Lying in bed trying to sleep last night I was thinking about some of our players who never hit the headlines but were vital to the team. Players like Nick Holmes and Dave Armstrong and now we have Morgan and Hammond. For some reason my favourite was always Graham Baker.For some of you youngsters Graham made his debut way back in 77 against Blackpool and scored within the first minute. That was me sold! He went on to make over 150 appearances for Saints scoring 33 goals! a great record for a midfielder. Who would be your unsung hero?
Graham Baker, blimey that brings back memories. Armstrong was capped for England, and I recall Jackie Charlton saying of him that he wasn't flash, he just got the job done. Morgan reminds me of him in many ways. My own favourite in this category is David Peach. He was a better full back than he was given credit for by the moaners; he played one of the best long balls ever seen (ok touch of hyperbole) at Wembley to put in Alan Ball in the League Cup Final and he scored some high pressure pens.
I wouldn't put old "wobbly" Armstrong in the unsung section, legend that he was! Armstrong will be there today as he played for them and us most his career. Graham Baker is a good shout.
Peach was a great player and didn't he have a wonderful penalty record? Think that get's forgotten because of Le God.
I don't think we can call spiderman an unsung hero anymore, you can't say a word against him on this forum and most fans now know how gifted he is!
I was gutted when we sold Graham Baker to Manchester City. Difficult to know who exactly to class as an unsung hero as the squads that McMenemy assembled all seemed to be full of quality players. Nick Holmes was an unfussy but integral Saints player but from the cup winning squad, I was always impressed by David Peach. Later on, I think Ivan Golac made a massive contribution as was one of the finest overseas players in English football in the late 70's / early 80's. I suppose that Steve Moran is another name to throw into the pot although i always thought that he his hero status was cemeneted after scoring the winning goal at Fratton park. In the Nicholl era the team seemed to be split into the journeymen players and the ones who were genuinely brilliant such as the 2 Wallaces, Shearer, Le Tiss , Mark Wright and Mark Dennis. For me, Jimmy Case was outstanding and remains the greatest English footballer never to have won a cap for his country. Later on, I think Ken Monkou certainly fits the bill and the unpredictable antics of Gordon Watson made him a legend in his own unique way.
Could you call Chris Marsden an unsung hero? He was a bit too good to call a journeyman and I have good memories of his fighting for every ball with total commitment. Bearing in mind how recently it was that he led the team out at Wembley, he is hardly mentioned now. How different it might have been had we won.
Chris Marsden was a legend. I don't know about being unsung as he was clearly highly rated by most Saints fans but I do agree that he was been somewhat forgotten these days.
I like this thread. Graham Baker is my second cousin (My mums cousin). He never really gets a mention but I thought he was a brillliant player (I always wondred if I was biased) but this thread reassures me - no, he definately was. Didn't really get on With Lawrie Mcmenemy though, hence him leaving for man city.
Never knew that. He lasted pretty well considering. Probably explained why he struggled to get much first team time until 1980/81 though. What was it? Personality clash? Can vividly remember a couple of his goals, in particular a diving header at the Archers Road after running full length of the pitch. Classic!
Oh how I agree with that....he was a very good consistent player...why they did not let him see out his career with Saints to me is a mystery..... Going back a way I always thought Cliff Huxford put in a sterling performance in each and every game. He was a determined midfield tackler. His form dipped somewhat though after he broke that guys leg in a tackle at the dell. He didn't seem the same bloke. I used to see him quite a lot when he was later working a Snows business forms. A good ambassador for the club in my opinion.
Not sure to be honest. I was very young at the time and I rarely see him now apart from funerals and the odd family party and as stupid as it sounds, since being an adult kind of feel rude trying to pump him for info. It was my mum that told me that. Grahams mum didn't like Lawrie either, so he's lucky. You don't mess with the women on that side of my family
Ian you've said everything I wanted to say on this thread. I know Jimmy and would add that he's also one of the nicest people you're ever likely to meet.
Thanks Godders. You missed your calling. You should have been a teacher. It is also a credit to you and a couple of your past comments on my threads that I have very much tried to curb any awful americanisms that have crept in to my vocabulary - which in turn is very good for my self esteem and has led me to being a more well rounded and complete human being.
