Best Performance by an Opposition Player (8 Viewers)

[kg82]

Best individual performances were Ginola for Spurs around 97-98 (we hammered them, but he was by far the best player on the pitch) and Kanu for Arsenal a year or 2 after that.

 

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[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I remember watching Joe Cole the FA Youth Cup final versus West Ham. I've never seen one player dominate a game as much as that.

If you mean the one versus us, I took far more notice of Carrick next to him. Cole clearly had exceptional talent and ability, but it was the guy next to him that controlled the game giving Cole the freedom to do so.

 

[Johhny Blue]

Gazza- Newcastle at home 1987/1988

he was clearly overweight but nobody could get anywhere near him, he did whatever he wanted, completely ran the game as they won 3-1

Lost 0-3 to Newcastle in the '70's Malcolm McDonald left foot right foot & a header

 

[Johhny Blue]

Neil Martin for Sunderland in a 2-2 at Highfield rd. sent (Glazier?) the wrong way 3 times with 2 pens (1 was a retake) one of our goals was a pen as well. We signed him not long after

 

[Mr Panda]

Could do a whole extra thread on opposition players on Football Manager who would always play a blinder against you.

Anyone play around 8-12 years ago and couldn't handle Gary Taylor-Fletcher? Bloke won every header, completely two footed. He gave me sleepless nights!

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Off the top of my head, Jurgen Klinsmann tore us apart, think spurs beat us 0-3?
I’m pretty sure Dalian Atkinson did the same as Sheff Wed beat us 1-4?

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

I don't remember John Chiedozie taking us apart for Spurs but I certainly do remember him doing so for Notts County!!
In more recent times I remember Taarabt running the game for QPR. Further back I remember Laurie Cunningham being unplayable on an icy pitch at HR & Limpar destroying us at Highbury.
Also remember many of those already mentioned - Bale for Southampton, Wilkins for QPR, Shearer for Blackburn, Klinsmann for Spurs, Rosenthal and Barnes for Liverpool.
Also nearly forgot - John Salako for Palace in a midweek game at HR when they beat us 4-1.

 

[Skybluefaz]

Harry Kewell at elland road in the 3-3 Huckerby hattrick game. I remember thinking he was going to be world class. Alen Boksic for boro, first game of the prem relegation season was similarly a cut above everyone.

 

[Blind-Faith]

Anyone remember Clayton Ince's performance in goal against us for Crewe? They won 1-0 but he singlehandedly won the game for them with world class saves. Would have been 04/05 I think.

It was so good that Adams promptly went out and bought him, but I don't think he ever played a game for us.

you beat me to it! Was sat behind the goal that game , he was unbelievable that game. Sure he got applause at the end of the game from the city fans round me?

Also paddy kenny always seem to play well against us.

We had Newcastle in a mid week game when we were both in championship, Jonas Gutierrez was class at left back, looked a cut above everyone else on the pitch.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

you beat me to it! Was sat behind the goal that game , he was unbelievable that game. Sure he got applause at the end of the game from the city fans round me?

Also paddy kenny always seem to play well against us.

We had Newcastle in a mid week game when we were both in championship, Jonas Gutierrez was class at left back, looked a cut above everyone else on the pitch.

yes I clearly remember that at the end, sounds like you were somewhere near me in the East Stand- he gave us a clap back too.

 

[Blind-Faith]

yes I clearly remember that at the end, sounds like you were somewhere near me in the East Stand- he gave us a clap back too.

I was only around 17/18 at the time I think. Sounds like I was near you! Thanks for clearing that one up, I didn’t know if I had made that up or not???

 

[ovduk78]

Peter Shilton when Forest won league at HR. I think someone has already said Neville Southall but I remember a 1-0 loss at HR when he stopped everything including a deflected header from Terry Gibson where he changed direction to tip it over the bar. First time I saw Rio Ferdinand he played as a right back for West Ham and he was unstoppable that day.

 

[PVA]

Slightly unusual one, but I remember Tom Huddlestone being immense against us in the FA Cup in 2013 at White Hart Lane.

Even with the likes of Bale and Adebayor on the pitch he stood out for me and just controlled the game, his range of passing was amazing and we just couldn't get near him.

 

[Blind-Faith]

My mate and his dad who I go to with watch us play, they always go on about a game against spurs, don’t know whether home or away, but they said Sol Campbell was a one man defence that day.

 

[oscillatewildly]

Bobby Zamora in the early days (seasons) of our C'ship tenure. The game at HR finished goalless and we were barely in it but remember thinking afterwards, all things considered, that point will be one of the best we'll 'earn' all season.
Zamora was immense and looked such a mature and experienced striker - A combination of woodwork, GK and near misses got us just over the line.

 

[nicksig]

Klinsmann for Spurs at Highfield Road for Spurs on New Year’s Day about 1994. Just an awesome all round player. Think we lost 4 nil and it was freezing

 

[Ring Of Steel]

My mate and his dad who I go to with watch us play, they always go on about a game against spurs, don’t know whether home or away, but they said Sol Campbell was a one man defence that day.

I had Sol Campbell in mind too and if its the game I was thinking of it was at home- they won 2-1. Campbell was just immovable, unbeatable and looked like a giant. The only reason I wasn't going to put him up there was that his main opposition that day was Cobi Jones, so not exactly the most terrorising opponent. It was your classic "men against boys" situation that day.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Kinsmann for Spurs at Highfield Road for Spurs on New Year’s Day about 1994. Just an awesome all round player. Think we lost 4 nil and it was freezing

you are right on all counts there- we usually had a good game against Spurs and expectation was high, but they ripped us to shreds that day & Klinsmann was awesome, even finding time to shake fans' hands at throw ins, it was a doddle for him.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Adel Taarabt for QPR. Some amazing stories on him in Warnock’s book

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

Mo konjic for Derby County at highfield road in 2005

Got to say that was blatant match fixing if ever I saw it!

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

Hudson for Chelsea as a teenager in 70, Cantona in the 90's was imperious, Molby was a quarterback for Liverpool and Henry in 2000 at Highbury, Oggy stopped it being 15-0

 

[M&B Stand]

Slightly random one but in terms of a one off performance- Villa away 1989/90- they beat us 4-1 and Ian Ormondroyd absolutely destroyed Brian Borrows all game, he couldn't get near him. I think you can see that on youtube and actually see one time where Borrows got skinned by the lanky one.

Ruel Fox was a pain in the arse against us too.

Remember that one well, devastated I was and nearly got run over after the game!
The following Monday was a nightmare at school in Tamworth with loads of Villa fans.
That Moldovan goal and then our own 4-1 win over there ten years later made up for it nonetheless

 

[PVA]

Remember that one well, devastated I was and nearly got run over after the game!
The following Monday was a nightmare at school in Tamworth with loads of Villa fans.
That Moldovan goal and then our own 4-1 win over there ten years later made up for it nonetheless

What was the deal with Moldovan?

I was only about 8 when he played for us. His wikipedia shows he was prolific before and after us, but only played a handful of games for us.

Was his signing greeted with much excitement? Did he just not settle here? Why did he leave so soon?

 

[Speedies_Chips]

Peter Shilton when Forest won league at HR. I think someone has already said Neville Southall but I remember a 1-0 loss at HR when he stopped everything including a deflected header from Terry Gibson where he changed direction to tip it over the bar. First time I saw Rio Ferdinand he played as a right back for West Ham and he was unstoppable that day.

I think Forest won the league a few years before Terry Gibson played for us. I think you are thinking of a point blank save from Mick Ferguson and the result was 0-0. Last game of the season.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

What was the deal with Moldovan?

I was only about 8 when he played for us. His wikipedia shows he was prolific before and after us, but only played a handful of games for us.

Was his signing greeted with much excitement? Did he just not settle here? Why did he leave so soon?

He was a good signing, but timing was all wrong as his joining coincided with the peak of the Dublin/ Huckerby partnership. He only played when Dublin filled out in defence, which he did quite a bit at that time, and which he did really well. In the following Summer Dublin signed a new contract, so Moldovan was sold on. Of course within month's of the following season, Dublin went to Villa, which is when it would have been ideal to have had Moldovan step in. I have no doubt that if Moldovan would have stayed on he would have proven a success. As it is unfortunately, we have only the brief memories of his winner at Villa Park, but also a miss at Bramall Lane that would have sealed our place in the cup semi final.

 

[ovduk78]

I think Forest won the league a few years before Terry Gibson played for us. I think you are thinking of a point blank save from Mick Ferguson and the result was 0-0. Last game of the season.

I was talking about 2 separate games, against Forest & Everton

 

[cc84cov]

Huckerby was pretty unplayable when he came back with Norwich in (I think) 2003/2004, it was easy for him.

Remember that game well they beat us 2-0 he was the only difference we sold him far too early

 

[cc84cov]

He was a good signing, but timing was all wrong as his joining coincided with the peak of the Dublin/ Huckerby partnership. He only played when Dublin filled out in defence, which he did quite a bit at that time, and which he did really well. In the following Summer Dublin signed a new contract, so Moldovan was sold on. Of course within month's of the following season, Dublin went to Villa, which is when it would have been ideal to have had Moldovan step in. I have no doubt that if Moldovan would have stayed on he would have proven a success. As it is unfortunately, we have only the brief memories of his winner at Villa Park, but also a miss at Bramall Lane that would have sealed our place in the cup semi final.

Molodovan was prolific yeah but in poor leagues

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

Molodovan was prolific yeah but in poor leagues

Did well whenever he came up against England

 

[M&B Stand]

Remember that game well they beat us 2-0 he was the only difference we sold him far too early

we sold him to buy Robbie Keane

 

[Perryccfc]

More recently I remember Grealish running the game on loan at Notts County, we lost 3-0 and he looked wayyyy above the level.

 

[wingy]

Pretty sure,Craig Johnstone would have run rings around us at some point.

 

[nunchuckas]

One that springs to mind is Paul Merson for Portsmouth at Highfield Road in the Championship, the year they first went up under Harry Redknapp. He ran that game without really even trying, and scored a worldy in font of the West Terrace.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

One that springs to mind is Paul Merson for Portsmouth at Highfield Road in the Championship, the year they first went up under Harry Redknapp. He ran that game without really even trying, and scored a worldy in font of the West Terrace.

He got a few against us- there was one lob for Arsenal against us from about 30 yards out on the right wing, and that goal for Villa in 2001

 

[fernandopartridge]

Harry Kewell at elland road in the 3-3 Huckerby hattrick game. I remember thinking he was going to be world class. Alen Boksic for boro, first game of the prem relegation season was similarly a cut above everyone.

Likewise Kewell when they beat us 4-3 down here, he was superb for a couple of years. Yet another player ruined by a move to Anfield.