so.

[Bozzie]

Not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe Colin Bell. The difference between Best and Bell was not in talent, both had it in abundance, but in publicity. One courted it the other shunned it. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of watching City and the "jewel in the crown" was Colin Bell. Shirt tucked in at the back, pulled out at the front with white tape to hold our shin-pads up we'd strut around Withington Rec or Hough End imagining we were the King.
It's impossible to say how good he would be in the modern era. His fitness level for the times he played in were unique, he could run all day, pass tackle and shoot. Without doubt, but for the injury (for which Buchan has never apologised) he would have captained his country and been the mainstay of the England team for many years. His comeback game against Newcastle was one of those "I was there" moments for a City fan - a bit like York away which I have to officially admit, to my shame I wasn't. Despite his typical hard work he was never the same player, the knee didn't have the movement and strength needed to cope with the twisting and turning, and it was sad to witness such talent go unfulfilled. But I can't recall any moaning or need for sympathy coming from Colin, he just accepted it with dignity and moved on.
A couple of years ago, wifey and I were coming back from London on the train. At Stockport a guy who had been sitting a couple of rows down from us got up to get off the train, I nodded to him and he smiled and nodded back. Who was that? asked my wife - greatest footballer I've ever seen, Colin Bell, I replied. She asked why I hadn't spoken to him during the journey - he wouldn't have liked the fuss I told her.

 

[oakiecokie]

Without doubt he was the natural successor to Bobby Combover and don`t lets get silly about Charlton, for those who never saw him play,he really was a class act in those days for both club and country.
However once Colin had got himself recognised as an England "full timer" there was no comparison as far as I was concerned.Heading,shooting,passing,lung bursting runs from box to box,the ability to beat a man,goal scorer,but I`m sorry his biggest weakness was his tackling and I`m surprised that a few on here keep saying that was a strength of Colins,it definatly wasn`t.
Ask any football fan from the late 60`s and 70`s about Colin Bell and without exception,they will tell you he was a player that they would have loved in their team.That injury robbed both City and England of seeing the best midfield player for decades,without doubt.

How would you compare Scholes to Bell and Charlton?

Again without my "tinted glasses" on Scholes , whether we like the twat as a player or individual,he was without doubt a superb player.However for me King Colin was the one player that had virtually everything about his play.The one thing that stood out more than anything was his fitness levels.I have never seen anyone with so much stamina,whether it be in the 1st or last minute and very rarely would you have seen him sweat,even though he would have covered every blade of grass on any pitch.
So IMO it would be Bell,Charlton and Scholes,in that order.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

Colin Bell was a truly superb player. A natural athlete there wasn't a weakness in his game. When asked to name the most influential player he had seen in the 1960s, Jimmy Greaves named Bell without hesitation. I don't remember the details but Real wanted him and were prepared tp pay something like 3 times the British record for him! He was accepted (even by Jimmy Hill!) as comfortably England's best player when his career was ended by injury. It would have been great to see him in today's team, and even more interesting to see where Pellegrini would have played him. In the Fernandinho role? In the Ya Ya role? Doing what David Silva does? I accept he wouldn't keep Joe out of the team! But where was his best position? Well, on the pitch! Anywhere!

 

[SaddleworthBlueRhino]

The word "great" has always been too easy to use. In Colin Bells' case it wasn't good enough and we had to introduce the term "King" Always been my personal hero and on the few occasions when I see him today I still stand there in genuine "Awe and wonder" I become a 58 year old kid again!! Thats how good Colin Bell will always be - Simply the best footballer I have seen in my beloved sky blue.

 

[cibaman]

Bell's biggest problem in terms of recognition was that Alan Ball beat him to the England position. Ramsay was incredibly loyal to the 66 team, particularly the younger players. It was almost impossible for Bell to replace Ball and they didn't play particularly well together. Hence Bell never got the extended run at international level that he deserved.

 

[Blue Til Death]

There is absolutely no doubt that Colin was the greatest and his recognition within the whole of football was marred by his injuries.
What you have to take into account was the state of the pitches, the diet and general way players were looked after in those days, the likes of Gerrard and others would not have lasted half a season playing in treacle and being afforded much less referee protection than the modern players do.
Colin Bell's passing ability and fitness levels were way in advance of his time and as as I stated previously, barring Injury he would have become Englands greatest player. These are not Colin Bell tinted specs, I wear his name on the back of all my City shirts because he was and remains my hero, however, every away ground I go to, opposition supporters come and chat about the great man and without exception agree how good he was.
In summary, if Colin the King had played on the billiard table pitches of today, he would not only have been recognised as the greatest england player ever, but one of the very best players in the world

That is a great post mate, its true the players of today wouldn't have coped with conditions that the players of yesterday played in, but I will say this there is no finer sight than Colin Bell with the ball at his feet causing havoc with the defences of those days, and it was a privilege to watch him play for City and for England during the 70's.................

Indeed it was mate, I worshiped the ground he walked on as a kid and revere him no less today, there are many top players today could learn from him even now..

 

[jimharri]

Quite possibly our best ever player. Puts Kinky, Ali B, Merlin, Creaney etc etc in the shade. Great to see him introduced to the crowd in the aftermath of the QPR title clincher.

 

[Bluep*ss]

The King - superb.
England legend Tom Finney stated that 'Colin Bell was as good as anything I've ever seen'. Some current fans and pundits in the game, have stated that Colin Bell was the greatest midfielder that England ever had.

Tom Finney says it all really.

 

[VOOMER]

Without doubt he was the natural successor to Bobby Combover and don`t lets get silly about Charlton, for those who never saw him play,he really was a class act in those days for both club and country.
However once Colin had got himself recognised as an England "full timer" there was no comparison as far as I was concerned.Heading,shooting,passing,lung bursting runs from box to box,the ability to beat a man,goal scorer,but I`m sorry his biggest weakness was his tackling and I`m surprised that a few on here keep saying that was a strength of Colins,it definatly wasn`t.
Ask any football fan from the late 60`s and 70`s about Colin Bell and without exception,they will tell you he was a player that they would have loved in their team.That injury robbed both City and England of seeing the best midfield player for decades,without doubt.

How would you compare Scholes to Bell and Charlton?

Bell was better than both and Scholes was better than Charlton. Watch the WC final in 66, it's Alan Ball and Styles who win the midfield battle, Charlton was a virtual passenger.

 

[Joycee Banercheck]

Without doubt he was the natural successor to Bobby Combover and don`t lets get silly about Charlton, for those who never saw him play,he really was a class act in those days for both club and country.
However once Colin had got himself recognised as an England "full timer" there was no comparison as far as I was concerned.Heading,shooting,passing,lung bursting runs from box to box,the ability to beat a man,goal scorer,but I`m sorry his biggest weakness was his tackling and I`m surprised that a few on here keep saying that was a strength of Colins,it definatly wasn`t.
Ask any football fan from the late 60`s and 70`s about Colin Bell and without exception,they will tell you he was a player that they would have loved in their team.That injury robbed both City and England of seeing the best midfield player for decades,without doubt.

How would you compare Scholes to Bell and Charlton?

Bell was better than both and Scholes was better than Charlton. Watch the WC final in 66, it's Alan Ball and Styles who win the midfield battle, Charlton was a virtual passenger.

I would love to watch the full 90 of the WC in 66. Do you have a copy? I would also watch any 90 of any game that Colin played. If anyone has any, please donate.