Best footballers you ever saw
Discussion
Following the death of the greatest (IMO) yesterday, I thought about who were the all time best that I had seen for pure talent on their day. I came up with (in a particular order);
1. George Best
2. Pele
3. Johan Cruyff
4. Franz Beckenbauer
5. Maradona
6. Ruud Gullit
7. Rodney Marsh
8. John Barnes
9. Stan Bowles
10. Robin Friday
1. George Best
2. Pele
3. Johan Cruyff
4. Franz Beckenbauer
5. Maradona
6. Ruud Gullit
7. Rodney Marsh
8. John Barnes
9. Stan Bowles
10. Robin Friday
Those that I've seen with my own eyes:
(Not necessarily in order)
1) Eric Cantona
2) Ruud Gullit
3) Mark Hughes
4) Ronaldo (R.M)......}
5) Louis Figo............} all in the same game
6) Zinedine Zidane....}
7) Ryan Giggs
8) Peter Schmeical
9) Thierry Henry
10) Wayne Rooney
11) My Grandad
Sorry for the Man Utd bias but its where I've seen most of my football.
>> Edited by lazyitus on Saturday 26th November 12:29
(Not necessarily in order)
1) Eric Cantona
2) Ruud Gullit
3) Mark Hughes
4) Ronaldo (R.M)......}
5) Louis Figo............} all in the same game
6) Zinedine Zidane....}
7) Ryan Giggs
8) Peter Schmeical
9) Thierry Henry
10) Wayne Rooney
11) My Grandad
Sorry for the Man Utd bias but its where I've seen most of my football.
>> Edited by lazyitus on Saturday 26th November 12:29
Gonna chuck a curveball in to the thread...
Best player I've ever seen with my own eyes was someone who briefly starred for Watford - Xavier Gravelaine: www.bsad.org/gone/grav.html
And I've seen many games and great players!
Other greats: Batistuta, Bergkamp, Terry 'Enry and Ryan Giggs.
Best player I've ever seen with my own eyes was someone who briefly starred for Watford - Xavier Gravelaine: www.bsad.org/gone/grav.html
And I've seen many games and great players!
Other greats: Batistuta, Bergkamp, Terry 'Enry and Ryan Giggs.
puggit said:
Gonna chuck a curveball in to the thread...
Best player I've ever seen with my own eyes was someone who briefly starred for Watford - Xavier Gravelaine: www.bsad.org/gone/grav.html
Its a bit like me with Robin Friday. He played for Reading in the '70's and he was undoubtedly the best player never to play top flight football. (He liked the booze, drugs and birds too much and sadly died young).
They even wrote a book about him.
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1840181087/qid=1133004107/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-5974774-2913248
unrepentant said:
Following the death of the greatest (IMO) yesterday, I thought about who were the all time best that I had seen for pure talent on their day. I came up with (in a particular order);
1. George Best
2. Pele
3. Johan Cruyff
4. Franz Beckenbauer
5. Maradona
6. Ruud Gullit
7. Rodney Marsh
8. John Barnes
9. Stan Bowles
10. Robin Friday
1/ Georgie Best (always wanted to be him in the playground)
2/ Pele (one of the worlds greatest sportsman that got to the top still being a true gent)
3/ Maradona (would of been second but for being a cheating B@stid)
4/ Van Basten (loved his athletisism)
5/ Gordon Hill (Merlin)@ Millwall
6/ Frank worthington (very skillful)
7/ John Barnes (goal against Brazil was simply amazing)
8/ Teddy Sherringham (watched him bang in 50 goals when he was a young,very fit man)
9/ Anton Otulakowski (Millwall,fantastic dribbler)
10/ Terry Hurlock (hitting the winner @ Leeds,in the promotion run,he could hit a ball)
Best team display's,(just some)
1/ Germany v England (1-5) (once in a lifetime)
2/ Leeds Utd v Southampton (7-0) (one of the best demonstrations of football you will ever see)
3/ AC Milan v Liverpool (3-3) (what a fightback against one of the worlds best clubs)
4/ Arsenal v Swindon (cup final) (1-3) (great final)
5/ Benfica v Man Utd (E cup) (1-4) (Besty at his Best)
6/ Sunderland v Millwall 0-1 (cup semi) (fullfilled one life ambition)
7/ Hull City v Millwall 1-1 (Promoted, another life ambition)
8/ Man Utd v Millwall 3-0 (standing in the away end watching Sharp,Robins and Giggs coming towards you attacking with speed was amazing)
9/ Liverpool v Millwall 1-1 (going 1-0 up and singing our hearts out at Anfield)
10/ Watching Liverpool in Europe on the box in the 80's
11/ Leeds v Chelsea (Cup final replay 1-2) Great game.
Sorry got a bit carried away
Ronaldino - currently doing some amazing stuff
Shearer - 10 years ago he just couldn't miss
Davor Shuker - seems to get forgotten in all time great lists but some superb goals
Maradonna - spoilt by the hand of God incident but unstoppable most of the time
Vince Hilaire - saw him play a few times at C Palace, not an all time great but very entertaining
Glenn Hoddle/Platini - their passing games were magnifico
Last seasons Arsenal squad - the start and end of the season saw some of the most entertaining footy from any prem team (imo)
edited as I forgot Zidane
>> Edited by JoolzB on Saturday 26th November 12:19
Shearer - 10 years ago he just couldn't miss
Davor Shuker - seems to get forgotten in all time great lists but some superb goals
Maradonna - spoilt by the hand of God incident but unstoppable most of the time
Vince Hilaire - saw him play a few times at C Palace, not an all time great but very entertaining
Glenn Hoddle/Platini - their passing games were magnifico
Last seasons Arsenal squad - the start and end of the season saw some of the most entertaining footy from any prem team (imo)
edited as I forgot Zidane
>> Edited by JoolzB on Saturday 26th November 12:19
lazyitus said:
Ronaldino - currently doing some amazing stuff
Yeah, some of his football at the moment is the best I have ever witnessed. Must get to a game to see this bloke with my own eyes.
Hopefully see him next year in the WC (World Cup that is) but I doubt I'll have that much luck
lazyitus said:
9/ Anton Otulakowski (Millwall,fantastic dribbler)
I remember this lad from his Southend days, excellent stuff at times and lived a stones throw away from me.
lazyitus said:
9/ Anton Otulakowski (Millwall,fantastic dribbler)
No I didn't!
you did that without moving yer hands 
Talking of Southend,one of the most wasted talents ive seen was Stanley Collymore,under Barry fry i thought he was at his best.
At roots Hall Southend were 1-3 down when Collymore gets the ball,standing in his way was "Rhino" and Colin Cooper .... SC brushed them aside like they werent there and slotted home 2-3.....final score 3-3,think it was Collymore again.
ZR1cliff said:
Talking of Southend,one of the most wasted talents ive seen was Stanley Collymore,under Barry fry i thought he was at his best.
At roots Hall Southend were 1-3 down when Collymore gets the ball,standing in his way was "Rhino" and Colin Cooper .... SC brushed them aside like they werent there and slotted home 2-3.....final score 3-3,think it was Collymore again.
Yep totally agree, still S'end did ok from him financially. Unfortunately I only got to see him play at Roots Hall once or twice
His mis-doings off the pitch meant that I couldn't include him in my list off all time greats lazyitus said:
Those that I've seen with my own eyes:
(Not necessarily in order)
1) Eric Cantona
2) Ruud Gullit
3) Mark Hughes
4) Ronaldo (R.M)......}
5) Louis Figo............} all in the same game
6) Zinedine Zidane....}
7) Ryan Giggs
8) Peter Schmeical
9) Thierry Henry
10) Wayne Rooney
11) My Grandad
Sorry for the Man Utd bias but its where I've seen most of my football.
>> Edited by lazyitus on Saturday 26th November 12:29
Anyone we know Lazy..?
JoolzB said:
Talking of Southend,one of the most wasted talents ive seen was Stanley Collymore,under Barry fry i thought he was at his best.
At roots Hall Southend were 1-3 down when Collymore gets the ball,standing in his way was "Rhino" and Colin Cooper .... SC brushed them aside like they werent there and slotted home 2-3.....final score 3-3,think it was Collymore again.
Yep totally agree, still S'end did ok from him financially. Unfortunately I only got to see him play at Roots Hall once or twice
I noticed for the first couple of transfers in volving SC that Jason ??was also included,i got the impression it was because Jason ?? was the only one that could control SC and it wasnt till SC went to Liverpool and Jason ?? stayed at Nottm Forest that SC started really going off the rails.........
The other night i was watching league football and noticed Jason ?? still playing ?
I agree with all of the above... great players. Would also like to add Andrei kanchelskis into the fray. never was a man so underated as him, when he played for both man utd and everton. the man was fantastic, and never fully got the credit he deserved. the same for Ander Limpar at Arsenal, and everton. Peter Schmichalel, neville Southall, Bruce Grobblaar, etc all deserve a mention. There always seems to be the usual list rounded up, but there were so many others. Robbie fowler was one of the greatest goalscoring poachers (in the same vein as Linekar), of his day, better than owen in my opinion...
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff