Agree with both of those. There were very few centre halves who could handle Ron on his day, and he had brilliant service from the wings, and Chivers and then Channon to lay off to and play off. As for Rickie, that knock-down on Saturday which Punch put just wide was just brilliant, and the goal he scored was just brave. I thought he'd knocked himself out for a minute.
I was the same, celebrated for a couple of seconds, then was very worried, then five seconds later back to celebrating like a mad man.
Agreed on the first point. Can't think of one who really pinned him down. It was usually stopping the service that would keep Ron quiet. Agree on the second point too. Yes, I thought he'd injured himself too. You can see from the highlights Adkins thought so too. Was watching some quick highlights of the JPT Final earlier and it reminded me that Pardew often used to have Rickie go to the front post to glance on the first header, frequently taking both CBs with him. He won everything in the air. It's a tactic we don't use so often [if at all] now.
Too many of our corners and crosses in general these days are five or ten yards past the far post. If Rickie can isolate himself against a full-back it can be extremely potent, but it gets to a point where that's all we do and it gets too easy to suss out for other teams. Need a few more deliveries whipped hard and fast at the near post or across the face of goal (especially from Corners where for the most part we have been dreadful other than in the Fulham game when we attacked the near post hard), sprinkled in between our usual lofted diagonals to the far post.
Don't think modern day players come anywhere near the "old fashion centre forward " when it comes to heading the ball ,when you think of the past players and take into account how the balls were back then can't think of one player in the present day that attacks the ball when crossed like they used to ,Ron Davies , Wynn Davies , Nat Lofthouse ,John Charles the list goes on ,maybe to be fair to current crop the ball is so light and moves in the air so much it's harder to read the flight of the ball but for me they still fall well short
Big Ron Davies was the best header of the ball I have ever seen. He used to be able to get up in the air early and just hang there. The power and accuracy was incredible especially when you think about the battering the old centre halves used to hand out, none of your modern wimps rolling around on the floor because someone touched them!
Quite agree - Ron Davies was supreme in the air I wonder how many old timers (like me!) remember the game (was it against Burnley?) when we were awarded a penalty at the Dell. Ron had had a bit of a miserable afternoon that day on the ground and as far as I can remember it was that little genius Brian O'Neill who held him by the ankles and swung him making perfect contact with his head Result - bottom right hand corner and 1-0! That's the way I think it happened anyway - even if it didn't it should have done! Talking of yesterdays do any of you remember one of my all time favourite players Jimmy Gabriel? What would I give to see him now marshalling our back 4! And equally I don't think many young wingers would have the nerve to skin Docker Walker - I remember a review of one of our games in the Guardian when the pundit commented on Docker 'whose attitude to the game seems to be if it moves kick it'! Those were the days! This is my first ever blog and have been a Saints supporter for over 50 years I think my first ever game saw Ken Whimshurst and Cliff Huxford as wing halfes, the great Terry Paine on the right wing and John Sydenham on the left. The captain and centre half was Tony Knapp Told you I was an old geezer! Always a great atmosphere and highly entertaining games at the good old Dell! Now forgive me for as I said this is my first ever posting and has probably been mentioned before but what has happened to our traditional red and white stripes?! We look like Liverpool now! I am very grateful for what the present management has done for our club - saving us and investing millions but at the same time I feel we should not forget or even erase some of the glorious mements from our past I feel our past players should always be honoured and respected and our glorious history and tradition never forgotten I really feel last week's win is the turning point Come on you Saints!
That's a laugh. Crouch doesn't head the ball. He gets in the way of it and the ball bounces off his head, hopefully in the right direction. He's nowhere near a natural header of the ball, IMO. Can't jump well either. Mind you, he doesn't need to.
Welcome to the forum old boy! You certainly have some interesting stories to tell mate, I genuinely wish I had much of an idea what you were on about with half of it, before my time though I'm afraid. I don't think your alone on your feelings regarding the current kit, in fact as you guessed, there's currently a discussion about it here if you wanted to add your viewpoint in greater depth: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/180106-Saints-kit-sales I think we all hope last week will be the turning point and will give the boys that boost to kick us on from here on out. Whether it will or not is the nervy thing, how we perform against Newcastle will tell us a lot.
