Best player you've seen play 'in the flesh'

[aintforever]

If we're not counting Le Tiss, I would go for Bergkamp, there was a game at Highbury where he destroyed us.

 

Other than him, Gullit, Henry, Zola, Gazza or Wright.

[Milton]

I saw George Best in his prime, nobody could get near him....Greatest player I have ever seen

[LGTL]

Xavi. Never before have I seen such a midfield masterclass.

[teamsaint]

seen some great players. probably the best players I have seen playing against Saints were Best and Gullit, although neither were particularly outstanding on the days I saw them. Also right out of the top draw....Beckham.

 

however, two of the best performances I saw against Saints were by John Barnes (maybe the first time he played for Liverpool at the Dell), and David Ginola(playing for Newcastle?) We just couldn't get near either of them.

[wightman35]

A young George Best in a cup tie at the Dell. MLT of course, Stan Matthews when ancient for Stoke and Raich Carter for Hull also when well past his star quality both at the Dell.

[Gis]

There are a few games where you just know that you have been lucky to be there, even though you've been stuffed.

 

For me the totally outstanding Gunter Netzer who ripped a great England side to pieces at Wembley back in 1972.

 

(and best individual Saints performance definitely Peter Osgood at home against Marseilles in '77).

Edited 21 October, 2010 by Gis
can't spell netzer

[70's Mike]

just been so many Best, Charlton, Moore, Ball,Giles,Currie,Netzer,Shilton,Worthington,Le Tiss,Paine, Channon

[leftback]

pele playing for santos at fulham when i was a kid.

then went up to scotland to watch maradonna destroy the jocks in 81/82

being the same age as diego id have to give him the nod ,but im sure if iwas peles age id plump for him, ive seen all the others on this thread and its a no contest,these two .....different class!

[Norm]

Didn't you see 50 year old Stan play for Stoke against Saints at the Dell? Running was barely part of his game by then though, he just kind of stuttered on the spot.

 

I also saw SM at the Dell. Fantastic footballer but past his best when I saw him.

 

My choice is George Best.

[L1Minus10]

Best non-Saint. Dennis Bergkamp - different gravy altogether. always remember Franny trying to kick lumps out of him and he just turned, left Franny for dead and lashed it in from 25 yards. I remember it cos I applauded which was very surreal.

[Nadia Sllim]

JJ Okecha

[OttawaSaint]

Off the top of my head: Beardsley, John Barnes, Paulo Di Canio, Gazza, Sergio Aguero...

[fareham saint phil]

Think answers depend very much on your age, seen Bobby Moore be head and shoulders above anyone on the Dell pitch also George Best and Jimmy Greaves. Later on Cantona love him or hate him you certainly rate him, Henry a class act, Gascoigne the stereotype flawed genius.

 

Same for Saints really Terry Paine could put a ball on a sixpence from 60 yds, Big Ron, Mikey Channon and of course MLT later on

[saint lard]

Difficult choice,between,Bergkamp,Zola,Cantona, and going back to my youth Dalglish,Channon,Keegan.

[SO16_Saint]

I’ve really enjoyed reading through all the replies on here.

It’s quite good timing that the BBC have this on their site today..... http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanstevenson/2010/10/pele_or_maradona_who_is_the_gr.html

Must’ve been reading this site, IMO!

[sebastian firefly]

for us it was ronnie ekelund with matty

otherwise maradona by a country mile then a taxi to the station and an intercontinetal train

genius flawed but incredible

[Asaint4ever]

paul wotton

[1976_Child]

puncheon

[Stanley Saint]

Ruud Gullit tearing us apart single handedly at Stamford Bridge in his first season there.

 

A memorable game. A 3-0 defeat but great fun, as it was Chelseas centenery year or something, and they paraded former stars on the pitch. Speedie and Dixon were introduced and the we all went mental. Booing and jeering as they waved to the crowd.

 

I remember that one. Gullit just sat deep and controlled the game, it was a masterclass.

 

Apart from him, Henry was frightening in his pomp, and, I may get grief for this, I still maintain that Eyal Berkovich was one of the best players I've seen in that half-a-season he had for us.

[croydonsaint]

Probably George Best. A real genius. Also very impressed with Bobby Moore. Can remember watching him at the Dell and thinking he was like a man playing in a boys team. He just had so much time on the ball. George best Genius Bobby Moore, pure class.

[cambsaint]

I was in Manchester in 1967 and watched Best Charlton Law and Crerand at Old Trafford.

George Best was without doubt the most gifted player I've ever seen, his skills were incredible. Le Tiss would have been the second.

Paine was much underated, his ability to provide superb service to a number of different high scoring forwards in a relatively moderate team never got the credit he deserved.

Unfortunately like many other sublimely gifted players he failed to be a complete player, and you have to ask if gifted but flawed players (like Le Tiss) are really great.

Although I never saw him the flesh Franz Beckenbauer is probably the most complete player in my lifetime, his skills were superb, his leadership excellent and he won rather a lot of important cups for Germany.

One of the best defensive players I ever watched was Dave Mackay, harder than steel, skilful in the tackle, good reader of the game and superb distribution.

The best goalie Peter Shilton- I swear I've seen him turn in the air and keep out a certain goal.

[cambsaint]

I was in Manchester in 1967 and watched Best Charlton Law and Crerand at Old Trafford.

George Best was without doubt the most gifted player I've ever seen, his skills were incredible. Le Tiss would have been the second.

Paine was much underated, his ability to provide superb service to a number of different high scoring forwards in a relatively moderate team never got the credit he deserved.

Unfortunately like many other sublimely gifted players he failed to be a complete player, and you have to ask if gifted but flawed players (like Le Tiss) are really great.

Although I never saw him the flesh Franz Beckenbauer is probably the most complete player in my lifetime, his skills were superb, his leadership excellent and he won rather a lot of important cups for Germany.

One of the best defensive players I ever watched was Dave Mackay, harder than steel, skilful in the tackle, good reader of the game and superb distribution.

The best goalie Peter Shilton- I swear I've seen him turn in the air and keep out a certain goal.

[offix]

I was there when Johann Cruyff played his very first match for Ajax in their first team. I have never seen anything like it since. He is the best I ever saw in the flesh

[offix]

I was there when Johann Cruyff played his very first match for Ajax in their first team. I have never seen anything like it since. He is the best I ever saw in the flesh

[Lets B Avenue]

Not forgetting John Utaka, Liam Lawrence, Sol Campbell etc etc.

[Lets B Avenue]

Not forgetting John Utaka, Liam Lawrence, Sol Campbell etc etc.

[BJBSAINTS]

Gazza for spurs against us at the dell in 91? Amazing..... what a talent and what a waste of it he made.

[BJBSAINTS]

Gazza for spurs against us at the dell in 91? Amazing..... what a talent and what a waste of it he made.

[The Majestic Channon]

Mick channon

[sfc4prem]

Christiano Ronaldo.

[Cestrian Saint]

Henry. FA Cup final in 2003. He exploded down the right hand side in the first few minutes of the game. His pace was blistering. I remember turning to an Arsenal fan and saying 'Uh oh, we're ****ed'.

 

Gazza. What a talent. Such a shame

[krissyboy31]

Easily Maradona. Cheating barsteward but what a player!! Platini next followed by possibly Michael Laudrup.

[TijuanaTim]

Big Ron, Bestie...and the one and only Jimmy Greaves.

 

Foreign type Hagi...easy!

 

A lot of random ones that have surprised me up the Dell. Francoise Van Der Elst (sp) WHU circa '80. Frank McAvenie, Tony Currie, Mooro (occasionally), Ryan Giggs - two words 'WOW', Hoddle 'Magic', Gazza...

 

If you didn't see Big Ron in his heyday, then you really missed a treat in a Saints shirt - he was unplayable for a time.

[bender]

Saw Barcelona earlier in the year. Messi at all were class. Apart from that Waddle, Gazza, Beckham, Giggs, Lineker you name it

[Wilko]

Bergkamp and Vieira were pretty special against Saints on several occasions.

 

Managed to catch Zidane at a Real Madrid game once. He was majestic.

[syd_barrett_saint]

Messi (and I know this thread says excluding Le Tiss, but the best player I had seen in the flesh was always him, until I saw Messi live for Argentina in their 4-1 win against Spain recently)

[StVince1966]

best goalie shilton (by a country mile) best defender dave watson (could head a ball harder than most could kick it) best midfielder jimmy case (never had a poor game) best forward henry (pace and class) le tizz the greatest ofcourse!

[DrZuess1979 the 2nd]

Z Zidan

 

Utter class

 

Matty in the mid 90`s

[Lord Duckhunter]

I was at the England V Argie friendly in 1980 where a young Diego Maradona showed a glimpse of what was to come.

 

Dalglish was proberly the best player season in season out I saw. He had such a high standard every game.

 

One of the best performances I can remember was Gunter Netzer against England in about '72/'73.

[Edward Tattsyrup]

Easily Bobby Moore by a country mile.

[sammysaint]

Le tiss for us

Rooney in the 3 3 game vs everton

Beckham for England in the 3 2 defeat to croatia best performance I ever seen, that ball to crouch to make it 2 2 was pure class

[AussieDog]

He certainly wasn't the most skillful, but he was the hardest working player I ever saw and was consistently good. He could turn a game, and was part of the most enjoyable Saints team I had the pleasure of watching - Kevin Keegan The other reason he was up there with the best for me, was because he had to WORK at being the great player he was. Although players like Best, Marsh, Bowles, Gascgoine, Osgood, Currie, Cantona (and of course LeTiss) had far more skills, they all (even Best) could have been even better if they had been as dedicated and hard working as Keegan

[paulwantsapint]

In a single game Eyal Berkovic eclipsed MLT only just & Egil Ostenstad ht

yes I was there saints 6-3 manure

 

But never seen anyone produce as regular as MLT

 

Post MLT Pahars when fit was class

 

saw cantona 3 times only real memory of him was franny overhead kicking him in the face