I was reading some other fans remarks on Laurie on another site and one said he was not a great player. a very good player yes but that depended on his mood swings. Interesting comment.
Saw nearly every game he played for us home and away cup and league. He was a player with great skill, pace, instinct and courage. He did not show these attributes in every game I saw, but in most was simply a joy to watch. It should also be remembered that he had some pretty useful performers in the team with him in those days. Not the least of whom were his fellow 'degrees'. Cyrille could be so spectacular, but for me Brendon Batson was simply one of the best full backs I have ever seen in an Albion shirt. Statham was the other one and both in the same team! Then add Bomber, Cantello and Robson as well as a slightly fading Willie j.
Had Laurie been playing for us today, and had a couple of his 'off' days in succession, or as he sometimes did, fail to produce in a big game, no doubt there would have been some posters calling attention to his every mistake, questioning his attitude, his chasing back, his lightweight defensive work etc. Some would no doubt question if he was worth what we were paying him.
Would I have paid to go and watch him play for a team other than Albion? Certainly I would except for vile or dingles. Even without the blue and white tinted spectacles of my youth, I thought he was a great player at the time, and still do today.