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Post by chesterfieldstokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:01:50 GMT
No I only saw Dobing and I know he wasn't better than Hudson and I doubt the others were. Dobing was FAR better he created and also scored goals
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Post by simple on Feb 11, 2018 19:02:16 GMT
The choice is depending on your age but N’Zonzi only had one decent season,over the years Jeff Salmonds,John Mahoney,Howard Kendall,in the lower divisions Kav,Bracewell,Sammy Irvine would of been good if his career was not cut short.Over the last 10 years Glen Whealan most consistent,Delap greatly under valued.
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Post by kustokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:03:06 GMT
Did they all play in central midfield? Yes Dobing played up front when we desperate I believe Waddo signed Dobing as a CF, but moved him back to midfield when he bought in John Ritchie and later Geoff Hurst.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Feb 11, 2018 19:03:07 GMT
Jimmy Mcllroy , Denis Violet, Peter Dobing all were better than Hudson. I agree. Also, N’zonzi was a marde arse and only performed when he felt like it and only for a very, very short period of time - there was one season when he was really very good. Before that everything was sideways and backwards. Mind you Dobing was a real marde arse (worse than anyone I have ever seen in a Stoke shirt). When he felt up for a game he was a genius, but more often than he couldn’t be bothered. Several Stoke players past and present were potentially brilliant but they would never have played for Stoke if they were more consistent - they would have played for England as well. Nzonzi was one of our best players for all three seasons he was at the club. This myth that he was only good in his last season is bizarre. Can only imagine it stems from the transfer requests and the fact that he ‘gasp’ played nice, simple passes rather than Hollywood balls.
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Post by greystokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:03:34 GMT
Mickey Thomas for his industry, spirit and skill. Is that on the field or the printing press, Wuzza? 😀
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Post by cheadlestokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:03:52 GMT
If you are looking for a. balanced midfield look no farther than John Mahoney to play alongside Alan Hudson
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Post by trickydicky73 on Feb 11, 2018 19:18:32 GMT
Before my time but the consensus seemed to be that we had an ace midfield with people like Micky Thomas and Sammy Mac before Barker opted to bypass it entirely. The late Robbie James was pretty good as well I think? Nzonzi is the best central midfield player I’ve seen at Stoke. Before that it was probably Gleghorn. My dad really rated John Mahoney. I was going to suggest Sammy Mac. He was a cracking player who seemed to be everywhere. I can't really judge Mahoney, Hudson etc because although I saw them, I was only about 7 when they were in their prime. I was a teenager when Bracewell, Thomas and McIlroy were playing, and they were all very good. Robbie James had the hardest shot I have ever seen.
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Post by march4 on Feb 11, 2018 19:26:46 GMT
Rory Delap is easily the best partner for Hudson in our best ever midfield.
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Post by wuzza on Feb 11, 2018 19:28:50 GMT
Mickey Thomas for his industry, spirit and skill. Is that on the field or the printing press, Wuzza? 😀 I doubt there was much skill involved in that if Mickey was the mastermind - probably £6 notes being produced!
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Post by chad on Feb 11, 2018 19:30:17 GMT
Jimmy Mcllroy , Denis Violet, Peter Dobing all were better than Hudson. Id seriously disagree with that one
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Post by chesterfieldstokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:32:43 GMT
Jimmy Mcllroy , Denis Violet, Peter Dobing all were better than Hudson. Id seriously disagree with that one Your prerogative
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Post by Paul Spencer on Feb 11, 2018 19:36:53 GMT
Howard Kendall, although past his best days when he joined us he still oozed quality, and undoubtedly passed on lots of experience to the likes of Bracewell and Heath. Also Tony “Zico” Kelly if only he could have passed a pie shop like he could pass a ball. When I saw the title of this thread, the first name that came into my head was indeed Howard Kendall. Beautifully cultured player albeit nearing the end of his career. All things being equal though and specifically as a PARTNERSHIP, it would have to be a pairing of Hudson and N'Zonzi. You can only dream where we would be now, with those two in their prime in the side.
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Post by denzo53 on Feb 11, 2018 19:44:59 GMT
Jimmy Mcllroy , Denis Violet, Peter Dobing all were better than Hudson. Dobing was a classy player! The other two were good but past their best at Stoke. Hudson was the most talented of all of them! Bojan at his best was/is also a class player.
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Post by chesterfieldstokie on Feb 11, 2018 19:47:12 GMT
Jimmy Mcllroy , Denis Violet, Peter Dobing all were better than Hudson. Dobing was a classy player! The other two were good but past their best at Stoke. Hudson was the most talented of all of them! Bojan at his best was/is also a class player. Jimmy Mac practically carried us when we were promoted to the first division, past his best yes but still absolutely superb.
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Post by spawnyruud on Feb 11, 2018 19:55:35 GMT
Tuncay was probably one of the most technically gifted we've had in recent times. Shocking that TP didn't play him more
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2018 20:20:46 GMT
George Eastham probably played his best football for, ahem, Arsenal - before they became our deadly rivals - but he still played something like 200 matches for us, a very cultured midfielder with exquisite skills and great vision. Also a true, true gentleman. I always thought he was too good for us, but like a lot of players in the Waddington era he just loved being here. How fitting he should score our cup winning goal at Wembley - and how sad he became the manager to take us down, though it was not his fault. We were just falling apart. Finally got his World Cup Winners medal a few years ago.
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Post by PolPotter on Feb 11, 2018 20:29:04 GMT
The Zonz......After he left, the wheels started to fall off. Class player, like Huddy. We did ok before his (Zonz) one good season.
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Post by tqstokie on Feb 11, 2018 20:30:26 GMT
John Devine was a tidy midfielder for us, as was Brian Talbot!!! I agree, both fine players. A pity John Devine had a career ending broken leg and hence only played a relatively few games for us. Oh for some players of their quality now!
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Feb 11, 2018 20:42:51 GMT
John Devine was a tidy midfielder for us, as was Brian Talbot!!! I agree, both fine players. A pity John Devine had a career ending broken leg and hence only played a relatively few games for us. Oh for some players of their quality now! Yeah, it was a real shame with Devine!!! I remember he was well liked with the supporters!!!
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Post by smallthorner on Feb 11, 2018 21:07:25 GMT
If you were looking for a box to box engine to partner Hudson then you wouldn't go far wrong with John Mahoney. If you are picking attacking midfielders then George Eastham. My dad always reckoned Frank Soo was top notch and very underrated. Peter Dobing was too hit and miss. One day brilliant next game garbage. Waddo always reckoned Eastham played his best football whilst at Stoke.
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Post by hchpotter on Feb 11, 2018 21:35:27 GMT
Bracewell - he went on play for England, won the league and European Cup Winners' Cup, and played in several FA Cup finals.
Much underrated but a cracking player.
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Post by muglump on Feb 11, 2018 21:39:03 GMT
Sammy Mcilroy, class. Also Brian Talbot was class. In fairness though Hudson was the best of the best
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Post by magwitch on Feb 11, 2018 21:56:02 GMT
You saw them all did you???? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Jimmy McIlroy was a central midfielder who could compare with Hudson on his day, but also did not score often as Hudson. Personally I preferred Hudson because he was better at passing the ball at just the right moment. His ball control and movement were just sublime which made him better to watch. Violett and Dobing were similar in style, both being all-rounders who could play in midfield or up front. I would love to have seen Hudson playing with Dobing, who was World class on his day and a frequent goalscorer whether playing up front or in midfield. To compare players who are basically different in style and substance, can be very misleading in my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2018 21:58:08 GMT
You saw them all did you???? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I never saw Denis Violet play but I did see the others , Dobing I would describe as industrious like Allen but with a more solid tackle, Jimmy Mac just quality and bags of enthusiasm for the game . Hudson just had the ball stuck to his foot and then he ran, arrogant almost. I still think huddy was the best but as others have said John Mahoney was silky and never seemed to waste much. I'd recon he would be £25 million in todays market. We've been quite spoiled for a little club haven't we =).
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Post by Kewstokie on Feb 11, 2018 22:08:53 GMT
Another vote for Mahoney, Prince of Wales.
Later eras I thought Kendall was tidy, Bracewell had a similar engine as Mahoney, and a small shout for Brian Talbot in his short career here.
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Post by TheTipster on Feb 11, 2018 22:18:27 GMT
Geoff Salmons, John Mahoney or Sammy Mcllroy
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Post by onionman on Feb 11, 2018 22:23:37 GMT
Nzonzi is the best of the modern era by a thousand miles.
Gleghorn managed to carry a midfield with Ray Wallace, Graham Potter and Mark Devlin into the second division play-offs, without even running. Delap just edges him out because he did it in the top flight. Both of them had footballing intelligence which you don't see in many English players.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2018 22:25:08 GMT
Nzonzi easily
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2018 22:26:36 GMT
Sorry not nzonzi...i mean imbula or fletcher maybe adam...spoiled for choice
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Post by claytonscrubs on Feb 11, 2018 22:27:26 GMT
The Zonz......After he left, the wheels started to fall off. Class player, like Huddy. We did ok before his (Zonz) one good season. I take it players like Dean Whitehead floats your boat. Fair enough...😉
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