Overrated...
I write this after a rather boring and dull 2-1 home win against Kidderminster, ok I lie about the game although I’ve heard that term to describe 2 of our games this season from 3 different people. I was disappointed with the games against Plymouth and Carlisle although I thought the games weren’t as mind numbingly boring as these people were making out. One of my friends even went to the lengths of saying that some individuals in the team where over-rated. Gary Alexander, Lawrie Dudfield and Julian “JJ” Johnsson were his main targets. I can understand that Alexander missed a few chances in the 2 games although his performances have been full of running and determination and he is a fine striker at this level, Dudfield and Johnsson some might say were ineffective in the 2 games although none of the players mentioned are over-rated in fact I doubt any players in the current side are over-rated. It did make me think though, what is the most over-rated City XI from the last 10 years.
Lining up in the infamous Hateley 5-3-2 formation is:
Goalkeeper: Scott Thomson
When Mark Hateley walked into Boothferry Park he claimed he’d sign a goalkeeper with European experience and would remain with the Tigers throughout their march into the Premier League. He brought us Raith Rovers ‘keeper Scott Thomson who narrowly wins the No: 1 shirt in this team ahead of Lee Bracey. Thomson was rated by Hateley and seemingly the local media and his arrival was given quite a lot of publicity from the Hull Daily Mail. He was awful and I believe he hardly saved a shot in his 9 games in City colours.
Other contenders: Lee Bracey, Steve Bywater and Aidan Davison
Right Wing Back: Kevin Gage
Ex Wimbledon and Aston Villa right full back that joined City from Preston on a Free Transfer and became Hateleys’ new “past it but he’s an old mate so I might as well give him a big pay day” signing. Gage was injury prone and way past his sell by date when he arrived. He is a contender for the worst City player of all time and a handful of appearances that cost the club something like £7,000 every time he played. He was a serious contender for the sweeper role in this team although he was at his worst at Right Back.
Other Contenders: Jamie Marks and Kevin Betsy
Left Wing Back: Gregor Rioch (Captain)
Fat Greg leads out my overrated XI. He was over-rated by both management and media but not by fans, Rioch was given the captains armband by he of bald patch and he was moved into midfield, Not a wise move as his form was so poor that he was forced to give the captains armband to Warren Joyce. He didn’t help his cause by alledgedly cursing City fans while in a City Centre club. Rioch did give it his all although his lack of footballing ability and aggressive nature meant he was usually caught out in possession and regularly getting sent off. One thing is that he never actually kicked the ball softly and every time his left foot was swung in the vicinity of the ball he “toe-poked” it. He was always interviewed whenever City was on TV as well because of his name despite being an unintelligible oaf.
Other Contender: Scott Maxfield
Centre Back: Matt Hocking
This blonde tart made his name at Sheff Utd reserves and Nigel Spackman saw fit to sell him to City and Hocking became “The new Jobson.” High praise indeed and Hocking wasn’t lacking in ability and read the game quite well for someone that hadn’t played a league game previously. However he lost his way and when he was dropped under Warren Joyce because he was afraid of getting stuck in while the club was battling against relegation and sulked and demanded a transfer. The tart was banished to York and now has to put up with playing in the reserves. Chortle.
Other Contender: David Mail
Centre Back: Jason Perry
A Welsh International as we were informed in the 15 or so games he managed to play for City. A 15 minute friendly appearance against Denmark was Perrys’ only international appearance in the early 90s’ while still at Cardiff. Joining the Tigers from Lincoln for a small fee and on huge wages while the club were willing to pay anything for any player who had more than 3 games experience and could tackle and Perry was seen as the man to partner Justin Whittle. Don’t get me wrong Perry did a fine job when he played although his ability was over-rated by Warren Joyce who tried to pick him whenever possible and leave out Ian Goodison. Problem for Joyce was that Perry was very rarely fit and a troublesome calf injury sidelined him for the majority of his stay with the Tigers. He now plays for Newport County.
Other Contender: Neil Whitworth
Centre Back: Gerry Harrison
If some people say “Who?” when they see Harrisons’ name above I wouldn’t be surprised. Harrison was an arrogant Midfielder/Defender who signed on loan twice at the back end of the 98/99 season and the start of the 99/00. Joyce signed him on knowing the Sunderland player from their days at Burnley. He played average on 1st time around and absymal 2nd. He didn’t offer anything to the side in creativity or vision although was brought back by the management for a 2nd time. Bizarre.
Other Contender: Gary Hobson
Centre Midfield: Brian McGinty
“Super Bri” as he was previously known by the City faithful looked a class apart in his first season at the club and shock horror a decent Mark Hateley signing! He dribbled well and seemed set to be playing in the midfield for many years to come although he returned the following season and showed his true colours. He was overweight and unfit and was anonymous for virtually all season and was promptly booted out by Warren Joyce at the end of his contract. He has talent although the fans at that time were so staved of any quality what so ever McGinty seemed like Pele (well maybe that Brazilian melon seller who replaced Roberto Carlos for 1 game in the World Cup) and proved not be over rated by the management or media but surprisingly the fans.
Other Contenders: Mark Atkins and Richard Peacock
Centre Midfield: David Brown
Brown has footballing ability just not as much as Manchester United thought to poach him from Oldham. He was consistently highlighted as the dangerman whenever City came up against higher division teams like Chelseas and Liverpool and although he did score against both teams he did bugger all the rest of the season. Having said that his performances when his 14 goals saved City from the Conference were superb although it went dramatically down hill from then yet despite falling over every game he was still picked. He can still carve out a very good career in football but not as good as every one else thought he could do.
Other Contender: Mike Quigley
Centre Midfield: Glyn Hodges
This portly Welsh man was described as “Citys’ Cantona” by the local media when he signed although this must be Cantonas’ lesser known brother who couldn’t play football for his life yet still was trialist at many English clubs. Hodges had class and the Ex-Wimbledon man linked up with Duane Darby well although he spent a lot of time just sitting in the treatment room or swanning about the midfield doing nothing in particular waiting for his wage packet to arrive. It is quite amazing that Hodges still played Premiership football after City at Nottingham Forest and ever appeared against Arsenal although he is now the Cantona of Inter Cable Tel in Cardiff.
Other Contenders: Lee Philpott and Jon French
Striker: Jason Harris
Speedy Striker was claimed to have the ability to score 20 a season by Warren Joyce. Harris was bought for £30K from Preston were he somehow managed to score more than the 4 he got for City in nearly 40 appearances. Harris could not finish if his life depended on it; he was so bad that if he was left with the bullet on Russian Roulette and he held to his head he’d still miss when he fired it. He was on large wages and said he’d leave the club last season if he had his wages paid in full, fair enough although his timing was slightly suspect as City had just gone into administration just a few days earlier. What an arsehole. Now reserve striker at Shrewsbury
Other Contender: Dexter Tucker, Lee Ellington and Ben Morley (Circa 98-99)
Striker: Mark Hateley (Player/Manager)
The man that leads out and manages this over-rated XI. Hateley was the 20 goal a season striker we all wanted to partner Duane Darby and the media hyped his and David Lloyds arrival up so much that it was a let down when Hateley turned out to be useless and his performances during his first season were bettered by Andy Brown and Gavin Gordon despite both only playing a handful of games. Hateley was a crap manager as well and the fact that quite a few of his signings make it into this team says it all. He started his City tenure looking slightly older than his 35 years and finished a year later looking 69 and now resembles the 104 year old Mr Burns from The Simpsons and is left “playing” Masters football.
Other Contenders: Gavin Gordon, Paul Hunter and Linton Brown (Circa 95-96)
So there you have it, The most overrated players of the last 10 years. They are actually 3 players who I was toying with of putting them in the side although I went against it. Whitmore, Mann and Eyre were actually some of the first names that came into my head when I was thinking up this article although I thought better of it. All 3 players mentioned are superb footballers for this level and can be wonderful on their day. However fans expect too much of the players, Whitmore and Mann in particular. Don’t get mew wrong I’ve enjoyed watching these players before and in the case of Manny and Theo will hopefully watch them for many days to come although all are overrated by the fans in my opinion. They expect far too much from these creative players when they perform to their full ability on the odd game in 7 or so. Although Theo has now proved himself to be a good player to have in the squad I wouldn’t have shed many tears if he had left as his good performances were infrequent at best. The same applies to Mann and Eyre and all three are not over-rated by management or media but surprisingly by the fans. |
