All time standout performances from Notts players

[kill_the_drum]

Bostock is a good shout.
Hughsie’s first game against ‘massive’ Bradford.
You instantly knew the calibre of player we’d just signed.
Didn’t Darren Ward single handily win us a game away at Stoke?
I can’t remember a particular performance but David Pipe seemed to be incredible during the Gudjon season.

[upthemaggies]

Paul Hardings' only goal for us in the playoff against Middlesboro.

Really felt for Harding being left out for the final. The TV director, probably unknowingly, focussed in on him at the final whistle after he came on as a late sub and he didn't look exactly thrilled. We won the game 3-1, so you can't argue with Warnock's decision. I do wonder though if Harding never quite got over that and if it affected his relationship with the boss. We really could have done with him in the side after we got relegated back down again into tier 2 but he only made 1 appearance, got loaned out to Birmingham and eventually went there permanently. Surely he offered more to us than Andy Williams did?

[slack_pie]

Good shouts - Smith was unplayable at times. Such a shame injuries that season pretty much ended his career.

I think that Rob Matthews performance was against Leicester the following season, including a goal from running with the ball from well inside his own half (Tony Scully scored an even better one against Blackpool after another lung-busting run in the early 2000s).

That Tottenham game was 3-0, BTW.

One of the best individual performances I remember was Steffan Oakes at Yeovil when we won 3-1 and he scored a wonder goal from the halfway line. Such a shame he couldn’t deliver on a regular basis.

Darren Ward often used to win us games with his brilliance in goal - a 1-0 win against Stockport stands out for some amazing saves.

What happened to Rob Matthews? He seemed unplayable at times in that Mick Walker team, but he didn't play all that many games and then sort of disappeared.

[slack_pie]

Bostock is a good shout.
Hughsie’s first game against ‘massive’ Bradford.
You instantly knew the calibre of player we’d just signed.
Didn’t Darren Ward single handily win us a game away at Stoke?
I can’t remember a particular performance but David Pipe seemed to be incredible during the Gudjon season.

Agree with Bostock vs Chessie and Hughes vs Bradford.

Darren Ward played a few blinders. Stoke away, Lincoln away when we won 0-1.

To be fair, Crowley played a near perfect game for us earlier in the season (Grimsby at home?)

[upthemaggies]

What happened to Rob Matthews? He seemed unplayable at times in that Mick Walker team, but he didn't play all that many games and then sort of disappeared.

I'd never seen anything like it, incredible impact and I was really excited for the return back down to the 2nd tier thinking he was going to tear that division apart. He got badly injured in the first game of the season away to Birmingham and never got to play for Warnock again. Came back after Walker took charge but didn't get a proper run in the side, often on the bench. Of the 12 games he scored in we only lost once and that was away to Man City. Walker mentioned at the time that he needed to put the student lifestyle behind him, or words to that effect. Maybe Warnock would have handled him better.
Left for Luton, probably on the strength of his goals that relegated them. Played for several other clubs lower down after that without seemingly making an impression to speak of.

[durhampie]

Steff Oaks, Every goal was a worldy..

[slack_pie]

I'd never seen anything like it, incredible impact and I was really excited for the return back down to the 2nd tier thinking he was going to tear that division apart. He got badly injured in the first game of the season away to Birmingham and never got to play for Warnock again. Came back after Walker took charge but didn't get a proper run in the side, often on the bench. Of the 12 games he scored in we only lost once and that was away to Man City. Walker mentioned at the time that he needed to put the student lifestyle behind him, or words to that effect. Maybe Warnock would have handled him better.
Left for Luton, probably on the strength of his goals that relegated them. Played for several other clubs lower down after that without seemingly making an impression to speak of.

Thanks for the info! I remember watching him as a kid and thinking he was pretty special, the way he'd just charge through the opposition. But the fact he didn't really go on to do anything made me wonder if I'd imagined it all. It seems not!

[Boomerangpie]

The aforementioned Dave Smith and Darren Ward are great shouts. In recent times look no further than John Bostock. On the biggest stage he was one of only three Notts players who played well above their usual levels. He was the best player on the pitch. He dragged us back to the Football League. That will never be forgotten. Huge performance that day under huge pressure.

He stood out and then some

[LeftPeg_Pie]

Bostock at Wembley is right up there for me. Given the occasion and the setting too. He was absolutely tremendous.

I remember David Pipe playing sweeper in a back five at home to Swindon in a night game and he was outstanding too.

Honourable mention for Michael O’Connor who came on at half time vs Cov in the play off semi, second leg. He smashed into two tackles within 30 seconds of the restart and totally changed the atmosphere of everything. Granted we got beaten, but he had a genuine impact that night that you don’t see many players have.

Dishonourable mention for Mark Fotheringham. Played like a dream vs Galatasary in a friendly. Was unbelievable. Then played like a drain all that season. Absolute bell of a footballer.

[magpie_mania]

Bostock is a good shout.
Hughsie’s first game against ‘massive’ Bradford.
You instantly knew the calibre of player we’d just signed.
Didn’t Darren Ward single handily win us a game away at Stoke?
I can’t remember a particular performance but David Pipe seemed to be incredible during the Gudjon season.

Bostock first and Hughes second would also be my choice.

Don M often ran the show.

Unsung hero (another thread maybe?) would possibly be Phil Turner.