Seeing as our return to the top flight is just a matter of days away, it won't be long before we see some genuinely world class footballers tread the Carrow Road turf. Now it would be easy for me to say Grant Holt is world class but of course he isn't - he's better than that! Anyway, I thought I'd ask everyone who the best three players they've ever seen in the flesh play against City are.
Here's my top three...
3) Thierry Henry - Arsenal
Outstanding footballer, the pace of a cheetah, wonderful first touch and goals galore. The guy had it all and played in arguably the best team I've ever seen play against City - the Arsenal 'Invincibles' of 2004.
2) Gianfranco Zola - Chelsea
I only saw him play against us on one occasion at Stamford Bridge, but his goal that day was the stuff of make-believe! Every single Norwich fan in the ground applauded his back-heel volley that day. Not only a brilliant footballer with a low centre of gravity, but a charming bloke off the pitch as well as on it. Never booked!
1) Paul Gascoigne - Tottenham
I saw 'Gazza' play City on a few occasions in the late 80s, early 90s, and I've never seen another footballer who could 'take my breath away' with what he could do with a football. Again, a low centre of gravity was key, but his strength and pace were phenomenal and his vision and creativity a marvel. Such a shame it all went pear-shaped (both his body and his career) but unfortunately he was a bit of a knobhead! I always wonder how he would have turned out had Ferguson managed to get him to Old Trafford instead of heading for the bright lights of London... we'll never know for sure but I bet he'd have double the England caps he eventually had. Pure genius. England's Maradona.
Here's my top three...
3) Thierry Henry - Arsenal
Outstanding footballer, the pace of a cheetah, wonderful first touch and goals galore. The guy had it all and played in arguably the best team I've ever seen play against City - the Arsenal 'Invincibles' of 2004.
2) Gianfranco Zola - Chelsea
I only saw him play against us on one occasion at Stamford Bridge, but his goal that day was the stuff of make-believe! Every single Norwich fan in the ground applauded his back-heel volley that day. Not only a brilliant footballer with a low centre of gravity, but a charming bloke off the pitch as well as on it. Never booked!
1) Paul Gascoigne - Tottenham
I saw 'Gazza' play City on a few occasions in the late 80s, early 90s, and I've never seen another footballer who could 'take my breath away' with what he could do with a football. Again, a low centre of gravity was key, but his strength and pace were phenomenal and his vision and creativity a marvel. Such a shame it all went pear-shaped (both his body and his career) but unfortunately he was a bit of a knobhead! I always wonder how he would have turned out had Ferguson managed to get him to Old Trafford instead of heading for the bright lights of London... we'll never know for sure but I bet he'd have double the England caps he eventually had. Pure genius. England's Maradona.
lothar mattheus was dreadful in the game at carrow road! couldn't believe i was watching a world cup winning captain from just three years prior... lineker - good, bergkamp - incredibly good, shearer - very, very good, dalglish - not sure i witnessed him play against us - my first game was in 87-88, hoddle - only saw him play for chelsea and swindon and he was past it by then, rush - very good, ronaldo - average against us, cantona - very, very good. i stand by my top 3!