Question for BBS'ers over 25 (or under if you like)

Oops! Yes, I meant to include Gary Lineker. Memory like a goldfish these days.

 

I would add Beckham to that list. I always looked forward to him playing, he could do that bit of magic, not always but he had the ability.

 

Great player with real pride in playing for his country just fell a few rungs short of world class IMO


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I`d add Shilton to that Lil.

 

Campbell & Cole were both definitely world class.

Gerrard & Scholes are both world class club players but both spent most of their England career out of position (Scholes as a left winger, Gerrard as a defensive midfielder or left winger) and never performed to the same standards on England duty because of it.

I'd say both Owen and Shearer were for spells, Beckham was borderline as were Terry & Rio. Beckham certainly benefitted from having the England team built around him which he didn't have at United or Real. They even gave 50+ caps to Heskey just so Beckham had someone to cross to.

It annoys me that despite all the talent we had between 2000-10 we spent most of the decade hitting long balls to Heskey rather than getting the best out of Scholes and Gerrard

 

On reflection, I'd add Lineker, Banks & Shilton to my original list.

 

Forgot Banksie missen think al hev to leave it or it`ll become longer than mi shopping list.

 

One of the saddest things for me is the number of players unable to reproduce their club form on the international stage and the national managers who have failed to play players in their best positions.

 

Ashley Cole was without a doubt a world class left back.

3 Premier League titles with two different clubs. 7 FA cups. Champions League and Europa league winner.

Englands most consistent and competent performer in the 3 international tournaments previous to this one.

Had Ronaldo in his back pocket on a number of occasions.

World class player and should have been in the squad this time around.

 

Cant really say that much on their club form as I watch very little Prem Footie nowadays, but I think we didn`t get the best out of Gerrard when he was at his peak by playin him wide in midfield, for me he was a class player that we wasted.

 

In my opinion, it's gone on for decades not just recently.

 

Agree with pretty much all of that Django, although injuries really limited Owen from a very early age

 

Pirlo? Gior, he's in the very top echelons of world class.

 

Scholes was better

 

England should have developed a system where the other attacking players worked around Paul Scholes, he was world class and right up with your pirlo's and zidanes etc. if only the England managers had been able to use that talent properly

 

The only slight issue I had with Scholes is that I don't think he ever really shone in the biggest of games. He was amazing week in week out where he had the run of the pitch but in the biggest of games against the very best he could go missing a bit at times. Still played well but compare that at club level to say Zidane, Pirlo, Ronaldo, even Gerrard, and come the biggest games they owned the occasion.

I can think of many seasons where Scholes was the best player in United's team, but I can't think of many major final's or decisive games that I would associate with him. That isn't to undervalue his contribution though - they won titles because they were consistent and he was at the heart of that. Oh, nad he had Roy Keane alongside him - amazing player.

 

in recent times:

Ashley Cole
Scholes
Gerrard

as much as Beckham has all the media circus & couldn't beat a player in a coma
I still you'd struggle to find a better passer of the ball (or free kick taker). Allied to this was a grat mental strength.

Back in the day:
Keegan,
Shilton

 

I distinctly remember Ashley Cole for Chelsea making an 'in my back pocket' gesture to the crowd when he was playing against Ronaldo.

 

Overrated for me. Class with a dead ball, as you say, deadly crosser of the ball, but slow, dangerous in the tackle, couldn't beat a man, and a bit one footed too. This being said, he was the best right winger we've had in my memory.

 

Beckham was immense.