How good was Jason McAteer

[épieur]

Bit random I know, but I was thinking back and have a hard time placing him. 

I remember him as a good but not great player in a bad setup. I don't remember why he left (I assume he was part of the spice Boys ged wanted churned out) but do recall wondering how rigobert song was any kind of upgrade. Heggem was better I thought but he quickly became a mythical creature. 

[Hightown Phil]

Wasn't he reasonably good, and then got a broken leg, and then wasn't so good? 

[smithdown]

He was decent in midfield for Bolton, okish for us as a wing back

[Benzo-13]

He was played out of position for us. Would’ve like to have seen him in midfield. That stupid 3 at the back were no one moved out. s***e formation.

[RBM]

19 minutes ago, Benzo-13 said:

He was played out of position for us. Would’ve like to have seen him in midfield. That stupid 3 at the back were no one moved out. s***e formation.

That was to accommodate 3 players because Evans was too weak to tell one of them they weren’t playing, wasn’t tactical. 

[Benzo-13]

24 minutes ago, RBM said:

That was to accommodate 3 players because Evans was too weak to tell one of them they weren’t playing, wasn’t tactical. 

I’d agree and also we were pasted by Ajax and Bayern in a preseason who utilised it the right way with a sweeper and I’m sure it was a lazy thought.

[kop205]

I spent a summer watching teletext waiting for him to sign, having wanted him since the summer before and the World Cup - I think like most of us. Fair to say he didn't really live up to expectations. 

He was a bit of a div whose main talent was to run around a lot - he defo wasn't good enough for centre mid which I think is where he wanted to play.

He was alright as a wingback, though it meant Rob Jones got shunted across....again, probably more evidence of just trying to shoe-horn people in regardless of what it meant in terms of a system.

But he did give us the coat hanger story I suppose, so that was probably worth a chunk of his fee on its own (even though another part of me just gets irritated by how bad a bunch of d****eads that lot were).

 

[Hightown Phil]

So many good stories, such as choosing a pizza cut in to four instead of eight because he wasn't that hungry.

[Cobs]

he was good, without ever being great, good engine, good lad -  probably too matey with Ruddock for his own good

played in a team with a keeper with s*** concentration levels and who struggled to defend and then he bust his leg

fin    

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Cobs

[Dan]

Seem to remember him breaking his leg began the demise of our title challenge that year. We missed him badly in that set up. James was obviously the main culprit but still.

[Hassony]

2 hours ago, Benzo-13 said:

He was played out of position for us. Would’ve like to have seen him in midfield. That stupid 3 at the back were no one moved out. s***e formation.

With Redknapp and Barnes in front of them passing it between them 

 

1 hour ago, Hightown Phil said:

So many good stories, such as choosing a pizza cut in to four instead of eight because he wasn't that hungry.

Shouting 180 when he saw Jimmy White 

[DecidedByPoll]

Not too much to offer on the playing front but two interesting snippets for you all:

1. my uncle used to mind his dad’s dog

2. His sister was fit

[Raj]

How good was Jason McAteer? If ever there was a 5am question when you’ve nearly run out of booze, that’s it ...

[oakie bob]

He was great at Marine 

[Hassony]

Pretty good in that head and shoulders ad

[Ombudsam]

Can’t believe no one has mentioned his crossing. Was good from RWB. Decent engine too.

[Hightown Phil]

14 minutes ago, sammy & a said:

Can’t believe no one has mentioned his crossing. Was good from RWB. Decent engine too.

Think one of the 4-3 games against Newcastle saw an incredible one from him for one of the goals. 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Hightown Phil

[kop205]

11 minutes ago, Hightown Phil said:

Think one of the 4-3 games against Newcastle saw an incredible one from him for one of the goals. 

Yeah, that is the one that springs to mind. Collymore's first I think.

[Jarg Armani]

I remember supporting Swindon or someone v Bolton in the playoff final because I thought if Bolton came up he’d stay there. My dad told me he would sign anyway and he was right.

[Murphman]

He's what Nico Williams will evolve into.

[Ombudsam]

32 minutes ago, Murphman said:

He's what Nico Williams will evolve into.

What a neg. Expect Nico in your bed tonight 

[épieur]

2 hours ago, sammy & a said:

Can’t believe no one has mentioned his crossing. Was good from RWB. Decent engine too.

His crosses were pretty good weren't they? 

[Hassony]

He loved to cross the ball into the 'corridor of uncertainty'

[Ombudsam]

32 minutes ago, Kid Klopp said:

His crosses were pretty good weren't they? 

Yes but the question mark is compelling me to agree with someone agreeing with me which makes me look like a narcissist.

Can you be more careful with your punctuation next time as you have no idea the damage you are doing to people’s lives.

[Cam]

He was great in central midfield for Bolton, seemed to be able to do a bit of everything (score, defend, create, protect).  Not Gerrard levels but just a good all-rounder; a bit like Keane was before he became a world-class defensive midfielder.  I was desperate for us to sign him and Stubbs; spent a ruddy fortune ringing ClubCall and TeamTalk for news.

But he was pretty rubbish in CM for us, very much a headless chicken.  Maybe part of that was the tactics or teammates he was lumbered with.  He did okay at wingback though. 

Usually comes across well on the telly now.