Paul Reaney 'George Best's Nemesis' (Not Paul Beeseley)
Reaney quickly earned a reputation as a fiercely competitive, disciplined defender, capable of closing out the most talented of attackers—
George Best rated Reaney as one of the two best defenders he played against, the other being Sanchis of Real Madrid.
Best's opinion...
'I was marked by Paul Reaney, who was one of the best full backs I've played against and he hardly gave me a kick. By that, I mean he hardly allowed me a kick at the ball, though he delivered plenty of his own to my legs. I had never worn shin pads until that that day...
George Best's recollection is probably quite typical of the views held by his team mates: "That Leeds team are now remembered as the most cynical football team of all time. Although they did deserve that reputation, I hated playing against them, I really did, it must be remembered that they also had a hell of a lot of skill, too, but they were still a bloody nightmare.
"But my little anecdote tends to sum them up. It concerns Matt Busby who, in a team talk before meeting Leeds, went through each member of their side. It must be remembered that Busby loved Man United but he was also a fiercely patriotic Scot.
"Anyway, Matt went like this: 'Gary Sprake, the goalkeeper . . . on his day a nasty piece of work. Right-back, Paul Reaney . . . dirty bastard. Left-back, Terry Cooper. . . . even dirtier bastard. Johnny Giles. . . dirty little bastard. Centre-half,
Jack Charlton . . . dirty big bastard. Right-half, wee Billy Bremner . . . good Scottish boy!'"
For Best, Paul Reaney came to be a feared spectre at the feast over the years; he was usually detailed to man mark the gifted Irishman, and had done so successfully during the match between the two team. Over the next five years, as Manchester United conquered Europe and George Best was at his peak, he tore countless teams to shreds, but for all his sublime ability he never once dominated a game against Leeds United. It wasn't because Best was physically frightened by Leeds, simply that Leeds were prepared to use every weapon at their disposal to stop him playing, whether physical, psychological, tactical or, like the tunnel assault, borderline criminal.
Harry Redknapp on REANEY
He would be the least favourite opponent of 99 per cent of wingers. Reaney found a way of stopping George Best that eluded other players. His physical approach was important — but his speed, timing and positioning were faultless, too.
Fans from the 60's
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....-your-favourite-right-back-revealed-1-3407997
Belfast’s finest, George Best, may have tortured many a full-back during his decorated career at Old Trafford, but one player was most definitely his master – as United fans have delighted in saying over the years.
Step forward Paul Reaney, our top man on the right-hand side of the defence after scooping 53 per cent of the votes – to join No.1 Nigel Martyn in our YEP United dream team, which is now taking shape.
A veteran of well over 700 games in a 17-year association with the Whites, encompassing all the glory years under the legendary Don Revie, Reaney had the measure of most opposing wingers, particularly the feted Best and the Whites droves have been quick to put that point in the floods of e-mails they have sent to us.
Alongside the fact that the consummately-skilled defender, who had few peers in his playing days, should have been awarded a load more England caps after incredibly picking up a derisory three.
Echoing a common theme, billyboy4 e-mailed: “Has to be Paul Reaney. Not given enough recognition at international level, but was one of the few players to keep George Best under wraps when they met. Speedy Reaney could cross a ball and had pace to match any winger, he was strong and could tackle a bus. Case closed!”
Carmel Garland was another who revelled in the prowess of Reaney, stating: “George Best could NEVER get past him, a joy to watch,” while George Southern said: “I never saw Jimmy Dunn or Willis Edwards, but it has to be Paul Reaney. He was such an ever-present, dependable player, his performances could be taken for granted, I suppose. His pace was surprising, his overlapping runs exciting, but my main Reaney memory is the number of goalline clearances he made. All good right-backs, though, it’s a good list!”
An e-mail from originalkoppite perhaps best summed up the feelings of many, saying: “I saw Paul Reaney from the time he made his debut to his retirement and he was head and shoulders the best right-back that has ever played for United and he might be the best that ever played for England.”
http://www.lufctalk.com/forum-archive/index.php?topic=4496
Yeah, same here.