so.

[Notinmylifetime]

Both my lads can't understand how good Colin was. Very little footage exists on tv or youtube, and the footage that exists doesn't do Colin justice. He wasn't flashy....he was as far from flashy as you can get. He just did everything a footballer should do exceedingly well.....and he did it was 90 minutes. On top of that he could run and run and run. Imagine Yaya doing one of his lung bursting runs...the ones that he does maybe once or twice in a big game. Colin did those half a dozen times every game....and he didn't have to lie down and slowly walk back like Yaya does. He covered every inch of a pitch in an effortless way. He defended, covered and tracked back....often gliding past his own players to do so. He always supported the attack....made great runs, created space for others and often got in goal scoring positions. He was a leader by example, not vocally. He was shy. Even his goal celebrations were low key, almost apologetic of his talent. They didn't call him Colin The King for nothing. I've been a season ticket holder since 1967....he was by far....by far....the best player to wear the sky blue in that time. No argument whatsoever. He remains my hero to this day.

 

[oakiecokie]

I am so sorry to have to cause a bit of a rumpus ref the greatest player I have ever seen in a Sky Blue Shirt,but I dispute those people who claim to have seen King Colin "live" but once and for all he was VERY VERY weak as a tackler !!!!!!!!!!!!
He truly was awful in his only weak department.

 

[Joycee Banercheck]

Again I will state that I never had the pleasure of watching the king, but it is evident that he wasn't the best tackler (cheers oakie...he put his left leg in and all that). Who did he line up with? Was there a Grealish type of player in the middle with him (possibly not the best example, but you get me, yeah?), or did we just rely on the guile of Bell? I'd love to see a full match where he played just to see what all the (deserved) fuss is about. Even though we were shit for years and years, we have been blessed with a lot of decent players but my old man's generation still rave about Bell and I feel kind of deprived that my generation can't appreciate it. Can TCIB not sort this out???? Sack him!

 

[Blue Til Death]

I am so sorry to have to cause a bit of a rumpus ref the greatest player I have ever seen in a Sky Blue Shirt,but I dispute those people who claim to have seen King Colin "live" but once and for all he was VERY VERY weak as a tackler !!!!!!!!!!!!
He truly was awful in his only weak department.

You say, claim to have seen him live as if he played in the 1920's you claim he was a crap tackler, you are wrong on both counts mate of course the older lads on here such as myself saw him play live, week in week out barring his Injuries, your entitled to your opinion obviously and if you feel the need to go against the flow thats fine too. We however are not just saying he was the best City player ever but arguably the best England player too, without his injuries there would be zero argument about it..

 

[Aytoun]

Many discerning followers of English football describe Tom Finney as the best ever. It is therefore illuminating that this quiet unassuming man should state that Colin Bell was the best ever.
Regarding his stamina, I remember reading at the time at his peak he went to do " The Canadian Air Force test " which was rated as the most killing test in the world. This was like a murderous circuit in the gym made up of horrendous obstacles & was used to train SAS people & the like.
The fittest of the fit made 2 circuits & then collapsed in agony.
Apparently after 4 or 5 circuits they had to drag Colin off the course !

 

[Deleted member 52846]

Believe it on not he was a combimation of Silva & Yaya however he could run all day long and he could finish in front of goal. Just have a think about that for a moment!
The most complete footballer I have ever seen.
He would make Gareth Bale look a pretty average player.

My Dad says the closest modern player in style is Steven Gerrard. But Bell had more pace and was better in the air, could still sprint 60 years in the 89th minute too.

 

[Dextersmate]

The greatest restaurant owner ever!<br /><br />-- Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:02 am --<br /><br />

Believe it on not he was a combimation of Silva & Yaya however he could run all day long and he could finish in front of goal. Just have a think about that for a moment!
The most complete footballer I have ever seen.
He would make Gareth Bale look a pretty average player.

My Dad says the closest modern player in style is Steven Gerrard. But Bell had more pace and was better in the air, could still sprint 60 years in the 89th minute too.

Thats a very long way.

 

[Alan Oakes Shinpads]

The best ever in a City shirt, had everything in his skill set.

Saw him when he made his debut for us, saw the horrible tackle that Buchan made and witnessed the outburst of emotion from the crowd when he came on at half time against Newcastle at home and sadly his final game.

So yes saw a lot of games in which the King played and yes he was the best.

 

[oakiecokie]

I am so sorry to have to cause a bit of a rumpus ref the greatest player I have ever seen in a Sky Blue Shirt,but I dispute those people who claim to have seen King Colin "live" but once and for all he was VERY VERY weak as a tackler !!!!!!!!!!!!
He truly was awful in his only weak department.

You say, claim to have seen him live as if he played in the 1920's you claim he was a crap tackler, you are wrong on both counts mate of course the older lads on here such as myself saw him play live, week in week out barring his Injuries, your entitled to your opinion obviously and if you feel the need to go against the flow thats fine too. We however are not just saying he was the best City player ever but arguably the best England player too, without his injuries there would be zero argument about it..

Having attended virtually every game from 1967 - 1971 (home,away,cup games including European away games) I think my viewing of the greatest player ever to put a sky blue shirt on,holds a little better than most.
I will re-iterate once again,that King Colin was not a strong tackler in any way shape or form and without doubt that was his weak point of all parts of his game.
Go against the flow ?? I sometimes wonder if some of these people making the remarks about his tackling actually saw him live or are "just going with the flow" of one or two on here.
Don`t recollect the use of the word "crap" but certainly "weak tackler" is spot on and I stand by that wording.Fail to see what the 1920`s has anything to do in the context of this debate. Mackay,Brennan,Giles,Stiles,Haines,Smith,etc he was not,but by the same token they were not in the same league as Belly when it came to shooting,regular goalscorer,heading,awareness,lung ripping runs from box to box,passing,virtually the complete mid fielder you could wish for.
I guess we`ll just have to agree to disagree on this one aspect of his game which he was not blessed with.

 

[blueyorkie]

Quite simply put Colin was the best and most complete footballer I've ever seen he had everything. Think of Gerrard as a Ford Kia, Colin was a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.