Who is the best player.

[DTS]

I am not talking Southend I am talking on the world stage.

I am quite lucky as I have seen a few really classy players over the years. Zidane I saw vs England in Paris and was class and Michael Owen is such a top predator it amazes me everytime I see him fit.

However the winner for me is Ronaldihno - I saw him in the Nou Camp vs Chelsea about two years ago and not that its any suprise but he was amazing. I have never seen one player dominatate a game as much (except Neil Campbell vs Orient a few years).

Anyone else got a world star they care to bleat about.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Ronaldinho when Barca play in Valencia each year ...

 

[DTS]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 05 2006,09:40)]Ronaldinho when Barca play in Valencia each year ...

As a matter of interest who else stands out in the Spainsh league?

 

[Slipperduke]

I watched Zidane in Madrid last season against Valencia. He had a poor game, but he still looked like he was from another planet.

Beckham's range of passing that night was astonishing as well. He is a much better player than anyone in this country gives him credit for.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Zico, Maracana, 1982. An extraodinary forward in an extraordinary team.

I have to say that Stan Collymore was not far behind - and I'm trying to be as objective as I can be in the circumstances.

Matt

 

[Uncle Leo]

I was privileged enough to see Zinedine Zidane score for Real Madrid in the Champions League Final at Hampden in 2002.
What a player, what a goal

 

[EastStandBlue]

Wayne Rooney for Man United. You have not seen the best of Wayne Rooney and can not appreciate just how good he is until you seen him Live. His work off the ball is just as great as it is On the ball, and to think he's only 20 is phenomenal.


Eric Cantona. No doubt about it In my opinion, Only second to Henry in terms of the greatest foreign import to grace the Premiership. People mention Bergkamp, but Cantona on form was a phenomenal talent. Another player that if you took away his firey streak you wouldn't get the same player.

 

[Jonny_Stokes]

Paul Gascoigne in his last great game as a footballer. Probably the most precociously talented English player in history, and rolled back the years for Everton to batter Orient 4-1 almost by himself. Genius.

In league games, Cyrille Regis stands out as putting in the best individual performance I've ever seen. He's the only opposition player I recall getting a standing ovation at Brisbane Road.

 

[DTS]

Quote[/b] (Jonny_Stokes @ Sep. 05 2006,10:23)]Paul Gascoigne in his last great game as a footballer. Probably the most precociously talented English player in history, and rolled back the years for Everton to batter Orient 4-1 almost by himself. Genius.

With all due respects Johny, Simon Coleman rolled back the years to batter you 3-0 at Brisbane Road so I am not sure its such an achievement after all.  

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Dave the Shrimper @ Sep. 05 2006,10:43)]As a matter of interest who else stands out in the Spainsh league?

For me - Albelda and Joaquin of Valencia, Fernando Torres and Mista of At. Madrid, Eto'o at Barcelona, Luis Garcia of Espanyol, Sousa at Getafe, watch out for Portillo at Gimnastic, Sergio Ramos, Guti and Casillas at Real Madrid, Daniel Alves of Sevilla ... plenty of quality in La Liga at the moment ...

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 05 2006,10:56)]For me - Albelda and Joaquin of Valencia

I was gutted when Joaquin left Betis for Valencia

 

[Bromley Blue]

Quote[/b] (EastStandBlue @ Sep. 05 2006,10:01)]Wayne Rooney for Man United. You have not seen the best of Wayne Rooney and can not appreciate just how good he is until you seen him Live. His work off the ball is just as great as it is On the ball, and to think he's only 20 is phenomenal.


Eric Cantona. No doubt about it In my opinion, Only second to Henry in terms of the greatest foreign import to grace the Premiership. People mention Bergkamp, but Cantona on form was a phenomenal talent. Another player that if you took away his firey streak you wouldn't get the same player.

Have to agree with this ESB. Cantona was awesome in his time and the fact Man Utd fans still chant his name now is credit to what he did for the Club. I've also seen Zola live.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Beckham. In the flesh he looked at least a class above even the likes of Gerrard, Scholes etc. Completely agree with Slipperduke on this one. Awesome player.

Stan Collymore would probably be in second place. I never saw him tested at the very highest level, but the ease with which he glided past division 2 defenders (a number of whom went onto play for England) combined with his near unrivalled combination of pace, power and ability means I have no doubt that had his head stayed switched on he could have, or rather should have been mentioned alongside Beckham as one of the greats of English football.

ps Jonny_Stokes - Gazza was good but I think Dave Martin probably outclassed him in midfield when he (Gazza, not Dave Martin) was in his pomp.

 

[southendstrett]

Got to be Marco van Basten for me when I saw AC Milan play Bayern Munich. In the same match he was also guilty of probably the worst miss I've ever seen. He had an easy shot on goal, tried to be flash and chip the keeper but ended up hitting a 747.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Bobby Moore

 

[fredheim_holm]

Quote[/b] (EastStandBlue @ Sep. 05 2006,10:01)]Wayne Rooney for Man United. You have not seen the best of Wayne Rooney and can not appreciate just how good he is until you seen him Live. His work off the ball is just as great as it is On the ball, and to think he's only 20 is phenomenal.


Eric Cantona. No doubt about it In my opinion, Only second to Henry in terms of the greatest foreign import to grace the Premiership. People mention Bergkamp, but Cantona on form was a phenomenal talent. Another player that if you took away his firey streak you wouldn't get the same player.

Definately Wayne Rooney.

I saw one of his average games, Wet Spam vs. Man Utd.

He was a few hundred clases above the rest.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ Sep. 05 2006,12:04)]Beckham. In the flesh he looked at least a class above even the likes of Gerrard, Scholes etc. Completely agree with Slipperduke on this one. Awesome player.

Only seen Beckham twice (once each for Man utd and Real Madrid) and he didn't play particularly well either time. It was disappointing as I do think he's a very fine player. Always rated Scholes above him though.

Saw Kaka play for Brazil on Sunday. He's quite good.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Beckham always seems to play better in internationals than for his club, another one of his attributes that I admire.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Sep. 05 2006,12:29)]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ Sep. 05 2006,12:04)]Beckham. In the flesh he looked at least a class above even the likes of Gerrard, Scholes etc. Completely agree with Slipperduke on this one. Awesome player.

Only seen Beckham twice (once each for Man utd and Real Madrid) and he didn't play particularly well either time. It was disappointing as I do think he's a very fine player. Always rated Scholes above him though.

Saw Kaka play for Brazil on Sunday. He's quite good.

Scholes is one of my all time favourite players. I always admire a player who has the same work rate off the ball as they do on the ball. Coming back to defend or to pick the ball from deep, Making runs to divert defenders.... Scholes is excellent at this and was extremely disapointed to hear he might have had to retire with his eye injury. Thankfully hes back and tore Fulham to shreds.

This thread cant go without a mention to my Childhood hero, Ryan Giggs. Arguably Man Utds most consistent performer of the last 10 years.

 

[SUFCEssex]

Batistuta for Fiorentina v Southend.
Saw George Best at the Hall for Bournemouth.
i've seen a few England internationals as well v Germany, France and Spain so could fnid a few decent players from there.