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Post by Davef on Jan 11, 2013 18:27:16 GMT
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Post by sufolkstokie on Jan 11, 2013 18:36:37 GMT
Great article - what a player, simply what a player. Made me revisit some great days (and still the best Stoke team I have seen play) followed by some very dark days
He has never got over the lack of club communication post his horrific accident, and that is not just us, but also Chelsea.
What a talent and such a shame that he is now so bitter - and that is not all his fault at all. Stoke and Chelsea need to take some of that blame
These Oatcake archives are priceless stuff for me - keep em coming
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Post by stonmg on Jan 11, 2013 18:48:54 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER!
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Post by sufolkstokie on Jan 11, 2013 18:57:29 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER! Give over - Fuller was very good, but Huddy, Greenhoff et al were on a different level
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2013 19:16:11 GMT
Ive been going since 1970
Huddy - simply the most gifted footballer I have ever seen in a stoke shirt
I can recall hardly missing a home game when he was with us first time around, at least for a couple of seasons maybe more - his aura was that compelling - his complete mastery of the midfield - so dominant at times you felt sorry for the opposition
A player you would pay money and travel distance to watch
I can honestly say in two seasons of home games I honestly do not recall seeing him lose the ball once - or misplace a single pass
The pitch would be amudbath - the centre circle his stage - and the mud - well -he glided across it with the ball stuck to his feet like it was glued on
(Maybe Im exaggerating a bit but, he REALLY WAS that good)
nothing more really needs saying
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Post by march4 on Jan 11, 2013 19:16:47 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER! Give over - Fuller was very good, but Huddy, Greenhoff et al were on a different level Stan, Banksie, Huddy, Chambo all top of the tree Stokies for me. Denis, Greenhoff, Pej, Leader and a couple of our present players form the next layer.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2013 19:17:32 GMT
Fuller - not fit to lace Huddys boots - ridiculous !
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Post by stonmg on Jan 11, 2013 19:35:17 GMT
Taking the piss sorry!
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Post by Gods on Jan 11, 2013 20:22:42 GMT
Great article.
I couldn't believe just how jaw-droppingly good Alan Hudson was in the first few games he played for us. Simply staggering. At times he looked bored by the mediocrity around him. My favourite ever Stoke player by miles. Stand back in wonder.
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Post by OldStokie on Jan 11, 2013 21:49:27 GMT
Thanks for that, David.
We older supporters sometimes tend to put on rose tinted glasses when talking about players from yesteryear, but just like Banksie and Greenhoff, Huddy was the 'real-deal'. He was, without doubt, the most brilliant player I've ever seen wearing the famous red and white stripes. Much of what the article says about his personality is, unfortunately, true, but when it came to his brilliant footballing skills and a brain to match them when he was on the park, he's had no equal in the time I've been supporting the club.
OS.
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Post by Gods on Jan 11, 2013 22:18:03 GMT
He was, without doubt, the most brilliant player I've ever seen wearing the famous red and white stripes. OS. For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know.
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Post by march4 on Jan 11, 2013 22:39:08 GMT
He was, without doubt, the most brilliant player I've ever seen wearing the famous red and white stripes. OS. For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know. I consider myself very lucky to have seen him, Banksie and Stan playing for us.
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Post by str8outtahampton on Jan 11, 2013 22:51:09 GMT
He was, without doubt, the most brilliant player I've ever seen wearing the famous red and white stripes. OS. For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know. It is spot on. But there is another dimension. The fact that we signed Huddo, the fulcrum of an outstanding side, was what seems now to be an almost unbelievable statement of intent, ambition, optimism and aspiration. Any Stokey who was at that monumental game at the Baseball Ground in February/March 1975 - and there about 10,000 of us, many of whom had started arriving in the early morning - was witness to our being within touching distance of the League title. We won that day, and placed ourselves several points beyond Derby - only to stumble in the run-in. The fact that Derby won the League a few weeks later simply highlights what might have been. That team was a privilege to watch - and pre-eminent in that team was Mr Hudson.
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Post by march4 on Jan 11, 2013 23:59:05 GMT
For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know. It is spot on. But there is another dimension. The fact that we signed Huddo, the fulcrum of an outstanding side, was what seems now to be an almost unbelievable statement of intent, ambition, optimism and aspiration. Any Stokey who was at that monumental game at the Baseball Ground in February/March 1975 - and there about 10,000 of us, many of whom had started arriving in the early morning - was witness to our being within touching distance of the League title. We won that day, and placed ourselves several points beyond Derby - only to stumble in the run-in. The fact that Derby won the League a few weeks later simply highlights what might have been. That team was a privilege to watch - and pre-eminent in that team was Mr Hudson. www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Memory-Match-Derby-County-1-Stoke-City-2-Baseball-Ground-Division-15th-March-1975/story-12488653-detail/story.htmlMatch report above. We were 5th going into the game with Derby 3rd. We only won 3 of the remaining 9 games following this match (one of them was home vs Liverpool - I think). After the game, we were 3rd ahead of Derby, L'pool & Ipswich who all finished the season higher than us, but crucially 4 points still behind Everton who finished the season 4th. I thought we were much closer to winning the title than this - I'm a bit stunned really. The final table panned out as; 1 Derby 53 2 L'pool 51 3 Ipswich 51 4 Everton 50 5 Stoke 49 6 Sheff U 49 7 M'boro 48
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Post by partickpotter on Jan 12, 2013 7:58:49 GMT
I've got this in 'ast thee got win with chayse; a great book which celebrated 10 years of the Oatcake.
Well, 2013 is the 25th year - any chance of a new edition. Be a great Chrimbo present I am sure for many a Stokie.
I remember last time you got folk to commit to buying a book ahead of publication. But now with crowd funding sites you could get actual cash up front.
Just a thought!
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jan 12, 2013 9:23:36 GMT
For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know. It is spot on. But there is another dimension. The fact that we signed Huddo, the fulcrum of an outstanding side, was what seems now to be an almost unbelievable statement of intent, ambition, optimism and aspiration. Any Stokey who was at that monumental game at the Baseball Ground in February/March 1975 - and there about 10,000 of us, many of whom had started arriving in the early morning - was witness to our being within touching distance of the League title. We won that day, and placed ourselves several points beyond Derby - only to stumble in the run-in. The fact that Derby won the League a few weeks later simply highlights what might have been. That team was a privilege to watch - and pre-eminent in that team was Mr Hudson. Just one little historical error. The win at Derby on 15th March put us 1 point clear of them on the day and not "several points beyond Derby" as you suggest. Have a look here: www.statto.com/football/teams/stoke-city/1974-1975/table/1975-03-15
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jan 12, 2013 9:48:47 GMT
For me Hudson was the best player ever to wear the Stoke Shirt. Not the greatest though, that mantel belongs to Sir Stan. I had the privilege of watching Hudson many times during his Stoke tenure. Waddo allowed Hudson virtual free reign on the pitch and Hudson would accept that freedom and boss the midfield. Two managers were the cause of Huddy's downfall IMO. Revie and most of all the the despicable Terry Neil of arseholes fame. Trying to dictate how Huddy should play their systems was the equivalent of letting your rabbit free run of the veg patch but telling him not to eat anything. This is why I doubt Huddy would have succeeded in PL where players are shoe-horned into systems and tactics and not able to show their true flair. There are some exceptions, Beckham, Lampard to name a couple. But generally players are stuck in rigid systems on the orders of managers and coaches and woe betide any that transgress. It's a shame and the football spectre is the biggest loser.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jan 12, 2013 10:23:19 GMT
Remember though, when he was at Arsenal he his fine form and Ron bgreenwood wanted him in the England squad. For the second time Huddy refused to play for England.
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Post by Bagwash on Jan 12, 2013 11:33:05 GMT
My owd man,who started watching our beloved Potters in the early 60's puts Hudson on a par with Dennis Violet as the best player he has seen wear the Stoke shirt. For my own part,didn't see much of Huddy when he first come to the club but he was brill when he came back and masterminded our escape from near certain relegation.
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Post by lancer on Jan 12, 2013 12:00:13 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER! Loved Fuller, but IMHO, Fuller was not in the same league as Huddy. There has never been a football at Stoke, or possibly any other football club in this country, within a mile of Hudson. He was absolutely magic. Don't ask me to describe his football skill, they are indescribable. He really was a joy to watch, and the prime exponent of what is called the working mans ballet.
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Post by Gods on Jan 12, 2013 12:02:14 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER! Loved Fuller, but IMHO, Fuller was not in the same league as Huddy. There has never been a football at Stoke, or possibly any other football club in this country, within a mile of Hudson. He was absolutely magic. Don't ask me to describe his football skill, they are indescribable. He really was a joy to watch, and the prime exponent of what is called the working mans ballet. Stonmg was joshing with us mate, read through the thread, he said so further down.
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Post by everstoke21 on Feb 4, 2013 22:35:18 GMT
A fantastically gifted player. Undoubtedly one of the very very best to have played for us.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2013 0:49:28 GMT
Legend up there with FULLER! Legend Indeed! dont even try to compare Alan Hudson with Fuller ! it doesnt work ....one is great , the other is merely good
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2013 0:54:44 GMT
For me Hudson was the best player ever to wear the Stoke Shirt. Not the greatest though, that mantel belongs to Sir Stan. I had the privilege of watching Hudson many times during his Stoke tenure. Waddo allowed Hudson virtual free reign on the pitch and Hudson would accept that freedom and boss the midfield. Two managers were the cause of Huddy's downfall IMO. Revie and most of all the the despicable Terry Neil of arseholes fame. Trying to dictate how Huddy should play their systems was the equivalent of letting your rabbit free run of the veg patch but telling him not to eat anything. This is why I doubt Huddy would have succeeded in PL where players are shoe-horned into systems and tactics and not able to show their true flair. There are some exceptions, Beckham, Lampard to name a couple. But generally players are stuck in rigid systems on the orders of managers and coaches and woe betide any that transgress. It's a shame and the football spectre is the biggest loser. I agree with most of what you say lawrie ...but Alan Hudson would have most definately made it in the premier league ...class always comes through ....it did in the old first Division and it would have in the prem as well
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2013 0:57:09 GMT
Great article - what a player, simply what a player. Made me revisit some great days (and still the best Stoke team I have seen play) followed by some very dark days He has never got over the lack of club communication post his horrific accident, and that is not just us, but also Chelsea. What a talent and such a shame that he is now so bitter - and that is not all his fault at all. Stoke and Chelsea need to take some of that blame These Oatcake archives are priceless stuff for me - keep em coming agreed they are gold dust ....a bit like the memory !
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Post by oldgit57 on Feb 21, 2013 18:14:14 GMT
The man was a genius, no more comment required!
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Post by bestman on Mar 1, 2013 1:19:55 GMT
I,ve been watching them since the early 1940,s and without a doubt Hudson was the nicest player I have seen.Brilliant ball control with deadly accurate passing and with one long pass he could switch the play from one wing to the other.They would take ten passes to do that now.
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Post by StokieSC on Mar 31, 2013 21:32:20 GMT
Met him a couple of times, absolute top bloke.
Even got him to turn up at the old mans 50th birthday a couple of years ago.
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Post by stokiejoe on May 23, 2013 17:04:28 GMT
He was, without doubt, the most brilliant player I've ever seen wearing the famous red and white stripes. OS. For anyone who missed this football genius that is all you need to know. Without a shadow of doubt, the best, the word genius is over-used these days, but this man was the real deal. Only too happy that I was able to watch him from behind the Boothen End goal. Happy days.
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Post by alandoddsdadsdogsded on May 30, 2013 17:53:22 GMT
1974 ( guess ) Sheffield utd away , I shook Alan,s hand as he got off team bus . I think this was his debut for stoke but could be wrong . Cannot remember score but it was a great battle between the man who walks on water & Tony Currie
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