Gary Speed

And he was a grown up - - an adult amongst highly skilled, highly paid brats. Did his job the way we try to do ours: every day, better than average, with no whining about the bits that aren't any fun.

 

A rep worthy comment, unfortunately, You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Freddd again.

 

Personally think the word great is overused. When I think of great players I think top table footballers. Defenders - the likes of Maldini, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Moore, Cannavaro, Koeman, Passarella etc Midfielders - Mattheus, Seedorf, Xavi, Hagi, Zico, Scholes, Zidane, Charlton, Cruyff, Laudrup, Maradona etc Forwards - Messi, Ronaldo, Fat Ronaldo, Shearer, Battistuta, Pele, Van Basten, Drogba, Cantona etc. I could not put Speed on that sort of level but the guy was a top class footballer. He was very dependable and had a wonderful left peg, fantastic aerial ability, excellent range of passing, and general all round game. Didn't have a weakness.

Met him a couple of times post game and he was a lovely fella. Very professional and a great ambassador for the club at the time.

 

He did win a Leeds title, mind you that was some midfield with him, Batty, McAllister and Strachan.

 

Just pure class that midfield.

 

Fair enough guys. I think that explains it. He was the calm head amongst the talented youngsters whom might have been all flash during those years, and were brats in every sense of the word.

 

Never see a British midfield like that again, well not at club level anyhow.