I can sort of see where you're going with this and I'm not even going to choose, because that was a different Southampton FC. Today's SFC almost has no similarity to the one before 2009. In one or two ways, that's a shame, mainly because football isn't the same as it was. In a world where the competition has moved on incredibly fast, I'll take today's interation of SFC and the current players, every time. Otherwise, if I make my own point here, we may as well suggest Derek Reeves, in his pomp, as a foil for Rickie Lambert. As someone once said, let's not go there.
I didn't see either of them play but I would love to have Le Tissier in the team just for his excitement value.
Wish I could compare, but I'm not old enough to remember Channon. So it would have to be Tiss for me. I was quite young when I first saw him. And it's a game I will never forget. He scored a free kick against Wimbledon in a way I have never seen a goal scored before. (when he flicked it up and volleyed it from a free kick) If it wasn't for him I might not have been supporting Saints now. I remember going home and trying to copy him in my garden. Haha those were the days. I know this does not answer your question just reminding me of some brilliant times
Sadly I saw both play and don't think there is much of a decision really....Mick Channon by AB absolute mile. For those too young to have had the privilage, Mick Channon was like Rickie but much faster and operated at a time when defenders would kick lumps out of forwards. Mick scored at international and domestic levels too.
Sadly I didn't support Saints in Mick Channon's time, so I can only talk about the brilliance of Matty. It would be interesting to see how he would fit in the modern game. He would still be a great player, but would not be given the freedom that he was given in a team where he was the star. He might have to get a bit fitter for a start Just had the sudden image of MLT in a pro-vest...would they even have his size?
For me it would have to be Channon every time. Matty would edge it on pure talent but Channon had talent in bucket loads too and he was an athhletic footballer something that I would be hard pressed to say about Matty. Both scored memorable goals which I can close my eyes and see now. Quite interestingly although he scored plenty of goals I cannot remember a single goal scored by Ted MacDougall while I can remember great goals by almost every other Saints player. Is that because they were mainly tap ins and scuffed goals?
Their goal scoring records are remarkably similar.. MC 181 in 510 games and MLT 162 in 443 games. Both had something of the cavalier in their style of play. MC was indeed more athletic, pace enough and a team player. A leader who never gave up and who made the most of his talent. MLT was a footballing genius and like some before him, a flawed genius. You could argue that MC has gone on to use his many of his talents/personality traits in his second career. So, MC made the most of his talents, but Matty was more talented. They were both great servants to the club as players. Can't separate them, and would both be in my team of the last 50 years.
Sadly I never saw Mick Channon in his pomp, so would have to plump (excuse the pun) for Matty. There was no greater disappointment around than going in to the Dell on match day and not spying him in the warm up (this was pre-internet remember) . You'd get a bit nervous, and then crushed as the team were read out and he wasn't playing. How would he get on now? I think he'd be a better Berbatov.
Can't comment on Channon either. i feel this should maybe be a question for the neutrals to answer as obviously every Saints fan will have their biases for whatever reasons. Me, I am loyally devoted to Matty, and he will always be my favourite. Makes Gaston Ramirez look like Ali Dia. Of Premier League superstars, Matty is very much among that elite, and the only names I think deserve equal recognition for their "wow" factor, are Cantona, Shearer, Henry, and Bergkamp.
An excellent summary of their respective merits. If I had to choose one, which I couldn't on purely footballing terms, it would be Mick for the goal celebrations. I still do the windmill thing when I back one of his horses and it wins.
What a great thread. I remember when the young Micky Channon started to get on the team sheet regularly after we sold Martin Chivers. He was a perfect foil for Ron Davies and would play a simlar role alongside Rickie Lambert, although I suspect that Rickie might share more of the target man role if he had Channon playing with him. MLT worked best when, as under Alan Ball, he had a team built around him, playing off his genius passing and setting him up with goalscoring opportunities. I think Matty would frustrate and amze in equal measure, like he did in his pomp, but Channon would fit into today's team better so I'll go for him. Tough choice though.
To my mind theses 2 are the best saints players I've seen in the 50 years I've followed them ,because I was playing myself when mick was I was him on the pitch although restrained myself with his goal celebration ,lol having connections with guernsey for 40 years and living here too I've followed Matt with interest and admiration for his talent and frustration for his laziness not to get as fit as he could have to match that talent and be world class,mick achieved at international level something Matt can never claim and Kevin Keegan once quoted he thought Mick in his pomp was best European player too ,feel privileged to have seen both play but for me Mick Channon is by far the best to have pulled on a saints shirt ,
Le Tiss. I'm too young to have seen Channnon. MLT is my favourite ever player and I'm sure he'd keep Gaston out of tomorrow's team.
for me Terry Payne best crosser of the ball ever, he made many centre forwards look good. Another one club man,and part of the world cup winning squad.
