| Brian Talbot's international career was overshadowed entirely by the vilification and eventual resignation of the man who picked him, Don Revie. Ipswich midfielder Talbot (he is pictured above playing for the East Anglian club in the year of his international call-up), one of numerous bright young things brought through the ranks by future England coach Bobby Robson, played in five of Revie's last six games in 1977, including two of the Home International ties (a 2-1 win in Belfast and the infamous defeat by the same score to the Scots at Wembley) and all three of the tour games in South America (all draws, against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay respectively), after which Revie announced his exit. Revie's departure heralded that of Talbot too, despite the hard-running midfield general's tremendous form over the next 18 months which earned him an FA Cup winner's medal and a move to Arsenal. Only when Ron Greenwood needed a brand new team in May 1980 - with his European Championship squad resting prior to the finals a fortnight later - did Talbot find a way back, but after playing the whole game in Sydney as England defeated Australia 2-1, his international career stalled again, this time for good. (Matthew Rudd) |