Greatest Footballers Ever Part1

[littlelleyton]

Since the simple poll or pele or Maradona was hijacked, rather than do the norm for this board and complain a whine on about it i though i would give everyone a chance to vote on who they think is the greatest players of all time. i have included 10 players who are thought to be in the highest regard in the football world. 9 of them are currently in the IFHOF. since there is a limit on polls, that being 10 this will be part 1.

Pele (Brazil)
A veteran of four World Cups, scorer of 1,283 first-class goals - 12 of them in World Cup final tournaments - a member of those magical Brazilian squads that won soccer's greatest prize in 1958, 1962 and 1970. and introduced soccer in the USA
International Caps 92
International Goals 77
World Cup (1958, 62, 70)
World Club Championship (1962, 63)
Sao Paulo State Championship (1956, 58, 60, 61, 62, 64, 56, 67, 68)


Diego Maradona (Argentina)
For many people, Diego Armando Maradona is the greatest soccer player of all time. But his fame has been marked by ups and downs because of his involvement with drugs.
International Caps 90
International Goals 34
692 official matches.
352 official career goals.
World Cup 1986
Italian championships in 1986/87 and 1989/90
Italian Cup (1987)
UEFA Cup (1989)
Italian Super Cup (1990).



Bobby Moore (England)
Bobby Moore was England's finest captain, a legend who led his country to its greatest triumph.
International Caps 108
International Goals 2
World Cup (1966)
European Cup Winners" Cup (1965)

Johann Cruyff (Holland)
If Holland were the team that gave the world Total Football, then Johan Cruyff was THE Total Footballer.
International Caps 48
International Goals 33
World Club Championship (1972)
European Cup (1971, 72, 73)
Dutch Championship (1966, 67, 68, 72, 73, 82, 84)
Dutch Cup (1967, 70, 71, 72, 83)
Spanish Championship (1974)
Spanish Cup (1978)

Franz Beckenbaeur (West Germany)
Franz Beckenbauer is the only man to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. His roll of honour is unique. Captain of West Germany when they won the World Cup and the European Championship, he also led his club, Bayern Munich, to three successive European Cups and also to the European Cup Winners' Cup.
International Caps 103
International Goals 14
World Cup: 1974
European Championship: 1972
European Cup: 1974, 75, 76
Cup Winners: Cup: 1967
World Club Championships: 1976
Bundersliga: 1969, 72, 73, 74.
West German Cup: 1966, 67, 69, 71.

George Best(Northern Ireland)
He reached unimaginable heights with his outrageous skills in a career that lasted a mere six years at the top, before self-destructing into alcoholism, bankruptcy and jail
International Caps 37
International Goals 9
European Cup (1968)
League Division 1 (1965, 67)

Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
Puskas was known as the Galloping Major, a reference to the fact that he was an army officer playing for an army team. Later, when he was exiled in Spain, he became known as the little canon. For that one foot, his left, packed such a thunderbolt shot that he scored 83 goals in 84 internationals and he remains the only player to have scored four goals in a European Cup Final.
International Caps Hungary 84, Spain 4
International Goals Hungary 83
European Cup: 1959, 60, 66.
World Club Championship: 1960
Spanish Championships: 1961, 62, 63, 64, 65.
Spanish Cup: 1962
Hungarian Championship: 1950, 52, 54, 55.
Olympic Gold Medal: 1952

Marco van Basten (Holland)
Marco van Basten was the greatest goalscorer of his generation. It wasn't just that he scored lots of goals, nor that many of them were outstanding.
International Caps 58
International Goals 24
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
World Footballer of the Year: 1988, 92
European Footballer of the Year: 1988, 89, 92
European Championship: 1988
European Cup: 1989, 90, 94
Cup Winners Cup: 1987
World Club Championships: 1989, 90
European Super Cup: 1989, 90, 94
Dutch Championship: 1982, 83, 85.
Dutch Cup: 1983, 86, 87.
Italian Championship: 1988, 92, 93, 94.

Eusebio (Portugal)
Eusebio was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup (9 goals) held in England. Here his lightning fast acceleration and wonderful dribbling skills earned him acclaim. His trademark was a spectacular shot, which allied to his powerful running and dribbling skills, made him one of the most dangerous strickers of his era.
He was the Portuguese League's top scorer in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1973. He was the European top scorer in both 1968 (42 goals) and 1973 (40 goals).
International Caps 64
International Goals 46
European Cup 1962
Portuguese Cup 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1972
European Footballer of the Year 1966
World Cup Top Scorer 1966 - 9 goals

Michel Platini (France)
Michel Platini was beyond compare as a creative mid-fielder, his record of 68 goals in 147 league games for Juventus is remarkable. Michel Platini is only the second player (after Johan Cruyff) to win three European Footballer of the Year awards.
European Championship 1984
European Cup Winner's Cup 19841972
European Cup 1985
European Footballer of the Year 1983, 1984, 1985
World Footballer of the Year 1985

 

[Shyyre]

i'm a bit surprised you left off zidane...

anywy, i'll go with pele followed closely by maradona.... pele was the original master, the rest who came after are just disciples.

 

[Phil]

Since the simple poll or pele or Maradona was hijacked, rather than do the norm for this board and complain a whine on about it i though i would give everyone a chance to vote on who they think is the greatest players of all time. i have included 10 players who are thought to be in the highest regard in the football world. 9 of them are currently in the IFHOF. since there is a limit on polls, that being 10 this will be part 1.

Greatest footballers? Pfffttt-your list is a non-list. I'll give you 10 of the greatest:

Walter Payton - "Sweetness" personified; a beast
Jerry Rice - A wolf in wide receiver's clothing
Dan Marino - Quickest release ever, but...no Super Bowl ring
Joe Montana - Nothing but a winner...
Lawrence Taylor - Intimidated entire teams...entire STATES
"Iron" Mike Webster - Offensive anchor of the 4-time champion Pittsburgh Steelers
Dick Butkus - See Lawrence Taylor...
O.J. Simpson - Yes, I KNOW, but as a running back, the quickest, greatest mover ever
Kellen Winslow - The "perfect" tight end
Randy White - As much as I hate the Cowboys, this guy was their ace
Tied: Ronnie Lott - Hit like a torpedo, hands like a receiver
Mel Blount - Before the sissified rules changes, he absolutely abused
receivers for 10, 20, 30 yards downfield

 

[littlelleyton]

i guess that is meant to be some sort of humour.

my question is why? if you have no interest in the subject then why post and ruin a perfectly good topic? i appreciate americans call their game "football" but this is not what this thread is about, so why be childish? i respected the threads that included american sports and records etc and tried to give my opinion on there subject and not hijack them.

 

[Shyyre]

i think that it is pretty funny, but an inferior brand of humor about an inferior brand of football. the beautiful game is just that, it's too bad more americans acn't appreciate it. i get in so many arguements about "why soccer sucks" that at some point i'm going to start beating people.

i love both versions of football, but ours came first, so tag your expression appropriotly please.

all that said, it was a joke littleleyton, and it was pretty funny. next time phil comes along, kick'em in the knee then he'll know what a proper footballer can do.

ps, just kidding phil :mrgreen:

 

[tom-selleck]

phil, i like both association football and american football... why not start separate thread about best NFLer ever? for me, probably jim brown.

i don't think phil completely ruined the thread.

weren't there some older hungarian and brazilian guys who merit consideration? some brazilian guy with a crooked leg (good for free and penalty kicks).

how long until the current group of brazilian guys get some consideration?

 

[crosscourt]

Rooney -- best ever already.

 

[Phil]

i guess that is meant to be some sort of humour.

my question is why? if you have no interest in the subject then why post and ruin a perfectly good topic? i appreciate americans call their game "football" but this is not what this thread is about, so why be childish? i respected the threads that included american sports and records etc and tried to give my opinion on there subject and not hijack them.

Well, can I help it if you've got a stick up yer butt and, to add insult to injury, are an idiot??? No one "ruined" your little topic-it's a public message board, so you better get used to people like me, willy nilly, coming on and giving you crap. You hear me, matey?

I like soccer, but not as much as football...the day greasy-haired Eurotrash stop hitting the turf like a ton of bricks after being barely BRUSHED, and writhing around in fake spasms of pain that would embarass even the lowliest "B" movie actor, is the day that I'll take the sport a bit more seriously. You hear me, matey????

 

[Shyyre]

Rooney -- best ever already.

LOL the jury's still out on that one! i think that the best players in sport are remembered for their activity both on and off the field. rooney is hardly an ambassador for the sport. but man can he finish! as a former striker of decent caliber, the way he drives the ball and it stays so low, man that is really hard to do! i hope he stays healthy and plays for a long time.

 

[Phil]

phil, i like both association football and american football... why not start separate thread about best NFLer ever? for me, probably jim brown.

i don't think phil completely ruined the thread.

weren't there some older hungarian and brazilian guys who merit consideration? some brazilian guy with a crooked leg (good for free and penalty kicks).

how long until the current group of brazilian guys get some consideration?

Yer right, Tom, Jim Brown...should be on anyone's list, but mine is far from complete...

 

[GOOOOOGA]

tough one between pele, maradonna, and cruyff. but narrowed down to pele and maradonna because they had a little more flash.

i voted for pele, for obvious reasons.

maradonna, while he was from another world as far as the things he could do with a football, had troubles. he didn't exactly abide by "Fair Play" all the time. one of the greats of the game, he got banned. and who can forget the "Hand of God"? He was so so fast, so smart on the field. I wont forget that highlight reel play where he went endline to endline, juking and sprinting by everyone, ending up drawing a foul inside the box.

pele... everyone knows him. he has immense global appeal. he started quick in his first international appearances and his first world cup. he was the undesputed leader of the golden teams of Brazil in the 60s. scored goals like wild fire. and yet he didn't play club football in europe. he stayed with sao paulo until he came to play for the Cosmos in NY to resuscitate soccer in America. He accepted the challenge of bringing the game to America, even if the level of play was not as high there. He still tries to make appearances in America, hoping that eventually they'll wake up out of their sleep and start playing the game (the sierra mist commercial with freddy).


ronaldhino is gonna be one of the greats, though

 

[Shyyre]

phil, uh mate? i agree that many euro players, south american players, pretty much all soccer players take too mmany dives when they shouldn't. but there are nuances to the game that you are missing... especially if you are considering the mls as your basis (or the retirement home as i call it... they are getting better but they are stilla long way off) i wish that players would dive less, because i think it really detracts from the experience of enjoying the game, especially when you see it over and over again on replays...

but the nfl isn't made up of saints either. on and off the field they play dirty and with the intent to injure. sport is sport regardless in that sense, people will do what ever they can to win. it's asd, but true. there are too few sportsman left... that's why i started watching tennis again... there aren't amny here, but more than can be found in other places.

don't even get me started on the nba

 

[tom-selleck]

Yer right, Tom, Jim Brown...should be on anyone's list, but mine is far from complete...

phil, i wasn't critiquing your list. i realized it wasn't complete....

other guys: john elway....nice to see you had mel blount, but there must be more defensive players (i think you had lawrence taylor and maybe even jack lambert).

 

[Shyyre]

ronaldhino is gonna be one of the greats, though

i'll second that, as long as he stays healthy. he's a magician, much like pele was. a pleasure to watch, unless he's playing england...

 

[Phil]

Tom - I know you weren't critiquing my list, but leaving off Brown is a major brain frt. Defense? Too many to really name...Joe Greene, Ham, Lambert, Willie Brown, Ray Nietske, Alan Page, Jack Youngblood, Ray Lewis, Mike Wagner, Mike Singletary, Bill Bergey, Deacon Jones, etc.

 

[Phil]

phil, uh mate? i agree that many euro players, south american players, pretty much all soccer players take too mmany dives when they shouldn't. but there are nuances to the game that you are missing... especially if you are considering the mls as your basis (or the retirement home as i call it... they are getting better but they are stilla long way off) i wish that players would dive less, because i think it really detracts from the experience of enjoying the game, especially when you see it over and over again on replays...

but the nfl isn't made up of saints either. on and off the field they play dirty and with the intent to injure. sport is sport regardless in that sense, people will do what ever they can to win. it's asd, but true. there are too few sportsman left... that's why i started watching tennis again... there aren't amny here, but more than can be found in other places.

don't even get me started on the nba

I don't watch MLS. Where I live, I have access to the J (Japan)-League, Premier League, French and Spanish leagues and, for some reason, the Scottish Premier League (basically a two-team show, Rangers and Celtic). I saw M.U. play an exhibition a few weeks ago, live. I'm not as ignorant of the game as you might think, even though I am-GASP!-an American. But of course, there are "...nuances to the game" that I miss, here and there...but, there's nothing nuanced about taking a dive...just pu**yfied gamesmanship. But that comment was just to razz-diving's just a small-but TELLING-part of the larger picture.

 

[littlelleyton]

Well, can I help it if you've got a stick up yer butt and, to add insult to injury, are an idiot??? No one "ruined" your little topic-it's a public message board, so you better get used to people like me, willy nilly, coming on and giving you crap. You hear me, matey?

I like soccer, but not as much as football...the day greasy-haired Eurotrash stop hitting the turf like a ton of bricks after being barely BRUSHED, and writhing around in fake spasms of pain that would embarass even the lowliest "B" movie actor, is the day that I'll take the sport a bit more seriously. You hear me, matey????

listen mucker, when people started coming on the 10 greatest sporting records thread, i thought someone crapped in all the americans cornflakes. the people on this board couldnt but give people crap for bringing in sports from around the world and telling them to start there own thread as they had no interest in hearing crap about cricket and soccer etc so that is what i have done. i simply strated a thread as people have been discussing this subject on here, but this is obviously just too much of an ask for you to just ignore this thread since you have no interest in it and let people get on with it.

am i an idiot? no i but thanks for asking i will continue to check and when i tick all the boxes i will let you know, as you are obviously the mayor of idiotville and seem to be doing some sort of checking of the population.

ps stick up my butt, haha, i think your should keep your fantasies to yourself, its totaly cool but im not in to that.

 

[littlelleyton]

i think that it is pretty funny, but an inferior brand of humor about an inferior brand of football. the beautiful game is just that, it's too bad more americans acn't appreciate it. i get in so many arguements about "why soccer sucks" that at some point i'm going to start beating people.

i love both versions of football, but ours came first, so tag your expression appropriotly please.

all that said, it was a joke littleleyton, and it was pretty funny. next time phil comes along, kick'em in the knee then he'll know what a proper footballer can do.

ps, just kidding phil :mrgreen:

are you saying that american football,gridiron was around before football?

 

[FiveO]

Rightly or wrongly, in the USA, say "football" in a crowded room, and the eyes of every male in that room become glazed over and in a "Pavlovian" response will start searching out the television and the remote.

Say "soccer" in the same room filled with Americans and those men's daughters may start comparing bruises to knees and shins.

"Futbol" is a great sport and under-appreciated in the US.

"Football" surely doesn't mean "life and death" here. To American males, its much, much more important than that.

Phil-

Ronnie Lott- one hit (on Icky Woods) probably atltered the outcome of a Super Bowl.

Gale Sayers- left more would-be tacklers thinking the guy was a ghost, when they were left grabbing nothing but air.

Emmitt Smith- injured or not, the Eveready Bunny was just going to beat you, somehow (the Giants)

Mike Singletary- those eyes, those hits.

Mark Bavaro- like Parcells said , I enjoyed watching tacklers bouncing off and trying to hold on is he dragged half the defense 15 yards further downfield.

Larry Czonka/Earl Campbell- same reasons.

Barry Sanders- Which way did he go? He went that way >, and he went that way <, AT THE SAME INSTANT!.

So many greats. Futbol is a nice sport, but it ain't FOOTBALL. Not 'round these here parts anyways.

Sorry for the hi-jack. My defense? I claim Temporary Insanity, to wit:

Someone said FOOTBALL!. But there isn't a male judge in the US that'll convict me anyway.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Maradona...

Yes Ronaldinho will be the best futbol player....

 

[tom-selleck]

Emmitt Thomas- injured or not, the Eveready Bunny was just going to beat you, somehow (the Giants).

smith???

ray lewis is an incredible guy. glad he was mentioned... and i think someone mentioned earl campbell (i remember monday night vs. miami). or bo jackson (monday night vs. seattle at the kingdome).

 

[FiveO]

smith???

ray lewis is an incredible guy. glad he was mentioned... and i think someone mentioned earl campbell (i remember monday night vs. miami). or bo jackson (monday night vs. seattle at the kingdome).

Was editing as you were posting. D'oh. And I'm a Cowboy fan. (Sorry Phil)

 

[x Southpaw x]

Futbol LOL! It's not really fun to watch until the spectators start throwing litter into the field and riot after the match. UK always seem to be playing among themselves anyway. I do like the Brazilian players though... I think all the best come from Brazil. It's almost the only team that actually plays as a full team, as though all 11 players can read each others' minds.

Greatest Ever? They're great if they can work well with their team.

 

[bismark]

Great Scot, no Kenny Dalglish?

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/050823/1/3ufy1.html woo Hand of God!

 

[Coda]

when I first saw the title of the thread I first though of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice...but since it isn't American football I have nothing else constructive to contribute.

 

[Shyyre]

are you saying that american football,gridiron was around before football?

proper football = soccer on one side of the pond. no, my parents are british and i was raised with the beautiful game. it's a huge part of who i am. i like american football as well, but soccer is always the closest to me.

and no, american football came after soccer, versions of soccer having been around before america was even nation... which they became from the british...

as my mom always said "do you have any idea how much it costs to run across the ocean to settle every little thing? we were so sick and tired of dealing with you (americans) that we dressed up all our criminals and less than savory sorts in bright red so that you couldn't miss... and those that survived we sent to australia!"

just my mom's way of getting under everyone's skin at once! of course, she was joking, but she got some great looks from startled americans bragging about overcoming british oppression!

 

[theace21]

Pele, since I only recoginze 3 names on that list...

 

[Phil]

Was editing as you were posting. D'oh. And I'm a Cowboy fan. (Sorry Phil)

That's allright, FiveO...my deepest sympathies. Maybe one day, if a cure is discovered for your affliction, you'll turn to the Black & Gold.

http://www.post-gazette.com/insider/

 

[littlelleyton]

Great Scot, no Kenny Dalglish?

calm down guys this is part1 remember......

 

[littlelleyton]

Rightly or wrongly, in the USA, say "football" in a crowded room, and the eyes of every male in that room become glazed over and in a "Pavlovian" response will start searching out the television and the remote.

Say "soccer" in the same room filled with Americans and those men's daughters may start comparing bruises to knees and shins.

"Futbol" is a great sport and under-appreciated in the US.

"Football" surely doesn't mean "life and death" here. To American males, its much, much more important than that.

Phil-

Ronnie Lott- one hit (on Icky Woods) probably atltered the outcome of a Super Bowl.

Gale Sayers- left more would-be tacklers thinking the guy was a ghost, when they were left grabbing nothing but air.

Emmitt Smith- injured or not, the Eveready Bunny was just going to beat you, somehow (the Giants)

Mike Singletary- those eyes, those hits.

Mark Bavaro- like Parcells said , I enjoyed watching tacklers bouncing off and trying to hold on is he dragged half the defense 15 yards further downfield.

Larry Czonka/Earl Campbell- same reasons.

Barry Sanders- Which way did he go? He went that way >, and he went that way <, AT THE SAME INSTANT!.

So many greats. Futbol is a nice sport, but it ain't FOOTBALL. Not 'round these here parts anyways.

Sorry for the hi-jack. My defense? I claim Temporary Insanity, to wit:

Someone said FOOTBALL!. But there isn't a male judge in the US that'll convict me anyway.

i hate to say it but, there is a bigger world out there than just the US. we arent in a room full of americans, nor are we in america. this is the internet were there are people from all over the world. i didnt ask a room of americans for their opinions in a blank, closed manner. i asked a simple question and gave plenty of information and opitions. if you have no knowledge or care for the sunject then why say f#@* it i will write about a different subject just because i feel like it?

im not saying that i think you should change the name of your sport when im in the US i call it football and soccer and when im home the opposite american foootball and football, but surely if you come on to the poll and realise what it is if you have no interest in it then you can just ignore it. my point still remains. its about being respectful of different cultures and accepting that there are things out there that are different, not just having a small minded view of things.
when someone posted the 10 greatest sports records, people from outside the US got flammed for trying to input there thoughts about cricket soccer or whatever. so why have double standards in this thread?
if you guys want to talk about american football greats then why does someone not put the same time i have into this one?

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

littleleyton: nice job in providing a "player profile" for all those futballers.
From your list:

*Pele was the man. The greatest. Bigger than life.
* Maradona should've changed his name to Methadona :razz:
* Franz Beckenbauer (great defenseman-class act)
* George Best ...... GEORGE BEST??!! That Joe Namath wanna-be who was so caught up in HIS OWN hype?!
* Eusebio. I don't know much about him, 'cept I think that his infomercials selling Eusebio guitars for 3 easy payments of $33.00 is laudable--allowing entry level into music at an affordable price.

Others not on your list (I don't know that much about "all-timers" but some that I did see here in the States):
* Georgio Chinaglia (see: George Best). Another self-centered, back stabbing piece of feces so caught up in himself.
* Werner Roth (solid, dependable)
* Carlos Alberto (would play on anyone's team--that guy was rock solid)
* Johan Neeskens (talented, underrated imho)
* Andranik Eskandarian (world-class talent)

I like soccer....but.....the day greasy-haired Eurotrash

Whoa Phil~! Why not consider a more "international" picture of futball and include (on your Steeler-laden-wink!) all-time list the one and only: Frenchy Fuqua?!

Mike Webster? Ok, but Mike Wagner?? As for centers, there were a lot from the 60's - 70's - 80's (Jim Otto, Mick Tinglehoff, John Schmidt and Dwight Stevenson).
My 2 cents (those not mentioned--indulge me for a second please soccer-purists??--thanks):

Secondary:
--Herb Adderly
--Dick "Night Train" Lane
--Lem Barney

Linebackers:
--Bobby Bell
--Harry Carson

Defensive Linemen:
--Bob Lilly
--Carl Eller
--Bruce Smith

Offensive Linemen:
--Dan Dierdorf (even if he is an unsufferable "know-it-all" windbag on the air-smirk!)
--Jim Parker
--John Hannah
--Anthony Munoz
--Ron Yary

Receivers:
--Paul Warfield
--Steve Largent
--Lynn Swann
--Raymond Berry

"Talents"
--Homer Jones
--Lance "Bambi" Allworth

Biggest Dope:
Lance Rentzel (Dallas Cowboy receiver who was married to Joey Hetherton, but got busted for indecent exposure to an underaged girl in '71---what a marrooon!) Heatherton was a Morgan Fairchild type except that Hetherton actually possessed REAL sex appeal vs. Fairchild's smug full-of-herself coldness.

Bad Asses:
--Dan Hampton
--Big Daddy Lipscomb
--Richard "The Undertaker" (Last name I forget, D.E. for the Broncos in the '70s--wore, I think, #78)

Smooth-as-Silk:
--Eric Dickerson (formerly of the S.M.U. "Pony Express" with later-day Patriot, Craig James)

Punters:
--Ray Guy
--Sammy Baugh

Kickers:
--Kickers?....Who else but that idiot Conrad Dobler!


--

 

[FiveO]

i hate to say it but, there is a bigger world out there than just the US......if you guys want to talk about american football greats then why does someone not put the same time i have into this one?

Look, I wouldn't want you coming away from this experience questioning whether the average American male is an egocentric, unintelligent, nationalistic, under-educated, over-weight, insensitive, dog. Because we are. Let's face it. And I would dare say that every American male's IQ immediately drops when the word "football" enters the mix.

But I feel a little victimized here, too. Choosing a title for your poll/thread which included the words "Greatest Footballers..." on an American company's sponsored forum, whose membership is predominantly American is a little unfair. You should have at least suspected that under these circumstances, American males would be drawn to your thread like moths to a flame. Kind of like false advertising. Don't you think? Or entrapment. Yeah entrapment, that's it.

While not an avid fan, I do enjoy your brand of football, even played some in school. I did vote in the poll, at the time bringing the total number of responses to 14, with my guy, Pele, winning in a landslide. I know most of the names in your poll, but I do confess to not being familiar with all of them. Despite my ignorance of international "football" I do consider myself a worldly person and mindful of international sensibilities. In fact, just today, I had an "English" muffin with breakfast and my wife, of Italian and Polish decent has just informed me that we are having "French" Fries with our steaks tonight for supper. Now armed with that knowledge, I would hope you reconsider whether I fit what may be your image of the stereotypical American male. I rest my case. Hrrumph!

Seriously, I do see that you put effort into this poll/thread and I regret continuing the hi-jack. I hope you also have deduced by now that I was just attempting to have a bit of fun with the topic and with other posters in the thread. I concede, both of my posts here were a "low brow" attempt at humor and regretably, they all can't be gems. So in the interest of furthering international relations, I extend a hand friendship to a brother "across the pond" and sincerely hope you accept my apology for the trespass.

FiveO






"How 'bout 'dem Cowboys?" Sorry. I'll seek professional help.

 

[Phil]

i hate to say it but, there is a bigger world out there than just the US. we arent in a room full of americans, nor are we in america. this is the internet were there are people from all over the world. i didnt ask a room of americans for their opinions in a blank, closed manner. i asked a simple question and gave plenty of information and opitions. if you have no knowledge or care for the sunject then why say f#@* it i will write about a different subject just because i feel like it?

im not saying that i think you should change the name of your sport when im in the US i call it football and soccer and when im home the opposite american foootball and football, but surely if you come on to the poll and realise what it is if you have no interest in it then you can just ignore it. my point still remains. its about being respectful of different cultures and accepting that there are things out there that are different, not just having a small minded view of things.
when someone posted the 10 greatest sports records, people from outside the US got flammed for trying to input there thoughts about cricket soccer or whatever. so why have double standards in this thread?
if you guys want to talk about american football greats then why does someone not put the same time i have into this one?

Sorry, bud, but as another poster said, when you put "Football" into the title-on an AMERICAN-based chat room-you're going to get guys talking about FOOTBALL. And, sorry to break this to you, but you ARE in a (chat) room full of Americans. It shouldn't be made into a your country is better than mine thing, but you have.

Anyway, if you're so upset at "putting the time" into an Internet chat post, go on down the road and post your profound thoughts on football365.com if you're looking for maximum attention, or another soccer-specific site. Otherwise, you gonna get interferred with. Nature of the beast. Anyway, I notice that there are PLENTY of soccer fans here for you to commune with...What's with Scotland anyway-they've stunk up the joint for years in international competition. And this guy Matsui-a Japan World Cup team reject whose now being touted as a savior? I don't think so...

 

[GOOOOOGA]

I think Americans (me being one myself) should be given some slack. I mean, not everyone's gonna love everything. Football (soccer) is a great game, but alot of its intricacies cannot be picked up by the average couch slouch on TV. for NFL football, the intensity is felt on TV, with every bonecrunching hit. even my dad winced when he watched LT lay out theismann's leg.

most americans felt and grew up with the excitement of their high school team playing under the lights- im only gonna be a sop****re, and those games are electric. that excitement stays with them as they go off to college, as they get jobs, settle down, and try to find an outlet for all their energy.

Americans can be pretty ignorant about new things, but once they are made to deal with it on an everyday basis, they're usually fine with it.

Some things dont make sense though... cricket is deemed a p**sy sport, but baseball is the national pastime? rugby is all but ignored, but football thrives? and the sad thing is that alot of talented soccer players r becoming field goal kickers because they see more potential money there (grammatica brothers, etc.)

 

[Phil]

Whoa Phil~! Why not consider a more "international" picture of futball and include (on your Steeler-laden-wink!) all-time list the one and only: Frenchy Fuqua?!

Mike Webster? Ok, but Mike Wagner?? As for centers, there were a lot from the 60's - 70's - 80's (Jim Otto, Mick Tinglehoff, John Schmidt and Dwight Stevenson).
My 2 cents (those not mentioned--indulge me for a second please soccer-purists??--thanks):

Secondary:
--Herb Adderly
--Dick "Night Train" Lane
--Lem Barney

Linebackers:
--Bobby Bell
--Harry Carson

Defensive Linemen:
--Bob Lilly
--Carl Eller
--Bruce Smith

Offensive Linemen:
--Dan Dierdorf (even if he is an unsufferable "know-it-all" windbag on the air-smirk!)
--Jim Parker
--John Hannah
--Anthony Munoz
--Ron Yary

Receivers:
--Paul Warfield
--Steve Largent
--Lynn Swann
--Raymond Berry

"Talents"
--Homer Jones
--Lance "Bambi" Allworth

Biggest Dope:
Lance Rentzel (Dallas Cowboy receiver who was married to Joey Hetherton, but got busted for indecent exposure to an underaged girl in '71---what a marrooon!) Heatherton was a Morgan Fairchild type except that Hetherton actually possessed REAL sex appeal vs. Fairchild's smug full-of-herself coldness.

Bad Asses:
--Dan Hampton
--Big Daddy Lipscomb
--Richard "The Undertaker" (Last name I forget, D.E. for the Broncos in the '70s--wore, I think, #78)

Smooth-as-Silk:
--Eric Dickerson (formerly of the S.M.U. "Pony Express" with later-day Patriot, Craig James)

Punters:
--Ray Guy
--Sammy Baugh

Kickers:
--Kickers?....Who else but that idiot Conrad Dobler!


--

FRENCHY Fuqua!!! He's about as French as I am...okay, okay, Dedans, I'll admit that I included "a few" Steelers, but to be fair and balanced (like a Fox...Fox News that is...) I actually had to keep a couple of my boys off that list...even though they deserve it. Glenn Edwards, L.C. Greenwood, Stallworth, Jon Kolb, Ernie Holmes, Donnie Shell...I remember a hit Shell made on Earl Campbell-ran into him like a torpedo-full speed, head first straight to the ribs...the poor guy spun around 360 and then collapsed in a heap...alright, enough of that-your list is very good, even with Swanny as the lone Steeler rep. Carson is probably a second team All-timer or close, and Hannah is probably the best lineman ever.

Just a few more follow-ups: Jerry Kramer/OT/GB, Kenny Stabler/QB/OAK, Fred Biletnikoff/WR/OAK, Jerome "The Bus" Bettis/RB/LA-PGH/, Chuck Foreman/RB/MN, Art Shell/OT/OAK, Gary Anderson/K/PGH, et al., Drew Pearson/WR/DAL, Richard Castor/TE/NYJ, Dave Casper/TE/OAK, Harold Carmichael/WR/PHIL, Mike Ditka/TE/CHI, Doug Plank/S/CHI...I only mention Doug because he's a PGH boy-went to school w/my aunt-and could hit like a freight train. His coach used to yell at him for hitting TOO hard-eventually he hit himself right out of the game.

 

[littlelleyton]

listen guys, i understand what you are saying and i appreciate that the title may have been a little misleading. Tennis warehouse is a company based in america but when you go into the thread and see what is being discussed why not just have the common courtesy to ignore it as some crazy scots has had too much time at work on a tuesday afternoon?
yes there are more americans on this site but there are other people who talk about other things than america and its sports.
phil i dont need any help finding football websites, due to the subjects being discussed in odds and ends i thought that since football had been coming up, that i would like to discuss it with the people here. i get enough chat from one dimensional football fans enough here in the pub and work.
im honestly not asking for you to like it and i am not getting this down to which is better and which is more enjoyable, its simple a poll. i love your football, come start of season i love watching the sunday night games....very late here. helps alot that the patriots have been so successfull in the last few years so thats a bonus.
obviously you can talk about what you want where you want. you guys still acted like someone a crapped in your cornflakes when people posted in the 10 greatest records thread.....can we say double standard????
its fine though, im really not here to argue, i could do that plenty with 'er in doors. haha
why not just start a new thread?

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Bottom line is littleleyton AUTHORED this thread and he was referring to soccer....that is (figuratively-speaking), it is HIS BALL to play with however which way he chooses to. I also think that he was very reasonable in his approach when he said in effect:

"I acknowledge the U.S. brand of football, but in this case I was referring to futball (soccer)......if you don't like this thread please ignore it or start an "American-ized" football thread."

Now that (to me) was non-confrontational and reasonably level-headed in it's approach. So don't slam-dunk the haggis-eating, scotch-drinking lad. It's "his ball" ball to play with and "the ball" in question is a soccer ball and not "The Duke" (for you futballers, "The Duke" is an N.F.L. ball).

As for me, besides the "B" grade movie "diving histrionics" of those greasy-haired players, what I really love to see are the hooligan riots/fistfights. Kind of like a Jerry Springer show "on location."

BTW "American-style" football fans: for your information (AND AMUSEMENT), check out some of the soccer chat sites. You want to talk about sick puppies!! Some of these "chats" between opposing fan bases are incredibly hostile--they usually involve some binge-drinking wankers who (in lieu of a "life") just go off and insult each other's manhood (or each other's mum) on a level so foul-mouthed that it would give even the thick-skinned, hardened (smirk!) "men-of-latitude" TW cyber-police a stroke.

But I digress: Soccer vs. U.S. Football is NOT the issue here. This thread was intended to be about G.O.A.T. soccer players--render onto Ceaser what is Ceasers (admittedly lame cliche'). So, what's the big deal? If they want to talk soccer, let 'em talk soccer; let 'em have their cake--the names of the players (Pele, Maradona, et al) on this thread's poll should've indicated just that--that this thread WAS about "dry-humping each other after scoring a goal" soccer players. No need for rancor. No big deal. The soccer vs. U.S. football "non-issue" is merely a case of "stripes and plaids" not belonging in the SAME thread. Apples and Oranges. Day and night. Soccer and (U.S. style) football. Flattuce and Belching. Coming and Going. Making and Faking. Spewing and Chewing. Bon Jovi and Rock Music. Rickson and N.T.R.P. 3.5 ratings. Cumquats and Squat Thrusts. Heidi Fleiss and cootie-free butts. Soccer goal-scorers and composed "I've done this before" type behavior. :razz:

But since this is soccer-related (I already cast my vote for Pele):
Come the Oct. U.S.-Mexico soccer match-up in Columbus, Ohio in a little over a month from now, I do hope Mexico chokes big time since they, Mexico, the Mexican team and especially the Mexican head coach (and presumably his street-walking wife & mother) suck the big one.

REFERENCE: Gualdulajara, Feb., 2004: "Osama!....Osama!.....Osama!.....Osama!" (Sound happily familiar to any of you cockroaches out there?)

Off-topic, but just to re-inforce the "vibe" that others so blithely support and make excuses for:
"We will face ORGANIZED AND AGRESSIVE anti-American feelings fueled ESPECIALLY by France." -- Bela Karolyi, U.S. Gymnastics Coach

Don't get me started you backstabbing hypocrites.....in the meantime, enjoy your soccer thread. I'm out.

 

[Shyyre]

penthouse... i haven't been here that long...

but that was hands down the funniest thing i have read at any forum, and i don't mean that sarcastically. effing hilarious!

 

[Brettolius]

Phil-Franco Harris? Did I miss him om your list, I mean if we're talking Steeler ball?!? Apologies to Littlelleyton for the continued hi-jack.

 

[GOOOOOGA]

Phil-Franco Harris? Did I miss him om your list, I mean if we're talking Steeler ball?!? Apologies to Littlelleyton for the continued hi-jack.

if you're so sorry, just dont post about Franco Harris being left off a football list. I dont mean to jump on your back, Brettolius, some other people did it before you. Yes, it IS a hijack. Wouldn't you be a little pissed if you created a thread called "Best Football Players of AllTime", clearly indicating that it's football, not futbol, yet some soccer fan still continues to post his favorite soccer players in there? If it's so important to you, to Phil, or whoever, just create a new thread. Littlelleyton's FIRST thread "Maradonna vs Pele" got hijacked, and his NEW thread got hijacked too. C'mon, common courtesy fellas.

 

[littlelleyton]

Phil-Franco Harris? Did I miss him om your list, I mean if we're talking Steeler ball?!? Apologies to Littlelleyton for the continued hi-jack.

ok ok i understand that this time yesterday i was bored at work and wrote a poll and thread about football, my and the rest of the worlds type of football, granted on a website that the company is based in the US and that may have ruffled a few feathers in north america but surely now, now that i have spent more time giving all of the thread crashers a thread of their own why continue to post on this one????

why not check out the thread Greatest NFL football players part1 in odds and ends.....

 

[Brettolius]

Fella's, look, it's not even hardly over the minimum character limit and it was just a shout to Phil about something already in this thread, considering that fact, I won't have to explain the whole scenario so he would know exactly what I was talking about, you know, to get on the same PAGE...I figured a couple words couldn't hurt, in resonse to his post in this thread. See what I mean? Not right, but easier, I see where your coming from and that's why I apologized ahead of time. Friends?

 

[littlelleyton]

Fella's, look, it's not even hardly over the minimum character limit and it was just a shout to Phil about something already in this thread, considering that fact, I won't have to explain the whole scenario so he would know exactly what I was talking about, you know, to get on the same PAGE...I figured a couple words couldn't hurt, in resonse to his post in this thread. See what I mean? Not right, but easier, I see where your coming from and that's why I apologized ahead of time. Friends?

hey of course, my moto for life is " you cant have enough friends from the thunderdome" haha.
do you think i would write a complete new thread and put the time and info into it if i wasnt friendly? not an problem just thought id let you know that i had started a thread for this topic just in case you had missed it.

 

[loopy]

What about Kevin Keegan? He was my favorite player when I was growing up.

 

[littlelleyton]

What about Kevin Keegan? He was my favorite player when I was growing up.

its a tough choice for who to put in the first part. i have based my choice on a few things, IFHOF, football "expert" choices etc. keegan was a truely gifted and classy player who had an appetite to win that made him stand out. tough in the challenge and a wizzard with the ball. fantastic and honest player who had one of the all time famous haircuts...haha maybe he well make a future part of this thread.....

 

[spinbalz]

And I would dare say that every American male's IQ immediately drops when the word "football" enters the mix.

The same in my country with the same word, but not the same sport

 

[spinbalz]

Anyway, I notice that there are PLENTY of soccer fans here for you to commune with...

Phil I think you must have meant "plenty of Football fans" instead of soccer fans???

Pardon me, but I love to throw oil on a fire :twisted:

 

[Phil]

Spinbalz - We say soccer, as you knowk, just as YOU say "Le Royale".

 

[spinbalz]

Phil, I know you say soccer in USA for what we call football in europe, my post was a machiavelic :twisted: but apparently unsuccessful tentative to give to you and littleleyton, one more reason to continue the fight about soccer/football, I was waiting for you to blast me by claiming that only the US football deserves the name "football", and that you said "soccer" because it is the only how we should call the FIFA football in the world, then Littleleyton would have jumped on his keyboard to tell you the opposite, and to accuse you and your cocitizens to be too much USA self centered, and how there is a world outsided USA, and Blah, Bla, Blah,... then your fight with Littleleyton in this thread could have been endless, but apparently my little trick didn't work...

And can you please explain me the thing about "just as YOU say "Le Royale"", because I didn't understood what you meant or the idea behind these few words.