For those that saw both live who was better?

[asahartford1]

I think if Colin played today, he would be a wing back.With today's training he would have been even fitter. He would be a defender, midfielder, and forward in one player, up and down the right side, a true nijinsky.. As I said before he was very one footed and might have found it difficult in the centre, with present day preparation opposition managers would play on it. He always turned it on in Derby games and ran rings round Charlton. Happy days.

 

[Bill]

I am quite proud of this thread, think it is my biggest contribution to the forum I have made in 8 years! Really enjoyed reading all about Colin bell. So interesting to hear what he was like as a player. I have been watching footage the last day or so.

Didn’t know he had a restaurant either. Was that after he retired? Great to see he is still so involved at city.

he did. it shared it with Colin Waldron a Burnley player. we once had our end of season do there. a good night out.

 

[Abattoir Blue]

If silva could score he would easily have been the third best player in the world for the past 6/7 years. Baffling that a player that gifted and insanely talented shoots like a little kid.

Except when wearing the red shirt of Spain...

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Believe me Worseley, he was that good! I saw him literally make a goal line clearance and then score at the other end from the preceding breakaway! The thing is, nobody was that shocked by that, it had become the 'norm' for King Colin!! Different players, both simply brilliant and neither ever a problem off the field!! So lucky we had them both at their peak and i saw both many, many times :-) :-)

Colin avoided publicity - just like David. Without that injury, Colin would, without doubt, have passed the 200 goal mark. When Colin appears he creates a lump in the throat moment - a genius robbed of his prime years. In future years, David will have that effect, as well as Sergio, Vinnie, Yaya, Zaba and Joe.

Like Franny, Mike Summerbee and Mike Doyle, Colin specialised in tearing Manure to shreds - just like David and Sergio. And that just adds to the magic. I was lucky to have spent my childhood watching that team.

 

[Marvin]

Silva or bell?

I saw Bell but after his injury.

None of the footballers of that era or any era up to about 2010 would stand a chance today because of the athleticism, but of course if he grew up today, he'd be a different footballer than the one he was.

You can't ask questions like that!

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Except when wearing the red shirt of Spain...

Massively outscores Iniesta for Spain - 30-odd goals in 110 for Spain from midfield. For Spain he has players setting him up for chances. For us he's the creator of chances. Best record of anyone in the Prem for 6 years. David and Kevin neck and neck this season.

 

[MikeJM1973]

I think Yaya at his prime best is the best City player I’ve seen. Better than Kun Silva Tevez and De Bruyne(so far).

I never did see Bell play though so whether Yaya is better than Bell, I don’t know.

If Yaya had the right mentality at his peak he would have been up there with Messi and Ronaldo. Sometimes, watching him reminds me of a huge teenager playing against juniors. If only his head was right. He reminds me a little of Gazza. Gazza should have been the greatest footballer of all time. Wrong mentality though.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

I saw Bell but after his injury.

None of the footballers of that era or any era up to about 2010 would stand a chance today because of the athleticism, but of course if he grew up today, he'd be a different footballer than the one he was.

You can't ask questions like that!

The footballers of the late 60s and 70s were massively fitter and more athletic than those of the 50s and early 60s. But by the 80s things had changed - players were noticeably fitter than in the 70s. However, in the 60s and 70s Colin was the stand-out athlete. Naturally athletic and he worked at it. He was known to run middle distances at comparable times to world class distance runners. He was essentially a 2017 player in a 60s and 70s time warp (Martin Peters another).

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Saw Colin from towards the end of the 70/71 season and cried when he came back against Newcastle never heard the Kippax so loud.

Slightly different player and certainly a different era so very hard to compare. Think the best way of looking at it is would with todays style/training/tactics Colin have been a regular in our team now and it's a big fat yes he would,

I went a bit nuts when he appeared on Sunday. He just evokes that kind of reaction. God-like to those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

It’s Bell for me. He was years ahead of his time and would fit into today’s team easily. Love Spanish Dave but he is blessed by being surrounded by players who are all the best at what they do, Bell did it in a team that was good, but nowhere near as good as today. Closest comparison today would be KDB and he has the potential to be the best of the lot !

David transformed us when he came into the team. Very good players have great games from time to time. David joined us and played, and continues to play, world class in every game. Makes it look easy. Pass of the decade in the 6 - 1.