Was telling someone about David Hirst the other day. How I was lucky enough to have seen his few games for the reds prior to him moving down the road. Saw his his debut at Charlton when got us a pen, and then he went for a while being a right handful without scoring, until he broke his duck against Leeds, and that was him off and running. Then I got to thinking that was scarily 30 years ago! Apart from young Jacko who's career was sadly cut short, have we ever produced a striker as good as Hirst?
Jamil Adam was fantastic on championship manager when I used to play it. Closest I think we’ve come since Hirst!
I don’t think he was as good but Andy Liddell remains my favourite home grown striker. Terrific movement neat finisher and brought others into play. Very underrated imo.
Shame he went to Wednesday. If he had gone anywhere else he would be included in everyone's "best ever" lol
Nobody close from within the club, but I'd concur with others about Liddell. Hirsty had it all. Steve Bould pretty much finished his career early with a terrible tackle, he was never the same after that ankle damage.
Exciting time seeing him come through mate. Like all the great players, there was a buzz of expectation when he got the ball. Can still see that goal v leeds like it was yesterday. They couldn't handle him. Wonder if it's on youtube?
Weirdly people do. If I’m his time with us he had managed to turn himself into the goalscorer he became at Wigan adding 5 more a season he would be talked of as an Oakwell great imo.
Liddell was always one of my favourite players. I was disappointed when we first signed John Hendrie because Andy's place in the side came under threat. Thank god we did sign Hendrie but Liddell more than did his bit the year we went up.
I was talking about players since David Hirst. I would imagine that the further back you go, the more local players would be used.
In all the years I've watched us, we seem to produce excellent defenders on a regular basis, with the odd midfielder thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately, as you rightly say, we rarely do the same with strikers. We've had some quality youth coaches during that time, but it doesn't seem to have made much difference.
Danny Rose is banging them in at Mansfield aswell, I could see him getting a League 1 or Championship move evetually.