Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Been reading the threads on Saga and Surman, and it got me thinking of players that used Saints as "a window for a better club", but were actually playing their best football at Saints, and shouldn't have moved on, but did because of the money. Hassan Kachloul springs to mind as well as Kevin Davies.
Matthew Le God Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Kevin Davies wasn't getting a game at Saints at the time he left and the move for him resurrected his career, kept him in the Premiership and earnt him alot of money.
scott_saints Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Why Davies? He's done fine for himself...
krissyboy31 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Kevin Davies wasn't getting a game at Saints at the time he left and the move for him resurrected his career, kept him in the Premiership and earnt him alot of money. I think he meant the first time KD left.
Tom28 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Really? You think he was playing better for us than he has for the last season or two for Bolton? His first spell with us, he was just getting good, but he's a much better player now. He seems a lot more comfortable with his role, he's a leader now, and if Peter Crouch, Carlton Cole and Emile Heskey suffer injuries or drops in form, he's next in line for the 'big' striker role for England. Kachloul I agree with. Gareth Bale is an obvious one although possibly too early to say for sure.
mcjwills Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Been reading the threads on Saga and Surman, and it got me thinking of players that used Saints as "a window for a better club", but were actually playing their best football at Saints, and shouldn't have moved on, but did because of the money. Hassan Kachloul springs to mind as well as Kevin Davies. Kevin Davies was right to move playing Prem football while we languish in League 1
S-Clarke Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Gareth Bale.... he could have been a star here, but he moved for the glitz and glamor and is now a regular fixture in their reserves.
krissyboy31 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Gareth Bale.... he could have been a star here, but he moved for the glitz and glamor and is now a regular fixture in their reserves. Possibly but we were never going to turn down the money offered by Spuds.
Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Author Posted 27 October, 2009 Kevin Davies was right to move playing Prem football while we languish in League 1 Meant the first move for a ton o'cash, after which he failed miserably. Came back and resurrected his career again. Agree on Bale being to soon to tell, but all the indicators are there to see.
Gorgiesaint Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Steve Williams - moved to Arsenal and made very little impact with them (Agh - you beat me to it 70's Mike!!) I would have also said Matt Mills, moved at the wrong time as another few months and he would have broken into the first team - Man City was always the wrong move for him but did well by joining Doncaster. Not sure how he'll do at Reading. Possibly one to watch if we swap divisions with Reading as a long term replacement for Jaidi?
Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Author Posted 27 October, 2009 Believe Dean Richards also belongs on the list
vince Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 If you ignore the money part of the question and concentrate on the played their best football bit, Stevie Williams for me, but that may be the memories of an awe struck nipper as he was my first real hero growing up.
S-Clarke Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 another one... Chris Baird. does he even play for fulham anymore? silly move. The fee was good - but it was engineered by his desire to leave.
krissyboy31 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Steve Williams TBF to SW, he had been with Saints for 9 seasons when he eventually moved (to his boyhood team). That 83/84 season, there wasn't a better player in the country. He moved on to Arsenal and never reached those heights again but one cannot say he used Saints as a stepping stone because we were actually a better team than Arsenal.
Arizona Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Believe Dean Richards also belongs on the list I don't think the brain tumour was caused by his move to The Lane.
Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Author Posted 27 October, 2009 I don't think the brain tumour was caused by his move to The Lane. Could be! But he was a better player here than at The Lane
Glasgow_Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 also Ali Dia has done very little since he "moved onto better/bigger things"
rick1976.4.38 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 got to be steve williams,absolutely gutted when he left,athough arsenal were the only team i think he would have joined as they were his boyhood club.i think beatts as well,never that good at everton,good to see hes knocking em in at stoke
Mao Cap Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Richard Hall. Buggered off to West Ham and promptly got an injury which pretty much ended his career.
Gingeletiss Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Steve Williams +1!!! cripes, I've read the whole thread...so +4!!
70's Mike Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 TBF to SW, he had been with Saints for 9 seasons when he eventually moved (to his boyhood team). That 83/84 season, there wasn't a better player in the country. He moved on to Arsenal and never reached those heights again but one cannot say he used Saints as a stepping stone because we were actually a better team than Arsenal. TBF the thread is about players that should not have left saints not players who used the club as a stepping stone and imo Steve should never have left.
Mr Sparky Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 another one... Chris Baird. does he even play for fulham anymore? silly move. The fee was good - but it was engineered by his desire to leave. played in their last game, and apparantly appeared 13 times this season
Bensfcno1 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 another one... Chris Baird. does he even play for fulham anymore? silly move. The fee was good - but it was engineered by his desire to leave. Played against Roma in the EUROPA cup last week! but id rather have been playing MK Dons as well!
swannymere Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Kevin Davies he's next in line for the 'big' striker role for England. Sadly absolutely no chance, he's just too slow despite whatever else he brings to a side.
krissyboy31 Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 TBF the thread is about players that should not have left saints not players who used the club as a stepping stone and imo Steve should never have left. The words "window for a better club" was used in the OP. I think when Williams left, he had fallen out with Lawrie Mac and it was beneficial to both SW and LM that he moved on. I believe we did get a decent fee for him. It didn't work out for him at Arsenal and LM moved onto Sunderland anyway, so in hindsight not a good move. However, he may never have been the same player with us either, we will never know. We do know that we did get the SW's best years.
S-Clarke Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 fair enough...didn't realise he'd featured so regularly this year but i just remember him disappearing into obscurity a few months after he went there in his first season.
chrisobee Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 TBF to SW, he had been with Saints for 9 seasons when he eventually moved (to his boyhood team). That 83/84 season, there wasn't a better player in the country. He moved on to Arsenal and never reached those heights again but one cannot say he used Saints as a stepping stone because we were actually a better team than Arsenal. Agree with that but as others found the grass is not always greener elsewhere. Even Mick Channon did not really hit the heights at Man City yet came back home and had a few more very good seasons with us of course. Rod Wallace and even Danny were two more from the 80's whose careers nose dived after leaving us. It's been the case with many players as long as I can remember.
chrisobee Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Could be! But he was a better player here than at The Lane Wasn't Hoddle going to Spurs the reason he left ?
Mr Saints Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Kachloul - Le Tiss said in his book he was offered a contract to quite easily become our highest paid player at the time on 14k a week, Villa then offered him 28k so its quite obvious why he left.
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 I definately agree with Davies So do I - he left for nothing. Strachan was stubborn and never man managed him properly.
ladysaint Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 plus he broke my heart when he left both times.
Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Author Posted 27 October, 2009 Kachloul - Le Tiss said in his book he was offered a contract to quite easily become our highest paid player at the time on 14k a week, Villa then offered him 28k so its quite obvious why he left. But he did f'ck all at Villa......
chrisobee Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 But he did f'ck all at Villa...... But still got paid £28k a week for it !
Danish Saint Posted 27 October, 2009 Author Posted 27 October, 2009 But still got paid £28k a week for it ! But that's the point! Should he have sat on his arse with 28k or actually played regular footie with 14k and getting better in the process? Could have commanded a bigger wage later. Instead it all came to nothing.
dubai_phil Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Steve Williams +1 With us he stood on the verge of MLT level greatness. At Arsenal he just became another fish in a pond. The others mentioned, Bale, Kachlol (sic) etc are all valid but his was the one that hurt us the most. And, if truth be told, probably him as well, if I recall rightly from an old, now working for some council somehwere and never really mentioned by us fans
chrisobee Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 +1 With us he stood on the verge of MLT level greatness. At Arsenal he just became another fish in a pond. The others mentioned, Bale, Kachlol (sic) etc are all valid but his was the one that hurt us the most. And, if truth be told, probably him as well, if I recall rightly from an old, now working for some council somehwere and never really mentioned by us fans And only made the B team in the greatest ever XI golden post but that's another story!
Micky Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 (edited) Steve William - could have achieved MLT like status, but the lure of the boyhood club was too great, shame really - but understandable at the same time. More recently, probably Dean Richards although that might well be due to ill health rather than form. To be honest, I am not surprised that the likes of Gareth, Chris and Drew are no more than bit part players now. All are young - it's quite a step up to the big league so perhaps they have time to impress yet. Edited 27 October, 2009 by Micky
chrisobee Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 But that's the point! Should he have sat on his arse with 28k or actually played regular footie with 14k and getting better in the process? Could have commanded a bigger wage later. Instead it all came to nothing. I know I'd rather be playing but I guess he didn't know until he had left when he was on to a good thing. We should have tried to get him back on loan !
carljack Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 The words "window for a better club" was used in the OP. I think when Williams left, he had fallen out with Lawrie Mac and it was beneficial to both SW and LM that he moved on. I believe we did get a decent fee for him. It didn't work out for him at Arsenal and LM moved onto Sunderland anyway, so in hindsight not a good move. However, he may never have been the same player with us either, we will never know. We do know that we did get the SW's best years. Yes,the trouble with Steve was he had a temper and was a bit of a Billy Big Bolliix,if it was not for Ossie and Bally he never would have been the player he was as they kept him in check and out of trouble with LM,when he left here he lost his "minders" and the liberal touch of LM,I was gutted when he left as he was very easy on the eye as a player and always seemed to have time on the ball used to love watching him push the ball one side of a defender and run round the other to collect the ball, Class!
carljack Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Steve Willams Danny Wallace Egil Ostenstatt Egils back was knackered when he left here!
Nineteen Canteen Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 MLT - if he had run around a bit more as if there was money on it then maybe he would have stayed fit enough for a couple of more seasons.
SaintChrispy Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Agree with that but as others found the grass is not always greener elsewhere. Even Mick Channon did not really hit the heights at Man City yet came back home and had a few more very good seasons with us of course. Rod Wallace and even Danny were two more from the 80's whose careers nose dived after leaving us. It's been the case with many players as long as I can remember. Didn't Rod win a league title with Leeds when he went there?
Hatch Posted 27 October, 2009 Posted 27 October, 2009 Didn't Rod win a league title with Leeds when he went there? and about 35 titles with Rangers
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