Port Said Red Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 As an extension of @MC RISK77's thread, which players that people raved about, but you didn't rate until you saw them play live. Top 5 for me in order of when I saw them: Steve Kember - playing for England U23 at Ashton Gate, people were calling for him to play at full England level, but I had never been impressed on tv. Trevor Brooking - I thought he was a lazy luxury player then I saw him when West Ham went down to ten men (in the days of one sub) and Brooking ran the game against a midfield that included Gerry Gow. Norman Hunter - "If I wanted to see animals, I'd go to the zoo" (my dads quote when we signed him) "I never realised what a good footballer he is" (my dads quote after watching him play for us) Sums it up really. Peter Osgood - towards the end of his career against Southampton, a class act playing in what we would probably call the number 10 position now Gary Speed - I could never understand why clubs had spent so much on him until I saw him play at the Gate, just the complete British midfield player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welcome To The Jungle Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Kanu when he played for Pompey around 2011. Only came on for the last 5 minutes and was around 40 but just oozed class with every touch. Was playing at a different level to everyone else but couldn't run, but just stood in the D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unan Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Nicky Maynard, against us for MK. I wasn't really surprised to be honest but what a sack of shit he is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selred Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Nicky Hunt - I was surprised how he ever was a professional footballer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrumpty Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Steve Bruce. Thought he was a fat donkey until he started pinging passes all over the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastonboy Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Darren Caskey. I was amazed at how much he looked like a space hopper with legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unan Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Adam El-Bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exAtyeoMax Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Gary Lineker. Saw him play for Spurs against Southampton, and he was superb. Scored some great goals and I was surprised how big he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cider-manc Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Mark viduka. If he hadn't come on for Middlesborough in the FA cup replay we would have won it. Up until that point id never really understood all the fuss about him (odd great game here or there)... But his first touch was outstanding. Also yakubu surprised me by how crap he was that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Fred Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Darren Anderton at the end of his career at Bournmouth..touch of class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidercity1987 Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Downing I thought was much better for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup game than I ever imagined. Likewise Rooney, a class act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsontour Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 From a surprise point of view, Beckham. Saw him play for England at Old Trafford and had previously considered him a one (free) kick Pony, but he covered the whole pitch for ninety minUtes, side to side and up & down. Developed an enormous respect for him at that point. 2 players who just totally dominated us at the gate were 1) Bobby Zamora for Brighton, we absolutely battered them yet the SOB still scored and 2) Lua-Lua for Colchester. Holy mother that game sticks in the memory because I don't recall an opposition player being applauded of the pitch like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bar BS3 Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 The one that springs to mind is probably Peter Crouch. He was a far better footballer than I'd ever given him credit for. I also remember Clayton Blackmore oozing class when on loan for us, and David Howells I think. At the time, both of those loans highlighted just how far away we were from having decent players. Robert Fleck, Wade Elliott and Gary O'neil all added far more quality than I was expecting. I think the most dissapointing player was probably Stern John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexukhc Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Mark Flatts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinapig Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 34 minutes ago, Robert the bruce said: Darren Anderton at the end of his career at Bournmouth..touch of class. A much underrated player and a 'modern' one in the sense that you couldn't say he played in a fixed position. It is, or has been, a very English thing to pigeonhole players at a very young age but I get the sense that LJ likes adaptable players, which is good to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Joe Jordan, did n't really rate him when he played for Leeds or Man Utd , I thought he was just a bully boy with not too much in the way of goal return . When he signed for us even in his late thirties he was class. His movement , set up play and finishing was impeccable. That man also ' owned ' the stadium whenever he played . Top man , Jaws . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinapig Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 2 minutes ago, Major Isewater said: Joe Jordan, did n't really rate him when he played for Leeds or Man Utd , I thought he was just a bully boy with not too much in the way of goal return . When he signed for us even in his late thirties he was class. His movement , set up play and finishing was impeccable. That man also ' owned ' the stadium whenever he played . Top man , Jaws . Because of the unnecessary cynicism Revie brought to the Leeds side players like Joe and Norman Hunter didn't get the credit for their quality. Paul Madeley and Billy Bremner were 2 more whose reputation as fine players suffered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy114 Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 John Salako. He came on as sub for Palace at AG and destroyed us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Orns Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Remember Glenn Hoddle putting on a masterclass one Christmas at the Gate in a Swindon shirt (unfortunately). Wasn't surprised how good he was, but as a massive fan I have to say I enjoyed watching him rip us a new one. Only time I saw him live Agree with @Bar BS3, Blackmore & Howells were both superb in their short time here. Just oozed class Last season I remember Livermore & Huddlestone from Hull having so much time. Huddlestone didn't seem to move much, just sat in space and always seemed to have plenty of it. And the whole Brighton team from last season, they put on a hell of a show From the past, Nicky Morgan was a much better footballer than he was given credit for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Orns Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 4 minutes ago, andy114 said: John Salako. He came on as sub for Palace at AG and destroyed us Remember him scoring in about 10 seconds at the Gate whilst on loan at Swansea in his younger days. He obviously liked playing against us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted October 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 25 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said: Downing I thought was much better for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup game than I ever imagined. His movement off the ball was superb, I think it was Bradley Orr "marking" him and it seemed everytime he turned around Downing was in 3 metres of space! I am going to mention one now that will make me very unpopular........... Devon White - so much more than a lumbering centre forward, he had a very good football brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hunt-Hertz Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 1 hour ago, Port Said Red said: His movement off the ball was superb, I think it was Bradley Orr "marking" him and it seemed everytime he turned around Downing was in 3 metres of space! I am going to mention one now that will make me very unpopular........... Devon White - so much more than a lumbering centre forward, he had a very good football brain. Wasn't he chibbed by his neighbour or something? Or did I imagine that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted October 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 4 minutes ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said: Wasn't he chibbed by his neighbour or something? Or did I imagine that? Wasn't that Carl Saunders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bat Fastard Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Back in "the day" I was lucky enough to see both George Best and Pele play. Both sensational - and would have been good enough to get a game in our current side. Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Wilbs - thought he was just a bit of a target man, but in 14/15 season did so much more than lead the line. Didn't realise how mobile and lean he was, with a good touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1ackbird Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Tony Daley drew audible gasps when he played in Biffs testimonial.. Most impressive was the teenage Michael Owen, pre injury, older fans likened him to Jimmy Greaves... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBCFC Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Tammy Abraham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Andy Reid for Barnsley against us, absolutely ran the show . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashtonwurzel Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Tony Cottee for West Ham, assumed he was rubbish but was actually very,very good. (in that game anyway !). close 2nd Marco Gabbiadini. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashtonwurzel Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 2 hours ago, redsontour said: From a surprise point of view, Beckham. Saw him play for England at Old Trafford and had previously considered him a one (free) kick Pony, but he covered the whole pitch for ninety minUtes, side to side and up & down. Developed an enormous respect for him at that point. 2 players who just totally dominated us at the gate were 1) Bobby Zamora for Brighton, we absolutely battered them yet the SOB still scored and 2) Lua-Lua for Colchester. Holy mother that game sticks in the memory because I don't recall an opposition player being applauded of the pitch like that. Saw him play for the Galaxy in a "quarter back role" basically league one standard football but his range and accuracy of passing was like nothing I had seen before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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