Was a good midfielder at a time when the game wasn't really geared towards his type. Solid lower-PL player, would've been the sort of midfielder that Rodgers would like, technically good but not particularly physical. Good finisher too.
I always wanted him to do well because coming from Crewe and making it at a top club is a pretty cool story. He didn’t feature much at all in the first season we had him (97/98) and the following season he was loaned back to Crewe at some point. He started to get games in the Autumn of 2000 when we had a few injuries and had sold the likes of Ince. There was game where Gerrard scored his first goal for us against Sheffield Wednesday wheee Murphy and David Thompson scored as well which was nice.
From there he became a regular option for us and I think hit double figures in all comps in the Treble season.
He was a clever player and technically good like Tubby said. Didn’t have great pace. I think he won an England cap or two in 2001 before picking up an injury.
Ultimately he was one of our more reliable players for us around that time, while at the same time not quite being top quality (probably summed up why we were struggling a bit 03/04. He wanted to play central, I think he mainly played for us on either flank. Don’t think Rafa bombed him out, I think he threw his toys out and wanted to leave (could be wrong). Ended up at Charlton, then Aours before settling at Fulham. Probably ended up a good move for him.
Plenty of really good moments from his time here. Three Old Trafford winners and a Derby winner at Goodison too. Think he scored a screamer or two against Leeds as well. Not bad for a signing from the lower leagues.