Who is the most talented football we have ever had

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Easy way to judge this.

Everyone who ever saw both Hagan and Currie says Hagan was the better player.

Told this story before but my late Grandad on my mums side was a huge Wednesday fan, had no time at all for United, I wouldn’t be allowed over his door step with my United shirt on when I was a kid, always said he wouldn't eat bacon as it had red and white stripes in it.

But ask him who was the best footballer he ever saw he would answer without hesitation.. Jimmy Hagan.

Everyone ? I don't think so because I'm one of the fortunate few who did see them both and, as I've said elsewhere, I find this comparison both unnecessary and annoying. They were both outstanding players playing in a similar position but possessed with different abilities.

However, if just one of them in their prime could be added to the present Blades squad I would have to go for TC and I can assure you that in that scenario, promotion would be a foregone conclusion.

 

[TJB.]

There's only one way to measure such things accurately.

We need a Mitre stick.

 

[stringer]

David Brooks.

 

[anglian blade]

Nudger Needham

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

David Brooks.

You seem to have overlooked the word 'ever'.

 

[stringer]

You seem to have overlooked the word 'ever'.

I prefer to comment on players I’ve actually seen, though. Brooksy’s levels of natural ability are unreal

 

[LenTednTony]

Can’t take this vote even in jest!

 

[PittsburghBlade]

I'm not sure most talented but Gary Cahil to go on to win 58 caps for England and almost 200 games for chelsea. Then a copy and paste of his trophy collection whilst at Chelsea you could argue he's had the best career of any former blade.

• Premier League: 2014–15,[125] 2016–17[125]
• FA Cup: 2011–12[125]
• Football League Cup: 2014–15[125]
• UEFA Champions League: 2011–12[125]
• UEFA Europa League: 2012–13[125]"

 

[Sean Thornton]

Currie and Paul McGrath. Joe Shaw was at the very end of his career sadly.

 

[bladesmanluke]

I prefer to comment on players I’ve actually seen, though. Brooksy’s levels of natural ability are unreal

Likewise. I’ve only been watching since about 2001 and in terms of pure talent, yes it’s Brooks. At the same time, I’m not going to argue against, Currie, Hagan and Shaw being better because they almost certainly were, but I never saw them play.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It’s got to be the Mitre Delta.

There was a ball that regularly ran rings around Connor Sammons feet.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Mike Lake could play a bit. Sadly injury prone, but he upended Stuart Pearce once with a cracking tackle.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Has no one mentioned sabbella and the once great jimmy Johnstone ,this is purely skill wise

 

[norfolkblade]

Dean Hammond. So talented you couldn't even see it with your own eyes...

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Has no one mentioned sabbella and the once great jimmy Johnstone ,this is purely skill wise

Jimmy didn't show it in our colours though,at times unplayable at Celtic, a little genius

Sabella played for us during a period when we were particularly bad, and he was the shining light,he was wasted at United.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Has no one mentioned sabbella and the once great jimmy Johnstone ,this is purely skill wise

Wee Jimmys only weaving when playing for us was on the carpet at the Daisy. Around 1am.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Wee Jimmys only weaving when playing for us was on the carpet at the Daisy. Around 1am.

In his Celtic days he was untouchable ,and sabellas balance on the ball was something else

 

[Sheffsteel]

Has no one mentioned sabbella and the once great jimmy Johnstone ,this is purely skill wise

Sabella was so good and so skilful that I used to get into the ground early just to see his pre match warm up.
His ball juggling skills were on another level to what I’d ever seen before. He was almost like a circus act.

Everyone knows that Sabella was a fantastic dribbler with lightning quick feet and body swerve.
However the weird thing with Sabella was he was really slow, his knickname in Argentina was the sloth.
Imagine that? Someone who could dribble past 4 players without relying on speed/ pace like Ryan Giggs.
Also Sabella must have been the most fouled player we’ve ever had. Every time a defender challenged him his feet had already moved so it resulted in a foul. Eventually refs would stop giving fouls because it happened so often.

They do say that if Sabella has the pace and strength of Maradona he’s have been as successful as a player.

 

[RMBlade]

Not strictly a football but neither most of things mentioned before.

 

[Harry Thickett]

The latest edition of Flashing Blade (order by email- [email protected]) has a fantastic article in it where a contributor has gone to an enormous amount of effort to rank all United's players by what they won , United appearances and international caps to attempt to 'scientifically' crown who was Sheffield United'd best ever player.

The clear winner was Ernest 'Nudger' Needham (1891-1910)
=2. Walter Bennett
=2 Bill 'Fatty' Foulkes
4. Fred Priest
5. My very own avatar Harry Thickett

Billy Gillespie is 8th , Jimmy Hagan at =42 and Tony Currie (the best I ever saw) is at =50. It's a great article and recommend subscribing to the magazine as it is always great read.

 

[snootyfenooty]

where's Sabella ???

Has no one mentioned sabbella and the once great jimmy Johnstone ,this is purely skill wise

Didn't play that many games for us
Hardly scored any goals
Nesh as fuck
Played in a relegation "winning" side

Biggest urban myth in SUFC history.

 

[PokerBlade]

I'll have to base it on players I've seen, and also the standard they were at their time at the Lane (sorry, McGrath). For me, a pre-injury Kabba has to be up there. Guy got clapped off at Bramall Lane when he played against us and had everything needed to be a top player but for luck. Even in the promotion season review you can see how much he had about him, and that was after twenty eight leg breaks and recurring tendonitis.

I'd also throw out McCall for players I loved.

But, there's a clear winner in my time. Jagielka. All round best athlete at the club. He got moved around as a utility player because, wherever there was a gap, Jags was probably better there than your first choice anyway. A good midfielder, great anywhere across the back line, and even a keeper. And with our upcoming match, let's not forget that strike against the scum. Given I started watching the Blades in '97 there haven't been many that were genuinely destined to play for England. I'll give a mention to Kyle Walker too, but didn't play enough games for us and was too young to be a contender with Jags.

And another honourable mention for Alan Kelly. Too good for the level I saw him play at.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Didn't play that many games for us
Hardly scored any goals
Nesh as fuck
Played in a relegation "winning" side

Biggest urban myth in SUFC history.

All true, that’s the other side of his stay at SU.
When it was cold and rainy (especially away games) Sabella would often disappear from a game and hardly touch the ball.
He also hated playing on muddy pitches and was too lightweight, easily knocked off the ball.

However his skill/ talent factor was on another planet.
I remember us playing Dundee in a night match in the Anglo Scottish Cup, stood on the Kop.
Sabella went past 4 of their players before scoring, seemed similar to the Ricky Villa cup final goal.
As I said the weird thing that is rarely ever seen is that he seemed to jog past those Dundee players.
He had no pace or strength so had to rely on trickery when he went on his mazy dribbles.

 

[snootyfenooty]

All true, that’s the other side of his stay at SU.
When it was cold and rainy (especially away games) Sabella would often disappear from a game and hardly touch the ball.
He also hated playing on muddy pitches and was too lightweight, easily knocked off the ball.

However his skill/ talent factor was on another planet.
I remember us playing Dundee in a night match in the Anglo Scottish Cup, stood on the Kop.
Sabella went past 4 of their players before scoring.
As I said the weird thing that is rarely ever seen is that he seemed to jog past those Dundee players.
He had no pace or strength so had to rely on trickery when he went on his mazy dribbles.

Sounds like an early version of Jamal Campbell-Ryce

 

[Bayingblade]

But, there's a clear winner in my time. Jagielka. All round best athlete at the club. He got moved around as a utility player because, wherever there was a gap, Jags was probably better there than your first choice anyway. A good midfielder, great anywhere across the back line, and even a keeper. And with our upcoming match, let's not forget that strike against the scum. Given I started watching the Blades in '97 there haven't been many that were genuinely destined to play for England. I'll give a mention to Kyle Walker too, but didn't play enough games for us and was too young to be a contender with Jags.

Sorry PB but Jags was very ordinary in midfield (IMHO). Superb centre back though, the only Blade I saw who could just about cope against Thierry Henry as he matched him for pace. Good right back too but not a good midfielder. Not the worst keeper we've ever had either

 

[Pinchy]

Didn't play that many games for us
Hardly scored any goals
Nesh as fuck
Played in a relegation "winning" side

Biggest urban myth in SUFC history.

Spackman. Useless article.

 

[PokerBlade]

Sorry PB but Jags was very ordinary in midfield (IMHO). Superb centre back though, the only Blade I saw who could just about cope against Thierry Henry as he matched him for pace. Good right back too but not a good midfielder. Not the worst keeper we've ever had either

Good enough to play games in midfield during a promotion to the Prem. Even if that clearly wasn't his best position, often better than our alternatives. Relative to the level I've seen United play at, very accomplished in that role. He wouldn't be in a list of my top midfielders specifically, but comfortable when he played there.

 

[Bayingblade]

Good enough to play games in midfield during a promotion to the Prem. Even if that clearly wasn't his best position, often better than our alternatives. Relative to the level I've seen United play at, very accomplished in that role. He wouldn't be in a list of my top midfielders specifically, but comfortable when he played there.

Probably because he was alongside Monty for many of those games PB

 

[Tunstall Fred]

The latest edition of Flashing Blade (order by email- [email protected]) has a fantastic article in it where a contributor has gone to an enormous amount of effort to rank all United's players by what they won , United appearances and international caps to attempt to 'scientifically' crown who was Sheffield United'd best ever player.

The clear winner was Ernest 'Nudger' Needham (1891-1910)
=2. Walter Bennett
=2 Bill 'Fatty' Foulkes
4. Fred Priest
5. My very own avatar Harry Thickett

Billy Gillespie is 8th , Jimmy Hagan at =42 and Tony Currie (the best I ever saw) is at =50. It's a great article and recommend subscribing to the magazine as it is always great read.

He's getting a brick through his parlour window is Belly,Fred Tunstall, regular England international scorer of the greatest goal ever seen at the old Wembley,a goal that won the Cup Final, almost 500 appearances for United,at number 16!!!!!,and Jostein Flo at number 19!!!!!!

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Didn't play that many games for us
Hardly scored any goals
Nesh as fuck
Played in a relegation "winning" side

Biggest urban myth in SUFC history.

I think you're being a bit harsh on Sabella by describing him as 'nesh as fuck'.

As Sheffsteel pointed out, he was subjected to some appalling thuggery by opposition players and offered little or no protection by referees. The epitome of this was a certain Boxing Day match when Jeff King seemed intent on breaking his leg every time he went near the ball.

The OP asks for the most talented and in that respect, I think most people who saw him regularly would have him in their top six. I certainly would.