5string Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Mick Channon - at least he realised relatively quickly it was a mistake to go to Man City and came back for a few more great years. Absolutely agree with this. Glad he returned, though. Also spoiled the end of his career (stats-wise) by playing for too many other teams. Rod Wallace the other one mentioned earlier that I think should have stayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Yes. we'll never know how good he could have been. Brother Rodney qualifies though. Never the same player for Leeds IMO. Didn't Rodney gain a League Winners Medal at Leeds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Daft to suggest shaw should have stayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Daft to suggest shaw should have stayed. I agree. Given the money involved moving was necessary for him and for the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Matt Oakley - effectively discarded by Gormless George having just got back to his form after injury. Never wanted to leave and would have been another one club Matt if only GB had had some sense and offered more than a one year contract. Went on to give good service at Derby and Leicester, when we really could have done with him at Saints. Even Burley eventually realised what a mistake he had made when he tried to sign him for Palace. I'd go with that too Vectis. Matt was branded as "injury prone", after a knee ligament op. in 2003. The knee was damaged further with "bad rehab", and he was in and out for a couple of years. Worried about his fitness, Burley only offered him a 1 year contract, after having played over 250 games for Saints. Rightly disatisfied, he moved instead to Derby, then Leicester and clocked up another 200+ games before moving on to Exeter in 2102. 38 years old in August he has played for them over 100 times - so far ....and already past 550 League games ...Not bad after all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronCitySaint Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Ronnie Ekelund. He and MLT linked up wonderfully in that one season then he refused the back operation that we reportedly wanted him to have and that was the last we saw of him. Heard of him playing in MLS for a few seasons but it looked like he could have been a star during that one season at Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Ronnie Ekelund. He and MLT linked up wonderfully in that one season then he refused the back operation that we reportedly wanted him to have and that was the last we saw of him. Heard of him playing in MLS for a few seasons but it looked like he could have been a star during that one season at Saints. He needed an operation. But oh mate, the possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 He needed an operation. But oh mate, the possibilities. He must have had his reasons for that, maybe there was some danger of long-term damage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portugalsaint Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 I'm not convinced that Lovren or Lallana have bettered themselves by leaving. Agree with you totally on this Fudpuck also think that Clyne will go the journey as well. Seems they leave Saints, having got into the England team on a high etc then disappear into obscurity. Greed and too big for their boots this lot mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Gordon Watson. Frozen out at Saints, by Souness I think, to go to Bradford where he suffered a leg injury to virtually finish his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 16 July, 2015 Share Posted 16 July, 2015 Mick Channon. He was never the same when and after he went to Citeh - even though he did eventually return Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 I agree with the op , Steve Williams sticks out for me. Not necessarily for leaving but where he went. George Graham well and truly ****ed up his career . He was class , touch and steel . Should have had a wonderful career at someone like utd or Liverpool , but arsenal weren't Arsene Wengers Arsenal in those days . Would have been a fantastic modern midfielder if he was in his peak now . Souness like , IMO . Jimmy Case , what a tosspot Branfoot was for getting rid of him. I was also gutted when Maik Taylor left , just because Paul Jones was Dave's buddy . I thought he could have been a top keeper , I know he had a pretty decent career , but thought he would have had a better one with us . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 Paul Wotton. Legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 Paul Wotton. Legend. Has this thread morphed into "Players Who Never Should Have Joined Southampton"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 It's disappointing (or short-sighted) for so many fans to criticise players who move on , as in any other job, if you see a better prospect or you don't get along with the management / fellow workers you'd look for something better. Sadly the grass isn't always greener. In most "ordinary jobs" you can plan a life, and in time know your goals etc, but in the life of a Prem. footballer .....a serious injury ...can be career ending. Very good players can be established at 20..(sit down Raheem, I'm not talking about you) but it's a minority who get to play much past 30 (goalies being the exception). For Saints, perhaps only Lallana (and possibly Bridge) came through the youth ranks and ended up playing for England whilst still at SFC. Terry Paine was an exception. I was sad to see Lallana go, but didn't feel the same vitriolic reaction than some others did. 14 years with Saints and no real hounours was worth a move, and the same with Schneiderlin. Already a legend, Rickie Lambert was a genuine Roy of the Rovers saga, and I didn't begrudge him his move, but wish he'd stayed another year. As for the others....lives change, managers change (and we had our share of those after 2000) but we must be philosophical and can't dictate other people's lives. Sad we lost them, but it's equally exciting to see new talents emerging, and they deserve a chance, too. The Paine's, Channon's, Nick Holmes' and Le Tissiers of this world gave most of their careers to one club (ours) - very few players do that nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 Steve Williams is the stand out one for me. What a player he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 It's disappointing (or short-sighted) for so many fans to criticise players who move on , as in any other job, if you see a better prospect or you don't get along with the management / fellow workers you'd look for something better. Sadly the grass isn't always greener. In most "ordinary jobs" you can plan a life, and in time know your goals etc, but in the life of a Prem. footballer .....a serious injury ...career ending. Very good players can be established at 20..(sit down Raheem, I'm not talking about you) but it's a minority who get to play much past 30 (goalies being the exception). For Saints, perhaps only Lallana (and possibly Bridge) came through the youth ranks and ended up playing for England whilst still at SFC. Terry Paine was an exception. I was sad to see Lallana go, but didn't feel the same vitriolic reaction than some others did. 14 years with Saints and no real hounours was worth a move, and the same with Schneiderlin. Already a legend, Rickie Lambert was a genuine Roy of the Rovers saga, and I didn't begrudge him his move, but wish he'd stayed another year. As for the others....lives change, managers change (and we had our share of those after 2000) but we must be philosophical and can't dictate other people's lives. Sad we lost them, but it's equally exciting to see new talents emerging, and they deserve a chance too. The Paine's, Channon's, Nick Holmes' and Le Tissiers of this world gave most of their careers to one club (ours) - very few players do that nowadays. Yeah, thanks, cheers for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 17 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 17 July, 2015 Swedish Dave, I agree with your comments about moving on but I started the thread specifically about players who were special here and not so special elsewhere. Steve Williams was my example. He had played at England at under 21 level many times and looked set for a long and illustrious career at international level. He really was a quality player and had a strong will to win. Lawrie Mac used to tell a story about how he took a Saints team to play a disabled team in wheelchairs. Steve was so competitive he was tipping them out of their wheelchairs! He moved on to Arsenal and was never quite the same. His only getting 6 England caps is on par with MLTs poor return at international level. One of the best players ever to pull on a Saints shirt. Such a shame he didn't fulfil his potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 I saw the title of this thread and thought "Ah, Steve Williams.." Looks like I'm not alone in my opinion, and I'm also showing my age.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 17 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 17 July, 2015 I saw the title of this thread and thought "Ah, Steve Williams.." Looks like I'm not alone in my opinion, and I'm also showing my age.. You and me both but the 80s were probably to Saints what the 60s was to popular music. We had some wonderful players back then didn't we? Players like Armstrong, Ball, Williams, Holmes. At one point I think we had about 4 ex England captains in the side. Happy days. I was gutted to see players like Martin Chivers, Ron Davies and Mick Channon go, but losing Williams was the toughest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 (edited) Swedish Dave, I agree with your comments about moving on but I started the thread specifically about players who were special here and not so special elsewhere. Steve Williams was my example. He had played at England at under 21 level many times and looked set for a long and illustrious career at international level. He really was a quality player and had a strong will to win. Lawrie Mac used to tell a story about how he took a Saints team to play a disabled team in wheelchairs. Steve was so competitive he was tipping them out of their wheelchairs! He moved on to Arsenal and was never quite the same. His only getting 6 England caps is on par with MLTs poor return at international level. One of the best players ever to pull on a Saints shirt. Such a shame he didn't fulfil his potential. my comments were a general overview of many " critics " on here, but keeping to the topic ...I agree 100% with your post above. Although it's fair to say that quite a few of those who left SFC failed to replicate their form, mainly due to playing elsewhere in another formation /system. personal note: it still amazes me that Rodgers hasn't realised that the success of Lambert and Lallana was that they played in games at the same time. He seems to play one or the other, but seldom plays them together. Still it's his problem and their good for£une. Edited 17 July, 2015 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 17 July, 2015 Share Posted 17 July, 2015 You and me both but the 80s were probably to Saints what the 60s was to popular music. We had some wonderful players back then didn't we? Players like Armstrong, Ball, Williams, Holmes. At one point I think we had about 4 ex England captains in the side. Happy days. I was gutted to see players like Martin Chivers, Ron Davies and Mick Channon go, but losing Williams was the toughest. me too..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 18 July, 2015 Share Posted 18 July, 2015 remember andrew surman pretty good for us but where is he now Bournemouth? I hope your derisory comment does not come back to haunt you and the rest of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svetigpung Posted 18 July, 2015 Share Posted 18 July, 2015 Two strikers for the list....Egil Östenstad and Kevin Davis *****il BFS used him as a landning pad) Both were prolific for the saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyR Posted 18 July, 2015 Share Posted 18 July, 2015 Managerial = Bally to Man City Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeham_69 Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Jack Cork... one more season, Jack, and you'd have been the new Morgan. always felt he had more to offer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Jack Cork... one more season, Jack, and you'd have been the new Morgan. always felt he had more to offer Yes, agree completely. So it has proven at Swansea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Chalet Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Nope he would have been the new Jack Cork, not quite good enough to get in our first XI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 (edited) Yes, agree completely. So it has proven at Swansea. Has it? He seems to be exactly the same player to me, just playing more often because they're not as good as us. He was our third best DM, he probably still would be now. Having said that, cashing in and not having a third DM who was obviously slightly worse than the others but maybe better than anyone left, might have cost us a few places with the injuries we had on the run in. Edited 21 July, 2015 by The9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleoldladysaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Does anybody else see the impending threat coming in from the North? Newcastle weren't exactly turning heads last year but you must feel with some of the signings they've made and they're looking to make they are solidifying a statement of intent for the top 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Two strikers for the list....Egil Östenstad and Kevin Davis *****il BFS used him as a landning pad) Both were prolific for the saints. Egil - is 34 in 109 really prolific? 14 in 96-97 was his best, never really cut the mustard in following seasons, still decent player though Kevin Davies - should probably not have left in 98, but was never the same when he did come back, 10 from 86 in 4 seasons was disappointing in hindsight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 21 July, 2015 Author Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Yes, agree completely. So it has proven at Swansea. If Jack Cork is as good for Swansea as Morgan was for us, how come that none of the big clubs have been in for him? He would cost a lot less than Morgan. Good as he is, he is not that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaint78 Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Neil Heaney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleoldladysaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Does anybody else see the impending threat coming in from the North? Newcastle weren't exactly turning heads last year but you must feel with some of the signings they've made and they're looking to make they are solidifying a statement of intent for the top 8. Don't know who this is but it sure ain't me (Real littleoldladysaint)!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Ash Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Don't know who this is but it sure ain't me (Real littleoldladysaint)!! It was posted by your account... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleoldladysaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Yep, no idea how - I'm a techno-illiterate so its a complete mystery BUT it wasn't me!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Yep, no idea how - I'm a techno-illiterate so its a complete mystery BUT it wasn't me!! Shared computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleoldladysaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 My grandson uses it occasionally but he is at work. Anyway, it would be more than his life was worth to meddle with this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonist Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Don't know who this is but it sure ain't me (Real littleoldladysaint)!! server database fart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambosa75 Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Has anyone mentioned Andrew Davies? Was brilliant for us, think Stoke then signed him and he went on to do nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 My grandson uses it occasionally but he is at work. Anyway, it would be more than his life was worth to meddle with this forum! Your last name isn't Richmond by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleoldladysaint Posted 21 July, 2015 Share Posted 21 July, 2015 Lol, definitely not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 24 July, 2015 Share Posted 24 July, 2015 Egil - is 34 in 109 really prolific? 14 in 96-97 was his best, never really cut the mustard in following seasons, still decent player though... Kevin Davies - should probably not have left in 98, but was never the same when he did come back, 10 from 86 in 4 seasons was disappointing in hindsight. 1- Egil...about par for the average Prem. striker. +/- 0.30. Looked good in the games when he did score, but I think that one season we had 4 players who all netted around 10 goals each. 2- The real success of Kevin Davies (when with us) was that the goals he did score were spectacular and /or crucial to wins in those particular games. I think he scored a few more than that?...All the Saints states 25 goals in 89 + 36 sub.apps games, but even that % isn't so fantastic. However, the disappointment was tempered when Roy Hodgson (then Blackburn manager) paid £8 million for him......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 24 July, 2015 Share Posted 24 July, 2015 1- Egil...about par for the average Prem. striker. +/- 0.30. Looked good in the games when he did score, but I think that one season we had 4 players who all netted around 10 goals each. 2- The real success of Kevin Davies (when with us) was that the goals he did score were spectacular and /or crucial to wins in those particular games. I think he scored a few more than that?...All the Saints states 25 goals in 89 + 36 sub.apps games, but even that % isn't so fantastic. However, the disappointment was tempered when Roy Hodgson (then Blackburn manager) paid £8 million for him......... So Egil wasn't prolific. My response was to someone who suggested he was. For Davies you completely missed the point. Of course he scored more than 10. He scored 12 in his first season/stint with us in all competitions (9 League, 3 LC) and then left. He came back after a year or so at Blackburn and in 4 seasons after his return he scored 10 more league goals (plus 3 Cup) in 82 league games (+13 cups). So my numbers were slightly wrong I was trying to highlight 10 league goals in 82 league apps (not 86). The point though is that he should never have left (in 98), but having come back he should never have stayed because he was really poor when he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dellman Posted 24 July, 2015 Share Posted 24 July, 2015 It's just amazing the number of players who leave us and fade, I suppose Bale is the exception and Alf Ramsey, if you go back that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltonaggro Posted 24 July, 2015 Share Posted 24 July, 2015 I agree with all the other 'senior' posters above who mention Stevie Williams (in particular) and Micky Channon, but another who always sticks in my mind from that era was Channon's replacement, Phil Boyer - very tidy player, great for Saints and 26 goals and a Golden Boot in the 1979/80 season before his departure that summer. Transferred to Man City for £220k as a 30 year old (recouping half of the Keegan fee), crocked in his first game, and only 20 games and three goals for City in a three year spell (he'd managed 138 and 49 for Saints in a similar period) - career over thereafter. In more recent years, the centre back Richard Hall comes to mind. Great for Saints and left us pretty much in his prime at 24, looking a cert for an England call up, to join West Ham (fairly acrimoniously if memory serves, which was gutting), injured in a pre-season friendly for them, and only played seven more games as a professional. We are a local club, for local people; you can never leave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolman Posted 25 July, 2015 Share Posted 25 July, 2015 Like The Titanic, there are players who really should never have left Southampton. I'll start with Steve Williams. One of the best young talents we have ever produced. He was a joy to behold running the midfield with Alan Ball and a long England career was there for the taking. Sadly he signed for Arsenal and it all started to go pear shaped. He never really fulfilled his potential at Highbury (although I see he comes in at 38 in a top 50 of Arsenal players) and the long England career never happened. I used to work around the Highbury area and often saw him running the streets with Tony Woodcock. I was tempted to tell him he had made a huge mistake but he had been an Arsenal supporter as a kid so I suppose it was a Rickie Lambert situation. Steve played 279 games for Saints scoring 18 goals. He played 95 games for Arsenal scoring 4 times. He only got 6 England caps. What a waste. Totally agree. He was my idol when I was a wee nipper and was totally devastated when he left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippineSaint Posted 25 July, 2015 Share Posted 25 July, 2015 Ali Dia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Durman Posted 25 July, 2015 Share Posted 25 July, 2015 Steve Williams is the stand out one for me. What a player he was. He's the one stand out for me. Never the same at Arsenal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 25 July, 2015 Share Posted 25 July, 2015 So Egil wasn't prolific. My response was to someone who suggested he was. For Davies you completely missed the point. Of course he scored more than 10. He scored 12 in his first season/stint with us in all competitions (9 League, 3 LC) and then left. He came back after a year or so at Blackburn and in 4 seasons after his return he scored 10 more league goals (plus 3 Cup) in 82 league games (+13 cups). So my numbers were slightly wrong I was trying to highlight 10 league goals in 82 league apps (not 86). The point though is that he should never have left (in 98), but having come back he should never have stayed because he was really poor when he did. and right you were Vectis. unfortunately, speed reading has it's drawbacks, I hadn't read those prev. comments thoroughly enough. Never quite sure exactly what was wrong with Kevin Davies time at SFC?..perhaps those changes of management came at the wrong time, and very few strikers score " regularly"...and many have their " dry spells". The initial impact he made (1997-98) was very special - for a player stepping out of the L1 level it was truly remarkable. Goals against top sides that season were very hard to come by in another season when we struggled to keep clear of the relegation zone, and those matchwinners against Chelsea and Man.U were real lifesavers at the end of the season. Fortunately, (for Saints)....when injury and fitness deserted him ......MLT, Hirst and Ostenstad were on hand with some good scoring spells to give us safety. perhaps...life in " The South " was a bit boring for a Northern lad (?). He certainly seemed to be more popular with fans at Bolton and Preston ... ....and there was always the rumour that he didn't hit it off with Strachan ?.......who knows.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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