david in sweden Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 (edited) is always a great regret to clubs. Players we never quite signed and went elsewhere (ah well ) ..such is life ...... ......... BUT what about those we GAVE away. Players who were released /given away / loaned out - never to return. Over the years we've had our share: Dennis Wise, Kevin Phillips both released by Lawrie Mac (who probably thought them too short, but everyone was up against 6'6" Lawrie,) and then there was Graham Roberts (later Spurs) and all three ended up later playing for England. More recently Matt Oakley took over a year to recover from his injury, and our manager of the day (whoever that was ?) let him go and he was off to ..Ipswich/ Norwich? ..eventually Derby when they got promoted (at our expense) and now we can ponder those two youthful centre halves of yester year; Mike Williamson (former Torquay and on loan to all point east) now to Pompey for £3 million - is it ?...and a few weeks ago M. Mills (former Saints youth ) to somewhere? (via Man.City and Doncaster for the same sort of fee). I've always argued that we can't keep Acacemy lads forever once they've graduated and if they look OK we hang on to them.....but it is somewhat galling..at a time when we are hunting a good centre half, to see these two names popping up as transfer bargains (at ONLY £3 mill.) to think we once had them both - and gave them away.! Edited 1 September, 2009 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Mills went to Reading for just under £2mil (1.8 I think) !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rory Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 We got Matt Oakley's best years here. Him and Delap were integral to our cup final run. What are you talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eesti matty Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Sorry to be pedantic, but I am sure it was Chris Nicholl who released Kevin Phillips. I think Jason Dodd was already on the books and Chris Nicholl released Phillips. I read it in Phillips' autobiography. Regarding Mills and Williamson. Mills (now at Reading)was struggling to get into our team on a regular basis and was tempted by Wigley (and the lure of Premiership football) to join Man City. Williamson was nowhere near our first team and went down a couple of levels and got vital first team experience there. I am surprised at how he seems to be so in demand and 3 million quid seems to be very expensive for a player who has had much experience at Championship level, never mind the very top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenridge Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 In recent times it appears Matt Mills is the one it would have been nice to have kept hold of but hey ho life goes on. Most clubs could produce a similar listing of the 'one's that got away'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Man Do Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 In recent times it appears Matt Mills is the one it would have been nice to have kept hold of but hey ho life goes on. Most clubs could produce a similar listing of the 'one's that got away'. All well and good but what with our recent history, had he played as he had with us, he'd have been sold to reduce the debt anyway! Plenty of players go on to be better off with other clubs its just the way of the sport I suppose. Be nice to find and keep a "good un" for a little while though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumpofshipperley Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Paul McDonald anyone??? Seems to score alot of goals for Celtic nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Scott McDonald. Arron Davies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdearlove Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Paul McDonald anyone??? Seems to score alot of goals for Celtic nowadays. or Scott? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Oxford nearly had a young lad called Matthew Le Tissier as a school boy until he got home sick & then signed for Lawrie Mac Newcastle had Alan Shearer in kids trial & put him in goal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 How about: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13325 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 1 September, 2009 Share Posted 1 September, 2009 Players come, players go. They fit in at some clubs, they don't at others. Look at Kevin Davies at Bolton - we couldn't wait to offload him amongst rumours that he didn't train well and couldn't get fit, now he's being touted for England. But that is just life - no use worrying or moaning about it - wish them all the best and move on. No point worrying about spilt milk - look forward, no back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fareham saint phil Posted 2 September, 2009 Share Posted 2 September, 2009 some of the players mentioned just never done it at saints and they probally needed the move away at the time, it was best all round, hindsight is an extact science Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordshire_saint Posted 2 September, 2009 Share Posted 2 September, 2009 To be honest we released most of those players when we were a Prem side and they wouldn't have got a look-in. It's probably the moves away that helped them become the players that they are now. If we were still in the Prem we probably wouldn't want any of them back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 September, 2009 Author Share Posted 3 September, 2009 Players come, players go. They fit in at some clubs, they don't at others. Look at Kevin Davies at Bolton - we couldn't wait to offload him amongst rumours that he didn't train well and couldn't get fit, now he's being touted for England. But that is just life - no use worrying or moaning about it - wish them all the best and move on. No point worrying about spilt milk - look forward, no back. Really goes to prove that players do react to / or against certain managers. Strachan had a hard time dealing with Kevin Davies and was glad to see the back of him.pity for us 'cos Big Sam knew how to steer KD - and WGS didn't. Mills thought he was better than he really was (at that time)...as did Cranie but in truth neither of them was worth a first team place when they left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now