By the same token, we have had a few! Alan Quinn was always one for me. I don't think people realised how good Gareth MacAuley was either at the time, he often held that defence together by himself.
Leadbitter - was never, still isnt and probably never will be the best midfielder in the championship but I think he was a little unfairly targeted. After he left Jewells side went from keeping on par (goals wise) with Reading to the worst scoring team in the division.
Owen Garvan - split a lot of the fans but would be an absolute force in our midfield if we still had him playing alongside Hyam Alan Lee - Again, not the most liked by certain sections but that habit of scoring the odd goal made him a half decent player
I've always been a huge fan of John McGreal..fantastic centre half, who in my opinion could've / should've played for a better team.
I agree with most of your guys comments, here are some of mine: Alun Armstrong - did alot of work off the ball which went unnoticed, very clever player and a good foil for Stewart Owen Garvan - there aren't many players left like him now playmakers who can almost single handedly control a game, I think because he was gangly and didn't run around alot like a headless chicken, alot of fans didn't rate him McGreal - One of the best CB's I've seen at the club, his reading of the game was superb and he got better as he got older with his best spell for me being his last run of games at the club, were actually some of the best CB play I've ever seen. Reminded me a bit of Jonathan Woodgate (who on his day is the best defender I've seen in the PL) Magilton - He was very good when we were in the PL (and before) but I remember the few seasons before he retired alot of fans got on his back, again a bit similar to Garvan I don't think people appreciated the influence he had on the team just because he was slow, he never shyed away from the ball, it was all about pass and move and if he was having a bad or good game he was always involved becuase of this, CM's who don't offer themselves for the ball really wind me up (Norris being one). McAuley - Best defender who could read the game since McGreal IMO, he took a while to get settled but in the end was monumental for us. I think alot of people wanted him to leave because of the shambles around him and I think most people now in hindsight who thought Delaney was the better CB can see actually it was McAuley who was far superior. Sam Parkin - I don't think he was a great player but I felt he was very harshly treated by fans. He came into a struggling team, we created very few chances and he was often played upfront by himself, the few chances we did create he actually stuck away. I'm sure if he was in a better team he would have scored more goals for us. Alan Quinn - Always though he was a handy little player who should've been used more centrally (particularly over Norris), he had Norris's tenacity but also composure on the ball David Wright - Thought he was one of the best RB's I've seen at the club, I think if you made a checklist of what u wanted from a fullback you would describe his attributes, very understated
Sam Parkin He was gash! Over the past 10 years our team has been very average with no one really standing out. You have to go back to 1999/00 - 00/01 and the legend that is Marcus Stewart! We have never been able to replace his quality in front of goal But my no1 pick has to be James Scowcroft! A very clever player who knew his job in that Ipswich team and did it extremely well just in the hole behind the Strikers. It was no coincidence that when we sold him in the summer of 01, our team was never the same again!
Like I said, I don't think Parkin was a great player but I don't think he was as bad as most people thought, was given very harsh treatment by the fans!!
Pablo...he was awesome but very misunderstood by those that think football is purely about work rate and effort. One of the most skillful and "football aware" players we have had over this time.....
Love Pablo, absolute genius!!! I really like players who are as you say "football aware", very good positionally and good readers of the game and sometimes most of the players on the pitch were not on the same wavelength as he was!!
OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!.... PABLO! PABLO! Etc, Etc... The last gasp goal against Coventry... What dreams are made of!
I think you have got this spot on, well after I have highlighted it for you. Just a shame he was a striker..!
