Shamelessly stolen from the Chelsea board but what do we think of this? Probably a bit young to remember most of these people (I've never actually heard of John Charles...?) but bit shocked by fact Rush is only 46 given his goal scoring record in a Liverpool team that dominated in the 80's when someone like Owen at 42 in comparison has done nothing! No Hansen/Lawrenson on the list at all?
John Charles number 1 He was that old Leeds fella (I think) - like **** is he anywhere near number 1. Some may disagree though
I hate these kind of things where people compare the previous generations of footballers with current ones. The bottom team in the PL right now would smash the 1966 world cup winning side off the pitch both for fitness and skill. Football has evolved and improved so much. If they speak relatively, however, then some previous footballers were superior to others of the same era just because they were simply ahead of the curve - much like we have superior players now relatively. But then you couldn't compare say, a Charlton in his prime against the defenders he was against to even someone like Shane Long (random pick) against current defenders. So are they saying that John Charles (who?) in his prime against his era players was better relatively then Gerrard was in his prime against his era of players?
They are judged on their generation. Players from back then in today's training and healthy eating methods would be much better than they were too.
Greavesy must be back on the gargle, he's letting his friendships and his era of playing cloud his judgment.
Much better, but no clue how much and so impossible to compare. Thus, there should be separate lists instead of this kind of nonsense because even Fat Frank would wipe the floor with the best midfielders of the 80s. It's like saying some 1600 swordsman would be a better soldier than an SAS sniper if he received modern training and weapons. Maybe, maybe not. Impossible to judge so impossible to compare. As it is, a braindead smackhead (plenty round mine) could handle him with an air rifle regardless of his skill. Same is true of footballers. You never know, the great Pele might only be equal to Heskey if they both lived in the same era...
Duncan Edwards died when he was 21. Without being disrespectful, how on earth can he be the 19th best British player ever? He might've been a player with loads of potential but he didn't play enough to justify being on the list.
Sorry but that argument does just not stack-up. Whilst players now may be faster and fitter there is no way that you can justify a claim that they are more skillfull. Let's take shooting as an example. Today, any idiot can toe-poke a ball because the balls are so much lighter. When I was a lad you would have broken your toes trying to do that. I defy the vast majority of players today to repeat Garrincha's free kick in the 65 World Cup with the ball that he used. I never saw John Charles play but from what I was told he was head and shouders better than any British player of his day. He was also the first to build a reputation here and the go to Italy and become an idol over there (Juventus I think). So yes you can say that his reputation would appear to suggest that he deserves to be ranked above Gerrard purely because he was THE MAN. As for your comment on Charlton and Long that's just silly. Charlton proved his skill over more than a decade at both club (UK and European) and International level. Long has nowhere near that level of consistancy. There is no way that you can claim that the defenders Long faces are all better than the defenders that Charlton faced.
"The bottom team in the PL right now would smash the 1966 world cup winning side off the pitch both for fitness and skill" Obviously. They are all about 60-70 years old right now.
Page, I agree with TGOA in so far as I don't like these types of comparisons as they are impossible to prove. To me Peter Thompson was faster and more skilful than Ribbery or Robben - but there's no way to prove or disprove my contention - I just KNOW it to be true
Where's William Ralf Dean on his list Dave?, he might have been a blue but his record in itself should put him high on any list of cross-era players, the list is basically a who's who of Greaves'ys life in London with a smattering of a few others.
Obviously in your early to mid twenty`s. Watch some clips of old games, the forwards were skillful and when they took a shot at goal it usually went near the goal (not row z or the corner flag), they played with a heavy ball on muddy pitches and still produced more excitement and skill than most today, oh and defenders were allowed to tackle which made things even harder.
The list is a personal opinion. As for me, my defence is I'm finding it hard to remember all of the great players that I have seen - let alone remember their names. Therefore comparing them all is an impossibility
ffs you could remember that Chris sneaks down to his ma's fridge in the middle of the night and drinks all the R Whites lemo.
