What players do you wish you'd seen play LIVE.

[Seagull over Canaryland]

As a kid I was a committed Albion fan but completely mad about all footie and occasionally used my precious pocket money to watch teams my mates supported. Saw Spurs v Man U in 1970, one of the best atmospheres at a footie match with 55,000 crowd squeezed into WHL. Best, Charlton & Law gave a bit of masterclass early on with Best & Law scoring before HT. I recall how the game looked so easy for Best and Charlton looked commanding. Easy to forget about Denis Law but he was deadly inside the 'box. Then in one of the most rousing finishes I have seen the crowd got behind Spurs who came back to draw 2-2 (Peters & Gilzean). Great game and one of the first times I saw some of the England '66 World Cup and Man U '68 European Champs players live.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

George Best to see why everyone used to rave about him
Would loved to have seen Maradona play for either Napoli or Argentina at his peak
On a more local front Peter Ward (only seen a sprinkling of footage of him)
Matt Le Tissier was a favourite player of mine and wanted to see him play before he retired (saw him play for Southampton in a league cup game away at Fulham and he was bloody sub although he did come on for the last 10 minutes but hardly touched the ball)

Had the pleasure of seeing a lot of both Best and Peter Ward and they were both special in that when they got on the ball there was that air of anticipation and expectation. They would both so frequently produce such artistry that you almost expected it to happen every time they got the ball. The hairs were constantly standing up on the back of your neck when these two were playing

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

That Brazil team with Zico in the 1982 world cup was just amazing.How they never won it was a real freak.I remember everyone at school just talking about them the whole time.

 

[Peter Grummit]

For me it would have to have been Johann Cruyff, who finished his career before I started watching football, what he could do with the ball was quite magical...though the whole Dutch team were pretty good back then.

I was fortunate enough to see Netherlands stroll past England 2-0 at Wembley in 1977.
England very ordinary then, the Dutch at the height of their finesse with Cruyff pulling the strings.

PG

 

[Dave the OAP]

The brazillian team of the 1970's.

...and real Madrid of the pushkas days, the finest club team ever

 

[Vicar!]

Saw a classic Man City side in 1969 at the Arse.

 

[brakespear]

Gerd Muller, Franco Barese, Dennis Bergkamp, di Stefano amongst many others.

 

[blue and white army]

The greatest player to ever grace the game

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Pele, Maradona, Bobby Moore, Zidane, Beckham (v greece 2001, wow), Cantona, Henry, Fat Ronaldo, Gazza, Cruyff, Rivaldo, Roy Keane, Dennis Bergkamp, Figo, Maldini, Cole+Yorke partnership. There's so many greats out there, would want to watch them all for different reasons.

Present footballers- Messi, C.Ronaldo, Xavi would be my top 3.

Pretty much exact list.

 

[The Buttery Biscuit Base]

The greatest player to ever grace the game

Unbelievable! He had the greatest touch I've ever seen. To say he was pulling the strings of that '98 France team doesn't even come close...

 

[GT49er]

George Best
Bobby Moore (although I saw him play in a youth international against France at the Saffrons)
Matt le Tissier
Kevin Keegan
Stanley Matthews
Tom Finney
...and Duncan Edwards

 

[The Buttery Biscuit Base]

Funny thing is, that most of the names on here played in the NASL.

Meaning that Americans had the opportunity to watch the greatest players on earth not only play against each other but in the same teams as each other...

and as usual it was wasted on them!

 

[Lord Bamber]

Robin Friday
+
Peter Ward

 

[rcf0712]

nothing new here - George Best, Maradona, Jimmy Greaves and Johan Cruyff

 

[Norman Potting]

Although I did see Peter Ward in a couple of games (including my first ever) when back on loan I would love to have seen him play during his 30+ goal season. Apart from that Dennis Bergcamp, preferably in the game against Newcastle when he scored "that" goal.

(Or even his identical twin brother, Dennis Berkgamp, who used to play alternate games)

 

[essbee]

In that match between England and Brazil in 1981 - I witnessed the best free-kick I have ever seen. And yet nobody
ever shows it.

It was taken by Eder (left footed) and the ball swerved about 40 degrees before hitting the crossbar. As a 14 year old kid at the time I
was in the local park the following day trying to reproduce it - without success. Abs. incredible. I think it was Shilton in goal? who just had a double take and I don't think could believe it himself. It didn't swerve gradually. The ball suddenly turned acutely.

 

[essbee]

apologies - not a free kick - a shot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eb-3Xp7yN0

 

[FamilyGuy]

Peter Ward, 'cos my first Albion match was a couple of weeks after he went to join Brian Clough!