Our best ever player

[colesy]

Favourite and best are obviously different things.

I do think that when Kev finishes his City career, he will have a very good case for being declared the best player of the Premier League era - ahead of Henry - and that would make him our best ever: let's be honest, he can do very special things that Colin Bell could not.

I totally agree with you about KDB, but I do think we are all influenced by what we have experienced. I really don't think the question can be truthfully answered, I am old enough to appreciate the pitches that the King played on, and the fact he did it for 90 minutes for us at both ends of the pitch, scoring and defending on bogs, he was held in such high regard by everyone in the game back then, I remember a number of interviews after yet another England loss, where the whole panel said the result would not have happened if Colin Bell was playing. That is why I rate him so high.

I will say the 93.20 moment meant so much to me, and the fact that Kun broke our scoring record, those two instances mean that there is a huge case for him.

Merlin just controlled a match, made opposition players look like idiots, he just ran the game like no one else before him in the Premier League, and like the King, was held in such high regard by everyone in the game. The fact that players like Scott Sinclair and Kalvin Phillips won footballer of the year, and neither were worthy of being David's boot boys is beyond criminal.

KDB is an absolute master, he creates and scores like no other player that we have had, and agree that he may be classed as the best player the premier league has seen, for what he has contributed to our success. Just look at the quality moments that the club has had, and all bar the Champions League, KDB was instrumental.

Vinny was the greatest leader, and he score THOSE goals against the SCUM in 2012, as well as following it up against Leicester when we chased down the dippers. He was the Trojan that led us to our greatest successes, something that we may not have achieved without his leadership.

Yaya scored THAT goal in the semi against UTD, when we announced we had again arrived, then followed it up in the final, to let me actually get excited to see us win something for the first time since Dennis' overhead kick. He gave us so much joy with the huge goals that he scored, Villa and Sunderland in the Carabao come to mind. He soiled his reputation with cake gate, but he like Merlin, was so instrumental in helping us stomp on the Rags' head, so I will be forever grateful for his contribution to eleven "clean" years.

So I rest my case, I will vote for all of them.

 

[kun]

In all honesty, that's crap.

Yaya is very much top five. Aside from being technically superb and physically an absolute beast, he was also a mentality monster who delivered decisive performances in key moments (that have been listed many times). Among his many strengths and claims to fame was being the best penalty taker or club has ever had (even better than Franny).

Yeah but we need to take longevity and consistency into account as well.

Yaya was inconsistent, a liability defensively at times, and was at his best for a year and at a top top level for 5 years.

Silva did it for 10 years at the highest level, Kompany did it for roughly 9, Agüero for 9. Colin Bell even longer. Not to mention the pre-70s players like Trautmann.

Someone like Gündoğan had that same mentality and arguably had even bigger moments for City. Rodri has everything you just mentioned (bar penalties) with added consistency.

Also I don't think Yaya stands alone as our greatest penalty taker, I think Lee, Balotelli and Elano all have a shout.

 

[Blue Pete]

Best is too subjective and how do you compare Vinny with Aguero? Lots of our players have been magnificent. The best moment (Aguero) the best single season (Yaya) the highest honours and awards (Rodri), the best goalscorer (Haaland) the best passer (KDB), the best Captain (Vinny), the biggest heart (Zaba).

But the one who gave me the most joy to watch, the one I wish I could play like, the one, as the pundits say, I would pay to watch is Silva.

 

[ufo]

Jo

 

[kun]

Best v favourite is probably an apt distinction here.
Best - not sure there's ever been a player for us who's been the best in the world in their position* before, never mind overall. So has to be Rodri

Favourite - Silva and probably will be until I die

*Kevin maybe a couple of years back

KDB and Haaland both the best in the world in their position over the last 2 or 3 years. KDB maybe even 5/6 years.

Haaland in 2022/23 was the best overall as well.

 

[kun]

What! Haha heard it all now.

I'm probably exaggerating a little but I can't see him any higher than 5th or 6th

 

[Saddleworth2]

Favourite and best are obviously different things.

I do think that when Kev finishes his City career, he will have a very good case for being declared the best player of the Premier League era - ahead of Henry - and that would make him our best ever: let's be honest, he can do very special things that Colin Bell could not.

Favourite and best can be the same. They are your favourite because they are the best.

 

[alexmcity]

Someone like Gündoğan had that same mentality and arguably had even bigger moments for City.

Gundo was our captain in the Treble season for a reason. I'd say he's much more of a captain material than Toure or Silva. As Rodri said recently, he's our most underrated player. So many big moments.

Asked about our best ever (recent) player, Rodri said Kevin, and about our most skillful player, he said Foden.

Foden is likely to enter the conversation at some point. He won't be as silky as D. Silva, but he scores much more goals and has more pace and energy. Silva's best goal tally in a season was 12 goals (all compets). Foden's tally from last season was 27. Different types of players but I think Foden can surpass him.

 

[kun]

Gundo was our captain in the Treble season for a reason. I'd say he's much more of a captain material than Toure or Silva. As Rodri said recently, he's our most underrated player. So many big moments.

Asked about our best ever (recent) player, Rodri said Kevin, and about our most skillful player, he said Foden.

Foden is likely to enter the conversation at some point. He won't be as silky as D. Silva, but he scores much more goals and has more pace and energy. Silva's best goal tally in a season was 12 goals (all compets). Foden's tally from last season was 27. Different types of players but I think Foden can surpass him.

Yeah I agree with all of this.

By same mentality, I really only meant his penchant for turning up when it mattered. Sans the negative parts of Yaya’s mentality. Maybe Gündo lacked a bit of the arrogance that helped make Yaya special, but at the same time was much more level headed and better captain material.

 

[cityontheup]

All this goes to show just how many great players we had in the past, most recent past and currently. It has to be said that our recruitment, including the Hughes years, has been second to non given the number of quality places we bought.