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Post by NassauDave on Nov 10, 2020 13:19:13 GMT
I can remember him in one game getting the ball from our keeper at the Stoke end. He was off to the right of the 18 yard box and it was just rolled to him; he was really close to our goal line. He seemed to walk down the pitch with it, although that's clearly the memory playing tricks. There were a few interchanged passes and we scored at the Boothen End. I can't remember opponents, or even who scored for us, just the total lack of surprise - both that he had gone so deep for the ball and that as a result he'd somehow magic-ed a goal for us. I have never seen anyone else who could so dictate the play. He used to do this frequently. Playing out from the Back was unheard of then, but he often collected the ball in the D on the edge of the box and carried it at medium pace right into the other half. His completed passing stats must have been incredible. Best player I ever saw play for Stoke. |
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Post by mattyd2 on Nov 10, 2020 17:51:04 GMT
Remember a few years ago he was signing books in Pattaya, me and a fair few stokies turned up, spent hours chatting with him, loads of great stories, a pal of mine is a Chelsea fan, he came along also, and all cockey asked Huddy which team he liked playing for the most, expecting of course to say Chelsea, " Without question, the best days of my life were at Stoke". Him and Waddo definitely had a massive bromance...
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Post by loosestools on Nov 10, 2020 17:57:58 GMT
Had a sit down meal on the same table as Alan a few years back in the Waddo. A charming bloke, we reminisced about the 70's and how he was brought to Stoke to take over from George Eastham, another gifted player. He looked a bit frail but spoke very well. Proud to have had that experience.
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Post by mattyd2 on Nov 10, 2020 18:02:15 GMT
One of the things he said, and I have heard it a few times but adapted to suit teams/eras...
The Class of 72 v Current ( 2016 when I met him ) Squad...Who'd win.
He said after 90 mins 2016 team would just scrape a 1-0 win ...But you must bear in mind the 72 squad are all now 70 something...
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Post by brinsleymaclagan on Nov 10, 2020 21:31:37 GMT
Stuart Pearce and Roy Keane were brave in the tackle Huddo was brave on the ball . He would try things that were difficult and if they go wrong , would look terrible . Harry redknapp, said he went to watch his young nephew , play in a kid's game once , and loathed the atmosphere and much of the game . 12 year olds were afraid to give the ball away He wanted to say to them , now is the time to try things , and make mistakes . If you are not brave enough to try stuff in kids football, you will never have the skills and courage to do it in adult football . I hope we see another huddo , but it would help enormously if managers of kids teams , would stop trying to be Jose mourinho , and let the kids try stuff and give the ball away , in order to eventually be a bit more quick witted and a bit more clever on the ball . Keane is the biggest coward who ever put on a pair of boots. |
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Post by retrostoke on Nov 10, 2020 22:40:30 GMT
The 90 minutes was his. It flowed when he wanted it to flow. It stopped when he wanted it to stop. You had to see it to understand.
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Post by ab61 on Nov 11, 2020 9:43:28 GMT
Always remember feeling a sigh of relief when huddy got the ball if we were under pressure as I knew I’d be able to relax a tad. Think he had that calming affect on us fans as well as the team.
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Post by StaffordPotter on Nov 11, 2020 9:47:52 GMT
Met him in Stoke a few years back. Nice chap and had plenty of time to talk to supporters.
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Post by tpholloway1 on Nov 11, 2020 12:25:34 GMT
Me and my mate started to go in the paddock so we could get a closer look at Alan. We just stood in amazement as he would call for the ball with three men marking(trying to) him and then pass it through the narrowest of gaps. His link up play with Sir Jimmy was a thing of beauty.
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Post by stokefanone on Nov 11, 2020 16:40:23 GMT
You could not imagine the effect Hudson had on games and supporters. Spellbinding! He was a magician. He never produced the magic of his two years at Stoke, before or after he joined us.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Nov 11, 2020 17:14:59 GMT
He was a similar style to Zidane. Magnificent and dominant but often sort of minimal and understated. I would never describe him as minimal. Understated yes, but never ever minimal. |
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Post by superpej on Nov 11, 2020 17:48:51 GMT
somehow he just seemed to float over a muddy pitch - amazing to watch and such a gifted player
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Post by thebasfordhedgehog on Nov 11, 2020 18:27:39 GMT
Watched him several times as a kid, standing in the Paddock with my dad.
Such a gifted footballer, oozing with natural ability.
Great memories.
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Post by misterj on Nov 12, 2020 18:49:37 GMT
Absolutely my favourite player for Stoke. Let’s go through the comparisons: as skilful as Cruyff, as cool as Best and Beckham, as strong as Messi or Maradona, as fearless as Ronaldhino, as cocky and self-assured as Ronaldo and Cantona..... the only thing he couldn’t achieve was the longevity of Pele or Matthews. Younger readers will be thinking “no - Stoke couldn’t have possibly had anyone THAT good” but d’ya know what? We DID!
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Post by wrighter on Nov 12, 2020 19:15:23 GMT
Simply the best player i ever saw in a Stoke shirt
[ apart from my Jackie Marsh] lol
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2020 2:12:23 GMT
Was pleasantly surprised to have spotted Alan up and about in a Gran Canaria bar last night. Happily speaking to people who approached him. Random but I thought I’d share. Does Vinny Samways still have that bar at the top of the hill in Peurto Rico? He had a bar in Puerto Banus. Not sure if he still does, David Bentley a regular, think he bought the Buddha Bar nearby |
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Post by misterj on Nov 13, 2020 6:54:17 GMT
Just realised I did Mr. Hudson a disservice earlier by saying Alan didn't achieve the longevity of Pele of Matthews (who were both, I imagine, teatotal and complete fitness fanatics) In fact, Alan played to his mid 30's which is pretty standard for a pro-footballer, even the legendary superstar ones ..... I think I was probably looking back at the lack of international caps but let's face it, that was completely out of his hands. The 1966 squad wouldn't tolerate Jimmy Greaves and so the less-talented Hunt and Hurst were put in the team, Glen Hoddle couldn't cope with Gazza in the 90's and I'm guessing the same would be true for Alan in the 70's when the British game was still up and at 'em / get stuck in! In the premier league today he would have absolutely bossed it, great pitches, passing accepted as 'the way' and opposition banned from battering him, like they tried to in the 70's. (how many times did he leave so called hard men sitting on their backsides?) If anyone knows Alan I think it'd be good to pass on this thread, he could use it in his next book or when he next gives talks?
Here's a poem I wrote about him a few years back.......
SPORTS HERO
(Alan Hudson)
Now your sports hero just sort of happens
When you’re in your early-to-mid teens
You’ll go and seek him / her at anytime
You’ll go and see him / her by any means
Your’s might have been Muhammed Ali
Or Ian Botham or Virginian Wade
It could have been Arnold Palmer
Mine, with my pocket money and devotion, I paid
When I was a lad people didn’t move North
If they had potential, they moved South
To the bright lights of London town
Especially if they had initiative and a big mouth
But my sports hero made the opposite trek
From fashionable Chelsea to the land of Stoke
To be with people wearing flat caps and smoking Woodbines
To be surrounded by modest, everyday folk
To us, he was like someone from another planet
Sort of an all-round David Cassidy, Austin Powers and George Best
Big-collared psychedelic shirts and wide-cut suits
His sublime passing set the opposition a weekly test
They couldn’t live with his confidence
They couldn’t cope with his creativity
They couldn’t understand his confidence on the ball
And we couldn’t believe his raw ability
He later played for arsenal and in the States
Had a model wife and his status was international
Why did he leave the ever-so-trendy Kings Road
And join us in the Potteries ? Didn’t seem rational
It was a unique love affair though
Between player and manager, Mr. Waddington (Tony)
Their’s was a mutual interest in each other
Ultimate respect, natural, not phoney
Who’ve we seen in the Premier League to match Alan Hudson ?
There’s been a handful, but only the very top cream
Zola, Cantona, Ginola, Fabregas ? Trouble is .....
None of ‘em qualify for our national team !
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