Best CM ever?

[The Great Mass Debater 1,244]

In my mental Norwich all time XI I have found the hardest position to fill is that of CM. 

If you were picking only one central midfielder, who would that be? 

Would it be Sara? 

[S_81 1,133]

Maddison certainly one of the most talented CMs I’ve seen in a Norwich shirt 

[Worthy Nigelton 1,328]

Ian Crook.

[nutty nigel 7,952]

Tommy Bryceland or Wes.

[glory.win or die. 274]

Id have to say Maddison. 

Ian Crook was class as was Jan Molby and David Rocastle in their brief spells

But Maddison pretty much had it all

 

[lake district canary 4,874]

Maddison was superb, but Crook edges it for me because he was at the club much longer, 11 years I think. 

[Deptford Yellow 303]

Youssef Safri was good

[The Great Mass Debater 1,244]

1 hour ago, S_81 said:

Maddison certainly one of the most talented CMs I’ve seen in a Norwich shirt 

Interesting. Hadn't really considered him as a CM. I'd not included him at AM because that position belongs to Hoolahan all day long

[The Great Mass Debater 1,244]

1 hour ago, glory.win or die. said:

Jan Molby and David Rocastle in their brief spells

Are you talking about their time in yellow? Interesting if you are

[Newtopia 582]

7 hours ago, glory.win or die. said:

Id have to say Maddison. 

Ian Crook was class as was Jan Molby and David Rocastle in their brief spells

But Maddison pretty much had it all

 

I do not recall Jan moving a whole lot, or at all when he was with us.  Although I did see him drinking in Bedford's after the game.

[Newtopia 582]

Crook is my favourite ever player amazing vision, yet I think Phelan and O'Neil were better players overall.

[Ulfotto 828]

Although he it was just a loan spell Scott Parker was class.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,905]

10 hours ago, lake district canary said:

Maddison was superb, but Crook edges it for me because he was at the club much longer, 11 years I think. 

Forbes laughs at 11 years given he was here for over 30!

[Walcombe canary 82]

Ian Crook

[Midlands Yellow 4,692]

Mark Fotheringham.

[Robert N. LiM 6,407]

5 hours ago, Newtopia said:

I do not recall Jan moving a whole lot, or at all when he was with us.  Although I did see him drinking in Bedford's after the game.

Not sure he ever left the centre circle

[damn that Ralph Coates! 74]

Graham Paddon

[paddycanary 583]

Ian Crook was first to come to mind on reading the thread title for a person of my vintage

[Robert N. LiM 6,407]

This question is complicated by the fact that in recent times 'midfield' has been separated into the more deep-lying players and the more attacking midfielders (the 2 and the 3 in the classic Farkeball 4-2-3-1 formation).

So I'm going to choose two, one from each category, and from 1985 onwards. Can't comment before that.

Ian Crook and Emi Buendía.

[sgncfc 1,345]

Martin Peters if he qualifies as a CM. Then Maddison, but not sure he qualifies either. So Ian Crook is a good shout.

[Ken Hairy 4,309]

Definitely Crooky, loved Sara obviously but don't think he's even close to it 

[Capt. Pants 5,138]

Not Howson then?

[Nexus_Canary 1,248]

Best CM? Punk surely....

 

(This is niche don't expect many to get it)

[Lazza 69]

It's funny as Kenny is never mentioned on subjects like this, despite being our mainstay and mostly, 1st name on the team sheet since 18/19 season for 4 different managers as well as for Scotland.

He works hard for the team and is definitely noticed when he doesn't play, yet is rarely picked out for praise. He just consistently gets on with doing a decent job.

But for me... Peters/Paddon early on, Goss/Fox/Crook later.

[duke63 754]

Martin O’Neill. His influence on the game was huge. 

[chicken 3,128]

16 hours ago, glory.win or die. said:

Id have to say Maddison. 

Ian Crook was class as was Jan Molby and David Rocastle in their brief spells

But Maddison pretty much had it all

 

He didn't, not whilst playing for us at any rate. He was very much AM too.

[chicken 3,128]

1 hour ago, Nexus_Canary said:

Best CM? Punk surely....

 

(This is niche don't expect many to get it)

They said best! 😅

[chicken 3,128]

I'd say Crook. But it's not an easy, or straight forward decision.

For starters, Crook was in the team playing at the very pinnacle of our achievements in Europe and not having done too badly in the Premiership either.

Hard to compare players who didn't, or are yet to perform at that high a level, or that level of quality around them.

[Google Bot 3,990]

I was quite a bit younger and going to football was less about watching the match at the time, so could have this wrong, but wasn't Townsend a quite an outstanding midfielder for us?

I know he's a **** and all that, but I remember him being pretty good all round and was tough with it.

Edited October 29, 2024 by Google Bot

[Norfolk Dan 344]

Crook. That free kick to Bowens head.. have we ever scored a bigger goal? 

His vision and time. 100% would have played for Spurs and England, but for G Hoddle.