Quote Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee View Post
Fair enough, just that under Malky, Whitts had to be a more complete midfielder, tackling back etc. I remember Malky saying he used to show Whitts a video of an occasion where he had ran 50 yards back to tackle someone. That would hardly ever have happened when Jones was manager. It's maybe no coincidence that most of the brilliant goals, the great free kicks, the moments of jaw dropping skill happened when Jones was our manager. Whitts went over 4 years without scoring a direct free kick under Malky, Solskjaer and Slade and he became a different player.

It would have been interesting to have seen Whitts in the Premier League given a free role. He'd certainly have coped.
This will sound like sacrilege but the fact Whittingham ended up at City for £350000 suggests the other 19 premier league clubs along with Villa didn't fancy it?

Talented, gifted, skillful, yes. Did he have the work rate to defend as often and much with a then mid table or lower premier league club during those years?

Whittingham was a crowd pleaser when allowed to play his game. I don't think most clubs at the time were able to have that luxury? Don't think others felt Whittingham was good enough for clubs or coaches to take that chance?