Best opposition player you’ve seen down at Oakwell

Just been chatting on Twitter about it and thought i’d get more opinions on here.

For me, it has to be from a fella called Robert Prosinecki for Portsmouth. He was absolutely untouchable that game and none of our lads could get near him. He didn’t score but he absolutely ran the game and even the Barnsley fans gave him a standing ovation when he was subbed late in the game.

another notable player would have to be Ganluca Vialli, when chelsea smashed us for 6.

 

Joe Cole ran the show for Chelsea. Liam Lawrence for Stoke.

 

Bergkamp

 

Prosinecki for me too. Vialli is up there for his four goals, but he was supplied by an unmarked Le Saux all game. It's hard to think of a game since where we've gave a player so much time on the ball, consistently through an entire game. It was probably Danny Fox five years ago.

 

We do this thread at least once a year and I always say Prosinecki. I saw him at Fratton too, even better that afternoon, somehow. Quite easily the greatest footballer I’ve ever watched play against us.

Honourable mentions for Bergkamp home and away 97-98; Ian Wright a few years before in a cup game was just incredible to watch, sheer pace and power; and in terms of recently, I thought Lucas Akins (playing right back) absolutely roasted us last season at Oakwell, he was unplayable.

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen some top, top players against us (we all have), but that Prosinecki double header will never be beaten. Was like watching a God.

 

I've misinterpreted the OP slightly. Gone for who I consider the best opposition player I've seen at Oakwell rather than the best performance by an opposition player. For the latter, concur 100% with Prosinecki. He could have played us on his own and won.

 

Wright when he played for palace?

 

Paul merson everyday!!

 

Lucas Piazon other year for Fulham had a cracking game. They battered us.

 

Ryan Woods

 

Bergkamp. Another world completely.

 

Probably Bergkamp at Oakwell

At any ground - easy - Paul Scholes.

 

Vialli. Didn’t have to hit top gear but pure class

 

Dalian Atkinson in the Atkinson v Currie game

Craig Bellamy a couple of times but particularly the Bassett play-off season. We were 2-0 up against Norwich and as comfortable as a team could ever be. Bellamy had been out for 10 months after doing his cruciate. He'd made one sub appearance the week before in his comeback. He came on about 10 minutes into the second half and with no help from a poor Norwich side began to rip us to pieces. It was 11 v 1 for 35 minutes and he won it 1-0. We scraped a 2-1 victory due to some desperate defending and his team mates missing the chances he put on a plate for them. He's a little sh*t at times, but he could play.

 

Both Kevin Keegan for Newcastle and Craig Bellamy for Norwich at oakwell. Bruce Dyer on the wing for palace away. He absolutely ran us ragged. We still won though.(Bruce once told me. John Dennis was so impressed it was one of the main reasons we signed him.)

 

Ginola

 

Had a reputation for not putting the effort in according to some including his manager at the time. Was box to box all game that night.and of course THAT goal. He celebrated as though he'd scored a cup final winner.

 

Robert Prosinecki for me as well. Played in his carpet slippers and we got absolutely nowhere near him all afternoon. He was just a different class. Notable mentions to Bergkamp and Joe Cole as other have mentioned above.

This season so far the player that's troubled us most at Oakwell is Ladapo from Plymouth. If he could finish we'd have been comfortably beaten in that game.

 

Jonjo SHELVEY

 

Probably any Andy Cole appearance as he seemed to score against us no matter his club.