Whos the best player any of you have watched in the flesh?? Thierry Henry is mine, we all gave him a standing ovation when he got subbed later on in the match. He mentioned it in an interview years later in how much he appreciated our fans for doing it
I’ve said Maradona, have to mention i prefer legends with more dedication and lifestyle and know he was a bit of a smack head but for pure football ability haven’t seen anybody in my lifetime who can do things with a football like him,also a mention for Van Basten complete centre forward I’ve seen (well apart from big Vic)
I have never seen a footballer as good. He was just sublime with the ball. He could do things I have never seen players since get close to. Maybe the nearest I have seen is Cruyff. I dont go back as far as Pele. Maradonna was on a level all of his own for me. Messi is great and I love watching him but he isnt at Maradonnas level imo. I think back to his time at Napoli and watching him on the box. I was just mesmerised by him. This little fella, tough as teak, kicked from pillar to post but he was just this player blessed by some footballing god. It was just a thing of rare beauty. His talent was with the ball was a thing unseen before or after, honed on the streets. Then his fighting spirit and desire put him on the top of the world. I know he had his demons, but my word he was the most beautiful and gifted footballer. I remember when my lads were younger I challenged them to watch the best of maradonna on the internet and they were just astounded. If he were playing now there wouldnt a be a player who could stop him doing whatever he wanted. Just extraordinary.
Best Player? Immposible question, for me. Depends on position, and I can not get my head round compaing a Keeper to a Striker, for example. But as a youngster, I watched Len Shackleton, and nothing II've seen on any medium since has beaten these, possibly, rose tinted memory's. Then a few years later I was privildged to watch Charlie Hurley, Head and shoulders above his competition. Mine was a vert lucky generation.
Mine would be Rio Ferdinand, remember watching him for Leeds against us and he was a rolls royce of a CB - he was up against phillips n quinn and they barely got a touch against him
Hard to say who best player ever is due to positions etc Decided to put my best ever starting line up together instead Buffon Cafu Cannavaro Maldini Cole Xavi Iniesta Zidane Messi R9 Ronaldo Really hard to actually name a best ever 11
I have this discussion with my Son a lot. I find it impossible to pick a "best ever" because there are SO many players who achieved so much, but in different generations and different leagues/countries so comparisons are hard. My top 5 would be: 1. Zidane 2. Maradona 3. Fat Ronaldo 4. Thin Ronaldo 5. Messi I loved watching Platini play when I was a kid, same goes for Henry, Bergkamp and Zola. Ronaldinho was superb for a short spell at Barca and Luis Figo was a massive player for Portugal. Then you have those who I never saw play, but had read a lot about - Bobby Moore, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Bobby Charlton. Not on the above list, but my all time favourite player is Paul Scholes - absolute genuis with a ball at his feet, So in summary, I have no fekking clue who the best is
What I often wonder is, how would players get on if they had to play in a different era? Would they be perceived in the same way? How would Cristiano get on if he was transported to the 50s? Would Puskas or Di Stefano be considered to be as good if they were playing now? The rules have changed so much and tactical approaches have come and gone (and equipment has got lighter). How much does that influence how good a player is considered to be? The rules around where a goalkeeper could handle the ball changed partly because of Leigh Richmond Roose. He was a superstar in his day but would he be considered to be if he was playing now?
