The best player you ever saw play
With the news of Maradona's passing, I wonder who are the greatest non Wycombe players people have seen play in the flesh, so not just on telly.
I'd go, in order:
Paul Gascoigne (for Spurs)
Pat Nevin (for Chelsea)
Osvaldo Ardiles (Spurs)
I imagine, and hope, a few here saw some of the absolute greats in action.
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Obvious ones for me from the modern era
Rooney and Ronaldo for Man Utd
Messi and Ronaldo against Man Utd
Paul Gascoigne and Roberto Baggio for me
I also saw Ruud Gullit play sweeper for Chelsea towards the end of his career and he was absolutely unreal. Walked around for 90 minutes and was on a different level to everyone else on the pitch
(The real) Ronaldo (Brazil)
Luis Figo (Portugal)
Pirlo (Italy)
Why are they obvious?
Makélélé or Drogba probably
Because they're the best players of the generation.
If it had been playing against Wycombe it would have needed more consideration.
Why are you watching 'Man Utd' (sic)
George Best at loakes Park the last game I was 5 at the time.
Ronaldinho (Brazil)
None can match the genius of DM despite the life long angst he caused me at the age of 5
I once stood next to Gianfranco Zola as he took a corner (I was a steward).
JJ takes them better.
Let's not forget keepers..
Buffon (Italy)
Darren Stevens
Easy.... Fola Onibuji.
Sorry wrong thread
Superb
Bruce Grobellaar (Lincoln)
43 year old Zola was amazing in the Mike Keen Cup in 2010, in terms of technique probably the best player I have seen at Adams Park.
I was fortunate to see a 19 year old Maradona at Wembley. Watching Paul Gascoigne play against us was a real pleasure, we don't clap many opposition players off the pitch.
Messi
Raul (and all the other galacticos of 2007)
Tevez (as a teenager at Boca)
Brazil Ronaldo
Ibrahimovic
Pat Jennnings best ever keeper.
Once watched Messi training at Bisham Abbey but in proper matches I've been at I'd say
Luis Figo for Portugal
Paul Gascoigne in one of his first England games
Ian Rush for Liverpool
Bobby Moore for Fulham
My wife saw Martin O'Neill play for Forest so she wins.
Stan Collymore (a great striker on his day) Ruud Gullitt at Chelski, Eric Cantona and of course Gazza (1991 FA Cup final aside!)
Michael Owen in 1999
Roberto Baggio in 1994
Jose Antonio Reyes at the height of his powers.
If Stan Collymore gets in... Dean windass
Mainly based on a trip to Germany for Euro 88, I think I can put out the following team that I've seen in the flesh
GK - Dino Zoff
RB - Claudio Gentile
CB - Franco Baresi
CB - Ronald Koeman
LB - Paolo Maldini
Mid - Frank Riijkard
Mid - Ruud Gullit
Mid - Michel Platini
For - Maradona
For - Marco van Basten
For - Zbiegnew Boniek
Zidane for France stands out. Early on in his time at Juventus, I hadn't quite got what the fuss was about at that stage but he dismantled a fairly average England team at Wembley.
Dave Tarpey...?
.....sorry wrong thread?
Simon Garner. Right thread.
In second place comes Eric Cantona and behind him Tony Yeboah who was absolutely incredible for about 1.5 seasons.
Stan Bowles & George Best that I have seen at matches I have attended.
That is some team. Lucky man to have witnessed those!