Excluding his, as this is a prolif and had to be British. And I'm just trying to create a bit more anger from our dont-see-themselves-as-celtic Celtic cousins.
Shout out for "wee" Jimmy Johnstone. Not that I've ever seen him play but felt the Scots were under-represented in the discussion. Perhaps justifiably.
Maybe Spurs could move to making tombstones for "quite good games" to put in their trophy cabinet, with an arena ringed with "highest potential goals - May 2004", "Best Stadium Catering - 2020" and "Highest Shots On Target August - December 1983" etc
The food at the new spurs stadium is boss level and it's the only prem stadium I have been to where you can comfortably get served at the bar in under 5 minutes at half time.
Wang, that spurs game was the first game I watched with my eldest. He was newborn and just out of the ICU after a hairy first few days. He hates football now. Guess never able to recapture that first high.
Look at the delicate calmness of this goal – ball fell to him un-expectedly, facing a goalie and 4 defenders, and the scoring angle? Well, tbh, you’d have needed a drone to see it - unreal - I'd have
struggled to throw it in:
And let’s remember, these lads were playing on rough mucky pitches in an era where if there was "no blood, there was no foul". It was accepted that a defender could commit a series of GBHs on their more gifted opponents. Modern strikers are very protected, and rightly so, but few of them would have lave lasted a half in this era. Much of George’s technique had as much to do with skipping and hurdling career-ending “tackles” as it had to do with football. There was no point in waiting for the ref to protect you, that generally wouldn’t happen.
That was the thing about George - fun. Watching Best, I never just applauded - I often laughed out loud, and still do. And then check out the balance, and, as famously was remarked about him, those feet, “as sensitive as a pickpocket’s hands” – and I still smile at the one at the end of this short 4 minute clip, where he robbed England’s fabulous world cup winning goalie, Gordon Banks. The goal was incorrectly disallowed, it was perfectly valid, but the ref, either determined to spare Banks' blushes and/or so confused by the sheer audacity of what had just happened, couldn’t quite believe it. A refereeing error, but one of sport’s golden underdog moments for me:
Excellent post and clip from papercuts. Wins the thread.
And yep - at one point I found myself laughing.
The clip is littered with career ending challenged that just missed. He’s like a matador without a cape running at speed actross a muddy field with a ball. Amazing stuff.
That said wasnt Best more of an inside forward than a winger?
Jason Robinson
Steve McManaman
Darren Eadie (but for injuries..)
Biggles
Steve McManaman? Best British benchwarmer more like.
George Best obviously the right answer.
Correct answer is George Best.
However, there will be half marks awarded for those nominating John Barnes or Sir Stanley.
DB spot on obviously.
But is it correct to describe someone from NI as British (as opposed to being from the UK)?
Chris Waddle (obvs said with a Fast Show Spanish News voice)
George Best not from Britain, he's Northern Irish.
Luke Chadwick
Why are we excluding Norn Iron players exactly? I get the petty Brit / UK point, but what's the reason?
If we are excluding Best then Bale probably.
Excluding his, as this is a prolif and had to be British. And I'm just trying to create a bit more anger from our dont-see-themselves-as-celtic Celtic cousins.
Giggsy innit really, but Bale's achievements are pretty unreal.
Bale at his peak is probably the best player I've ever seen live.
Is that pre-Madrid?
Was that Spurs playing unopposed at training?
FWIW I think he peaked as a player before Madrid. Couldn't ever seem to stay fit when he left.
Waddle was far better than Giggs. There’s a YouTube clip of Waddle completely taking the piss out of Giggs which is worth seeking out.
What panko said.
Nice to see Darren’s winning the vote.
Guy Gibson.
Shout out for "wee" Jimmy Johnstone. Not that I've ever seen him play but felt the Scots were under-represented in the discussion. Perhaps justifiably.
Davie Cooper to add to the Scots representation...
Btw for those interested i was at THAT spurs bmv inter game in 2010. Cracking times!
Gerald Davies or JJ Williams
What time does the vote close? Darren still in the lead!
Maybe Spurs could move to making tombstones for "quite good games" to put in their trophy cabinet, with an arena ringed with "highest potential goals - May 2004", "Best Stadium Catering - 2020" and "Highest Shots On Target August - December 1983" etc
The food at the new spurs stadium is boss level and it's the only prem stadium I have been to where you can comfortably get served at the bar in under 5 minutes at half time.
Wang, that spurs game was the first game I watched with my eldest. He was newborn and just out of the ICU after a hairy first few days. He hates football now. Guess never able to recapture that first high.
Heh my m8 dave's first game was in the 80s - a side with hoddle and waddle managed by ardiles
If by “winger” you mean someone who is winging it, Fat Alex is prolly unsurpassed.
It definitely wasn't that.
All 3 might have been playing for Tottingham
Is this the first time a prolif has made it into the Featured Discussion section. Probably.
Sorry Jelly I had one previously which also tunned.
I’d still say Offiah
Chariots isn't a bad shout actually
I'd still say Robinson though
Irish, British, or anything in between, has to be Georgie Best; he was part of all our lives.
"Who's that idiot?", wondered this star-struck boy's Dad:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jun/04/the-day-george-bes…
Look at the delicate calmness of this goal – ball fell to him un-expectedly, facing a goalie and 4 defenders, and the scoring angle? Well, tbh, you’d have needed a drone to see it - unreal - I'd have
struggled to throw it in:
https://youtu.be/ZUm5iHbXjME
And let’s remember, these lads were playing on rough mucky pitches in an era where if there was "no blood, there was no foul". It was accepted that a defender could commit a series of GBHs on their more gifted opponents. Modern strikers are very protected, and rightly so, but few of them would have lave lasted a half in this era. Much of George’s technique had as much to do with skipping and hurdling career-ending “tackles” as it had to do with football. There was no point in waiting for the ref to protect you, that generally wouldn’t happen.
That was the thing about George - fun. Watching Best, I never just applauded - I often laughed out loud, and still do. And then check out the balance, and, as famously was remarked about him, those feet, “as sensitive as a pickpocket’s hands” – and I still smile at the one at the end of this short 4 minute clip, where he robbed England’s fabulous world cup winning goalie, Gordon Banks. The goal was incorrectly disallowed, it was perfectly valid, but the ref, either determined to spare Banks' blushes and/or so confused by the sheer audacity of what had just happened, couldn’t quite believe it. A refereeing error, but one of sport’s golden underdog moments for me:
https://youtu.be/uJWWA-h_-5g
========================
https://footballpink.net/the-legacy-of-george-best-beauty-or-the-beast/
giggs surely disqualified by recent events?
Wow Papercuts really aced their GCSE creative writing coursework.
Excellent post and clip from papercuts. Wins the thread.
And yep - at one point I found myself laughing.
The clip is littered with career ending challenged that just missed. He’s like a matador without a cape running at speed actross a muddy field with a ball. Amazing stuff.
That said wasnt Best more of an inside forward than a winger?
You are all overlooking the gifts of Jimmy Neighbour. George comes close second.
@Jamiestone - events off the field don't disqualify you from being the best on the field.
IMHO it's a tie between Giggs and Best. Those were the days - Best particularly - when football was still worth watching.
"he was part of all our lives"
Not really. He had to all intents and purposes retired before I was born.
Join the discussion