The most underrated Saints player

Jimmy Melia.

 

Didn't we have a young nipper once who was always falling on his arse? If I remember rightly he didn't turn out too badly.

 

He wasn't that great he only played 129 league games for us according to Wikipedia. Matt is still grateful Alex Manninger for stopping Marsden from scoring the last goal at The Dell. Loved Marsden

 

Matt Oakley

 

Good call. A mainstay of that side which reached Wembley in 2003.

 

Or Cardiff even

 

In recent years I have to say that Steve Davis was instrumental to our success but never really valued by some pundits in contrast to the fans who watched what he did week in, week out. The first player I recall watching who I felt was insufficiently lauded was David Peach. He was the first player I can recall leaving Saints about whom I was genuinely upset to see go.

It is open to debate as to who is considering the particular player underrated. As an unfashionable club, there have been 100s of players who we have field you have not achieved the attention of players at other clubs. I would also have to say that there are similarly players who are not as talented as some of their colleagues but who played the best football of their career with Saints and who were rightly appreciated by the fans. You could include the likes of Chris Marsden, Paul Telfer, Iain Dowie , Andrew Davies, Richard Hall, Danny Harding, Dean Hamond, etc.

 

Oh yeah


Forgot that. I was there too.

 

Yep, there were a few who put in real shifts during the L1 + Champ days. Subject to much criticism at the time (often by myself) they really were underrated in the contribution they made. Lee Barnard comes to mind.

 

Norman Dean

 

Nick Holmes

 

We should have offered him a better contract that he wanted when he left. Annoyed me that Harry always picked his son over Oakley and I blame him for Oakley leaving

 

Malcolm Waldron and also from that era, Baker ( cannot think of his first name). Also Trevor Hebberd, Austin Hayes and Alan Sealey.

 

Always thought Dan Harding was pretty underrated.

In more recent times, Fraser Forster & Jack Stephens

 

Graeme Baker.
Trevor Hebberd came to my mind too. For me he improved when he filled in at right back and did an excellent job. He seemed to find it easier when facing forward rather than being in the midfield and facing all directions.

 

Don't think the last two played that much Ides, I used to go to every match back then and can't recall much of either oh and it's Tony Sealy BTW.

 

Shane Long certainly divides opinion amongst Saints fans and you can say the he is underappreciated in some quarters.

 

He’s a good forward, but not a good striker, if that makes sense!!

 

Trevor’s best times were as a sweeper at Derby/Oxford

 

Hugh Fisher.