Players that could have been more

[Casper2]

I thought Biggins had a pretty good career once he came to Burnley.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Biggins

Ashley Hoskin - I think he got badly battered and injured in one game and was never the same.

Frank Casper - he was great but I always thought he could be that bit better!

Without the injuries he would have been an England regular.

[Quicknick]

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but not for me. He was horrendous. Couldn’t tackle or win any challengers, couldn’t take anyone on and always hit a rushed over hit 10
Yard pass to a teammate who was marked.

And rarely gave the ball away. Is SD hadn't signed him, we wouldn't have gone up in 2014.

[Shaggy]

And rarely gave the ball away. Is SD hadn't signed him, we wouldn't have gone up in 2014.

It was usually the person he passed to that gave it away as they were usually marked.

He never passed on for any major money in his career and there is a reason for that.

[Silkyskills1]

And Jones was a key player in two promotions. What a fantastic signing he was.

David Jones could be part of another category of 'unsung hero'. Two promotions, never seemed to give the ball away and a perfect foil for the players around him. You'd never guess reading the comments on him by some posters on here. Nothing to offer seemed to be the general consensus.

[cblantfanclub]

Think Jones faded during his time here. Increasingly finding it difficult to make space and becoming increasingly clumsy maneuvering round to get the ball on his left foot. It's telling that SD latterly dropped him for Marney whenever he was fit and I think it's only Marney's injury record that kept Jones in.

[ClaretTony]

Think Jones faded during his time here. Increasingly finding it difficult to make space and becoming increasingly clumsy maneuvering round to get the ball on his left foot. It's telling that SD latterly dropped him for Marney whenever he was fit and I think it's only Marney's injury record that kept Jones in.

He started 39 of the 46 games that season mainly alongside Joey Barton. But he and Marney were brilliant together two seasons earlier.

He was 32 by the end of that second promotion and even played in the first game of the next. But by then Dyche was looking to replace him and a couple of days after he left we signed Steven Defour.

First team coach at Wrexham now.

[IanMcL]

David Jones could be part of another category of 'unsung hero'. Two promotions, never seemed to give the ball away and a perfect foil for the players around him. You'd never guess reading the comments on him by some posters on here. Nothing to offer seemed to be the general consensus.

Joseph B spoke very highly of him as the ideal mate in the middle.

[KlyBfc]

Dave Jones was excellent for us and crucial in two championship promotions. A great foil for the Marney then Barton. Similar to Paul Cook during his time as being under appreciated by some because he didn’t charge around and throw tackles in. Did what he did very well, positioning and moving the ball, and took a decent set piece.

[ClaretTony]

Dave Jones was excellent for us and crucial in two championship promotions. A great foil for the Marney then Barton. Similar to Paul Cook during his time as being under appreciated by some because he didn’t charge around and throw tackles in. Did what he did very well, positioning and moving the ball, and took a decent set piece.

Paul Cook was getting some real stick/abuse early in the 2000/01 season. We had a manager then who would say it how it was and he said he just wasn’t having it. The next match was at Tranmere where the Burnley fans chanted Cook’s name.

Another outstanding player for us too.

[Shaggy]

Some say Jones was under appreciated. He was vastly overrated by some. Again done nothing except pass to a marked teammate with a constant overhit 10-15 yard pass usually sideways or backwards.

He always got moved on everywhere he’s been. It’s not difficult to see why with a non tackling, non dynamic midfielder who couldn’t carry the ball. Limited player

[Herts Clarets]

I thought Biggins had a pretty good career once he came to Burnley.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Biggins

Ashley Hoskin - I think he got badly battered and injured in one game and was never the same.

Frank Casper - he was great but I always thought he could be that bit better!

Ash Hoskin had his leg broken by a horrendous foul by the thug from Orient, John Sitton. First minute of the game as he cut in from the left wing infront of the BL stand. Straight red for Sitton back in the day where kicking a player up in the air in the first minute would have brought a wag of the finger from the ref.

I once had an exchange with Sitton on Twitter when he said I thought you northerners liked a hard tackle (oo-er missus). Definitely do, but not assault occasioning GBH on a young lad just starting out in football I don't.

[1989_claret]

Paul Cook was getting some real stick/abuse early in the 2000/01 season. We had a manager then who would say it how it was and he said he just wasn’t having it. The next match was at Tranmere where the Burnley fans chanted Cook’s name.

Another outstanding player for us too.

Friday night at Tranmere. Won 3-2 last min Payton goal. Cook came over to take a corner and the whole away stand cheered and chanted his name.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Friday night at Tranmere. Won 3-2 last min Payton goal. Cook came over to take a corner and the whole away stand cheered and chanted his name.

Remember that night it was a good one.

Pretty sure we went 2 up then Koumas started to play for them and scored a screamer. Think Payton missed a sitter while it was 2-2 from a few yards before scoring the header to win it.

[Jakubclaret]

Paul Gascoigne for me we didn't see the best of him. He arrived towards the tail end of his career but I thought he would have had more of an impact than he did despite the demons at play.

[ClaretTony]

Friday night at Tranmere. Won 3-2 last min Payton goal. Cook came over to take a corner and the whole away stand cheered and chanted his name.

I’d forgotten the corner and the reaction from the fans that started it all. I remain convinced we would have been back in the bottom division in 1999 had we not brought Cook in on loan.

[equinox]

Paul Gascoigne for me we didn't see the best of him. He arrived towards the tail end of his career but I thought he would have had more of an impact than he did despite the demons at play.

Gazza's career in general was a waste, he had more talent than Man Uniteds class of 92 put together but what did he have to show for it at the end, an FA cup winners medal? (I'm not including Scotland).

[Papabendi]

Kevin Rooster Russell.

[ClaretTony]

Paul Gascoigne for me we didn't see the best of him. He arrived towards the tail end of his career but I thought he would have had more of an impact than he did despite the demons at play.

He was in a mess though - the demons were definitely the winners when he was with us.

[Hipper]

Ash Hoskin had his leg broken by a horrendous foul by the thug from Orient, John Sitton. First minute of the game as he cut in from the left wing infront of the BL stand. Straight red for Sitton back in the day where kicking a player up in the air in the first minute would have brought a wag of the finger from the ref.

I once had an exchange with Sitton on Twitter when he said I thought you northerners liked a hard tackle (oo-er missus). Definitely do, but not assault occasioning GBH on a young lad just starting out in football I don't.

Maybe we needed a John Angus in the side.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... -moor-ace/

[spt_claret]

Danny Ings, his numerous knee injuries robbed him of what would have been a glittering international career IMHO.

Ings, Jay & Austin are all players who should have been more but for injuries but Ings really should have been England's Bergkamp. His touch and technique were outstanding, he had every attribute to have a top career.

I always felt if Chris Eagles had been more physically robust/defensively able, he could have been a top player. He got a lot of criticism for not tracking back when he did, he just wasn't effective at it because he lacked stamina due to his asthma and physicality due to his frame. If he'd had more physicality he'd have been a star.

Cork with pace would have had a lot more caps.

Gareth Taylor would have been some player if he was a quarter as good with his feet as with his head.

[Petersa]

Remembering the 1968 Youth Cup winning side the player I thought would be the best was Eric Probert. Perhaps a bit short of pace only perhaps but all the talent in the world

[ClaretTony]

Remembering the 1968 Youth Cup winning side the player I thought would be the best was Eric Probert. Perhaps a bit short of pace only perhaps but all the talent in the world

Eric should have been an outstanding player. Another one who had demons that took away his playing career and eventually his life at just 52.

[spt_claret]

I know he became a bit mythologised for his not playing and preseason, but I think Bes Berisha has to be another.
Best player on the pitch against England B, the Accy goal is memorable but even on his loans out to Horsens and Rosenborg he was scoring blinders, he'd played in the Bundesliga and Champions League for Hamburg, was the top scorer in the youth Bundesliga. Ended his career as the A-League all time top scorer.

There was serious serious talent there, had he never had his cruciate injury or just got on the pitch at some point I do wonder what could have become of him.

[Silkyskills1]

Some say Jones was under appreciated. He was vastly overrated by some. Again done nothing except pass to a marked teammate with a constant overhit 10-15 yard pass usually sideways or backwards.

He always got moved on everywhere he’s been. It’s not difficult to see why with a non tackling, non dynamic midfielder who couldn’t carry the ball. Limited player

It's all about opinions of course but it begs the question how did we win promotion twice, seemingly carrying a passenger. Sometimes in football a team can get a win despite only having 10 men( I've seen us do it and also seen it done to us). I would hazard a guess that no team anytime, anywhere in the history of football has achieved not one but two promotions with a 'passenger'.

[ClaretTony]

I know he became a bit mythologised for his not playing and preseason, but I think Bes Berisha has to be another.
Best player on the pitch against England B, the Accy goal is memorable but even on his loans out to Horsens and Rosenborg he was scoring blinders, he'd played in the Bundesliga and Champions League for Hamburg, was the top scorer in the youth Bundesliga. Ended his career as the A-League all time top scorer.

There was serious serious talent there, had he never had his cruciate injury or just got on the pitch at some point I do wonder what could have become of him.

Sadly, for him, once fit he was ignored by the manager and virtually pushed out of the club. We will never know how good he might have been for us but he was outstanding that night for Albania. Everyone there was talking about him.

[equinox]

Did anyone on here ever see Robin Friday play 'live'?

[ClaretTony]

It's all about opinions of course but it begs the question how did we win promotion twice, seemingly carrying a passenger. Sometimes in football a team can get a win despite only having 10 men( I've seen us do it and also seen it done to us). I would hazard a guess that no team anytime, anywhere in the history of football has achieved not one but two promotions with a 'passenger'.

Spot on. I was thinking earlier, the same poster would have probably not rated Tommy Cassidy either.

[helmclaret]

Paul Cook was getting some real stick/abuse early in the 2000/01 season. We had a manager then who would say it how it was and he said he just wasn’t having it. The next match was at Tranmere where the Burnley fans chanted Cook’s name.

Another outstanding player for us too.

Cook is one of my favourite Burnley players.

[Clarets4me]

Steve Davis mk2

Another yard and a half of pace and he'd have been a Premier League regular ..

[ClaretTony]

Cook is one of my favourite Burnley players.

Such a key player in Stan’s successful team

[jrgbfc]

Some say Jones was under appreciated. He was vastly overrated by some. Again done nothing except pass to a marked teammate with a constant overhit 10-15 yard pass usually sideways or backwards.

He always got moved on everywhere he’s been. It’s not difficult to see why with a non tackling, non dynamic midfielder who couldn’t carry the ball. Limited player

You can't carry anyone in centre mid, certainly not in a good team like we were that year.

[Petersa]

Eric should have been an outstanding player. Another one who had demons that took away his playing career and eventually his life at just 52.

Absoutely right

[Middle-agedClaret]

Really good, interesting thread.
Only sorry that I can’t add to it!

[Woodleyclaret]

Terry Cochrane a classy winger but his cba attitude stopped a far better career before it started.

[helmclaret]

Another yard and a half of pace and he'd have been a Premier League regular ..

A couple of players who played with him said it wasn’t a lack of pace, it was a lack of aggression. He was quicker and a better ball
player than John Terry.

A certain ex striker of ours said Davis would
apologise to him if he caught him in training.

[Shaggy]

You can't carry anyone in centre mid, certainly not in a good team like we were that year.

Yet no one can actually explain what he did or was any use at.

You aren’t an effective midfield player if you can’t create or destroy.

[Cooclaret]

David Jones could be part of another category of 'unsung hero'. Two promotions, never seemed to give the ball away and a perfect foil for the players around him. You'd never guess reading the comments on him by some posters on here. Nothing to offer seemed to be the general consensus.

David Jones was the budget version of Carrick for me. Absolutely essential to everyone around him, but never celebrated at the time.

He was the shoulders that others stood on.

[JohnMac]

Do him some justice please, it was Keith Treacy. He seems to have morphed into a Thunderbirds character!

[ClaretTony]

Yet no one can actually explain what he did or was any use at.

You aren’t an effective midfield player if you can’t create or destroy.

Ha ha

[Shaggy]

Ha ha

My point exactly.

[Malvern claret]

Dave Thomas had a great career with 7 (?) England caps but when I first saw him in the youth team and reserves I thought he was going to be one of the all time English greats. 0ne of the best crossers of a ball I have ever seen

[ClaretTony]

Dave Thomas had a great career with 7 (?) England caps but when I first saw him in the youth team and reserves I thought he was going to be one of the all time English greats. 0ne of the best crossers of a ball I have ever seen

And then Adamson decided to keep him off the wing. I’ve seen some brilliant wingers at Burnley but I’d say Thomas was the best crosser of the lot.

[jrgbfc]

Yet no one can actually explain what he did or was any use at.

You aren’t an effective midfield player if you can’t create or destroy.

I'm sure if you asked Dean Marney his opinion on Jones he'd have a very different opinion to yourself.

[IanMcL]

Aidy lacked desire.

He told the story of being in the same dressing room as Matt Le Tissier after they’d both played for Rngland at, I think, under 18 level. He said there were two doors out with one of them marked for those with ambition and joked that he and Le Tiss left through different doors.

He lacked pace but had the ability to play at a higher level than where he spent most of his career.

He fits this thread perfectly.

He is an Amesbury lad (close to Stonehenge) and one of the last if not last teams he played for was Salisbury. Didn't really do much, although I did watch him a couple of times. As stated. Lacked that hunger. Great at keepy uppies!

[IanMcL]

Kevin McDonald. Should have been a great midfield dynamo.

[Silkyskills1]

Dave Thomas had a great career with 7 (?) England caps but when I first saw him in the youth team and reserves I thought he was going to be one of the all time English greats. 0ne of the best crossers of a ball I have ever seen

Always thought Dave Thomas evolved as a player after leaving us. I've read on here that Jimmy Adamson and him didn't necessarily get along. Believe it was down to the role Adamson wanted him to perform. Despite losing him relatively early in 1972 to QPR we still went on to win the 2nd division with his replacement, Geoff Nulty, a completely different player to him.
Thomas just came into his own firstly for QPR then Everton as a winger and fully deserved all the accolades he received. Genuinely two footed, I saw him for us take corners in the same game with both left and right foot. The QPR team he was part of were very exciting going forward and at Everton I suspect Bob Latchford especially enjoyed being in the same team. Socks round his ankles, a very distinctive gait, Dave Thomas gave a lot of pleasure and excitement to lots of people.

[sjb]

I'm sure if you asked Dean Marney his opinion on Jones he'd have a very different opinion to yourself.

I can't read about David Jones without thinking about the big lump of a centre forward we had in the late 80s. He was absolutely dreadful and in his case he was a player who could have been more because he certainly couldn't have been any less.

My actual contribution to the thread would be John Murray.

[boyyanno]

Yet no one can actually explain what he did or was any use at.

You aren’t an effective midfield player if you can’t create or destroy.

He played central midfield whilst we got promoted- you'd think that was a pretty good explanation of what he did or was useful at to be honest.

Imagine listing some random things you think makes a midfield player and then not including passing

[Silkyskills1]

I can't read about David Jones without thinking about the big lump of a centre forward we had in the late 80s. He was absolutely dreadful and in his case he was a player who could have been more because he certainly couldn't have been any less.

Four of us went to Leyton Orient when David Jones made his debut for us. We were 4th division fodder at the time but I recall the game being played on an international weekend around March 89?. We had got Jones on loan from Orient and so when we saw this very elegant young man being swamped by youngsters in red and white scarves outside the ground we thought we must have got a decent player at last. Turned out the kids were all Arsenal fans who had come to see their rising star,Kevin Campbell, in his first match for Orient on loan. We lost 3-0, I think Campbell got one of them. We did see David Jones arrive; walking quietly down the street outside their ground just carrying a pair of boots. My son, then 9 years old, who posts on here now, spotted him and .ust be able to claim being the first Claret to get his autograph. Anyone else claim to have his autograph?

[ClaretTony]

Always thought Dave Thomas evolved as a player after leaving us. I've read on here that Jimmy Adamson and him didn't necessarily get along. Believe it was down to the role Adamson wanted him to perform. Despite losing him relatively early in 1972 to QPR we still went on to win the 2nd division with his replacement, Geoff Nulty, a completely different player to him.
Thomas just came into his own firstly for QPR then Everton as a winger and fully deserved all the accolades he received. Genuinely two footed, I saw him for us take corners in the same game with both left and right foot. The QPR team he was part of were very exciting going forward and at Everton I suspect Bob Latchford especially enjoyed being in the same team. Socks round his ankles, a very distinctive gait, Dave Thomas gave a lot of pleasure and excitement to lots of people.

He and Adamson didn’t get on at all. Adamson had his disciples but there was also a long list of players who really didn’t like him and Thomas was one.