pretty sure the Gerrard shout was a WUM guys
He's caught some beauties with that one.
Who is England's best player ever? (Forget Bobby Charlton)
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Jamie (@Vault Dweller) are here to celebrate rare back-to-back victories for Manchester United! They analyse the late win in the Europa League vs. Rangers and then try and find things to analyse in a pretty dour game vs. Fulham. They also chat about the latest Marcus Rashford news, and look at the latest transfer news.
He's caught some beauties with that one.
Keegan and Rooney out of that list is always debatable, but Keegan might have against him not being remembered for great International Tournaments for England, perhaps? Always difficult to discuss a player you haven't watched every week on a different era.
I love Becks but he would never fit in a 4 3 3
Agree with this. Charlton, Moore, Gascoigne, Matthews, Greaves and Finney are a reasonably clear top 6 for me. Then there's a bigger group behind.
Worth recognising that some of England's strongest performers have been at the back in the likes of Cole, Ferdinand and Campbell, but I don't think you'd rank him them ahead of the guys above based on the impact of their performances on the team.
1980s Gotta be Brian Robson?
England have actually had quite a number of great players when you think about it. Very tough picking out a top 10 for example but surely the greatest would have to be the guys who actually won the World Cup. Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves.
Am I crazy when I am thinking regarding top England players we seem to miss always a top defensive midfielder in this discussions? Or at least what we think a defensive midfielder really was or is at this time. Not that Rice isn't great for England or Ince wasn't also for United/ Inter/England.
Aye would agree with that. Although England have produced loads of world-class box-to-box midfielders like Robson, Gazza, Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard, I'm not sure who'd be the standout holder. Perhaps Edwards would've been the one.
One thing that the topic was good for is to refute the stupid idea promoted around that England never generated top players over the decades, even more funnier than that is the pessimism around England is always more generated by some segments of their fans and Media than at least outsiders who evaluate this things, discounting the banter online in Forums and Social Media. Absolutely sure about that.
Walker is easily better than Neville imo, he was in Euros team of the tournament and has managed to do the sort of job on Mbappé for England and City that Neville was never capable of doing. Won plenty too. Alexander Arnold also is close to Neville already, and Reece James has greater potential too. Basically it’s a golden age of England right backs after years of it being a weak position historically.
JT, of course.
It's like picking the best Kardashian.
Two older players that usually impress me are Alan Ball and Martin Peters. I guess that being versatile box to box midfieldy types that could also play wide and further forward , they were around at a time to be significantly overshadowed by Charlton, but both still seem like top players in their own right for their era.Johnny Haynes too, from slightly earlier looks really good.
Ditto and ditto
Ditto and ditto
Terrible place to put him. He couldn't say no live on air could he.
Sir Bobby Charlton for me, by a mile, followed by Bobby Moore. Next group to consist of Sir Stanley Matthews, Gordon Banks, Kevin Keegan, Glen Hoddle, Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes.
Surely Alan Ball would be in with a shout, 72 caps and a world cup winner. You'd also have Martin Peters, although neither were specifically defensive midfielders. Both were top class players in their day.
Clearly Sir Bobby, but before I crown #2, I just want to mention that there’s an employee of United who’s been to every home match at OT since 1948 who says he’s seen them all and he swears Duncan Edwards is the greatest footballer he’s ever seen, including Pele. One man’s opinion.
As for the next greatest English footballer, surely it has to be Robbo. I can’t even imagine a serious debate on that.
As for the next greatest English footballer, surely it has to be Robbo. I can’t even imagine a serious debate on that.
1. Sir Bobby
2. Captain Marvel
3. Daylight.
2. Captain Marvel
3. Daylight.
For some answers here I don’t know if there’s a consensual best player during the 80’s, but I have no opinion on that.
might be controversial here but I'd put John Barnes on a par with Robbo
very different obviously but both absolute world class players in their day
very different obviously but both absolute world class players in their day
Given some if the replies, it could be interesting to think who would be our best player of each decade.
1960s - Bobby Charlton
1970s - ?
1980s - Bryan Robson
1990s - Gazza
2000s - Beckham?
2010s - ?
2020s - ?
1960s - Bobby Charlton
1970s - ?
1980s - Bryan Robson
1990s - Gazza
2000s - Beckham?
2010s - ?
2020s - ?
Charlton and by some distance. I don't even see how it's debatable.
Unpopular opinion probably, but I think Gazza gets way overrated.
I thought of someone for the 70's straight away, but not a serious contender and surprisingly played a few friendlies for United. I'm just going to check the "stint" thread to see if he is there
1960s - Charlton
1970s - Keegan
1980s - Robson
1990s - Shearer
2000s - Rooney
2010s - Kane
2020s - Saka
60s, 70s, 80s and 10s are pretty straightforward.
1990s could be either Shearer or Gazza.
2000s is IMO Rooney, but Gerrard and Lampard have a claim too.
20s so far is Kane, but agree that by the end of decade it could well be Saka.
Robbo.
Gascoigne probably had most potential but he pissed away(not counties Duncan edwards here).
All things considering you can't really put anyone aside from Charlton up there , he's a top 10 player of all time almost.
All things considering you can't really put anyone aside from Charlton up there , he's a top 10 player of all time almost.
John Barnes was good and goes alongside the likes of Robson, Waddle, Gascoigne and Linekar for the best of that era but for me none of them are in contention for the Top English player of all time - not even Top3
Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan (only English man to win Ballon D'or twice) are the stand outs then several contenders to complete a Top3
I agree with you. He had brief spells of brilliance, but nothing sustained over a period of time.
Agreed - but too early for this decade. If you go off the rota, it's time for a United player again. Rashford?
Yeah agreed, just picked someone as it was included in the template and Saka was good in the World Cup, started the Euros and is young.
Could well be Bellingham on potential, he is most likely. Foden also a good shout. The way Rashford has recovered recently could be him either.
Are we certain Rooney was our best player in the 2000’s? His record in tournaments is pretty lame. 6 goals total in Euro finals which includes 4 in 2004 and 1 goal in WC finals scored in 2014. So one good tournament makes him the best of the 00’s? That’s sad
Are we certain Rooney was our best player in the 2000’s? His record in tournaments is pretty lame. 6 goals total in Euro finals which includes 4 in 2004 and 1 goal in WC finals scored in 2014. So one good tournament makes him the best of the 00’s? That’s sad
Wasn’t sure if it was best player in general or best player for England. Euro 2004 was the best performance of any English player though that decade. Went into 2006 and 2010 carrying injuries and they didn’t qualify for 2008.
Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks should also be excluded from debate. Them two and Sir Bobby Charlton are clear.
Glenn Hoddle definetely was underrated, thought he was unbelievable