I truly believe that if he had been 20 years later we could be talking of him as our greatest ever. For me he could pass as well as Silva, dribble more effectively than Silva, shoot and score much more effectively than Silva, and he could score both penalties and free kicks like it was a game.
My only reservation, and perhaps how he has gained weight since retirement might give you an answer, is did he have the self discipline and mental strength to be part of a team for a long time, where he wouldn't have been a certain 1st choice and others around him were equally as astounding. Of course we will never know, but I thank him for the glimpses of brilliance he provided at a time when supporting City was grim.