Now if they could find a couple as good as these Posh players from the past that would be lovely.
Here are the best dozen central midfielders I’ve seen play for Posh in my 50 years watching the club. I only included permanent Posh signings.
Let me know who you think should have been included on Twitter at @PTAlanSwann or by email to [email protected].
5. 8th: ALAN SLOUGH
Posh years: 1977-1981. Posh appearances: 128. Posh goals: 16. Oozed class in midfield in the team that missed out on promotion to the second tier of English football on goal difference in 1977-78. In the penultimate game of that season he converted a hat-trick of penalties in a 4-3 defeat at Chester. Posh paid Fulham - he'd appeared in the FA Cup final of 1975 with the Cottagers - £25k for his services and he spent the latter part of his time at London Road playing pretty well as a centre-back. Slough went on to play for Millwall and then enjoyed many coaching jobs in non-league football while running a cleaning business. Sadly passed away last year aged 73. Photo: David Lowndes
6. 7th GARY COOPER
Posh years: 1991-1993. Posh appearances: 114. Posh goals: 14. Such a shame that such a naturally gifted midfielder is usually remembered for his behavioural problems. Cooper had regular run-ins with fans and bizarrely went AWOL from the club just before the memorable Third Division play-off success in 1992. He returned in time for the Wembley final, but he'd lost his place in the team and made only 18 more appearances for the club before joining Birmingham City. Cooper arrived at Posh alongside Ken Charlery from Maidstone in March, 1991 and owned a cultured left foot which did plenty to get Posh into the play-offs in their first season in Division Three. Whereabouts now unknown, even by Charlery. Photo: David Lowndes
7. 6th BOBBY DOYLE
Posh years: 1976-79. Posh appearances: 156. Posh goals: 12. What a Rolls Royce of a footballer this Scottish midfielder turned out to be at Posh. He was athletic, he could pass and he could score goals. In three seasons at Posh he was twice voted player-of-the-year by fans and once voted the best player in Division Three by readers of a Sunday newspaper. England World Cup winner Alan Ball paid a Posh record fee of £110,000 to take Doyle from Posh to Blackpool and he went on to win a Third Division title with Portsmouth before a short stint at Hull. Doyle settled in Peterborough and worked as a lorry driver. Sadly he passed away at the age of 65 in 2019. Photo: David Lowndes
8. 5th GRANT MCCANN
Posh years: 2010-2015. Posh appearances: 186. Posh goals: 35. Arrived on a free transfer from Scunthorpe and promptly became a key man in the Posh promotion season to the Championship in 2010-11 when his wand of a left foot contributed 13 goals, including one in all three play-off wins. Excelled at Championship level also. Not sure what he's up to now. Photo: David Lowndes.