Best SUFC Players since 1980 - Left Midfield

[Sothall_Blade]

1980 because that's when I started going regularly and you've got to draw the line somewhere.
I've not included loan players or those that only played a handful of games...
Who do you reckon and why?

 

[Selly]

I went for Whitehouse.

Hodges was probably the most gifted, but was better playing just behind the front 2 (IMO).

Interestingly Whitehouses best play (IMO) came when he was the left sided player of a middle three, rather than down the left wing.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Difficult choice between Hodgy and Whitehouse. Honourable mentions for Jock Bryson and also the young Beagrie, who left before we saw his best.

 

[Revolution]

I'd put Whitehouse ahead of Hodges, because of greater consistency.

Left midfield is a good position for us - better than right midfield. There's an argument that Hodges, Whitehouse, Tonge, the Quinns and Beagrie are all better than anyone on the right, save possibly Nuddy. Conversely, right back is far stronger than left back IMHO.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Whitehouse, class player. Could have played at the top level but for loyalty and Gareth fucking Ainsworth.

Hodges was great but I never really saw him as a left midfielder, more as a sort of 'hole' player behind the front two.

 

[Darren]

Whitehouse, class player. Could have played at the top level but for loyalty and Gareth fucking Ainsworth.

Hodges was great but I never really saw him as a left midfielder, more as a sort of 'hole' player behind the front two.

He did - we were in the top division 1990-94

 

[JJ Sefton]

He did - we were in the top division 1990-94

And he could have stayed there.

 

[Ollessendro]

Whitehouse. Excellent left sided player (though I liked it when he played in a more central/free role under Spackman - just before injury). Worked hard, good touch, could pass, good crosser, quick feet and had a good shot on him. Last of a kind in that he stayed loyal to SUFC. Massive shame that twat Ainsworth ended his career prematurely.

Whitehouse just pipped Hodges. The latter had more ability, but was lazy and inconsistent. There were always question marks over his fitness too. When Hodges was on fire he was unplayable though and it is reflected by Basset saying Hodges was the best/most talented player he ever managed.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Dane for me, worked his bollocks off for this club, had everything you wanted from direct attacking midfielder. I was there at Port Vale too, horrible to see his career ended like that.

Agree with the comments about Hodges, brilliant passer and controller of the ball and just what was needed in Bassett's team surrounded by all the workhorses. But I can't vote against Whitehouse.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

after brian deane, dane whitehouse is probably the best player ive ever seen for us. consistantly.
if he was around now, he could easily be playing for england he was that good.
shockingly underrated just cos he played for us.

glyn hodges though, wow what a player on his day. and nowhere near as inconsistent and a luxury player as some people who never saw him play regularly will say. he was no stranger to putting in a shift.

but dane gets the vote fairly comfortably for me.