Best player you’ve seen live

[Nutsin]

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.

[fraser]

Henry is a good shout, that goal he scored when Kanoute missed the penalty to put us three up. 

I saw Messi play for Argentina against Australia at the MCG but he was very young. 

Devonshire and Brooking for us were brilliant. 

I also remember the Tbilisi game, they were unbelievable. 

Also remember John Barnes running rings around us he was unbelievable. 

[Pub Bigot]

If we’re talking non-West Ham that I’ve seen in the flesh, then Gerrard and Rooney deserve a mention. 

Anytime I shared a space with CR7 he didn’t come away a winner, so not often. The first time I watched him was at UP and he scored the opener and I believe he (or they) missed a penalty too. We won 2-1 after fuck face Upson scored and Anton got the winner. 

[WHUDeano]

Enjoy these threads when they pop up. 

I’ve gone regularly since the 1990/91 season when I was 8. For me, Theirry Henry at his peak is the best I’ve ever seen. Cristiano Ronaldo was also obviously very special towards the end of his time at Man Utd. But Henry as an all round player is the best player of the last 35 years in English football. I loved watching Bergkamp play as well, the definition of a Rolls Royce footballer. 

individual performances, Futre against Soton probably the best in a West Ham shirt. Albeit in typical West Ham style - he was partnered by Iain Dowie. Though obviously Payet & Di Canio are the two best players we’ve since I started attending. Honourable mention to Tevez for a handful of games. 

[El Scorchio]

Mads Hermansen

[Briano]

I can go back to Moore and best but the one that stands out is Tevez. He’d signed with Macherano and it was a slow start , we played Brighton in the cup, they were championship but he was outstanding 

[stewey]

Di canio for us 
Eric cantona for mancs 

[Holeinonegolfer]

Maradona at Wembley. Football league v rest of the world. 
Gullut, Van Basten, Rijkard also at Wembley in a friendly. 2-2 Gullit ran the show and got a standing ovation when he came off
Payet is the best Ive seen playing for us.

I'd go for Maradona 

[Gary Strodders shank]

Its difficult when you are watching players coming towards the end of their careers because you know they are great players but the legs have started to go so there talent is restricted.

Brooking Bonds Brady etc in my case 

I also remember watching Chris Waddle getting totally mugged off the ball by players who wouldn't of been fit to lace his boots when he was player manager at Burnley.

The one West Ham player that sticks in the memory for me though was Devo.

A class act who seemed to glide across the pitch regardless off the conditions and strong arm tactics being used to stop him.

I remember him.comimg back from injury against the dirty dons in the league cup around 1990 and being outstanding despite the attempts to practically decapitate him from Eric Young and co.

A unbelievably skillful brave and modest player who should of been an England mainstay.

I also loved watching the young and coltish Rio coming through and the skill and trickery of Joe Cole who I would still argue never fully fulfilled his talent.

Others greats i saw live Ronaldo, Batistuta and Gheorge Hagi

 Hagi I thought was outstanding.










 

[Attwood]

Bobby Moore.
only once 1972 on a damp Wednesday evening at Edgar Street, Hereford.
A golden giant amongst men.
i was 10
0-0 

[Far Cough UKunt]

I remember Carlton scored a brace in a blizzard against Fergie's Man U.  League cup game, I think Avram was our manager then?

Jonathan Spector scored a brace as well, 4-0 to us.

[southbankbornnbred]

I've seen prime time Carlton Fucking Cole LIVE.

Beat that, fuckers!

The thing is - it IS more important that we saw primetime Carlton!

It was great to see Maradona, Zidane, Fat Ronaldo etc at World Cups and all of those players.

But, genuinely, it's nothing like it was watching West Ham at Upton Park. And I'm not exaggerating. Because West Ham is visceral and meaningful - and each kick counts. It's in the blood. It's also fucking funnier because it's a stadium full of our mob, while trips like Metz, Palermo etc mean so much more.

I watched Fat Ronaldo against Norway (and others) in the '98 World Cup. But I really didn't care who won. And that's never the same. Give me West Ham v Anybody at the old Upton Park, with opposition wingers terrified of going near the chicken run or the home corner of the south bank, every day of the week.

[southbankbornnbred]

Havard Nordtveit 

He still working on reception at your GP surgery?!

[Massive Attack]

Havard Nordtveit 

[Central Park Man]

Bobby Moore was consistently outstanding for us and England. 
Was lucky enough to see him play nearly every home game from 62 until he went to Fulham.
Along with Hurst and Peters we should have won the league after the world cup triumph but the then board didn't invest in the team.
Sounds familiar?

 

After 66 I am not sure that Bobby Moore's heart was truly in it. He wanted to go to Spurs and to maintain his England place was really strong armed into signing a contract just before the World Cup.

[theaxeman]

I too saw Carlton in his prime. It was in Whisky Mist!

[theaxeman]

Booby Moore, although I don't really remember him as I was so young.

Real Ronaldo in his 1st season at Barcelona.
Then Messi v Celtic in the Champions League

[Far Cough UKunt]

I've seen prime time Carlton Fucking Cole LIVE.

Beat that, fuckers!

[Percy Dalton]

Bobby Moore was consistently outstanding for us and England. 
Was lucky enough to see him play nearly every home game from 62 until he went to Fulham.
Along with Hurst and Peters we should have won the league after the world cup triumph but the then board didn't invest in the team.
Sounds familiar?
 

[stubbo-admin]

Probably Di Canio or Payet.  Always hard to call 'best' of course...I've seen Shearer live, David Seaman live, Lampard live, De Bruyne live, David Silva live, Jay Jay Okocha live....am sure many without clarent tinted specs would say they were all better than Di Canio and Payet...but for me it was those two.

[southbankbornnbred]

Used to travel to see major tournaments, or foreign matches, a lot when I was younger. Hence, got to see these names in the flesh. Genuine privilege, if you’re a proper football fan (which most on this site are).

[southbankbornnbred]

Never saw Pele play live - missed his career, I’m afraid. Likewise, Moore, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Best and Charlton. Would love to have seen them all, obviously.

Pirlo and Xavi deserve mentions as players who were outstanding, but somehow under-rated when it comes to “top-level” discussions. Pirlo played in an unpopular position (that many folk didn’t really understand at the time) and is the best genuine regista I’ve ever seen.

[southbankbornnbred]

Was fortunate to see Maradona play live. Not just the best I’ve ever seen, but the best player ever to lace up a pair of boots. Indescribably brilliant, on a level that even Messi never was (and Messi was amazing: I’m not one of those old farts who doesn’t rate him).

Otherwise, Fat Ronaldo. The Brazilian, and when he was in his pomp before his knee exploded in 1999/2000.

For three or four seasons, he played like he was on course to compete with Maradona as the greatest player ever. He was unbelievable, genuinely breathtaking speed, skill and explosiveness. Had everything. Except, a year or so later, a working kneecap. Still went on to win the World Cup in 2002 as half the player. That’s how good he was.

Other honourable mentions: Zidane, Van Basten, Baresi, Maldini and, reluctantly, cսnt Ronaldo.

[twoleftfeet]

Zico.

i had the pleasure of trying to mark him.

I wasn't that good!    Seriously, you lucky bugger, my all time favourite foreign player. Was just something about the way he played, especially in that Brazil team of 82, they were just set up to entertain.  

Was lucky enough to see Martin Peters in my first ever game, although he was playing for Norwich at Carrow Road in a 2-2 draw against us back in either 76 or 77.  For pure skill, I can't really seperate Sir Trev and Alan Dev, and for endeavor and the total all round player it would be Bonzo.

 

 

This was in 1997, he would have been mid 40s and I was 30. He was a a brand ambassador for our company in Brazil. Every 4 years the company held a world cup and I was lucky enough to get selected for the UK team, we met Brazil in the semi final and my manager tasked me with marking him. Bear in mind that in the previous game against Hungary I scored 2 goals as a winger so man to man marking wasn't my thing. Suffice to say at half time I was substituted because I never got anywhere near him, he was just too good. They ended up winning the tournament and at the awards night dinner he searched for me and gave me his Diadora tracksuit top as a momento, his English wasn't great but he said something along the lines of please have my top as you never got near it in the match. Really nice guy and what a player.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Anybody see Robin Friday play in the flesh?

[gpike]

Brooking 
Jari Litmanen