Bluemoon's Official Top 100 Favourite Manchester City Players

[Bob Hope]

Colin wasn't in my top 20 because I only picked players i remember watching.
1st game was in March 1976 and can't remember if I actually got to see The king play.

 

[Gray]

6. Colin Bell 65/1118

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Colin Bell MBE, nicknamed The King, (26 February 1946 – 5 January 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Best known for his thirteen-year spell at Manchester City, he was regarded as one of the club's finest-ever players, and was part of the Bell–Lee–Summerbee trio in the late 1960s and 1970s. Bell made forty-eight appearances for the England national football team; he was an unused squad member at UEFA Euro 1968 and played in three matches at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

During his playing career, he was nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" (after Maine Road's Kippax Street terraced stand renowned for its singing) and Nijinsky (after the famous racehorse, due to his renowned stamina). In 2004, the West Stand of City of Manchester Stadium was later named in his honour.

In 1966, he moved to Manchester City (who were managed by Joe Mercer) for £45,000. When trying to sign him for Manchester City, assistant manager Malcolm Allison misled other clubs interested in Bell (including Leicester City) by claiming that the player was "hopeless". Allison's stratagem succeeded as Bell ultimately signed for City. In the 1965–66 season, Bell helped City finish first in the Second Division, earning the team promotion to the First Division. Bell scored the only goal (via a header) in a 1–0 victory against Rotherham which ensured promotion. In the 1966–67 season, Bell was City's top scorer with fourteen league goals in all competitions, and the team finished in fifteenth place in the First Division. Bell scored a hat trick in a 3–1 victory against Stoke City in April that season.

In the 1967–68 season, Bell helped City win their second League Championship (they had won their first in 1937). Bell scored fourteen league goals that season. One of his goals came in the famous 4–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, at Maine Road, which was dubbed the "Ballet on Ice" due to the snowy conditions in which the game was played. Mike Summerbee, Tony Coleman and Neil Young scored City's other goals while Jimmy Greaves scored the goal for Spurs. After the game, legendary centre forward Dixie Dean informed Allison that the City team which had beaten Spurs was "the most brilliant side I have ever seen". In the penultimate game of the season, Bell scored twice in a 3–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. In the game, Lee and Summerbee stretched the Spurs defence allowing Bell a clear run at a slowing Dave Mackay which overwhelmed the Scotsman. In the final game of the season, City defeated Newcastle United 4–3, to clinch the title. Bell assisted Lee with the "best pass of the afternoon" to score City's fourth goal.

In the 1968–69 season, Bell again scored fourteen league goals as City finished thirteenth in the First Division. Manchester City won the FA Cup that season with a 1–0 victory over Leicester City in the final thanks to a goal by Neil Young. In the 1969–70 season, Bell scored eleven league goals for City, who finished tenth in the league. Manchester City and Bell won two trophies, in 1970, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2–1 in the 1970 Football League Cup Final, in which Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe scored City's goals. City defeated Górnik Zabrze 2–1 in the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup Final with goals from Young and Francis Lee.

In the 1970–71 season, Bell scored thirteen goals for City who finished eleventh in the First Division. In the following season, City challenged for the title but ultimately lost out to Derby County and finished fourth in the league. Bell scored thirteen goals that season. In the 1972–73 season, City finished eleventh in the league. In the 1973–74 season, Bell helped City reach the 1974 Football League Cup Final, in which he scored in a 2–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bell played for City in a 1–0 victory against Manchester United in the final game of the season. Denis Law scored the only goal in the game which confirmed United's relegation from the First Division. In the 1974–75 season, Bell scored fifteen league goals. He was named in the 1974–75 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year. In November 1975, at the age of 29, Bell severely injured his right knee against Manchester United in a challenge with Martin Buchan during a League Cup match at Maine Road. City went on to win the League Cup that season, defeating Newcastle 2–1 in the 1976 Football League Cup Final. Bell's prolonged absence due to his injury was a blow to Don Revie, who quit as manager of England in 1977. Bell returned to action in a 4–0 victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day in 1977. His introduction to the game, at half time, was greeted with rapturous applause. However, Bell's return to City was fleeting as he left City in the 1978–79 season; Malcolm Allison, who returned to City for a second spell as manager in 1979, convinced Bell that it was time to go. The then-chairman Peter Swales described Bell as the "finest tuned athlete" and "irreplaceable". This latter sentiment turned out to be true as Allison was not able to find a trio of talented players of the calibre of Bell, Summerbee and Lee as he had done in the past with Joe Mercer. Bell tried to resurrect his career in 1980 with NASL side San Jose Earthquakes, where he joined former Manchester United player George Best. However, Bell ended up playing only five games for the club before retiring from football altogether.

I know I am an old fart but No.6 do me a favour!

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Only no.6?? I had Colin at no.2, Yaya at 17 in my list. Hard to believe Yaya with all the off-field crap gets in ahead of him

Less people voted for Colin than the 6 players from 7 to 12.
Those that did vote for him obviously had him higher up on their list.
Must be an age thing.
I didn't even have Yaya in my list of 20 but had a couple that won't even make the top 100.

 

[Gray]

If Yaya "Where's my Birthday Cake" finishes above Colin it is a complete travesty.

 

[Maly]

If Yaya "Where's my Birthday Cake" finishes above Colin it is a complete travesty.

Not really mate. I’d guess nobody under 48/49 would have him in their top 20 favourite players as they’d never seen him play? Based on the demographics of voters, I’m not surprised in the slightest.

 

[Sir peace frog]

I can't really slag anyone off, I didn't vote : )

 

[Out on blue 6]

Colin wasn't in my top 20 because I only picked players i remember watching.
1st game was in March 1976 and can't remember if I actually got to see The king play.

Same for me. Saw him right at the end of his career so was too young to formulate a proper opinion. If it was a greatest player poll in my opinion it would probably come down to him and one other. Only just over half of the people who put a list in voted for him. Just an age dynamic thing.

 

[Gray]

Not really mate. I’d guess nobody under 48/49 would have him in their top 20 favourite players as they’d never seen him play? Based on the demographics of voters, I’m not surprised in the slightest.

I was quite prepared for the likes of Kompany, Silva and Aquero to finish above "The King" but with his tantrums I am not happy for Yaya to do the same. I respect all Bluemooners opinions and acknowledge it is an age thing but doesn't help I am afraid.

 

[JRockBlues]

With the average age of Bluemoon posters being over 50 I'm staggered by Nijinsky not making the top 5.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

quite embarrassing really, shows how much bluemoon know ,

Realistically no one under 45 would have seen Colin play in the flesh and under 48 to have seen him pre injury so it comes as no surprise or embarrassment that he isn't in the top 5 amongst our favourite (note favourite not "the best") players
I was born in 1963 and really got into City aged 6 / 7 in 69 / 70 but Rodney Marsh was my first City hero on signing in 72 when I was 9. Back then I only saw football on the TV on a Sunday afternoom as too young for MOTD / Sportsnight