Best Opposition Player You've Seen Live v City.

[kp220]

Henry for me without a doubt, as others have mentioned, I can't remember our crowd having applauded another player as they did for him when he came to take a corner.

 

[Mike N]

Dalglish was the best player of his generation IMO.

 

[OldhamBlue94]

Alan

 

[Platt Lane 59]

Remember Matt Le Tissier ripping City apart on a wet, Tuesday night at Maine Road in the 1980's.
He always had time and space, which years ago when opposing kamikaze tackling was allowed, was a great talent to have as a winger.
He came off the pitch as if the match had been a training session.
The best team I saw at Maine Road, was Ipswich Town in the early 80's.
Some great individuals, but a superb all-round team that played entertaining, attacking football.
Seem to remember City were a bit fortunate in the FA Cup semi final at Villa Park in 1981 ?
Bobby Robson was my favourite opposing manager...

 

[City & Blue Brazil]

Graham Sounness was unplayable for that period where Liverpool thrashed us 3-0 4-0 5-0 at maine road , Henry was absolute class above for a time at arsenal

 

[pride in battle]

Ardiles in a 2 all draw at Maine Road in 83. He seemed to be just strolling about but was everywhere at the same time.

He used to glide across the pitch, fantastic to watch!

 

[Nevizade]

Frank Lampard. One year he came to the Etihad with Chelsea, I think it was during the Barry De Jong era.

I have never watched a footballer make the game look so effortless and dominate like that, not in the flesh

Think that game was Robinho's debut in 2008 when they beat us 3-1, he was brilliant that day and scored a great team goal involving Deco, Malouda etc.

Really began to appreciate how good he was when he played for us, always seemed to be two steps ahead of the play even at 36.

 

[supercity88]

If he hadn't conceded 4 in the game, Courtois in the semi final against Madrid. Those two saves from Haaland at 0-0 were incredible. And he made some other good saves too. Not much he could do about any of the 4!

 

[Xhavenjoe]

What match did you see him in.
I saw him in the match when Hart saved the penalty and I don't think it was one of his best games.

 

[franksinatra]

I was going to say Waddle as well, it was late November 93 and he ran the game (1-3}. He was class

I just checked and MikeQuigley never played in that match and my lasting memory is him being given an absolutely torrid time as he had to fill in at right back.

You could be right though, the mind does play tricks.

 

[mike1923]

Henry consistently

As a one off, Gundo when he played against us for Dortmund. No idea how we scraped a draw in that game

 

[Kippax77]

Robben terrified me

Ugly cnut wasn't he

 

[unicorn]

I just checked and MikeQuigley never played in that match and my lasting memory is him being given an absolutely torrid time as he had to fill in at right back.

You could be right though, the mind does play tricks.

Same here, I was convinced Waddle scored that game but apparently not !

 

[franksinatra]

Same here, I was convinced Waddle scored that game but apparently not !

Based on what we can remember he probably had a stinker.

 

[Bozo]

Cavani, when he played for Napoli against us at the Etihad, seemed like a perfect centre forward.

Watched a very young Michael Owen tear us a new one at Maine Road (hat-trick IIRC?!) and thought, “That lad might be a good ‘un!”

Bernardo had a pretty fucking great game against us for Monaco at the Etihad, too! I remember thinking, when we went for him for big money, how one big time performance can change the trajectory of one’s career.

The Monaco game came to mind here, but more for the whole team performance. Incredible match.

 

[CTID_]

Thought he was called Nigel!

Barry De Jong was his uncle:)

 

[Nevizade]

Barry De Jong was his uncle:)

Was mates with Barry Ireland IIRC

 

[Gone for a Burton]

I was sitting at the front of Platt Lane right behind the goal. he was immense that day. It included a double save from Lee and Davies that at the time I knew was brilliant - in his autobiography he said they were the best saves he ever made. https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2019/feb/12/gordon-banks-a-life-in-pictures. (I remember it differently to the way its described in this article - but there is no video to check - so I will trust my memory for this one)

A tremendous performance on a wet,muddy pitch.

City did everything but score 5.....couldn't do any more or play any better @@

 

[Jogon 127]

Berbatov was prime Messi, Maradona and Pele rolled into one some blues would have you believe in that league cup game.

Same for Henry at Maine Road.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

The Monaco game came to mind here, but more for the whole team performance. Incredible match.

Indeed!

I only singled out Bernardo because I just remember this squirt controlling midfield, doing David Silva style pirouettes, and the ball being stuck to him like glue. And, when he didn’t have the ball, he ran around like a 6 yr old, bouncing along seemingly without a care in the world!

Even today, when I see that spring in his step, I know he’s on his game!