FAO: older Blades only

[Tunstall Fred]

Colin bell, don’t know about better, but got more England caps.

Sadly,so did Pinhead,if TC was playing nowadays,he would be at Barcelona or Real Madrid

 

[themaninblack]

Remember Duncan's party trick?....jumping over a Mini Cooper

I had forgotten that. Didn't he also throw a golf ball the length of the pitch...must be the width of the pitch, no one could throw a ball that far could they?

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Cruyff was, I suggest; about the only player whose philosophy of the game still has lasting effects.

Brook's balance and the shape of his body in still photographs reminds me of him ........ or is that over stating it?

View attachment 35257

btw, seeing as this is a ps, I can see the post below - yes, I think Brady was a fantastic player and often overlooked these days, people often forget how good Platini was now he's a politician.

Thanks for the like Johnny, (I hope what I have posted since doesn't cause u to dislike it but I'll understand!) ......

No, that's not overstating it. - I compared Brooksy's style and balance to that of the great man at least twice on here, several months ago and before he performed the magic nutmeg which was even better than the Cruyff Turn.

 

[ucandomagic]

Bobby Moore influenced the style and pace of a game, and his overall team’s performance, more than anybody. The very best attributes of Wright and Coutts rolled into one person, but at a higher standard.

Besty and TC influenced the excitement and crowd enjoyment of a game the most.

Keegan influenced the outcome of a game the most, irrespective of any general pattern. He was like Billy on steroids.

This is from watching English and England football every week in that decade - irrespective of player nationality.

So I guess if you wanted to win then Keegan would rank top. If you wanted to applaud - then Sir Bobby - and if you wanted to be up and down off your seat - except we didn’t have any - then Besty or TC were your men.

Magic Decade

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Most of the players on that list are “flair players” with huge talent.
On their day they were the best players in England.

However trying to be neutral and using logic then surely the best English player of the 70’s was Kevin Keegan.

Keegan had an amazing work ethic, much fitter then all the others, was also a fantastic team player with a great attitude.

He also won far more honours that any of the other players during the 70’s
And he was voted best footballer in Europe, now callled the ballon d’or in 1978 and 1979, he also came 2nd in 1977.
Mighty Mouse (as the Germans called him) was a massive success at Hamburg, Germany where he won the league and reached the European Cup final losing to Nottingham Forest.

So best overall player Keegan, best player to watch with the most flair then Currie.

There's a lot of truth in all that.

When I posted my first reply I assumed we were talking specifically about midfield players, but when I look at the OP again, I see it simply says 'best player'. Keegan, of course played further forward usually and, in terms of overall effectiveness I might have to reluctantly concede that he shades TC but for sheer artistry and sometimes breathtaking audacity, it's TC all day long.

As I posted elsewhere, that is best summed up by the comment from a Liverpool fan standing next to me on the John Street terrace :-

" I'd give all our fookin' team plus Keegan just to have the pleasure of watching him play every week "

 

[Sean Thornton]

Colin bell, don’t know about better, but got more England caps.

Different type of player. Nijinsky.

 

[Silent Blade]

Remember Duncan's party trick?....jumping over a Mini Cooper

I had forgotten that. Didn't he also throw a golf ball the length of the pitch...must be the width of the pitch, no one could throw a ball that far could they?

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I once booked him as an after dinner speaker and he did it for us in the car park before we went in for the meal.

The other thing I remember is that he had the worst halitosis I've ever come across - like a badger's arse on a bad day.

 

[Mad Mick]

Tc was compared to Netzer when playing for England. When he was on song he was unplayable. Best was fab to watch as was Colin Bell when he was at his best.

 

[BushBlade]

It's a bit before my time but I remember people saying Laurie Cunningham was incredible.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

For me Mick Shannon should be added to the list of decent players in the 70's.

Decent goal scoring record, mainly for Southampton - and for England too.

Bit of a dearth for football all round in those days.

Decent race horse trainer too.

UTB

 

[georgebernardshaw]

For me Mick Shannon should be added to the list of decent players in the 70's.

Decent goal scoring record, mainly for Southampton - and for England too.

Bit of a dearth for football all round in those days.

Decent race horse trainer too.

UTB

I knew his brother, Del, good singer when pissed....

 

[Paulus]

Given that we're all going to say TC, the one guy I would have loved to see playing for the Blades at the time would have been Frank Worthington.

 

[metalblade]

No mention of a certain Alan Woodward ?

 

[Willie Carlin]

Terrific player but an out and out winger , totally different to the players being discussed.

He was the only player I ever saw run Len Badger ragged. I clearly remember one match on a very muddy pitch when, after Don went past him for about the 17 th. time, a frustrated Badge grabbed hold of his shirt from behind but Rogers kept on running dragging Len behind him in the mud !

I saw Len run ragged by a player called Dave Wagstaff wolves left winger Isjs

 

[Willie Carlin]

Best for me was Alan Ball as a midfielder for both Arsenal and Everton.

 

[oldblade]

For those mentioning Best he was a busted flush come the 70's, his best years were the 60's and he was unsurpassed. Bowles, give me a break, he wasn't on the same level as Currie. I would put Hudson on a par, that's about it. Keegan was a more effective player, his career stats speak for themself but I wouldn't have queued up to watch him specifically.

I agree that Keegan had an impressive career, but he had much better players around him than Currie had. If Currie had played at his peak for Liverpool or Hamburg he would probably have a pretty impressive list of achievements to his name as well.

Totally agree that Currie was a cut above Bowles.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

TC was a wonderful player, and a showman. There is a strong case for regarding him as United's best player of the post-war era (Hagan and Joe Shaw are the other strong candidates). But if he is to be regarded as a contender for best English footballer of the 70s, it is confirmation that it was not a strong decade for English football. TC was never tested in European club football, and though he had some good performances for England in his 17 appearances, he was not a major international footballer. But he was a joy to watch for United.

 

[vorpal blade]

Different type of player. Nijinsky.

I thrilled to his " L'apres midi d'un faun " I mean, who didn't but he died in the 1930s didn't he?

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

TC was a wonderful player, and a showman. There is a strong case for regarding him as United's best player of the post-war era (Hagan and Joe Shaw are the other strong candidates). But if he is to be regarded as a contender for best English footballer of the 70s, it is confirmation that it was not a strong decade for English football. TC was never tested in European club football, and though he had some good performances for England in his 17 appearances, he was not a major international footballer. But he was a joy to watch for United.

I disagree, I thought there were a lot of very good, excellent players in the early 70s, most have been mentioned already in this thread, Currie, Marsh, Hudson, Bowles, Worthington, MacDonald. The problem was Ramsey insisted on filling the England team with work-a-day players when he should have built the team around players such as Currie. I'm sure if TC had played for Man U or Spurs he would have got considerably more than the pitiful 17 caps his talent deserved.

 

[oldblade]

I disagree, I thought there were a lot of very good, excellent players in the early 70s, most have been mentioned already in this thread, Currie, Marsh, Hudson, Bowles, Worthington, MacDonald. The problem was Ramsey insisted on filling the England team with work-a-day players when he should have built the team around players such as Currie. I'm sure if TC had played for Man U or Spurs he would have got considerably more than the pitiful 17 caps his talent deserved.

Agreed. I have often thought that the reason England were so mediocre in the 1970s was because our most talented players rarely got a look in. They didn't fit the establishment view of what a footballer should be.

It was the same type of thinking that prevented Brian Clough from becoming England manager.

 

[BladeFisher]

I once booked him as an after dinner speaker and he did it for us in the car park before we went in for the meal.

The other thing I remember is that he had the worst halitosis I've ever come across - like a badger's arse on a bad day.

You got some interesting habits there IJ.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Genuine question.

If Tony Currie really was the best player of the (early) 70’s. Why did none of the most successful teams and managers of that era sign him?

I.e. Shankly, Clough, Revie
Liverpool, Derby, Leeds while still at their peak?

Is it because he could be the best player “on his day” but he wasn’t consistent enough?

Or did they maybe try to sign him but we wouldn’t sell (unlikely).

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Genuine question.

If Tony Currie really was the best player of the (early) 70’s. Why did none of the most successful teams and managers of that era sign him?

I.e. Shankly, Clough, Revie
Liverpool, Derby, Leeds while still at their peak?

Is it because he could be the best player “on his day” but he wasn’t consistent enough?

Or did they maybe try to sign him but we wouldn’t sell (unlikely).

Surprisingly for United's board of the time (or most times really) I think it was we wouldn't sell him. Apparently Man U manager Tommy Docherty tried to sign him for £1m in 1975 and we wouldn't sell.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I thrilled to his " L'apres midi d'un faun " I mean, who didn't but he died in the 1930s didn't he?

1992.

Hay blockage I think.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

As a ten year old in 1978 I only ever had eyes for Blades players and it had to be Alejandro.. the player I wanted to be in the school playground.

Mind you Dalglish and Hoddle on Tv inspired some of my cross schoolyard pinpoint passes and jinked goals against the posts painted onto the walls.

Plus of course Kempes and Luque featured in the Summer post World Cup 6 weeks school holiday after tea knockabouts on the school field of dreams...

If I had a time machine...

 

[CornwallBlade]

If you want a good read on this subject there’s an excellent book called “The Mavericks- when flair wore flares”.
The other thing about that era was the pitches, most pub sides play on better surfaces now, goodness knows what they would be like on modern pitches.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I disagree, I thought there were a lot of very good, excellent players in the early 70s, most have been mentioned already in this thread, Currie, Marsh, Hudson, Bowles, Worthington, MacDonald. The problem was Ramsey insisted on filling the England team with work-a-day players when he should have built the team around players such as Currie. I'm sure if TC had played for Man U or Spurs he would have got considerably more than the pitiful 17 caps his talent deserved.

I agree with that. It was unfortunate that TC did not get more England chances (same happened with Hagan and Joe Shaw), and nowadays we would have had a season from him, and then he would have been sold to one of the big clubs. But this was lucky for us - we got to watch him at his best over several years. But in the terms of the OP, because he was not a major European or international figure (hardly any English players were in the 70s), I think he was an all-time great for us, but not quite on the bigger stage. All about opinions, and any opportunity to think back to the likes of TC is always welcome.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

I knew his brother, Del, good singer when pissed....

Of all the responses, this is the runaway leader....

 

[ucandomagic]

I knew his brother, Del, good singer when pissed....

I wasn’t sure whether you meant when you were pissed or when he was.