[Alf]

Only two English players.

Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney were close as was Paul Gascoigne and Steven Gerrard (yuk)

[Alf]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

to many old fogies, Alf.

A great list anyway. Thanks for taking the time to compile it so we can comment on it.

Maybe I'll do a more modern list next time, maybe a Premier league all time top 40?

I'll let Annie's kid decide if I should or not.

[GiRTh]

Other than Gullit, the only player I would have who is not on your list is Andrea Pirlo. For me, as good a midfielder of this generation as Xavi or Iniesta. I think in a few years we'll appreciate how good a player he was.

Great list, Alf. Cheers for sharing it.

[Beso]

My head hurts after watching a lot if those videos..all great players that deserve a place on the list, but I disagree with the order.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Other than Gullit, the only player I would have who is not on your list is Andrea Pirlo. For me, as good a midfielder of this generation as Xavi or Iniesta. I think in a few years we'll appreciate how good a player he was.

Great list, Alf. Cheers for sharing it.

Pirlo was definitely considered. Very unlucky not to make it.

[GiRTh]

Do a best football teams you've watched. I think you know who'd be top of my list

[Beso]

No rossi?

[GiRTh]

Mine would be in no order:

Milan 88-92
Man Utd 2008, better than 1999 IMO
Arsenal Invincibles - of course
Barca for the Pep years
Ajax 94 - team that produced Kluivert, Davids, Seedorf, both De Boer twins. great team put together by Louis Van Galle
Czech republic team of 2004 - remember that team with Milan Baros, the 6 foot 8 tree Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved - Fond memories of that team, very exciting team that didnt win anything.

I might have a think about this.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Mine would be in no order:

Milan 88-92
Man Utd 2008, better than 1999 IMO
Arsenal Invincibles - of course
Barca for the Pep years
Ajax 94 - team that produced Kluivert, Davids, Seedorf, both De Boer twins. great team put together by Louis Van Galle
Czech republic team of 2004 - remember that team with Milan Baros, the 6 foot 8 tree Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved - Fond memories of that team, very exciting team that didnt win anything.

I might have a think about this.

The Spanish national team between 2008 - 2012

The French national team between 1998 and 2000

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Alf

The Spanish national team between 2008 - 2012

them too

I'm gonna have a think about this.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Alf

Here you go Annie


1 Pele
2 Cristiano Ronaldo
3 Diego Maradona
4 Alfredo Di Stefano
5 Johan Cruyff
6 Lionel Messi
7 Franz Beckenbauer
8 Zico
9 Ronaldo
10 Ferenc Puskas
11 Zinedine Zidane
12 Michel Platini
13 Garrincha
14 Bobby Charlton
15 Roberto Baggio
16 Marco van Basten
17 Ronaldinho
18 Eusebio
19 George Best
20 Gerd Muller
21 Romario
22 Lothar Matthaus
23 Elias Figueroa
24 Kevin Keegan
25 Karl Heinz-Rummenigge
26 Paolo Maldini
27 Xavi Hernandez
28 Sandor Kocsis
29 Andres Iniesta
30 Kenny Dalglish
31 Frank Rijkaard
32 Raymond Kopa
33 Neymar
34 Franco Baresi
35 Luis Suarez (not the former Liverpool player)
36 Lev Yashin
37 Didi
38 Antoine Griezmann
39 Hristo Stoichkov
40 Rivellino

Thanks Alf....he will be made up to read it in the morning.....he may have some comments though He's passionate about football

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

According to my kid....526 of Peles 1282 goals were from unofficial matches so shouldn't have counted in goal count.

Totally true. It was something that was pushed for years but has now been roundly debunked. The 1000 goals were not in competitive matches, alot of friendlies and exhibition games.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Totally true. It was something that was pushed for years but has now been roundly debunked. The 1000 goals were not in competitive matches, alot of friendlies and exhibition games.

In the early sixties, Santos toured Europe and played all the best European teams. Benfica at the time were the top European team, with Eusebio in their team. I believe Santos gave them a whooping in their own stadium, I'm not sure but I think Pele might of scored a hat trick.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Thanks Alf....he will be made up to read it in the morning.....he may have some comments though He's passionate about football

I hope your lad isn't a big Messi fan, he'll go mad at me.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Alf

Maybe I'll do a more modern list next time, maybe a Premier league all time top 40?

I'll let Annie's kid decide if I should or not.

He said "yeah that would be pretty sick" which I think means "yes, that would be great please Alf"

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Alf

I hope your lad isn't a big Messi fan, he'll go mad at me.

He thought Eusabio should have been higher but thought Messi was fair (he is more if a CR7 fan)

[Alf]

Annie, if your lad is interested and has never seen these, Sky sports did loads of pretty good 30 minute documentaries on the greatest players. They're all on YouTube. Here are the ones from my top ten.

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Alf

Annie, if your lad is interested and has never seen these, Sky sports did loads of pretty good 30 minute documentaries on the greatest players. They're all on YouTube. Here are the ones from my top ten.

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Youtube video

Thanks Alf - I will show him them

[The Slim Reaper]

I think your insistence on individual awards affected your judgement and ultimately the list. Michael Owen has a ballon d'or, so these things don't always indicate who the best players are. A good read though, Alfred.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

I think your insistence on individual awards affected your judgement and ultimately the list. Michael Owen has a ballon d'or, so these things don't always indicate who the best players are. A good read though, Alfred.

Great point !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Babayaro.]

No Yossi Benayoun?

[Alf]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

I think your insistence on individual awards affected your judgement and ultimately the list. Michael Owen has a ballon d'or, so these things don't always indicate who the best players are. A good read though, Alfred.

That was one criteria I used, but also took other things into account. There's quite a few players in there than never won a Ballon D'or, Dalglish for one. Dalglish was in because he was the most influential player in the Liverpool dynasty of the late 70s early 80s, which was dominant in Europe. Most are there because they played influential roles in dominant teams. Some are in there for their performances at World cups, such as Garrincha. Some are there just for their freakish talent.

[Alf]

So, I have 50 players picked out for my all time Premier league players.

I just need to try and arrange them in order, then I'll get posting.

Note, just because Ronaldo finished second in this list, doesn't automatically mean he'll win the Premier league list. I will be judging solely on their Premier league careers, not from what they've done elsewhere or at international level.

[James]

Messi, Cristiano, Pele and Maradona would definitely be in the top four or five for me.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Alf

So, I have 50 players picked out for my all time Premier league players.

I just need to try and arrange them in order, then I'll get posting.

Note, just because Ronaldo finished second in this list, doesn't automatically mean he'll win the Premier league list. I will be judging solely on their Premier league careers, not from what they've done elsewhere or at international level.

So agree, he wasnt around long enough to make my top ten.