Bell vs Silva

[Glasshalffull]

• To young to see "Colin the King" (not old enough) for you old fuckers is he better, on a par?

I'm too young to have seen Bell.
However as a hypothetical I'd have loved to have seen a young Ali Benarbia and compared him. After all the years of nothing a nearly retired Ali was a revelation - he won the french league and multiple honours when younger - and like Silva was a true magician.

 

[horlock_was_super]

Basically this is the old Ali v Tyson argument (I would always go Ali) Colin was genius as is David. Different types of players, but, both game changers. Saw Colin from '75 until that rag twat did him. I hope David eventually leaves City just as revered

 

[MaineStandMoaner]

Totally different to David Silva.... That said, Colin Bell is one of the very few players of 40 years ago who would have thrived in todays Premier league.

Make no bones Bell had it all, powerful engine, strong in the tackle, speed, great in the air, passing, vision and chipped in with plenty of goals too.. I'd say that Colin Bell was probably the first truly great box to box player that England had ever seen.

Silva is an absolute fucking genius in the modern game, he's like a fucking ghost at times and just unplayable... In fact, he has been for the last 4 years or so... Maybe, just maybe he'll eventually get the recognition that his magical skills deserve from the media at the end of the season

One thing very similar about Silva and Bell though, both players are/were very modest about themselves

Listening to Rodney Marsh`s radio show over here last week, and he said the exact same thing about Bell. As for the original Q, I`d say that by the time merlin hangs up his boots he will be recognized as City`s greatest ever player. I did see bell, but it was after his injury.

 

[M147WN]

I'm 54 and only remember seeing the tail end of Colin's career.
The rag twat? Buchan? If I remember correctly?
Quite a few of the cunts have finished our boys!
My first ever game was us v the rags at theirs...Nov or Dec 1970 If I remember correctly.
Taken there by a rag friend of Dads and we beat 'em 4-1 but that day saw Glyn Pardoe
Pole axed by best and that was the end of him!
To the op's question.
Very different players, with different roles!
Colin was rightly nicknamed 'Nijinsky' after a race horse who didn't know when to stop running!
Great player, with great vision and could anticipate and intercept on another level!
I was too young to see the best of him having only got my first junior ST for the 74/75 season.
I remember his recuperation, the day he re-entered the arena as a sub I think the whole ground erupted
But his body was mortally wounded! He was never the same player and always carried a handicap after that.
Remember the reports of him running up and down the Kippax only for the injury to reoccur time after time!
I was only a kid at the time but the bug had bitten and I cried with him when it didn't work!
Sorry to waffle, my formative years as a Blue!
To sum up, I have to give the accolade to David Silva but I never saw King Colin's best days!
But..yeah! We have no history right?
King Col is one of the few who's talent would still, today guarantee him first name on the team sheet!

 

[spiny]

I saw Bell make his debut and in his pomp. A totally different type of player to Silva so comparing apples with oranges.

I think we will find de Bruyne will be the player to compare with Colin Bell in terms of physique, style and role. Bell was almost unique in what he offered and never got universal recognition because of his injury when coming into his peak with several years still ahead at the top level.

Peter Docherty was before my time but has claim to the title of Citys best player by some who saw both play. David Silva is nearer in style and role to Docherty and is better compared to him. I have not seen better than Silva at what he does bearing in mind his size and role.

It is easy to forget how many times he has played for Spain and the number of goals he scored at a time they have been the best team in the world or there abouts.

 

[Damocles]

Ludicrous thread.

Great thread. Controversial but considering Bell has been known as our greatest ever player for a good 40 years it's worth asking people who saw both him and Silva in his prime who they prefer. I'd wager we'll probably be having this debate in 40 years time when the lads who saw Bell in his pomp might not all still be with us.

 

[christened at st marks]

Totally different players and again my dad who loved Bell, like me said the same about Peter Doherty, Bell was unique never seen a player similar and comparable to him, what I do know is that rags were and are shit scared of both of them, the king terrified them.

 

[hihosilva]

Totally different gifted players. Colin Bell for me was always the greatest player to play for the club but in recent years David Silva has eclipsed him. There are two players in the world right now that get me on the edge of my seat who I love to watch, one is Messi and the other is Silva.
When he finally hangs his boots up we should name a stand after him. The David Silva Stand.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

I'm old enough to have seen them both albeit I was probably too young to really appreciate how good Bell was. Silva is certainly my all time favourite City player and obviously a strong argument to say he is the greatest. Here is hoping that when he finally leaves it is pretty unaminous as his end years coincide with our greatest success as a club.

I'd love him to win Player of the Year and maybe if this season continues as it has started and he remains our standout player and the general game-wide respect for him that it might well happen this year. Interestingly tho he hasn't made it yet as the Bluemoon Player of the Year in any of the 5 seasons he has been with us!

 

[Damocles]