Very interesting discussions going on here. I'm in the camp that believes all time City greats should have played a major part of their career for City. Thus I picked Connor and Merrick over others. And we'll have the same problems when we get to strikers/forwards. Given that we can only judge each player and compare with others of their own time, again I would go for the same choice. But in terms of the best central defender I have seen play for City, it has to be Norman Hunter. Like many when he arrived I thought he was just a Leeds clogger, but he was a real quality footballer. As a defender he could take a ball of anyone he played against and as a distributor, his left peg was as good as any I've ever seen. And if the opposition wanted a scrap, he gave it as well as he was able to take it. To think he managed 120 odd games for City with a dodgy achilles tendon. Younger ones, please trust us old codgers. You will never see a better defender playing for City!
I truly wish we had just 1 CB currently anywhere near the calibre of some being mentioned on here. My choices are Rob Newman Shaun Taylor
'Thus I picked Connor and Merrick over others' Cider - we're talking CB's here and although Merrick was good in the 2nd Division he played the large majority in the 1st Division at LB. AD moved quickly in our first season after promotion because he knew Merrick wasn't good enough at LH and bought Hunter. Your description of Hunter was spot on but I would add I didn't realise until he played for us how good he was in the air. When he played for Leeds I thought he just 'cleaned up' after Jack Charlton, how wrong was I - Norman Hunter never had any weakness at all.
Current Update Taylor 5 Collier 6 Merrick 8 Caulker 3 Hunter 4 Carey 3 Connor 1 Newman 1 Curle 1 Keep voting
For me it's got to be Collier & Merrick, these two helped the City into the top division of English football & for that reason alone is enough for me, also they played their part in keeping us in Division One, especially Geoff Merrick a true City legend. Shaun Taylor & the one & only Louis Carey of course are not far behind, along with Norman "bites yer legs" Hunter..........what about Billy Wedlock, the India rubber man!!!
I do not believe that AD signed Hunter to replace Merrick. I think AD took the opportunity to bring in a top class player who suddenly became available - Norman Hunter - and in fact replaced Brian Drysdale. Thus he did what all good managers do, he made the best use of his squad to suit the situation. and Geoff Merrick, who reportedly did not like playing at left back, actually did a great job there for City. and apart from the 1978-9 season which he missed entirely through injury, he performed for the team and club at least as well and possibly better than others in the squad. So my choice is based on over 10 years of very fine performances by a City great, Geoff Merrick. Maybe not as charismatic as Norman but still a great. PS. Both had the same one weakness; not too good on their right foot but both about 200% better than most with their left pegs.
I would have to go for Merrick but am struggling to decide on a second choice. Didn't Collier go to Coventry - I don't remember him getting too many rave reviews after he left us. Still he was a good player. But I would go for Carey - he has got in an amazing number of games and is BCFC through and through. Hunter was a good player but we were only a footnote in his career.
This team needs steel instead of todays cotton wool. Should have had the Swedish giant in goal to start. Merrick can do the tidying up bit, but alongside him it has to be the strong alloy of cuts and bruises of the Hunter.
