The most average Saint

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

I've seen comments about the best players to play for Saints, and jokes about those we wished had never graced the Dell or St Marys, but I'm intrigued by who is deemed as the most average of Saint, and maybe even an average Saints 11.

For me, it is someone whose quality for us was in the top flight, but in teams that finished in the lower half. Never quite nailed down a starting spot, but was helpful across a few seasons under a manager or two, and maybe a lower level international.

Based on my criteria I think I have two distinctly average Saints to get the ball rolling: Danny Higginbotham, and Paul Telfer. Solid, dependable professional footballers but guaranteed to have never been picked by a fan to have their name and number on the back of a shirt.

 

 

[Victor]

Fabrice Fernandes - definitely!

[beatlesaint]

Belmaldi, David Puckett, Mark Whitlock.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Kevin Bond 

 

[Charlie Wayman]

Mick Channon

[Midfield_General]

Nathan Redmond, Alex McCarthy, Jack Stephens, Brett Ormerod, Chris Marsden, Paul Jones, Guly, Rory Delap, Simon Charlton, Micky Adams

[Sunglasses Ron]

Off the top of my head (which mainly still lives in the 90's):

Gordon Watson

Nicky Banger

Dave Beasant (albeit with one really good season as number one)

Edited 6 September, 2022 by Sunglasses Ron

[Monkeyboy]

GK - Maik Taylor

RB - Paul Telfer

CB - Richard Dyrden 

CB - Tahar El Khalej

LB - Simon Charlton

RM - Stuart Ripley

CM - Neil Maddison 

CM - Rory Delap

LM - Neil McCann

ST - Brett Ormerod 

ST - Mark Hughes (for us)

[Saintscummer]

Gerry Forrest

Matthew Oakley 

Hassan Khadjloul 

[Chris cooper]

Alexi cheridnyik

[Gurj]

Francis Benali 

Steve Baker 

Forbes PM 

Whitlock

Juryeff 

Phuckett

McCartney 

So many more if you go back 40 years or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sfcphilc]

2 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

Belmaldi, David Puckett, Mark Whitlock.

Used to work with Mark. Couldn't quite believe it when someone told me he used to play for Saints! Proper sound bloke.

[Midfield_General]

Neil Shipperley

Jan Bednarek

Edited 6 September, 2022 by Midfield_General

[Colinjb]

Jermaine Wright.

The ultimate 5.5-6/10 player. Not top flight with us, but he was for Ipswich. 

Edited 6 September, 2022 by Colinjb

[Dellman]

Hugh Fisher

[Kenilworthy]

Jo Tessem

 

[Badger]

Nick Holmes - constantly steady without being spectacular.

Manny Andruszewski.

Malcolm Waldron (won Player of the Season once)

Fred Kemp.

David Walker

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Dellman said:

Hugh Fisher

Think his last minute equaliser v Villa in 1976 should elevate him as above average when looking back

Edited 6 September, 2022 by Badger

[Turkish]

Redmond!

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Colinjb said:

Jermaine Wright.

The ultimate 5.5-6/10 player. Not top flight with us, but he was for Ipswich. 

No he was shite and not helped by the fact Burley seemed to build a team round him

[The Cat]

4 hours ago, Monkeyboy said:

GK - Maik Taylor

RB - Paul Telfer

CB - Richard Dyrden 

CB - Tahar El Khalej

LB - Simon Charlton

RM - Stuart Ripley

CM - Neil Maddison 

CM - Rory Delap

LM - Neil McCann

ST - Brett Ormerod 

ST - Mark Hughes (for us)

I can never read Tahar's name without getting that stupid song about his new boots stuck in my head.

[Whitey Grandad]

8 minutes ago, The Cat said:

I can never read Tahar's name without getting that stupid song about his new boots stuck in my head.

Malik Taylor was good. A better keeper than Paul Jones.

[Sheaf Saint]

Claus Lundekvam

David Prutton

Graeme Le Saux (with us, at least)

Iain Dowie

[Brussels Saint]

Mario Licka.....though not in the PL era.

His wife however ....... absolutely tip top 

[Yorkshire Saint]

Ian Andrews 

[Convict Colony]

benali

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Redmond!

I agree, as you pointed out on another thread. I think, if we’re using this metric to mean literally average and not as a derogatory byword for substandard, I’d pick a team something like.

 

Stekelenberg

Telfer - Williams - Lundekvam - Le Saux

Redmond - Anders - Romeu - S. Armstrong

Tessem - Adams

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

Ian Andrews 

Literally the worst first-team goalkeeper we've ever had in my lifetime. Though run close by Chris Woods. 

Both made Dave Beasant look like Peter Schmeichel. 

Edited 6 September, 2022 by Midfield_General

[Bakovnetski]

Jordi Classie

[Patches O Houlihan]

Jack Cork

[Chez]

7 hours ago, Monkeyboy said:

GK - Maik Taylor

RB - Paul Telfer

CB - Richard Dyrden 

CB - Tahar El Khalej

LB - Simon Charlton

RM - Stuart Ripley

CM - Neil Maddison 

CM - Rory Delap

LM - Neil McCann

ST - Brett Ormerod 

ST - Mark Hughes (for us)

McCant was too shit to be described as average.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

I agree, as you pointed out on another thread. I think, if we’re using this metric to mean literally average and not as a derogatory byword for substandard, I’d pick a team something like.

 

Stekelenberg

Telfer - Williams - Lundekvam - Le Saux

Redmond - Anders - Romeu - S. Armstrong

Tessem - Adams

very average. Well done.

[whelk]

9 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I agree, as you pointed out on another thread. I think, if we’re using this metric to mean literally average and not as a derogatory byword for substandard, I’d pick a team something like.

 

Stekelenberg

Telfer - Williams - Lundekvam - Le Saux

Redmond - Anders - Romeu - S. Armstrong

Tessem - Adams

Never describe Romeu as average

[ozzmeister]

Benali and Dodd, and to an extent Lundekvam were all average yet played together in a pretty decent defence. Maybe it was Killer who was the difference!

[Midfield_General]

John ‘Budgie’ Burridge.

Massive show-off, very average goalkeeper. 

[Bad Wolf]

I'll do one for "average" in it's actual meaning and not "average" the way it's constantly thrown around these days meaning terrible. Here's my "not great, not shocking" Saints XI from my time of supporting the club (since 2005)

 

Paul Smith

Frazer Richardson
Maya Yoshida
Florran Gardos (wasn't as bad as everyone makes out)
Joseph Mills

Richard Chaplow*
Jordy Clasie

Nathan Dyer
Kamil Kosowski

Dexter Blackstock
Peter Madsen*

 

*Richard Chaplow's inclusion only takes into account his first spell with the club, I fully acknowledge that he was superb in his second spell and a huge part of what we achieved in his time here. If not allowed then replace with David Prutton

* As for Peter Madsen, not sure if we can include loanees (if not then another reason why 2006 Chaplow would be kicked) then replace with Adam Armstrong.

[Bad Wolf]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I agree, as you pointed out on another thread. I think, if we’re using this metric to mean literally average and not as a derogatory byword for substandard, I’d pick a team something like.

 

Stekelenberg

Telfer - Williams - Lundekvam - Le Saux

Redmond - Anders - Romeu - S. Armstrong

Tessem - Adams

Pardon?!

[Paul Chuckle]

Not popular opinion i'm sure but Francis Benali was a bang average left back (and that's being kind)

[Lighthouse]

3 hours ago, whelk said:

Never describe Romeu as average

 

31 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Pardon?!

I liked him, just like Claus, Tessem and many other average players we’ve had, but let’s not kid ourselves. He was never on the radar for a big club and wasn’t as good as Morgan or Wanyama. He was a popular, Saints level player; nothing more, nothing less.

 

Having said that, I’ve just remembered Hojbjerg. He can go there instead.

[Winnersaint]

Hassan Kachloul

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Winnersaint said:

Hassan Kachloul

But... the last game at the Dell? He deserves a place in history for that alone.

[The Left Back]

I'm translating 'average' into players I really liked personally, who did a good job for saints but were not particularly valued by anyone more generally:

GK - Peter Wells

RB - Frazer Richardson 

LB - David Peach

CB - Kevin Moore

CB - Claus Lundekwam

DM - Tommy Widdrington

CM - Matt Oakley

RM - Paul Gilchrist

LM - Neil Heaney

CF - Lee Barnard

CF - Brett Ormerod

 

 

 

 

 

[Badger]

50 minutes ago, The Left Back said:

I'm translating 'average' into players I really liked personally, who did a good job for saints but were not particularly valued by anyone more generally:

GK - Peter Wells

RB - Frazer Richardson 

LB - David Peach

CB - Kevin Moore

CB - Claus Lundekwam

DM - Tommy Widdrington

CM - Matt Oakley

RM - Paul Gilchrist

LM - Neil Heaney

CF - Lee Barnard

CF - Brett Ormerod

 

 

 

 

 

Appreciate the criteria you’ve set but I think David Peach was certainly’above Average’.

Although in the 2nd Division he was an outstanding LB for us,and goalscorer (penalties especially of course).

I always felt he was the best LB in the country for a couple of years (no bias in my teenage years of course). It was unfortunate really that his peak years were in Div 2.

Doubt that we’d be able to keep a player of his standout quality in The second tier now (and probably not EPL for that matter).

[gsweet87]

On 06/09/2022 at 14:52, Monkeyboy said:

Neil Maddison 

My first thought as well

[The Left Back]

19 hours ago, Badger said:

Appreciate the criteria you’ve set but I think David Peach was certainly’above Average’.

Although in the 2nd Division he was an outstanding LB for us,and goalscorer (penalties especially of course).

I always felt he was the best LB in the country for a couple of years (no bias in my teenage years of course). It was unfortunate really that his peak years were in Div 2.

Doubt that we’d be able to keep a player of his standout quality in The second tier now (and probably not EPL for that matter).

Agreed, Peach was the first left back I followed and loved him..  I was happy with the line up apart from left back.  As I've posted before, and hence my user name, we've been blessed with left backs since I have started watching us play and I struggled to find an 'average' one.  Most on my mind are too good, some not good enough, for the average tag.  Perhaps Derek Statham?  But he was a legend at WBA so not sure he qualifies on my criteria.  Actually, just seen Simon Charlton on someone's list.  He'll do.

[sydney_saint]

On 06/09/2022 at 16:55, Colinjb said:

Jermaine Wright.

The ultimate 5.5-6/10 player. Not top flight with us, but he was for Ipswich. 

This is where my mind instantly went as well. Would also add Higginbotham, Baird, Yoshida, McCann, Skacel (wasn't a bad player, but never hit the hype). Not sure whether to include Rasiak. Was very good championship, but a bang average footballer.

[Toussaint]

Where does Mickey Evans sit I wonder? He wasn't very good, but his little goal scoring spree kept us up.  

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

On 07/09/2022 at 10:21, Bad Wolf said:

I'll do one for "average" in it's actual meaning and not "average" the way it's constantly thrown around these days meaning terrible. Here's my "not great, not shocking" Saints XI from my time of supporting the club (since 2005)

 

Paul Smith

Frazer Richardson
Maya Yoshida
Florran Gardos (wasn't as bad as everyone makes out)
Joseph Mills

Richard Chaplow*
Jordy Clasie

Nathan Dyer
Kamil Kosowski

Dexter Blackstock
Peter Madsen*

 

*Richard Chaplow's inclusion only takes into account his first spell with the club, I fully acknowledge that he was superb in his second spell and a huge part of what we achieved in his time here. If not allowed then replace with David Prutton

* As for Peter Madsen, not sure if we can include loanees (if not then another reason why 2006 Chaplow would be kicked) then replace with Adam Armstrong.

This is sort of what I had in mind! I've been a fan since 02, so have a few more prem years, so this team seems a little weak to me in places. I think mind would be:

Alan Blayney

Richardson Yoshida Higginbotham Fox

Telfer Cork Quashie Elyonoussi

Ormerod Rasiak

 

I think that team probably gets relegated, but has some

Edited 8 September, 2022 by Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan

[Saint Fan CaM]

Redmond?

[LeBizzier69]

not sure where the Le Saux thing has come from.....he regained some of his best form with us....i don't recall him being just average at Saints.