Opinion: A different take on Alan Ball's Portsmouth stars of the '90s
Paul Hinshelwood, who many will know as a defender who served Havant & Waterlooville and Bognor, enjoyed reading the original piece about that era.
He put forward his XI – but included one man who didn’t play for the first team under Bally.
See if you can work out which one.
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Hide AdHe said: ‘The article made me think of the players I’d watch and love during my childhood.
‘Aaron Flahavan was amazing. I remember singing ‘England’s No1’ after many a save
‘At right-back I’ll go with Dave Waterman, I loved seeing young players come through and then when we played together at a Bognor I realised what a player he was but what an amazing man, too.‘Centre-backs, I’m going for Andy Awford and Darren Moore.
‘Awfs was class and Moore, I remember seeing in the players’ lounge before he had been announced. I got his autograph!
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Hide Ad‘At left-back, Justin Edinburgh. Very intelligent – you could tell he came from a higher league.‘Midfield, I’m going Sammy Igoe on the right.
‘I also had the pleasure of playing with him at Havant and Bognor again. To play alongside him was a dream. He would never lose the ball.
‘Centre midfield, Alan McLoughlin and Gary O’Neil.
‘Alan was consistent and reliable. Gary was one of my favourite Pompey players ever
‘On the left I’m going for Paul Hall – not his usual spot, but I loved him trying to attack full-backs.‘Up top I’m going for Johnny Aloisi – he always looked like scoring – and Steve Claridge.
‘He looked like a tramp but it was a big thing him coming to us.’
Next? Name the best XI from Jim Smith’s 1991-1995 spell.
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