NUFC Season Summary - 1970/71

NUFC Season 1970/71

After their gradual improvement during the sixties hopes were high that they could start the new decade well, but it was to be a season of inconsistency and frustration.

In the League they were stranded in midtable; defensively sound, but also struggling to score, with only 44 goals in 42 matches. The forward line seemed to be in need of a shake-up

Top scorer Bryan Robson (with 10) had a "pop" at the club in a personal "press conference" and eventually left for West Ham. Wyn Davies also found himself out of favour as he struggled to reproduce his European form in the League.

The Magpies third consecutive Euro campaign went from a pizza perfect to a ghastly goulash. Italian giants Inter Milan were overcome in the First Round in a tempestuous affair at SJP; but then United were humbled by Hungarian minnows Pecsi Dozsa.

United fell at the first hurdle in both domestic cups with Ipswich (FA) and Third Division Bristol Rovers (LC) their conquerers.

The fans were not best impressed with United's early cup exits and their indifferent home form and as a result the average attedance fell to it's lowest level since the club's return to the top flight.

At the end of the season Newcastle smashed their record transfer fee to sign a young Luton striker by the name of Malcolm Macdonald