Rubbish! I saw one of his games for the reserves at the Goldstone. He was brilliant, and I remember telling loads of people about him at the time.
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Ian Wright
- Thread starter jevs
- Start date
Rubbish! I saw one of his games for the reserves at the Goldstone. He was brilliant, and I remember telling loads of people about him at the time.
BensGrandad
New member
Thats about their level now as neither good enough for the Championship now,
fat old seagull
New member
Always quite liked Ian Wright (apart from Chicken Tonight) always seemed cheerful and one of the lads. But never looked on him as being particularly bright....until I now see he chose to come here before....Palace!
Sheebo
Well-known member
- Jul 13, 2003
- 29,319
Absolutely love Ian Wright - along with Gareth Southgate, one of the few players who've palyed for Palace (before they died in 2010) that I don't tarnish with that dirty brush. Probably because they both served England well of course. Wrighty always comes across as a nice and passionate guy too.
It is a little difficult for me to comment directly as I wasn't there and didn't see him play, but my point was that a good friend of mine was a young professional at the club at the time Wright was on trial.
He doesn't agree with your analysis, he wasn't particularly impressed with him above any other of the trialists that turned up regularly to train at the club at the time and certainly doesnt recall a brilliant display as you have in a reserve game that my mate probably played in.
Its worth noting that the club at the time also doesnt agree with your assessment as there was never any discussion to even consider signing him, worth also remembering the club were recruiting young players around this era outside of the apprentice system, Chris Roddon, Ian Muir, Gary Howlett, Penney, Kraay, Young etc. so for me it cannot be put down as an obvious failure, just an example of the inexact science of young player recruitment.
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Return of the Rev
Well-known member
We were not the only ones to turn him away
If football recruiting was that easy i'm not sure Chelsea would have to keep so many players in their system.Marxo
Well-known member
I heard him talking about it in an interview once and there was mention of Dave Hollins (John Hollins brother), who played in goal for us in the late 50's. Unfortunately I can't remember what he said but I think he (Hollins) may have been at the Albion in some capacity at the time.
Usually when this story surfaces someone (so it might as well be me this time) says we signed Steve Penney instead from that batch of triallists. How true that is I don't know. Younger fans might go 'Who?'' so let me say he was the Knockaert of his day. Great player for us and I can't really blame the club for choosing him if they only had to pick one.
It seems it was never a choice decision, the reality remains that the club didn't think Wright was any better than who they already had or had trialling at the time, such as Penney.
Even the signing of Penney wasnt as obvious as his later career might warrant, I have been assured that Penney turned up as quite a naive young winger traillist with a few tricks but nothing outstanding, however he found something that is critical in any young players prospects and that was a firm ally in Sammy Nelson, they shared nationality and Sammy held some sway at the time, perhaps even being the first team coach at the time, so Penney was given the benefit of the doubt and signed, Wright however had no such ally just another kid with some ability, so although it wasn't a choice as such there was a weighted advantage for Penney against Wright or any other trialist or current young player at the time.
Maybe that I'm remembering wrong but my memory is that Wright was awful for England. He does come over as an ok bloke though but I used to turn him off when he came on the radio.
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
He only scored 9 goals in 33 games for England, apparently and 4 of them were against San Marino. http://englandstats.com/players.php?pid=1094
As I was at Wembley for the Moldova game in 1997 when he scored twice, that means I saw over 20% of his goals for England in one night.
As I was at Wembley for the Moldova game in 1997 when he scored twice, that means I saw over 20% of his goals for England in one night.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
I think his "time" at the Albion was more around the time that Tillman replaced Dean Saunders
Sheebo
Well-known member
- Jul 13, 2003
- 29,319
More a personal memory of my first ever England game at Wembley where he scored 2 against Moldova in 97 I think. Scholes and Gazza with the others. Got to see Beckham my all time favourite footballer. Was only 10 or so and Gazza was unreal. What a night that was
Plus always gets passionate about England now which is part of serving your country for me
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
More a personal memory of my first ever England game at Wembley where he scored 2 against Moldova in 97 I think. Scholes and Gazza with the others. Got to see Beckham my all time favourite footballer. Was only 10 or so and Gazza was unreal. What a night that was
Plus always gets passionate about England now which is part of serving your country for me
We were sat behind the goal when he scored and his reaction to scoring was brilliant. He was a big a fan as we were.
Sheebo
Well-known member
- Jul 13, 2003
- 29,319
Ah yes just seen you were at the same game - really enjoyed that one. 'Are you watching Italy'
BensGrandad
New member
I think his "time" at the Albion was more around the time that Tillman replaced Dean Saunders
It started during Alan Mullery's time reporting to Ken Craggs, who incidentally bumped into a mutual aquaintaince a few weeks ago and he asked to be remembered.
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joeinbrighton
New member
Seem to remember he scored what could have been a pretty late equaliser away to Poland in the 1993/94 World Cup qualifying campaign. In the end, it counted for nothing as a few days later England lost away to Norway.
Wright's best years coincided with England having established #9s which meant he never really got to hold down a place in the side. Gary Lineker was the main forward at the start of his England career and Alan Shearer by the end and those 2 were always going to occupy the centre forward slot. Wright didn't have a bad England career, it just wasn't as explosive as his club career, but then the England team wasn't built around his strengths which certainly the Arsenal team of the early to mid-90s was.
D
Deleted User X18H
Guest
Roy Keane too slight.
Wright - Cattlin curtailed his trial. Wasn't there some attendance problems.
Played a couple of reserve games
Wright - Cattlin curtailed his trial. Wasn't there some attendance problems.
Played a couple of reserve games