For the Reds I'm going Nicky Eaden. Used to get some horrific stick and what a solid player he was. Away from the reds I'll go go Steve McManaman.
Probably the first and definitely the best sweeper to ever play for us imo. He was born to the role. As for Gray. One of many great midfielders to play for us.
I always thought Nicky Butt was a better player than people gave credit for. Maybe because he wasn't Scholes or Keane, he was always seen as the one who filled in, but he was a proper player and showed it at the 2002 World Cup. He could do a lot more than just tackle (and get cards) and chipped in with a fair few assists and a smattering of goals. I'm not sure if underrated is quite appropriate here, but I always think Gabriel Batistuta gets largely forgotten about, or at least not widely recognised as the absolute colossal centre forward that he was. What a player, especially for Fiorentina. As for Barnsley players, probably Nicky Eaden would be in the underrated category. Maybe also Andy Liddell and more latterly Josh Scowen seemed to go under the radar for a while with his energetic performances.
I always thought that Paul Wilkinson was underrated in our promotion season and even his vital goal against Bradford was overshadowed by Clint's.
Ray McHale was my era, as a teenager. Loved the simplicity of his game. Stuart Gray, loved him as well, remember standing in the lower West Stand, him defending, winger comes at him and Gray, without the ball, threw him a dummy challenge, took the ball, advanced, then clipped a classic Phil Chambers pass down the left. Brilliant. He cost 100000? then went on to Villa and Saints. just thought he was as not underrated as Ray. Otherwise........
I think Liddell is a great call. Just because he wasn't as prolific in the first team as he was in the Northern Intermediate League, a lot of people thought of him as a failure. Letting him go was a massive, massive error.
I think it’s hard to say someone who has played for the biggest clubs in the world and won everything there is to win can be underrated. I think currently Ward-Prowse is so underrated, he has everything you need from a midfielder, I’m really surprised one of the big sides haven’t picked him up. For Barnsley, I might be on my own here because of the stick the lad got for us however, I’ve got to say Steven Bahre. I thought he was a tidy footballer and really liked him, I thought the stick he got was harsh. On the players who have won everything though, Nasri. He was ridiculous I thought, should be in the conversation as one of the best to play in the prem.
There was a player called Colin Marshall who played for our reserves in the 80s. No idea what happened to him but I thought he was brilliant. Skinny lad but quick - scored plenty.
I thought the same about ward prowse until this season. His stats look okay but I think he's been decent. Nothing better. Surprised me that a lot of west ham fans don't rate him at all and want rid already- personally I feel that's down to the system Moyes plays. I think he's a top half prem player and hopefully lopetegui gets the best from him again like his Southampton days
I remember him!!, Jock kid from Glasgow( think i read somewhere Glavin recommended him), looked about 12 year old and as you say scored loads for the reserves but never got much of a sniff at the first team bar a few sub appearances. Melvin preferred the two Andys up top..........sithi.
I think it was John Hendry who said liddell was the best striker at the club. In the sense Goals per chance ratio. As you say a great call.