Quote Originally Posted by ex_pat_magpie View Post
Chris Hughton began life as a winger Kemp, but was converted to full back at Spuds being able to play on either left or right.
Well, he may well have been a winger as a youngster. but I don't recall him playing there much, if at all, for the first team and Spurs were my "London team" when I lived there in the 70s.
Calling him a winger would be like calling Malcolm Macdonald a full back because he started off playing there.

Chris was also my neighbour in Brighton. When we first met, my wife, with typical candour, expressed her surprise that he was quite small. His reply - "Well I was just a full back".

It was probably different in his short spell at SJP, where he inherited a talented squad, but his teams at Norwich and Brighton were notable for playing defensive football.
I remember a Norwich fan telling me, shortly after Hughton's arrival at the Amex, "You know what you get with Chris - defence, defence, defence".

His last year here in Brighton was a nightmare, with the fans constantly criticising the style of play.
Possession stats were very similar to those achieved today by Bruce's teams.
He was appreciated for keeping Albion in the Premier League, but the fans were not unduly upset when he left, for that very reason.