Johan Cruyff RIP

Originally posted by FMF
Come on then. I think it's safe to say that the 2-3 "best players in the world" who might arguably bridge the gap between the Maradonna era and the present day are NOT going to include any British players. 🙂

And that folks is why British teams win diddly squat on the national stage

Originally posted by FMF
Come on then. I think it's safe to say that the 2-3 "best players in the world" who might arguably bridge the gap between the Maradonna era and the present day are NOT going to include any British players. 🙂

A very interesting question is why that should be the case because British teams containing British players have been excellent in the past. Glasgow Celtic won the European cup with players all born within ten miles of the city. Nottingham Forest also were awesome, as were Aberdeen, Liverpool, Man Utd, all with British born players.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
A very interesting question is why that should be the case because British teams containing British players have been excellent in the past. Glasgow Celtic won the European cup with players all born within ten miles of the city. Nottingham Forest also were awesome, as were Aberdeen, Liverpool, Man Utd, all with British born players.

Those teams you have mentioned belong to a very different age ,sadly .
Teams today want instant success ,be it finishing in the top four in the EPL or avoiding relegation and a massive drop in income
Instead of going for young British players the tendency is to just buy the best foreigner on the market ( I hope what has happened at Leicester might be a turning point ) but having said that back in the 70s and 80s when British teams held their own in Europe our National teams were crap ,and still are .

You've got to be kidding me. There is not a single British player with the
panache, style, creativity and resources to be at least trailing the top class
of true 'cracks'.

Originally posted by Seitse
You've got to be kidding me. There is not a single British player with the
panache, style, creativity and resources to be at least trailing the top class
of true 'cracks'.

Gareth Bale

Originally posted by phil3000
Gareth Bale

Do you think people will be raging about him in 50 years? Maybe
Brits, sure, and Welsh for sure, as finally a decent player came out
from among the shepherds. But... look...

'Crack' is South American football slang for over the top, master
class, history material, once in a generation, stand-in-awe genius.

Bale is not that. You know who came close among the Welsh? Ryan
Giggs. Still not a crack, but close.

Originally posted by Seitse
You've got to be kidding me. There is not a single British player with the
panache, style, creativity and resources to be at least trailing the top class
of true 'cracks'.

I dunno I'd have Charlie Nicolas ahead of Suarez and Messi, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Dagliesh too.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
what about English player? George Best was Irish.

Best ever English player, by the same calibration, I'd go for either Bobby Moore or Paul Gascoigne.

Originally posted by divegeester
Best ever English player, by the same calibration, I'd go for either Bobby Moore or Paul Gascoigne.

Bobby Moore ,Gascoigne used his elbows to much saying that he didn't use them when he chipped Colin Hendry and scored the wonder goal against Scotland .
Didn't know Alan Brazil was 6ft always thought he was a little chap with fuzzy hair ,watched him on occasions he was good .

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Charlie Nicolas

Not fair. You're talking to a Gooner so I'd always favor my own 🙂

As for Messi... this will be wildly unpopular, but I must be one of the few
who does not rage about him much. Talented? Yes, but the team around
him is world class --and he will forever live under the shadow of his
compatriot, Maradona. How to top it? By doing what Diego did: put a
good but average team on his shoulders and win a world cup almost
singlehandedly.

Originally posted by phil3000
Probably played in the greatest national team not to win the world cup ( bloody Germans again )

Muller and Beckenbauer were no slouches either.

But Cruyff was gifted.

Originally posted by phil3000
Probably played in the greatest national team not to win the world cup ( bloody Germans again )

Germans were in the habit of beating teams that were favored.
Hungary in 54
Netherlands in 74
Argentina with Maradona in 90.

They won in 2014. But they were the best team.

They can't seem to beat Italy and Spain.
Otherwise they would have more world cups than Brazil.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
what about English player? George Best was Irish.

This may be way off but I thought
Paul Gascoigne from the 90's could
have really become something if he could
have stayed away from the bottle.

Originally posted by phil3000
Bobby Moore ,Gascoigne used his elbows to much saying that he didn't use them when he chipped Colin Hendry and scored the wonder goal against Scotland .
Didn't know Alan Brazil was 6ft always thought he was a little chap with fuzzy hair ,watched him on occasions he was good .

Use to watch him play for Ipswich Town, back in our hay day.

Originally posted by Seitse
Not fair. You're talking to a Gooner so I'd always favor my own 🙂

As for Messi... this will be wildly unpopular, but I must be one of the few
who does not rage about him much. Talented? Yes, but the team around
him is world class --and he will forever live under the shadow of his
compatriot, Maradona. How to top it? By doing what Diego did: put a
good but average team on his shoulders and win a world cup almost
singlehandedly.

A Gooner for real? ouch what a rocky road this season. I agree Maradona is the greatest footballer of our generation and these prima donnas like Ronaldo pall into insignificance when compared to the greatness of the man. Then again, one must not forget Ronaldinho possibly more skilful even than Diego, although not as powerful or as fast, Kaka too could be sublime.