Who is the greatest player you ever saw live?

[Danny-Boy]

I would aslo put Ian Wright up there.I've always respected him as a footballer.

Yup, and I did see Gazza play for Spurs at Selhurst once. He was a showman, the last of the few that were.

Someone should get him adopted as a Chelsea Pensioner or something like that.

 

[stewardxxx]

Messi for Barcelona against Levante in March 2008. Loved the fact that when he lost the ball he did everything to win it back. All round great player.

I went to a game vs levante at the nou camp in feb 08 was it about 5-0?

 

[Igor Gurinovich?]

Zidane for France.

 

[FamilyGuy]

Kenny Dalgliesh at Liverpool 1983/84 - ONly saw him twice (both against BHA) the man was a Gazelle, he just never stopped running.

 

[astevens76]

Zola. I went when he was at chelsea and they got beaten by an Israeli team in the uefa cup. He was still the best player on the pitch by a mile, though, and scored a cracking free kick. Met him and got his autograph after the game, too.

 

[Paskman]

Zico
Socrates
Bobby Charlton (twilight of career!)
Ardiles
Brady
I would say Dalgleish - but when Liverpool played brighton off the park on their first visit in league one my abiding memory of him was him whining to the ref for most of the match - it got right up my nose!

For Brighton:
Peter Ward
Mark Lawrenson
Frank Worthington

 

[folkestonesgull]

It was the Graham Moseley testimonial, Spurs kindly obliged with Gazza, Lineker and co shortly before the 1990 World Cup.

How times have changed, I doubt Fabio would have let his 'stars' play in such a game prior to SA............

A 19 year old David James turned up from Watford with his boots on the night and Mose didn't have the heart to turn him away.

He's come a long way........

I remember throwing the ball to lineker. I was 8!

 

[Sheebo]

Gazza.

 

[Jamie_Seagull]

Well i'm only 17, so i would have to say either Bobby Z, or James Milner.

 

[Gully]

Someone should get him adopted as a Chelsea Pensioner or something like that.

Much as I admire the folk who become Chelsea Pensioners, there is one considerable draw-back that would put me off, being made to wear red (which I hate) and getting dragged along to games at Stamford Bridge...do you reckon they would let you go to Falmer if you behaved yourself?

 

[The Hon Sec]

A certain Matthew Paul Le Tissier springs to mind. On his day he could do what ever he wanted with a football. One of the most under-rated players the country has seen IMO.

 

[The Ringleader Returns!]

&

With Mentions to,

Raul
Carlos
Figo
Casillas
Desailly
Terry
Poyet
Babayaro

Not bad at the age of 16.

 

[Storer68]

Bizarrely I think the most EFFECTIVE player I ever saw was Lothar Matthaus of West Germany in the 1990 World Cup. He simply drove that team to the final.

Certainly not the most skilful I ever saw but to captain the winning World Cup team is about as good as it is going to get

 

[New Carpet?]

Saw Zidane against England in Lisbon in that infamous game when he scored with a free-kick and then a penalty in the final two minutes of the game, but to be honest, he was totally anonymous prior to him stepping up to take the equalising free-kick. So he's probably the best player I've seen live, even though his overall performance wasn't that great that night.

On the other hand, Juan Roman Riquelme in his prime against Ivory Coast in the last World Cup was simply frightening - he always bought himself so much time, and was like the Xavi of the past couple of years in the sense that he was constantly three or four passes ahead of the opposition. He completely ran the game that night, absoutely brilliant.

 

[tonymgc]

Dennis Bergkamp & Thierry Henry in their heyday at Arsenal. Remember seeing Henry score four against Leeds.
And Michael Owen when he was still the best striker in England. Can remember him tearing Sol Campbell apart & scoring twice

 

[BobbySmith]

I was lucky enough to see, Bobby Charlton, Maradona, and many more, but has to be George Best, amazing skill and balance. hey that Peter Ward was not bad............Harty so upset you did not say me for my classy perfornaces for AFC George in the 80's when you graced the 3rd team in goal, think we called you the Cat in those days

 

[Spunk Bubble]

Micky Quinn.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Zico

 

[The Wookiee]

Who was in the Italian U21 team that played England U21 at the Goldstone in 87??

 

[theodorerobinson]

Dean Gorre

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