Best 'Oldie' 👴🏼 at the Lane?

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Reading another thread on Jagielka - Paul McGrath was mentioned has got me wondering - who is the best signing we've ever made at their latter days of their career?

McGrath is worthy of mention. Brief, but brilliant. How he put it in the performances he did despite not training, big boozing and knackered kneecaps is remarkable.

Stuart McCall played a lot of football in a very good, exciting side.

David 'Ned' Kelly gave us a good season.

Alan Wright was steady, if not spectacular, and put in a superb makeshift CB display in the FA Cup.

Corky. Was he any good? (Also how old was he because he looked 55?!?)

Who is your golden oldie ?

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Mcgrath all day for me

 

[DronnieBlade]

Has to be Hammond.

But it will soon change to Jags



UTB

 

[BushBlade]

McGrath was special but he only played a few games for us. So probably McCall for me.

Bob Hatton was an oldie by the standards of the time.

 

[gavtheblade]

Shipps, cowans, McCall, David Kelly, McGrath all added something to the team.

 

[DifferentClass]

Phil Thompson

 

[Deleted member 875]

My personal favourite was Gary Speed. He looked 10 years younger, could still get around the pitch and was a superb player and you could see even in his twilight career why he had the playing career that he did.

When Stuart McCall came as a golden oldie it was clear that his legs had gone, but his method of operation was that he used to coach the players through games and go everyone else to do his running whist he sprayed passes all over the place.

Another classic golden oldie was Sid Cowans, he used to get the ball and control it and play it with consummate ease

 

[BushBlade]

Shipps, cowans, McCall, David Kelly, McGrath all added something to the team.

Forgot about Shipps and Cowans. Might have to put Shipps above Mac as he was pivotal in our promotion season.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Has to be Hammond.

UTB

Even as a joke - f**k off

 

[BladeInIreland]

Up until the Wilder years Gary Speed was the best midfielder I had seen for us. Class.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

My personal favourite was Gary Speed. He looked 10 years younger, could still get around the pitch and was a superb player and you could see even in his twilight career why he had the playing career that he did.

Great shout. Same with Ugo. Neither started off amazingly well but in that 2009 season both fantastic professionals. Sad to think neither are still with us.

 

[blade67]

McGrath was special but he only played a few games for us. So probably McCall for me.

Bob Hatton was an oldie by the standards of the time.

This for me too.

Honourable mention for Cowens under Kendall

 

[spongebobblade]

Always remember Bob Hatton being so emotional on the radio in the days after we had won the 4th division. It was his first medal in football and he was so proud and chuffed to bits. 15 goals and a superb partner for king Keith

 

[Akinbiyi]

Ugo.

 

[georgethecat]

The Chief was signed towards the end of his career and did a sterling job.

 

[KeyffSmyff]

Chief coming off the bench took excitement to another level.

 

[Harry's Game]

Stuart McCall was excellent in the triple assault season. If he had stayed fit for the playoffs instead of the awful Rankin we might actually have won one.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Great shout. Same with Ugo. Neither started off amazingly well but in that 2009 season both fantastic professionals. Sad to think neither are still with us.

I had forgotten about Ugo Ehiogu, he got off to an inauspicious start but got a lot better as time went on, and both Speed and Ehiogu got cut short at United by injury.

Come to think of it in the late 00's we had a great squad of player, just a shame that neither Robson or Blackwell could get the best out of them.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Has to be Nudger Needham for me. Played for the Blades until he was 37, then still fitted in a couple more seasons with Derbyshire in the County Championship. All on the diet, training methods, dodgy kit and pitches of the time.

 

[Linz]

Just looking how old David Kelly was when playing for us. Which has in turn made me feel old.

I think Google has got a little confused however...

 

[JackSUFC]

Gary Speed deserved a mention in the OP.

RIP Speedo

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Chief coming off the bench took excitement to another level.

...and covered the petrol money to drive back to Cornwall

 

[Cheesebored]

Probably the best was Ian Rush. Just not for us.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Neil Shipperley certainly deserves a shout.

He was a pivotal figure in our 2005/2006 promotion campaign. Brought out the best in Kab a early season but then Warnock bizarrely signed Akinbiyi & Horsfield and instantly pushed them into the 1st team which coincided with our wobble in form. Pretty sure Shipps came back into the first team and finished the season strong.

 

[Punk Blade]

Can’t believe Keith Curle hasn’t had a mention yet. Never seen a defender with the ability to win a free kick when under pressure quite like Curle.

He goes with McCall for me: absolutely hated both when they played against us, then quickly won me over in the red and white. A clear sign they were actually quality footballers.

 

[Astone_Blade]

McCall for me, he just seemed to read the game better. It also meant that Brown & Tonge had the freedom to go forward and have the best season of their careers in 02/03. I'd probably say Shipperley after that.

Speed was good but I don't think he had quite the same impact as those 2.

 

[8lade]

While we're talking oldies, if Billy Sharp scores 30 goals this season he'll top Keith Edwards on the all time scorers list. I'm just saying.

 

[Guesty]

McCall was brilliant, always made himself available to the man on the ball, even though he couldn't cover a great deal of ground. I'm not sure his legs had 'gone' as such though - witness his efforts for Kabba's equaliser in the derby!

That was a night for oldies actually, cos Chief scored as well.

Paul McGrath is probably the one for me though. He's perhaps the only United player I have seen who at a time was up there with the very best at his position. Obviously that time was years before us, but still.

 

[Blade56]

Well I’m 67 so I’ll nominate Mr Jelly

 

[shorehamview]

McCall and Speed were different class. McGrath too, but only briefly for us unfortunately.