City's greatest ever players

[Bill]

David Silva straight in at No1.

bingo.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

No 23 would keep his place, no doubt!

 

[SWP's back]

I've interviewed a couple of people who started watching us in the mid/late 1930's. Both saw Bell & Silva and both said Doherty was probably the best player they saw for City.

I'm not doubting you for a moment. I'm doubt the recollection of someone in their 90's on such a subjective matter.

 

[stony]

bingo.

Nice to you back Bill.

 

[HelloCity]

Let's say the started watching in 1920 (to remember watching in the 30's), that makes them 96 now.

We sure we can trust them on Doherty over Silva or Aguero?

Mercer said Doherty as well.

 

[SWP's back]

Mercer said Doherty as well.

Didn't Joe die in 1990?

 

[bornblueegg]

I'd say David but Bell in his day was gorgeous to watch

 

[EricBrooksGhost]

. Do you always place your childhood heroes too high on the list or not? I guess that depends on the individual. Personally I don't so it's unfair to assume they did. I.

I think it's partly true.
My uncle was born in 1924 and he always went on about Brook, he would have made a great impression on him while growing up.

 

[Big Blue Mick]

My Grandad said Doherty, dad said Bell and I say Brian Gayle (or Silva a close second)

 

[ped]

David Silva straight in at No1.

sorry mate great player ,but colin bells 178 goals puts him on another planet to david

 

[bluedanza]

Dzeko.

Frustrating at times. But he's sixth in the premier league list of goals per minute ( yes I know football existed before 1992)

Our league win in 2014 was largely down to him and Toure scoring vital goals. The 4 goals away at Spurs was one of the most complete centre forward displays I've seen. Scored for fun at the swamp.

And if you ever read the Begovic interview about Dzeko's childhood in Bosnia then you can't help but root for the guy

 

[ped]

In the 60s the old timers all reckoned Bell was the best SINCE Doherty. The general feeling among that age group also was that Swift was better than Trautmann. Do you always place your childhood heroes too high on the list or not? I guess that depends on the individual. Personally I don't so it's unfair to assume they did. I'm 54 and the best player I've seen playing in a City shirt is Aguero. Silva and Toure must also easily make the all time top 10.

the billy meredith generation would maybe rank him higher than doherty,like you say maybe a generation thing ,

 

[schfc6]

5.
Sun 09 February 2003.
Score: D 1-1
Attendance: 67646

Cheers. I watched it in a bar in Thailand, went fucking nuts when we scored and more so when it was disallowed.

 

[peter.evans]

Silva.
Aguero.
Toure.
Zaba.
Hart.
Kompany.

Would all be in my top 15 with the majority in the top ten.

Agreed.

 

[mat]

Where's Glauber Berti????

 

[Deepest Blue]

So much debate to be had about this, isn't there. What constitutes a City great. Is it pure, natural talent, achievement in terms of trophies? Would a Dickov be rated higher than a Deyna?
We could all come up with a list of 50 but ones age, historical knowledge and the criteria used will always cause controversy.

@Kinkys Left Foot nice to see your well deserved admiration for Max Woosnam but I would place him just behind CB Fry among all-round English sportsmen and the pair of them behind the phenomenal American Jim Thorpe.

http://www.cmgww.com/sports/thorpe/bio/bio.html

 

[bluereid]

Funnily enough, there was a supporters' poll in 1973/4 the results of which featured in the match programme for the New Year's Day game against Stoke. It's noted by the superb Simon Curtis on one of his sites, No Repartee: https://norepartee.wordpress.com/2014/09/06/1973-74-stoke-home/

He doesn't say who all of the top six were but Swift and Trautmann made the cut, Bert topping the poll (only around a decade since he retired so he was fresh in people's memories). Interestingly, Summerbee was the most popular current player while Bell didn't figure in the top six. Strikes me as slightly odd given that I remember Bell widely being regarded as the best ever when I was a kid (and I started going in 1975/6, so not long after).

Salient text here for those who don't want to follow the link:

The trouble with Bell was He was such a miserable bugger he could score a vital goal and simply just turn around and walk back to the centre circle showing no emotion. He did have an engine like a Ferrari though and was vital to our success at the time.

 

[DennisTueart11]

Of the current crop Silva, Aguero & Zabaleta would have to be included. I also think Ali Benarbia would merit a place.
#1 for me will always be Colin Bell but subjective is the key word. Don't start a worst player list though 'coz you haven't got the space.

 

[ped]

The trouble with Bell was He was such a miserable bugger he could score a vital goal and simply just turn around and walk back to the centre circle showing no emotion. He did have an engine like a Ferrari though and was vital to our success at the time.

you would be miserable if you had to turn around and walk back that many times

 

[Jack74]

Silva for that assist for Delph on Saturday is as good as it gets 4 me , so straight in at one