Bridgey

[The9]

Eh? Harding is one of the best players we've acquired for many a season and definitely one of the best defenders.

 

I'd rate him joint third at best alongside Butterfield and behind Fonte and Jaidi. And that's being harsh on Dickson, Martin and Richardson. I'm mostly staying out of the Seaborne debate altogether although I don't think there's much in it there either. Harding's certainly replaceable.

[diggers]

How many of you who have commented on his personality really know him? - I don't know him well but he's a really good mate of my brother-in-law and he's been really generous to me with England tickets whenever I've needed them. Apart from that, he's a sound bloke and despite the money, he's had his fare share of crap to deal with. When Andrea cheated on him with Terry his hand shake blank was TV gold for ages after.

He's moved on well, he just pays the hand he's dealt and in my opinion is still one of the safest left backs playing. He will not be short of offers thats for shore.

I never get involved in the ritual slating that many on this board thrive on. Comment on his football not his personality. - unless he's ****ged your wife of course :-)

[theyin]

King Kenny reportedly sees something in our Bridgey....

 

http://footybunker.com/liverpool-fc-give-up-on-spaniard-and-frenchman-and-look-to-experienced-englishman

[Charlie Wayman]

What the heck happened to him? He was an incredibly exciting player, and I and most others were rightly gutted when he left. His career post Saints has just stagnated though; in fact, stagnated would be an improvement, he seems to have worsened considerably or is this just my rose tinted view?

 

Bridge could never defend properly. He catches the eye easily with his powerful surging runs and great crosses and of course that got hm noticed here and we made a good pile of dosh as a result. But we all know how often he was caught out of position up field when the oppo made a quick break and i recall many goals against coming in from that side of the field. That was obvious here and good forwards soon sussed him out.

 

He was never first choice at Chelsea, which is telling and soon got moved on down to Man City and then on down to West Ham - more or less a steady decline.

 

OK, he's probably a bit of an emotionally weak character as well which doesn't help when mates start bonking your ex but hell Bridgey she was your ex and you don't own any rights to an ex once she'd gone. (If he's better at it than you that's the risk you take but what's to worry about in that anyway).

 

Being that way probably means that he might suffer fragile self confidence as well so a bad game plays on his mind and begets another bad game and so on.

 

On balance he's good not great, never in the class of Bale and has a few flaws in his playing style that he sees unable to correct.

 

But, hey! who hasn't?

[Hopkins]

Bridge could never defend properly. He catches the eye easily with his powerful surging runs and great crosses and of course that got hm noticed here and we made a good pile of dosh as a result. But we all know how often he was caught out of position up field when the oppo made a quick break and i recall many goals against coming in from that side of the field. That was obvious here and good forwards soon sussed him out.

 

He was never first choice at Chelsea, which is telling and soon got moved on down to Man City and then on down to West Ham - more or less a steady decline.

 

OK, he's probably a bit of an emotionally weak character as well which doesn't help when mates start bonking your ex but hell Bridgey she was your ex and you don't own any rights to an ex once she'd gone. (If he's better at it than you that's the risk you take but what's to worry about in that anyway).

 

Being that way probably means that he might suffer fragile self confidence as well so a bad game plays on his mind and begets another bad game and so on.

 

On balance he's good not great, never in the class of Bale and has a few flaws in his playing style that he sees unable to correct.

 

But, hey! who hasn't?

 

Just a few things wrong in this post. Firstly he was first choice at Chelsea before they got the best left back in the world Ashley Cole. Not a bad player to lose your place too. And secondly to slag off his defending and then claim he wasn't in the class of Bale is laughable.

[Gemmel]

Sometimes when you come on here, you end up questioning yourself as to whether you know anything about football at all, based on some of the comments.

 

 

Then you read some of the posts above and can be reassured you know enough and that actually any idiot can access the internet and as proved, very often do.

[S-Clarke]

Yeah thats right crabs lets not get bridgey back and keep possibly two of the worst left backs I have seen play for the SS,

 

BONKERS

 

What a mental view.

[sambosa75]

You might just as well have said "I know ****all about football".

 

You rated Chris Sutton? Pretty sure that says more about you than me. He was horse $hit, happened to play up front with Shearer in his best, most destructive years. That would have made any strike partner look half decent. The same way Sergei Rebrov looked good for Dynamo Kiev all those years ago when Shevchenko was running riot.

[aintforever]

Bridge could never defend properly. He catches the eye easily with his powerful surging runs and great crosses and of course that got hm noticed here and we made a good pile of dosh as a result. But we all know how often he was caught out of position up field when the oppo made a quick break and i recall many goals against coming in from that side of the field. That was obvious here and good forwards soon sussed him out.

 

He was never first choice at Chelsea, which is telling and soon got moved on down to Man City and then on down to West Ham - more or less a steady decline.

 

OK, he's probably a bit of an emotionally weak character as well which doesn't help when mates start bonking your ex but hell Bridgey she was your ex and you don't own any rights to an ex once she'd gone. (If he's better at it than you that's the risk you take but what's to worry about in that anyway).

 

Being that way probably means that he might suffer fragile self confidence as well so a bad game plays on his mind and begets another bad game and so on.

 

On balance he's good not great, never in the class of Bale and has a few flaws in his playing style that he sees unable to correct.

 

But, hey! who hasn't?

 

Bizarre, IMO Bridge was our best player in our most successful side since the 80's.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Can we get CMFG out of retirement as well?

[Saint Garrett]

Yeah thats right crabs lets not get bridgey back and keep possibly two of the worst left backs I have seen play for the SS,

 

BONKERS

 

Though I don't agree with this statement 100% I agree with the sentiment. Bridge is probably the best LB I've seen play for us. Would welcome him back in a flash. Harding will get torn apart in the NPC imo, and Dickson just doesnt fulfill me with huge confidence at LB. Like him at LM but never going to get in the team ahead of Lallana.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

I'd be delighted to see Bridgey back at SMS.

[Chez]

Bridge could never defend properly. He catches the eye easily with his powerful surging runs and great crosses and of course that got hm noticed here and we made a good pile of dosh as a result. But we all know how often he was caught out of position up field when the oppo made a quick break and i recall many goals against coming in from that side of the field. That was obvious here and good forwards soon sussed him out.

 

i don't agree with as single word of this. I know you are entitled to your opinion but I'm finding the words ******** and drivel hard to remove from my mind. If there was and always has been a fault with Bridge it's that he is totally one footed. Despite that he still got the move to Chelsea which just shows how bloody good he was. Defensively he was out of this world for us and one of the main reason's why Chelsea signed him. He was pacey, measured and extremely consistent. No one beat him and he certainly didn't leave the side exposed when going forward as CMFG sat in - that partnership is still revered despite Chris being relatively average at the top level (no disrespect to him intended). Chelsea signed possibly the best left back in the world to oust him from the side and IMO they did because they could, not because they really needed to.

 

He's been unlucky to have been dropped into tough games when not match fit at all and that may be the reason some are doubting his talents now. I'd take him back here without a second thought. Terrific player.

Edited 28 June, 2011 by Chez

[NickG]

Bridge was a class above Bale for us.

[Graffito]

Bridge could never defend properly. He catches the eye easily with his powerful surging runs and great crosses and of course that got hm noticed here and we made a good pile of dosh as a result. But we all know how often he was caught out of position up field when the oppo made a quick break and i recall many goals against coming in from that side of the field. That was obvious here and good forwards soon sussed him out.

 

He was never first choice at Chelsea, which is telling and soon got moved on down to Man City and then on down to West Ham - more or less a steady decline.

 

OK, he's probably a bit of an emotionally weak character as well which doesn't help when mates start bonking your ex but hell Bridgey she was your ex and you don't own any rights to an ex once she'd gone. (If he's better at it than you that's the risk you take but what's to worry about in that anyway).

 

Being that way probably means that he might suffer fragile self confidence as well so a bad game plays on his mind and begets another bad game and so on.

 

On balance he's good not great, never in the class of Bale and has a few flaws in his playing style that he sees unable to correct.

 

But, hey! who hasn't?

 

Absolute rubbish.

[bridge too far]

I think his performance dropped after that b****r Shearer decimated his ankle.

[Victor]

You rated Chris Sutton? Pretty sure that says more about you than me. He was horse $hit, happened to play up front with Shearer in his best, most destructive years. That would have made any strike partner look half decent. The same way Sergei Rebrov looked good for Dynamo Kiev all those years ago when Shevchenko was running riot.

 

You didn't really need this 2nd post to prove you know ****all about football.

 

Sutton's most prolific season at Blackburn was '97-'98 (making him joint top scorer in the Premier league)when Shearer was a Newcastle player.

 

You may not know that he also played for Norwich in the Premier league; this may have been before you were born, but it was still the best league in this country, and he scored 25 league goals in 41 games. As a result of this Blackburn made him the most expensive player in English football.

 

He was versatile, effective, played for England and had an impressive scoring record. I could go on, but somehow I think I am wasting my time. You think he was ****e, therefore he WAS ****e, but a lot of people spent a shedload of cash on him because they at least felt he wasn't.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

i don't agree with as single word of this. I know you are entitled to your opinion but I'm finding the words ******** and drivel hard to remove from my mind. If there was and always has been a fault with Bridge it's that he is totally one footed. Despite that he still got the move to Chelsea which just shows how bloody good he was. Defensively he was out of this world for us and one of the main reason's why Chelsea signed him. He was pacey, measured and extremely consistent. No one beat him and he certainly didn't leave the side exposed when going forward as CMFG sat in - that partnership is still revered despite Chris being relatively average at the top level (no disrespect to him intended). Chelsea signed possibly the best left back in the world to oust him from the side and IMO they did because they could, not because they really needed to.

 

He's been unlucky to have been dropped into tough games when not match fit at all and that may be the reason some are doubting his talents now. I'd take him back here without a second thought. Terrific player.

 

 

This!

[BallBoy]

Chris Marsden had a big impact on Bridgey. He allowed him to bomb on without having to worry too much about charging back. It was simple, Marsden tucked in a bit, got a ball from Bridgey and then fed it down the line to give him a one on one against their retreating full back. All the clubs he has been at since he has played behind orthodox wingers so he has been trying to push on into their target space. Good player but I think he should have moved up field like Gareth Bale as his defending was always a little suspect.

 

He should have taken CMFG to Chelsea with him! This is spot on. Marsden got the best out of Bridge and then we got the money but we never came close to replacing him.

 

I would have him back tomorrow but his wages must be stratospheric.

[revolution saint]

I've only read this page of the thread (thank god) but are people really, honestly questioning Bridge's talent? Really? Whether we need him, or whether left back is a priority is irrelevant but Bridge was and is class. I'm all for opinions but to slag him off and say he wouldn't improve the team is laughable.

[Saints Mad Si]

Get him back, would be a class act in the NPC, there was a few dodgy defending moments at West Ham but to be fair he was working for a manager who didnt have a clue on tactics, passion or defending and Ashley Cole would of looked the same in that WH team. A big Saints fan but would he take the pay cut to come here?

[Crab Lungs]

Bridge was class. He's not any more. We'll revisit this thread in the new season, I think...

[Micky]

i don't agree with as single word of this. I know you are entitled to your opinion but I'm finding the words ******** and drivel hard to remove from my mind. If there was and always has been a fault with Bridge it's that he is totally one footed. Despite that he still got the move to Chelsea which just shows how bloody good he was. Defensively he was out of this world for us and one of the main reason's why Chelsea signed him. He was pacey, measured and extremely consistent. No one beat him and he certainly didn't leave the side exposed when going forward as CMFG sat in - that partnership is still revered despite Chris being relatively average at the top level (no disrespect to him intended). Chelsea signed possibly the best left back in the world to oust him from the side and IMO they did because they could, not because they really needed to.

 

He's been unlucky to have been dropped into tough games when not match fit at all and that may be the reason some are doubting his talents now. I'd take him back here without a second thought. Terrific player.

 

What Chez sez (see what I dun there...!).

 

Bridgey was class for us and bloody consistent too. Watched him a couple of times playing for WHU at the end of last season and he did look rusty initially, but saw another game not long after and he put in a MoM performance.

 

Get him somewhere where he can play regular football and he'll prove himself again.

[sambosa75]

You didn't really need this 2nd post to prove you know ****all about football.

 

Sutton's most prolific season at Blackburn was '97-'98 (making him joint top scorer in the Premier league)when Shearer was a Newcastle player.

 

You may not know that he also played for Norwich in the Premier league; this may have been before you were born, but it was still the best league in this country, and he scored 25 league goals in 41 games. As a result of this Blackburn made him the most expensive player in English football.

 

He was versatile, effective, played for England and had an impressive scoring record. I could go on, but somehow I think I am wasting my time. You think he was ****e, therefore he WAS ****e, but a lot of people spent a shedload of cash on him because they at least felt he wasn't.

 

I'm quite aware he played for Norwich thank you. So he was versatile in what sense of the word? He did well for Norwich but despite whatever you say he made his name at Blackburn playing alongside Alan Shearer. You also mention he played for England but forgot to mention he was a million miles behind the likes of Shearer, Sheringham, Ferdinand, Fowler and Ian Wright.

 

Blackburn mugged Chelsea of £10m for him and he proved himself to be useless there. Perhaps a passable Premier League striker in his prome but nowhere near the best.