Greatest Player Ever

[Stumpy Tim]

Following on from the Thierry Henry thread, who do you think is the greatest player to have graced the greatest game in the world. Maradona for me

 

[NMH]

Pele for me, he had so many natural skills and instantaneous instinctual moves, he absolutely exuded brilliance with every possession. (although Frank Skinner's 'Pele was Shite' skit still makes me splutter to think of it).

Pele would just shimmy his shoulders and leave defenders for dead.

Pele is also (and unrelated to my perception of his skills) the consummate gentleman of the game - a true embassador for the sport long after his physical activity with the "beautiful game" (coined by Pele himself). If he also ran for President of Brasil, it would be a landslide!
I have a friend who was married to one of the old 'New York Cosmos' players, and she cited Pele and Bobby Moore as being polite and having humility.

A mention for GORDON BANKS, who would be my second choice.


As an Albion fan, I have to consider myself lucky to have witnessed both Peter Ward and Mark Lawrenson on the grass stage before my eyes ....and at the same time !

 

[oneboot]

I'm not sure why you would give such an accolade to a drug taking cheat. What’s he not kicked out of the 94 world cup for it? For me that takes him out the running completely. The man is an idiot.

I agree he was a good player but I'm not going to accept he was the best ever, no way. Pele and Bobby Moore are leagues ahead.

My vote went to Bobby (Moore) not Zamora.

 

[alan partridge]

I'm not sure why you would give such an accolade to a drug taking cheat. What’s he not kicked out of the 94 world cup for it? For me that takes him out the running completely. The man is an idiot.

I agree he was a good player but I'm not going to accept he was the best ever, no way. Pele and Bobby Moore are leagues ahead.

My vote went to Bobby (Moore) not Zamora.

maradona for me. drugs or no drugs, he was an amazing footballer

 

[Yorkie]

Pele

No shadow of a doubt, unfortunately the younger generation won't have seen enough of his skill to judge.

I would put Maradona behind Cruyff if I was to put them in order.

 

[Sorrel]

Of the ones I've seen (on the tele) I'd put Maradona at the top. But I've not seen most of the others enough to make a proper judgement.

 

[Simster]

Darren Beckford (formerly of Oldham and Port Vale)


No doubt about it. Just shades it over former Bristol Rovers "bustling" hitman, Devon White.

 

[Jordan_SEAGULLS_Harris]

Greatest Player Ever?

Where the FUDGE is Peter Ward then?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

No Di Stefano or Puskas? No Lev Yashin? Roberto Baggio? Stanley Matthews? Lothar Matthaus?

 

[Chesney Christ]

No Di Stefano or Puskas? No Lev Yashin? Stanley Matthews?

Presumably you have seen little footage of football pre-1970. The technical ability required to play at the highest level now is far, far higher than it was then. Watching Stanley Mathews crawling past some hapless excuse for a full-back is not my idea of quality football.

Best player in the world ever:

Zinedine Zidane, followed by Thierry Henry and (when he was in his prime) Dennis Bergkamp. Maradona fourth.

 

[Gwylan]

Richie's right. Di Stefano and Puskas clearly should have been there.

Beckenbauer was a class defender as well - we forget how good he was.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Presumably you have seen little footage of football pre-1970. The technical ability required to play at the highest level now is far, far higher than it was then. Watching Stanley Mathews crawling past some hapless excuse for a full-back is not my idea of quality football.

Best player in the world ever:

Zinedine Zidane, followed by Thierry Henry and (when he was in his prime) Dennis Bergkamp. Maradona fourth.

Ok then..how about Marco Van Basten or Gabriel Batistuta or George Weah or Paolo Maldini?

 

[chips and gravy]

John Crumplin

 

[Chesney Christ]

I'm not sure why you would give such an accolade to a drug taking cheat. What’s he not kicked out of the 94 world cup for it? For me that takes him out the running completely. The man is an idiot.

How on earth can you call him a drugs cheat? If you think snorting cocaine is a good way of improving footballing performance then I'd suggest you have a screw loose.

It's like Lee Bowyer when he was labelled a drugs cheat for smoking a joint....

 

[Wilko]

Mark Farrington

 

[Chesney Christ]

Ok then..how about Marco Van Basten or Gabriel Batistuta or George Weah or Paolo Maldini?

Perhaps MVB or Maldini but there was no more space in the poll. Unless of course he took out Jake Robinson.

 

[fatbadger]

How on earth can you call him a drugs cheat? If you think snorting cocaine is a good way of improving footballing performance then I'd suggest you have a screw loose.

It's like Lee Bowyer when he was labelled a drugs cheat for smoking a joint....

He didn't say 'drugs cheat', he said 'drug-taking cheat', i.e. a cheat who took drugs - which is fair enough.

 

[Chesney Christ]

He didn't say 'drugs cheat', he said 'drug-taking cheat', i.e. a cheat who took drugs - which is fair enough.

Hmmm, quoting things out of context. I should write for a tabloid newspaper.