What would it take....

[ItCouldBeWorse]

Following on from an interesting chat with a few fellow Blades earlier on:-

The consensus is that TC is our greatest ever player, that was determined by the vote the club ran a few years ago. However, what would it take for another player to come along and threaten his position as the GOAT? I am in my 30s and therefore not old enough to have seen the great man strut his stuff on the Bramall Lane turf, obviously I've seen the YouTube highlights etc. and it's clear he was an incredible talent and his work off the pitch for the club since he packed in has cemented his place right at the heart of our club. It is going to take something/someone very, very special to go beyond what he has achieved.

However, we do have quite a decent side at the moment as well! TC was clearly a phenomenal player, but we didn't win anything with him in the side. If the current bunch get us into Europe, get to a Cup Final, dare I say it even WIN a trophy.........

 

[bromtom]

I think it depends on what you mean by greatest, technical skill in comparison to his peers and I think you'd have a hard time looking past TC unless we have a period of sustained success in the top half of the Prem and start shopping in the world class aisle.

If you mean greatest generally then I think you'd have a much easier time, people like Bash and Billy from the current squad are United greats and depending how the next few years go could really cement themselves as contenders in terms of attitude, commitment, goals, games played in, moments shared etc. You also have the pick of the players from the late 1800s and early 1900s when we were winning things.

 

[8lade]

what would it take for another player to come along and threaten his position as the GOAT?

Longevity has to be a factor. Currie was with United for over 8 seasons (shame Leeds had to come along and crap on things as ever).
Entertainment would be another factor, you don't see the sorts of things Currie did anymore but how entertaining would it be for United to be 3-0 up and Fleck or Norwood or whoever to do 5 seconds of keepy up or a seal dribble? (The sorts of things I'd expect any pro footballer to do just not in a match).

 

[Cerberus Blade]

However, we do have quite a decent side at the moment as well! TC was clearly a phenomenal player, but we didn't win anything with him in the side. If the current bunch get us into Europe, get to a Cup Final, dare I say it even WIN a trophy.........

I think you're misunderstanding a few things mate, sorry but...

Being a phenomenal player and not winning anything are two totally different things. You'll have noticed that the game of football is played with 11 players. You can have one player is who is light years ahead of anyone else on the pitch, but he's dependent on the other 10 to help him, week in, week out, over 40+ games. He's also dependent on the manager picking the best 10 to go with him and the club having the financial clout to compete to win something. So, I think you need to put that idea out of your head for a start - you cannot measure how great a player is by how much his club have won.

I saw TC. He was one of a rare breed of players with exceptional natural talent. If we're lucky, we might get to see one other player with that level of ability, in a lifetime. Going back before TC it was probably Hagan. As much as I respect the current squad, there is not one player with Currie's level of talent. He was that good.

The nearest thing I have seen to someone approaching his level of skill and ability, in terms of a United player, is David Brooks. But Brooks is a totally different sort of player and is nowhere near what TC was - but potentially I think he could be approaching that sort of level, if he ever returns to full fitness and gets regular games.

 

[Alf Tuppers Shorts]

Glen Hoddle was supposed to be the new TC and played for England 58 times, T.C I think it was 17 caps. Hoddle was no where near as skilful as T.C but still got 41 more caps simply because he plied his trade in London and a media darling.
But is there anyone at SUFC today as good , no . Is there any heroes today , certainly, will some turn out to be legends , definitely.

 

[BigBed]

Wilder, GMOAT, or in my lifetime so far anyway.

 

[tincan]

If, Billy scores consecutively in the remaining 10 league and 3cup games then he will have beaten Jimmy to the title of greatest elite goalscorer of all time and we will be champions League and may have won the cup. Come on Billy , 1200 minutes from immortality..

 

[Jonboy60]

TC, Rodney marsh, frank worthington,Alan Hudson all players around the same time that could put bums on seats.