I was too young to really have a valid opinion of this at the time (I was 8 and didn't have a season ticket then) So. Did he show any glimpses of his skill in a Charlton shirt? The main reason I ask is that yesterday it was decided that Yann Kermorgant is the best Footballer I have seen at Charlton. Paolo, Parker and Claus Jensen get honorable mentions.
He was OK...... the best player I ever saw playing for Charlton was Allan Simonsen.... pity his stay was so short
He did show some skill, but it was clear that he was way past his best when he played for us. Apparently, his farewell speech in the dressing room, when we'd been relegated, was an extraordinary and inspirational rallying call for an immediate return - and so it proved.
You've got to admire the man for that, bearing in mind he was really Mr Liverpool. Shows he was a man for whom footie really meant something unlike, for example Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
His performance at Upton Park when we beat West Ham he really did pull back the years,it was one of the best individual performances by a Charlton player I have seen. The only problem was due to other injuries he needed to stay on the pitch for the full 90 minutes,I remember Mark Kinsella rubbing his legs in the last five minutes to ensure he lasted the whole game .At other times he showed glimpses of brilliance but he could not last a full game. My other great memory of him was making his debut against Liverpool and us scoring within a minute of him coming on ,even though he did not touch the ball. I assume you saw Di Canio because after Simonsen he is the best I have seen at Charlton.
I first went in 96 but didn't have a season ticket until 2003. In terms of sheer technical brilliance by Charlton Players then Di Canio and Claus Jensen are really the only two that I feel priveliged to have watched. Scott Parker was amazing but not a genius. The difference being that never knowing what they will do next thing. Di Canio's penalty for example against Arsenal, or that free kick he did with Holland where Holland flicked it up and Paolo volleyed it. But, even though it's at a 'lower level', I do think Kermorgant is in that bracket. His awareness and vision is wonderful.
John barnes was outstanding in short spells, much better than he had any right to be considering the physical condition he was in. I think he also changed the way the players look at them selves and played like they knew they were premier league players. It was to late for that season but carried over into the championship. Skill wise Di Canio and Jensen are the best two i have seen. But over all the last 18 months parker was with us he was unbelievable. Sorry to say Yann isn't close to any of them.
He was very fat and slow but I suspect Curbs brought him in for his influence in the dressing room.Now JORGE COSTA that was a player at the end of his career who was magnificent at charlton.
And when he became a manager he brought his team Braga back here for a friendly. Maybe he just wanted to hear his song again.
