Telfer's on top

Last updated : 29 March 2002 By Christian Kelly
There's no doubt that Paul Telfer doesn't get enough credit. He's not the most skillful, he's not the best goalscorer and he's not the best defender. What he is though, is a player who enables the rest of the team to shine through his ball winning, endeavour and great positional awareness down the right. Since Paul's arrival Saints have looked a great deal more solid and even more capable of holding the ball well in midfield to allow attacks to be created.

In addition Paul has been able to slot in a right back very well with Jason Dodd being injured. Dodd was injured at the start of the season and Saints tried Tahar and Delap there to very poor effect. So Telfer's versatility has come in very handy indeed. Of course, I'm far from the only one to espouse Paul's virtues, Gordon Strachan also thinks very highly of the player he also had at Coventry. Gordon said: "Paul is a player's player and a manager's player. We all know what he brings to the side but what he does often goes unnoticed by supporters.

"Fans like to see exceptional skill from people like Matthew Le Tissier and underrate what guys like Paul Telfer do."

"I reckon he is just about my best signing for this club. He gets on with his job, always does it well and creates no fuss whatsoever. You ask the other players what they think of Paul Telfer and they would agree with me."

I think more and more of the fans are beginning to notice Telfer's contributions to the side. I think that is appearance in the Coventry side that got relegated could have had something to do with it. Of course we could have said the same about Paul Williams and Gordon himself and look at what they've given the club this year !