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I saw Zidane play for Rael Madrid in a friendly against Beckhams L A Galaxy. He stood out amongst a group of all stars.

In a competitive top flight match I’d have to say Liam Brady, 

Best West Ham player was Trevor Brooking, although I always enjoyed watching Billy Bonds.

who stood out to you on the terraces.

Dev 

He's a ball-on-a-string playground cսnt but could actually do that shit on the biggest world stages of all.

The Greatest

Messi, and not for dribbling or pace or shot. What struck me the most was his first touch to place the ball exactly where he wanted and simultaneously unbalance a defence. That would cause a scramble that opened a blind pass that he never seemed to miss. 

GK Banks 
Defence Moore
Midfield Beckenbauer,  Dev, Brooking Charlton 
Forwards Best,, Barnes, Paulo,Payet Dalglish, Law
Greaves 

What about a team of good reliable players who always gave 100 per cent? 
Ludo
Parker 
Dicks
Bowen 
Ginge 
Nobes
Bonds 
Lomas...
Pablo 
.......all.spring .to mind . 
The fact that dozens don't immediately come to mind either says I'm a forgetful old git or that we lacked these guys to cement things together.

Gary Breen

In the sixties for me Moore was head and shoulders above all others he had no peers. The only foreigner I saw play who ranked highly for me was Eusebio.

In the seventies, looking back, the best WHU player overall was Brooking by a country mile. As for foreigners two stood out to me firstly Cruyff and secondly a German called Gunther Netzer who I saw at Wembley completely destroy England.

In the eighties Devonshire stood out for me at West Ham. As for foreigners I did not see any of the really top players, Maradonna etc, but as someone has mentioned already David Kipriani turned up at Upton Park and mesmerised us playing for Tibilisi showing us a level of skill and perception that won over the whole of the spectators. A rare occasion where us fans gave the visiting team a prolonged standing ovation.

Nobody really stands out at West Ham in the nineties and the best Foreigner I saw play was Klinsmann.

Much the same in the naughtiest as far as WHU was concerned we were busy, early on being Browned and Redknapped. The sublime, fancy Dan DiCanio, to the ridiculous, Titi Camara. The outstanding foreigner for me was Zinadine Zidane. What a midfielder, we have never had a player in his position that comes anywhere near his level.

In the last fifteen years we have had no player at WHU that I would put in an all time best eleven. Rice, if he had stayed longer might have made my list, Noble a good one club man but not outstanding and Bowen who will probably be our best player of this decade all come to mind but don’t make the cut. We’ve all seen foreign players aplenty Modric and Kante come to mind as two outstanding individuals.

All the players mentioned are ones that I have seen play.




 

Hammer I am" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 09:22

Mr Anon" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 07:54 Some no name in a sunday league player, better than any professional I've seen, no one could get the ball off him all game, god knows what he was doing playing down there

Every now and then you see that, probably extreme versions of a Ravel Morrison type, had all the talent but no desire to put the work in past a weekly kickabout

It's hard to judge 'best'.  An argument can be made, as an example, that Bowen is a better player than Di Canio...more consistently impactful, more longevity, more hard working.  But he's not as talismanic or entertaining, or intrinsically gifted.

So who is 'best'.

Hammer I am" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 09:24 Probably Ashton for me, was so excited to see him kick on with us and become the new all time premier league top goal scorer. oh well....

Probably Ashton for me, was so excited to see him kick on with us and become the new all time premier league top goal scorer. oh well....

Mr Anon" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 07:54 Some no name in a sunday league player, better than any professional I've seen, no one could get the ball off him all game, god knows what he was doing playing down there

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 08:33

Mr Anon" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 07:54 Some no name in a sunday league player, better than any professional I've seen, no one could get the ball off him all game, god knows what he was doing playing down there

Ringer?

violator wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 08:28 Watching Messi bag a hat-trick at the Nou Camp against a Pellegrini managed Malaga was pretty special, his movement off the ball on another planet.

 

Mr Anon" wrote: ↑26 Aug 2025, 07:54 Some no name in a sunday league player, better than any professional I've seen, no one could get the ball off him all game, god knows what he was doing playing down there

Watching Messi bag a hat-trick at the Nou Camp against a Pellegrini managed Malaga was pretty special, his movement off the ball on another planet.

Some no name in a sunday league player, better than any professional I've seen, no one could get the ball off him all game, god knows what he was doing playing down there

It would be heresy not to go for Bobby Moore

Another memorable name from the past was Eusebio who played at the Boleyn in Geoff Hurst's testimonial

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:31

Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:19

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:17 One of my favourite Premier League players that I would have loved seen play for us was Le Tissier. Liquid Football who ran his own goal of the month competition with himself. It would have been a really good fit as well if he ever did leave Southampton for us.

I remember us singing one game "He's got a fucking big nose" at him, and of course he scores. A genius player

I remember that!

 

Anyone for George Best a genius especially as he was half pissed most of the time

Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:19

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:17 One of my favourite Premier League players that I would have loved seen play for us was Le Tissier. Liquid Football who ran his own goal of the month competition with himself. It would have been a really good fit as well if he ever did leave Southampton for us.

I remember us singing one game "He's got a fucking big nose" at him, and of course he scores. A genius player

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:17 One of my favourite Premier League players that I would have loved seen play for us was Le Tissier. Liquid Football who ran his own goal of the month competition with himself. It would have been a really good fit as well if he ever did leave Southampton for us.

One of my favourite Premier League players that I would have loved seen play for us was Le Tissier. Liquid Football who ran his own goal of the month competition with himself. It would have been a really good fit as well if he ever did leave Southampton for us. Outrageous effortless talent.

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑25 Aug 2025, 21:08 Henry is right up there for me too. Bergkamp was another shithot player, although a snide. Goon cunts.

the thing about Brady, he was 31 when he turned up and had just completed a brilliant seven year spell in Italy. it could have been quite easy for him to go through the motions and not give a shit, but his professionalism was top class. he was great from day one, and though he may have lost a yard in his legs, his brain still worked quicker than most of the teams he faced. an absolute legend, and all time great

Henry is right up there for me too. Bergkamp was another shithot player, although a snide. Goon cunts.