germany game (when he scored once) and retained him for the Cyprus match when he went "nap".
John Tudor [35/1 -15]
One of Tudor's best seasons as he and Supermac formed a lethal partnership that brought 42 goals. He declared himself "as happy as a lark", but there were also a few bizarre incidents for our wacky Tudor man. He was hit by a brick thrown by Burnley supporters and missed the game against Stoke after falling off a chair following training.
Micky Burns [26/1 - 7 ]
Started his Newcastle career in brilliant style playing on the right side of attack/midfield, but lost his form and was dropped. When asked to play for the reserves he refused and it looked like his career on Tyneside was over.
Paul Cannel [11 - 2]
Deputised for Tudor when he was unavailable and scored his first goal for the club in the 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea.
Alex Bruce [5/3 - 1 ]
An expensive signing from Preston in the previous season he was fouth choice striker behind Macdonald, Tudor and Cannell and spent the vast majority of the season in the reserves.