I've only met MLT and Jason Dodd who sometimes pops down to Fairthorne Manor where my brother works, both were very friendly!
Jimmy Case , Alan Ball competitive and superb footballers who achieved so much in the game proud they played for us and also this may not be popular as it ended badly but i thought and still do think Kevin Phillips was a intelligent footballer and great goalscorer loved hm when he played for us
Brett Omerod : This is not one based on great goals or history with team, but on the appealling story of the guy. Accrington Stanley (when they were non-league) to the Premiership. He just evokes that underdog spirit and I will also have a place in my saints memory. I know he wasn't the greatest goal scorer we ever had, but there is no way Beattie would have scored those goals without him. Also, he was around at the start of the decline where players thought they were better than than the club, while Omerod knew to be grateful for his good fortune. Remember a game we won where he got MotM but couldn't be interviewed as he was in the dressing room throwing up 'cause he had worked so hard. We would've done well to keep him going down to the Championship... Glad to see he a got a chance with Blackpool in the Premiership and is still playing now... and that he scored against Liverpool...
Just looked at Ormerod's Wikipedia site, apparently Strachan saw him play and said the first thing he was going to do when he got back into management was to sign him, which he did for Saints. Loved it when the fans sang 'You've got Brett Ormerod' the first time he returned to SMS. A man of good character.
I'm not saying he's not friendly, just that he's not very grounded. In my opinion, he's not all that humble, there's an element of arrogance there, like he was a great player and he know's it kind of thing. Sorry to say, but in my opinion you don't get that with other players like Lallana or Pahars etc.
Agree with most of the players mentioned so far. Lee Holmes seems like a very down-to-earth kind of guy as well - when you have such bad luck with injuries there must be a tendency to let your head drop, but he always comes across as very friendly and intelligent in interviews. He's also consistently won the award for doing the most charity work out of all the players. I know he gets slated a lot on here, but Walcott was always very generous with his time. Maybe he's now changed a bit since he was 16, but I can remember chatting to him for about 10 minutes after a game once - before he was eventually dragged away by his dad who wanted to go home!
Reminded on another thread about Benali...always cared. Doesn't sound a lot but very important to fans.
Saintgreg i'm with you.Have been saying it for a while,although i base my opinions from interviews and tv.He's not overly cocky but you definitely get a sense of self importance with him.
A natural confidence (cockiness?) must come if you've been worshipped for many years. Sometimes it's nice to be a big fish in a little pond (please excuse fishy references). It may explain why he has a problem with Cortese (presently cock of the walk). They both want to have the highest ground.
Having been supporting the Lads since 1966, I've got a few to pick from. But if I leave aside the obvious candidates through the years and concentrate on... say since Saints were relegated from the Premiership, then Rickie stands out head and shoulders. Honourable mentions to Adam Lallana and Papa Waigo. It's difficult to pick a favourite, when you have reasons to like them all.
I met Matty Oakly a quite few times having a shandie of 3, very normal, never boasted about being a footballer, first time i met him was in the Winston with Jason Dodd, i went to chat to Doddy and didnt realise who Matty was at first, good blokes the pair of them. I think the problem with MLT is he has a public face and acts in a way he thinks people want him to be, and (he cant help it) his grin / smile looks wrong, he ends up looking smarmy.
Do you know it would be difficult for me to pick just one person.......So I will start my list..... Terry Paine Jon Sydenham Ron Davis Cliff Huxford Derek Reeves Micky Channon Alan Ball Brian O'neal [got to know him quite well as he used to live opposite me] Steve Moran Bobby Stokes Peter Rodrigos Marian Pahars MLT Met him several times especially in his nightclub Jason Dodd Also Francis Banali Some I have had the pleasure to meet at least once socially the vast majority several times. A few of them I have had the pleasure of playing against and with. I have to say it has been my pleasure to be acquainted with these gentlemen.
Stuart Ripley used to be my neighbour and he always seemed very grounded whenever I spoke to him. Not at all prententous. Definately got the opinion that he was pretty intelligent too. My piano teacher used to be very friendly with Ted Bates and I once met the great man before a lesson. I've not met many other players at length to get any opinion although I have played a couple of gigs where MLT was a guest albeit on the second occasion it was the former "That's Life" presenter Gavin Campbell who was the only celeb mingling with the musicians. From time to time I work with a former professional referee who is still tied up with the FA and the few conversations that I have had with him have always been fascinating as he often knew the truth behind quite a few things that were in the papers / media / news such as Pardew's departure from Saints.
Rickie. Just love down to earth Scousers, and he is all that. Particularly love it that he is "made up" that he got a new contract and so obviously loves playing for us.
I'll always remember D e a n o... D e a n o... D e a n o... sung from the Archers Road end of The Dell every other weekend! What a great defender he was!
