Best 'Oldie' 👴🏼 at the Lane?

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

Not got a great relocation of it, but always remember Craig Short very fondly.

 

[Dimyan93]

paul mcgrath from what I've heard.

Best I remember is Speed/Ugo

Dark years: Glen Little wasn't that bad

 

[raimond]

Yes McGrath and Speed, but Cowans was best for me with how simple he made the game look, and how he brought on the younger players around him.

I reckon that'll be the best thing about having Jags back- the experience he can pass on to a group of brilliant but young defenders

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Jimmy Johnstone - awful for us. Best oldie was Jimmy Hagan - pushing 40 when he retired in 1958.

 

[Nick Jansky]

He was awful for us except for one game v Fulham who had Best & Moore in their side. Johnstone was the best player on the pitch that day.

 

[Wooden House]

McGrath & Cowans for me. Ugh had a touch of class too.

 

[GymClassHero]

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

Met Stuart McCall a couple of times as a kid, once at a signing day and when I was a mascot against Coventry City during the TA season. Absolute top bloke, cracked jokes and made me feel very welcome.

He was a lynchpin for that brilliant side and for those reasons he gets my vote.

 

[GymClassHero]

Thought I’d also add the chief as. An honourable mention

 

[super-dazzler]

McGrath, the ball would ping round the penalty area and he would take a sidestep and it'd land at his feet.
Never seen a United centre half read a game like him.
Cowan's was also top drawer, the game was effortless for him.

 

[Houston_Blade]

McCall, McGrath, Gordan Cowans and Gary Speed.

 

[Tony Kenworthy’s toe]

Steve Bruce

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Steve Bruce

Disagree.

As player/manager he looked spent doing the former.

If I recall correctly, the final appearance he made was when Sunderland thumped us at home 0-4. Michael Bridges & Niall Quinn tore us to shreds.

 

[Sheff de party]

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

Better than Michael Brown?!?

 

[Inter_blade83]

Better than Michael Brown?!?

Glyn Hodges before your time?
Currie?

 

[Sparky]

Cowans was unbelievable. But then we did have a fair chunk of the Villa European Cup winners playing for us at various stages who were all quality. Houston gave us great experience at the back in D4.

 

[boss hog]

Yes McGrath and Speed, but Cowans was best for me with how simple he made the game look, and how he brought on the younger players around him.

I reckon that'll be the best thing about having Jags back- the experience he can pass on to a group of brilliant but young defenders

Cowan for me to ,think he was about 40 when he played for us quality.

 

[Kevin Arnott]

Remember Mcgrath as the game was going on just pointing out to Holdsworth and Carl Tiler where to go and who to pick up. Really was exceptional. Never seen a better instinctive passer of a ball than Cowan at Bramall Lane.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

How about Dean Saunders ?

 

[bikerblade]

Cowans for me... came in, sat in the middle and bossed it. Seen other great older players since, but he was the first that I thought wft and then realised I had no knowledge of footy.

 

[sufcboy95]

How old was James Beatie? Must’ve been knocking on a bit when he signed

 

[napoliblade]

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 ?

 

[napoliblade]

Peter Withe did a good job.

 

[I should coco]

Peter Withe did a good job.

Trying to score woth his chest from the half way line?

A poor player well past his best for us and his best game was for Brum when we stupidly let a loanee sore against us.

Mortimer, McNaught and Cowans from Villa, were far better than beardy.

 

[Speedracer]

Reading this thread it seems that we have had more than our fair share of "golden oldies" showcasing their talents in the twilight of their careers, McCall, Speed, Cowans, McGrath & Saunders were the best of them in my opinion, hopefully if Jags is called into action he will join that list. Makes me wonder how many names would be on the "anti list", older players who were crap for us.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Trying to score woth his chest from the half way line?

A poor player well past his best for us and his best game was for Brum when we stupidly let a loanee sore against us.

Mortimer, McNaught and Cowans from Villa, were far better than beardy.

Only United could allow such a thing to happen.

When we got relegated under Bassett in 1988, away win at Leeds Road, friendly pitch invasion after our second goal, Withe said to me, ‘best get off the pitch young un’.I thought to myself, how does someone with such poor eyesight get to be a professional footballer?

I think it might have been Cadette who scored that 2nd goal, come to think about it

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Reading this thread it seems that we have had more than our fair share of "golden oldies" showcasing their talents in the twilight of their careers, McCall, Speed, Cowans, McGrath & Saunders were the best of them in my opinion, hopefully if Jags is called into action he will join that list. Makes me wonder how many names would be on the "anti list", older players who were crap for us.

Sadly, one of the greatest natural talents of all time, Jimmy Johnstone.

 

[Speedracer]

Sadly, one of the greatest natural talents of all time, Jimmy Johnstone.

I agree with that Fred, I remember being so excited when he signed but when he played I remember thinking he must have been a doppelganger with all the skill of a crab with dislocated legs!

 

[Deleted member 1486]

Makes me wonder how many names would be on the "anti list", older players who were crap for us.

Ian Rush was terrible. Totally spent by the time he got to us. A real shame.

 

[BigBed]

JAGS, the season we finished 9th In the prem, after 12yrs away, fucking fantastic.

 

[bladesmark1]

Francis Joseph