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Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:54 am
by Evenmydoghatesunited
I was going to reply to the Patrick Vieira EDS thread and then thought why start a thread within a thread. As I say apologies if this has been done before but if so i missed it then.

I frist saw PV when we got thrashed by Arsenal at home and they were 4-0 up after about 20 mins if memory serves. We were singing come on Arsenal give us 5 and they duly obliged but thankfully it stopped there.

I've been going to City since the very early 70s and in my honest opinion i still reckon Patrick Vieira is the greatest player I have seen against us based on that performance alone. The man is an awesome looking bloke close up with a nice line in intimidating scowls and he patrolled from box to box that day with imperious skill.

I really cannot think I would put anyone ahead of him on that experience including a whole list of those who many would class as arguably better players in their position. He also has the bonus of putting one over several times on Roy Keane.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:44 am
by lets all have a disco
Henry for me that guy was unreal also Owen in his pomp so fast and deadly on the break.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:45 am
by Pretty Boy Lee
Special mention to Henry, berba at spurs and Rooney unfortunately

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:50 am
by Niall Quinns Discopants
Henry definitely.
Whole that "Invincibles" Arsenal team was pretty amazing.

International football, Zidane alive was even more stunning than on telly. His touch and vision was second to absolutely none.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:24 am
by Twobob
Where Henry was an immense player, how often do you still hear Arse fans bemoan that they don't have an 'Henry' style player any more? Since Vieira left, the big hole in the Arse team has been the position he vacated and it is always brought up constantly between fans and pundits alike and they still don't have a 'Vieira' type player who can control the middle of the park and ultimately the game. Exactly the same can be said for Roy K###e and the scum.

And Henry was a cheating twat.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:34 am
by Alioune DVToure
Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:46 am
by Breks
Dennis Bergamp, Thierry Henry.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:48 am
by Mike J
Out of the players ive actually seen at a game

Zola
Begkamp
Cantona (sorry)
Ginola


And i also remember Stan Collymore being immense at Forrest. One game in particualr he simply destroyed us

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:50 am
by Chinners
Champions league winner medal holder David May

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:51 am
by ross.mcfc
Evenmydoghatesunited wrote:I was going to reply to the Patrick Vieira EDS thread and then thought why start a thread within a thread. As I say apologies if this has been done before but if so i missed it then.

I frist saw PV when we got thrashed by Arsenal at home and they were 4-0 up after about 20 mins if memory serves. We were singing come on Arsenal give us 5 and they duly obliged but thankfully it stopped there.

I've been going to City since the very early 70s and in my honest opinion i still reckon Patrick Vieira is the greatest player I have seen against us based on that performance alone. The man is an awesome looking bloke close up with a nice line in intimidating scowls and he patrolled from box to box that day with imperious skill.

I really cannot think I would put anyone ahead of him on that experience including a whole list of those who many would class as arguably better players in their position. He also has the bonus of putting one over several times on Roy Keane.


I was at that game. Easily the best team we have ever played against. It was a joy to watch them destroy us. I recall Henry coming on as a sub to a chant of "who the fucking hell are you".

I recall Chelsea beating us in 95 with Rudd Gullit playing at center half. He may have been the first true world class player I'd seen in the flesh. He was sublime that day.

Not City related but Pirlo's performance against England at the last Euros was one of the best I'd seen.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:00 am
by john@staustell
ross.mcfc wrote:
Evenmydoghatesunited wrote:I was going to reply to the Patrick Vieira EDS thread and then thought why start a thread within a thread. As I say apologies if this has been done before but if so i missed it then.

I frist saw PV when we got thrashed by Arsenal at home and they were 4-0 up after about 20 mins if memory serves. We were singing come on Arsenal give us 5 and they duly obliged but thankfully it stopped there.

I've been going to City since the very early 70s and in my honest opinion i still reckon Patrick Vieira is the greatest player I have seen against us based on that performance alone. The man is an awesome looking bloke close up with a nice line in intimidating scowls and he patrolled from box to box that day with imperious skill.

I really cannot think I would put anyone ahead of him on that experience including a whole list of those who many would class as arguably better players in their position. He also has the bonus of putting one over several times on Roy Keane.


I was at that game. Easily the best team we have ever played against. It was a joy to watch them destroy us. I recall Henry coming on as a sub to a chant of "who the fucking hell are you".

I recall Chelsea beating us in 95 with Rudd Gullit playing at center half. He may have been the first true world class player I'd seen in the flesh. He was sublime that day.

Not City related but Pirlo's performance against England at the last Euros was one of the best I'd seen.


I had Gullit in mind but I think it was a different match. Evening game, snow/sleet coming down and us sitting in the front of the new Kippax with only about 12 rows completed. He was about 3 levels above anything else on the field.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:08 am
by Blue Since 76
That Arsenal team was immense - the two home games under Royle them Keegan where they went 4-0 up in 20 minutes both times were incredible. They were both the sort of game where you just had to accept the gulf in class.

Henry was incredible and, along with Zola, are the only opposition players I can recall getting a round of applause when coming to take a corner - apart from Ronaldinho, although that had more to do with him rejecting the rags.

However, the one player who looked a completely different class, especially considering how good our current team is, was Tranny for Madrid last year. He didn't score and in many ways had a poor game (the tantrum when Kompany eased him off the pitch was hilarious) but the ability to twist and turn and change pace was frightening. He was also much, much better than he ever was for the rags. It'll be good to see Messi next season to see how he compares ;-)

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:16 am
by Scatman
I might have a short memory but whenever anything like this comes up, I immediately think of Berbatov in that Carling cup match. Every time the ball came to him it was like everything was in slow motion.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:21 am
by ross.mcfc
john@staustell wrote:
ross.mcfc wrote:
Evenmydoghatesunited wrote:I was going to reply to the Patrick Vieira EDS thread and then thought why start a thread within a thread. As I say apologies if this has been done before but if so i missed it then.

I frist saw PV when we got thrashed by Arsenal at home and they were 4-0 up after about 20 mins if memory serves. We were singing come on Arsenal give us 5 and they duly obliged but thankfully it stopped there.

I've been going to City since the very early 70s and in my honest opinion i still reckon Patrick Vieira is the greatest player I have seen against us based on that performance alone. The man is an awesome looking bloke close up with a nice line in intimidating scowls and he patrolled from box to box that day with imperious skill.

I really cannot think I would put anyone ahead of him on that experience including a whole list of those who many would class as arguably better players in their position. He also has the bonus of putting one over several times on Roy Keane.


I was at that game. Easily the best team we have ever played against. It was a joy to watch them destroy us. I recall Henry coming on as a sub to a chant of "who the fucking hell are you".

I recall Chelsea beating us in 95 with Rudd Gullit playing at center half. He may have been the first true world class player I'd seen in the flesh. He was sublime that day.

Not City related but Pirlo's performance against England at the last Euros was one of the best I'd seen.


I had Gullit in mind but I think it was a different match. Evening game, snow/sleet coming down and us sitting in the front of the new Kippax with only about 12 rows completed. He was about 3 levels above anything else on the field.



The game I have in mind finished 1-0. He pinged a 50 yard pass straight to Mark Hughes who scored.

Who recalls Paul Merson getting a standing ovation when Villa beat us 3-1 in 2000?

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:22 am
by Dronny
Dalglish was quite tasty

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:26 am
by mr_nool
Scatman wrote:I might have a short memory but whenever anything like this comes up, I immediately think of Berbatov in that Carling cup match. Every time the ball came to him it was like everything was in slow motion.


He really was unstoppable that day. I only saw that game on the telly, though. If I can only go from matches I've attended, I probably (and unfortunately) would have to say Rooney or perhaps Drogba.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:28 am
by Niall Quinns Discopants
john@staustell wrote:
ross.mcfc wrote:
Evenmydoghatesunited wrote:I was going to reply to the Patrick Vieira EDS thread and then thought why start a thread within a thread. As I say apologies if this has been done before but if so i missed it then.

I frist saw PV when we got thrashed by Arsenal at home and they were 4-0 up after about 20 mins if memory serves. We were singing come on Arsenal give us 5 and they duly obliged but thankfully it stopped there.

I've been going to City since the very early 70s and in my honest opinion i still reckon Patrick Vieira is the greatest player I have seen against us based on that performance alone. The man is an awesome looking bloke close up with a nice line in intimidating scowls and he patrolled from box to box that day with imperious skill.

I really cannot think I would put anyone ahead of him on that experience including a whole list of those who many would class as arguably better players in their position. He also has the bonus of putting one over several times on Roy Keane.


I was at that game. Easily the best team we have ever played against. It was a joy to watch them destroy us. I recall Henry coming on as a sub to a chant of "who the fucking hell are you".

I recall Chelsea beating us in 95 with Rudd Gullit playing at center half. He may have been the first true world class player I'd seen in the flesh. He was sublime that day.

Not City related but Pirlo's performance against England at the last Euros was one of the best I'd seen.


I had Gullit in mind but I think it was a different match. Evening game, snow/sleet coming down and us sitting in the front of the new Kippax with only about 12 rows completed. He was about 3 levels above anything else on the field.


I saw Gullit at his prime for Netherlands and as fantastic as he was, he really didn't even compare to Zidane.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:45 am
by Lee_R
Henry I reckon but also remember a Pierre Van Hooijdonk being a very good player.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:49 am
by Goaters 103
Kenny Dalglish - absolute class, time and again and destroyed us in the last 70s and early 80s, along with many other teams.

Henry and Vieira for Arsenal are both excellent shouts, and that was some Arsenal team.

Re: Best opposition player seen

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:04 am
by RodneyRodney
against Bournemouth , c. '86,(might have been in the cup), I recall a certain Ian Bishop standing out as clearly the best on field