Originally Posted by Guinness (Post 983064)

Beckenbauer for me...hideous as a man, exquisite as a footballer

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany (Post 983348)

Ooh .... you name dropper you ! :D

Originally Posted by carpon (Post 983386)

Cryuff to me had perfect balance and touch and couldn't half put a chance away. Encapsulated the "total football" ethic that the Dutch played in that era!!

Originally Posted by Pendle Red (Post 983524)

The World Cup from 74 was probably my first football memory which now is etched into football folklore

Johan Cruyff biography

To come back to Messi he is nothing short of a magician with a football but how much of that is down to the Barca way?

Barcelona's secret to soccer success

Originally Posted by cashman (Post 983531)

Fer me that's a real hard question, Skill N Temperament that Messi has got, i would say he always had.

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates (Post 983813)

I don't think you can compare players from different eras. Different ball, boots(now shoes), better playing surfaces, different training methods, so much has changed. I consider myself fortunate to have seen so many great players from Mathews (first in 1947(?) at Ewood for Stoke), Finney, Lofthouse, Shackleton. through Puskas, Gento, Pele, Charlton, Best, Law, and so on. Messi must rate very high but one must also give credit to the players that are alongside him at Barca. He doesn't shine as well for Argentina.
We each have opinions as to who is/was the best but really your choice is your favourite player - my own choice is split between two - naturally both United - Edwards & Coleman, unfortunately I only got to see them a few times

Originally Posted by claytonx (Post 983835)

I agree with Barry on all he says apart from his choice of player,never saw the Manchester players,I saw Matthews play at Burnley and Finney at Preston, and with Matthews only playing on the right wing for Blackpool and England, Finney filling all the five forward positions both for Preston and England when required and scored many goals, He would be my choice.

Originally Posted by walkinman221 (Post 983866)

Once saw a program about tom finney, he was telling a tale about playing for England in Italy. He said he was approached by the chairman of one of the Milan teams , they offered him a deal to play for them saying that all his family would be looked after schools homes etc. They also offered him £5000 pounds to sign, when tom heard that he said in a surprised voice "£5000" the chairman thinking that tom thought it was to little an amount quickly said £10000 then, tom said i couldn't believe it £5000 was more money than i had ever thought i'd see as pro footballer. How times have changed with this lot today being greedy money grabbers:eek:A true great of the game, i have only seen him playing on the tv though bit young to have seen him live unfortunately.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 983923)

A few years ago I had a visit at home from former Rovers and England Winger Bryan Douglas, he was a friend of my Fathers and was in his prime back in the 60s when I was travelling around the country watching Rovers every week. We talked about the old days, Bryan was a one club man, like Finney and we talked about just how much players are paid today as opposed to his day, he just said he had earned much more money outside football than when he was playing, £120,000 is stupid money in anybodies book.