Danny Blanchflower on the BBC

[Alaric]

Below is a link to a BBC interview with Danny Blanchflower done during the 1960-61 season. There is not much about Spurs in it, but it does give a great sense of what he was like as a person: thoughtful, intelligent, confident and introspective.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wk1bm

I apologize if this has already been posted.

 

[Spur of the moment]

Thanks, very entertaining! Especially listening to Danny's supremely grounded way of puncturing Glanville's nauseating condescension and pomposity practically every question.

 

[parklane1]

Pass the hot milk.

 

[lurker of old]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Club Captain as articulate as Danny...never mind as supremely talented.

 

[Nexus1967]

Did you know that he is thought to be the first person to create a defensive "wall" in the modern game to defend against free kicks.
If only we had someone with his qualities to lead on the pitch and organise our defense now!

 

[DubaiSpur]

Assured of himself, but not pompous or arrogant: down to earth, intelligent, articulate, with a quiet sense of humor to boot.

Wow. What a captain and leader of our club he must have been. Also didn't know that he had a stint in the RAF, although maybe that was when national service was still around.

 

[Millsy_Yiddo]

Very similar mannerisms, way of speaking and self assuredness of another rather gifted Northern Irishman, George Best.

Enjoyed that, thanks for sharing.

 

[lurker of old]

The other thing I wondered was whether someone as mature and self-confident as Blanchflower would sit easily with a modern coach. Pochettino likes young, malleable players - a real Captain, who can inspire the team, is also more likely to ignore a daft instruction / daft tactics. And most managers do seem to get it hopelessly wrong sometimes!