http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/best-british-footballers-time-england-2798469 50. Gareth Bale 49. Danny Blanchflower 48. JOHN TERRY 47. John Barnes 46. Ian Rush 45. Cliff Jones 44. Tommy Taylor 43. Ray Wilson 42. Michael Owen 41. Colin Bell 40. Tony Adams 39. Jimmy Johnstone 38. Nat Lofthouse 37. Stuart Pearce 36. Peter Beardsley 35. David Beckham 34. Paul Scholes 33. David Seaman 32. FRANK LAMPARD 31. Geoff Hurst 30. Alan Ball 29. ASHLEY COLE 28. Billy McNeil 27. John Greig 26. Steven Gerrard 25. Glenn Hoddle 24. Peter Shilton 23. Alan Shearer 22. Billy Wright 21. Wayne Rooney 20. Jim Baxter 19. Duncan Edwards 18. Graeme Souness 17. Kevin Keegan 16. Kenny Dalglish 15. Pet Jennings 14. Gordon Banks 13. Gary Lineker 12. Ryan Giggs 11. Bryan Robson 10. Dave Mackay 9. Denis Law 8. Paul Gascoigne 7. Johnny Haynes 6. Tom Finney 5. Stanley Matthews 4. Bobby Charlton 3. Bobby Moore 2. George Best 1. John Charles
Name a better British defender in the past 20 years. Noticeably Rio Ferdinand is absent. Tells you everything you need to know.
Roy McFarland and / or Colin Todd. And Archie Gemmil is better than many of the midfielders named, as is Alan Hudson. Where,s Liam Brady ?? Pointless and wildly inaccurate list. Still that,s Jimmys opinion, and hes welcome to it.
Unfortunately i'm too young to see a lot of those play. In terms of "Best British FOOTBALLER" though, Wayne Rooney should probably be higher. I look at the best footballer lists and think of it as who i'd want eleven of on the pitch and I can't think of many British players from my generation at least who i'd choose ahead of him. If it was a best British Defenders list then John Terry would at least be in the top 5 as would Ashley Cole. It's difficult to compare the likes of Wayne Rooney to John Terry simply because of the type of footballers they are.
All time lists for any sport are very subjective albeit entertaining ! Some people go for entertainers, some tend to favour out and out strikers/poachers and then some like myself go for defenders and readers of the game. If i was to add 2 players to the list 1 would be an entertainer... Matt le Tissier. A player to get you off your seat ! My second might surprise a lot but i thought Alan Hansen was a fantastic defender and reader of a game. Just as an aside C.P. i love reading your posts and you asked a question why Liam Brady was'nt on it. He was a Dubliner and one of Ireland's greatest players. I know it was a genuine mistake ! I think me and you are of the same era. All 4 4 2 that time ! p.s. a thread of people's top 5 players of all time would be interesting. My wild card to throw in the mix would be the brilliant Brazilian midfielder Socrates. Only died recently but if you ever get a chance to look at old clips on You Tube take it. Top class.
Piss poor list, still if you ask 100 people you will get 100 different lists, everyone has their own opinion.
He said the past 20 years, and neither of those were better than JT. He may be a tit but even without the pace he's one of the best defenders of the PL era.
I think I saw all but a few of these.Greaves of course would have to be near the top (he was in the first team I ever saw at the Bridge). Disappointed not to see Ossie! Never saw John Charles, his No 1 (apart from on telly!)
