Matthew Rudd

Well you saw more than I did. But Forest had a successful and gifted central midfield for at least two seasons after Webb left, thus easing the pain from his exit.

Webb shouldn't have gone to either the 1990 World Cup or the Euros in 92. He was a sentimental pick who managed one sub appearance in Italy (in the 3rd place game) and one start in a shocking side in Sweden.

And yet Forest were just as good, if not a better team, after Webb left. Clough established a new midfield pairing of Parker and Hodge (after the Sheridan signing didn't work) and then recruited a youngster called Keane. Forest never actually missed Webb.

Clough said that Webb was "leaving his options open" but was publicly defiant that the player didn't have any options - the manager picked the team and the club held registrations even when contracts had run out, so although he threatened to play hardball, he was troubled by it.

He was a class act at Forest. I recall an awful lot of cynicism about the move - pre-Bosman, shunning a new deal, Clough showing a rare desperation regarding the importance of a player by trying to double his wages and then offering to buy him back for more when United moaned about the tribunal fee.

I'm in absolutely no doubt that Webb was finished by his injury. He was never the same player again, and two of the three winners' medals he picked up with Manchester United were as substitutes.

Updated #forgotten80s blog ... where you can also find our request guidelines and the show’s back story - forgotten80s.blogspot.com …

Absolute Radio - Real music matters. Listen live to your favourite music and presenters at Absolute Radio. Keep up with the latest news and shows, enter competitions, and check out our playlists.

#forgotten80s is also a 24 hour station on @absoluteradio.bsky.social Premium ... head to absoluteradio.co.uk/premium for details of how to subscribe!

officialcharts.com/archive for your TND + TEOH research ... #forgotten80s

TND & TEOH:
1) Email only.
2) Usual repeat rules on artists (one show) + songs (30 shows).
3) Four submissions per feature. I'll pick 2 for TND + 3 for TEOH.
4) TND: artists whose biggest chart peak was from 41 down. TEOH: any single peaking from 41 down.

#forgotten80s

#forgotten80s

The Nobody's Diary (TND) via Adrian Connolly:

Weather Prophets "She Comes From The Rain"
A Certain Ratio "The Big E"

The Edge Of Heaven (TEOH) via Esther Miller:

Elton John "Who Wears These Shoes"
Nick Heyward "Over The Weekend"
Toyah "Soul Passing Through Soul"

#forgotten80s

#forgotten80s

The Nobody's Diary - an Absolute 80s archive Playlist · matthewjrudd · 124 items · 165 saves

The Nobody’s Diary - lower charting singles of the 80s by acts who would ultimately never make the Top 40! Tonight's two were by Weather Prophets + A Certain Ratio, as suggested by Adrian Connolly. Here’s the archive - open.spotify.com/playlist/7FB... #forgotten80s

I remember Corky and the Juice Pigs doing a parody of Suzanne Vega at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1990, in which they sang a really earnest song about a boy dressed as a can of tuna. #forgotten80s

Suzanne Vega is wonderful, y'know. #forgotten80s

Gaz 'n' Phil into Dollar. A careful segueway. #forgotten80s

Kid Creole and the Coconuts are still wonderful things (baby) ... and they kick off #forgotten80s on Absolute 80s right now!

DAB+ ... online ... Rayo ... smart speaker ...

"The whole song is built around them listing their differences, but at no point do they mention the key difference – she’s a real-life woman and he’s an animated cat" could be the greatest observation about a song I've ever read.

Terrific interview.

What a waspish response.

A working day in London town ahead ...

The Stella and Karl thing didn't work because Michelle Collins didn't belong in Coronation Street. She was so indelibly linked with EastEnders and so very obviously London (and struggled with the Manc accent). The audience wouldn't accept her.

See also Sue Johnston + Michael Starke with Brookside.

Imagine casting John Ratzenberger as Frasier's brother after he moves to Seattle.

Sad to see that Norman Eshley has died, beneficiary (or victim, depending on how you look at it) of the most inbred act of casting of all time. He was great in both MATH and G&M, but did they really think nobody would notice or care?

If Alanis Morissette is "head over feet", surely she's just standing up normally?

Absolute Radio - Real music matters. Listen live to your favourite music and presenters at Absolute Radio. Keep up with the latest news and shows, enter competitions, and check out our playlists.

#forgotten80s is also a 24 hour station on @absoluteradio.bsky.social Premium ... head to absoluteradio.co.uk/premium for details of how to subscribe!

officialcharts.com/archive for your TND + TEOH research ... #forgotten80s

TND & TEOH:
1) Email only.
2) Usual repeat rules on artists (one show) + songs (30 shows).
3) Four submissions per feature. I'll pick 2 for TND + 3 for TEOH.
4) TND: artists whose biggest chart peak was from 41 down. TEOH: any single peaking from 41 down.

#forgotten80s

#forgotten80s

The Nobody's Diary (TND) via Lisa Morrison:

Magazine "Sweetheart Contract"
The Church "Under The Milky Way"

The Edge Of Heaven (TEOH) via Harry Burns:

Nik Kershaw "One Step Ahead"
Level 42 "The Chant Has Begun"
OMD "Telegraph"

#forgotten80s