John McClelland was on the other wing to Mark Lazarus, and putting over crosses for Bernie Evans to nod down and Brian Bedford to tap in. My boyhood hero. Who from the current squad will be a future top 10 hero? Can only think of one at the moment ....
I love these kind of threads but I'm a bit late coming to it due to work etc. Most players have been covered, so in an effort to contribute here is a list of my top ten most entertaining players ( Ones that I have actually seen play.. ) Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles, Dave Thomas, Gerry Francis, Simon Stainrod, Tony Currie, Roy Wegerle, Glen Roeder, John Byrne, Adel Taarabt,
Nutso, as Stan has said you're not that much younger than us you cheeky sod....... Anyway those 4 were all good players but when you've seen Parkes, Clement, DT and Rodney/Stan those 4 that you mention are not all time greats, although they may be considered all time greats if you started following the R's in the '80s
Can't believe that nobody has put Tommy Langley on their list. The most bizarre occurrence I have ever seen happened on the wing of the west paddock. He had already been booked and then came sliding into an opposing player missing the ball by miles. It would have been a straight red nowadays, but would certainly have been his second yellow. As the ref ran over to him, hand hovering over his pocket, the whole ground was shouting off, off, off. The ref then looked at Langley and the crowd and let him off the card, to a crescendo of boos. I can't remember which game it was, but will always remember the pity on the ref's face.
At the time, Bannister never quite cut it for me (remember who I had been brought up with...Bowles, Marsh Les and Clive Allen, DT, Morgan twins etc), he always seemed to be playing at the edge of his ability, but he scored an absolute hat full, and SO TRUE....what I wouldn't give for him now....Shows exactly how you can get spoilt with riches, and never see gems till they are gone.... A player I always thought was going to be a new superstar and never made it imho...Simon, Simon Stainrod...definitely flattered to deceive
It's always usually the flair players that get remembered as 'greats' but often there are players who may not be as flamboyant but are key members of the side who don't get all the plaudits. For example, I think it was the arrival of Don Masson that turned us from a good team into a great one, his silky passing and reading of the game was different class and it lifted the game of all around him. Likewise Paul Parker, the best defender I've seen in a hooped shirt, his positioning and reading of the game was different class and for a relatively small player he was an excellent centre-back. His quality undoubtedly helped Alan McDonald massively as well. What we would give to have a Clive Wilson in our side now? Mr Dependable and lethal from the penalty spot. There are many more who's contribution was just as effective as the mavericks but are rarely remembered as fondly. It's a subject that will always be open to conjecture particularly across the generations...
Absolutely agree re Parker - what a player. Every week he would man-mark the oppo's danger man out of the game.
