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World Class Spurs players since 1986

walton

Well-Known Member
Feb 28, 2006
3,162
4,963
Not including Bale is literally madness. Literally. He is world class, and performed at that level for at least one season with us.
 

Dharmabum

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2003
8,274
12,242
Lloris is not better than schmichael.

I agree with you there but I mentioned in a previous post, in this thread, that I disagreed with Fergie for not including Schmeichel.
In Schole's case I meant outfield players.
 

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
Gazza Bale and King were the most talented 3. Gazza would've been world class if not for injuries and King the same. Bale I would say is world class.
 

Atomic Flea

AtomicFlea
Jan 9, 2014
443
835
Since being born in 1995 I've missed a few guys but since I remember I'd have to go for;
King
Modric
Bale
Berba.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
Can't believe how many have excluded the likes of Gazza, Hoddle, Waddle and Ardilles (a fucking world cup winner people)

The only reason they were perhaps not as bright a star as some others was English football being banned from Europe at their peaks. Had spurs been in Europe through the late 80's they'd have all been up alongside all the greats of that era no question at all.
Hoddle, Waddle, Gazza and Lineker all succeeded abroad. How many English players do that?

Fergies a sniping prick anyway. His compliment to his only world class players is a dig at others and nothing more.

Stam. RVN. RVP. Ferdinand. G Neville. Rooney. Keane. You don't win 11 titles and 2 European cups without an abundance of world class players.

I think Ronaldo and Messi though operate on a different playing field to just world class. You just can't compare their feits to the rest of football. Ronaldo is about to break Raul's record a full 400+ games quicker. FOUR HUNDRED.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Not including Bale is literally madness. Literally. He is world class, and performed at that level for at least one season with us.

Player of the year twice, premier league team of the year three times, uefa team of the year twice. Definitely world class.

Plus united offered over a hundred million for him. Can't remember if that was Moyes or Ferguson though.
 

ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Hoddle magnificent player - truly two footed under used by England but surreal talent could deliver a ball on a sixpence - anybody lucky enough to have seen the half of football when Spurs beat Feyenoord 4-2 saw a player destroy a team which included Crujff Gullit and Rijkaard
Ardiles glided through football matches - moved the ball with ease and accuracy and he was a decent tackler he stole the ball back as if he had only borrowed it for the first time
Waddle - a real dribbler could beat a man by moving his shoulders and could strike a ball with either foot and move at real pace
Klinsmann what a player strong great finisher pacy good in the air and worked his socks off
Jennings - a great goalkeeper, his one hand catches but he was a real athlete who made saves no one had right to do
Bale - what a player powerful won games on his own if we had kept him for another season I say he would have had as much impact as Saurez did when Liverpool nearly won the title
Gazza - a marvellous footballer fantastic dribbler and a desire to win - he won the cup for Spurs not only in the semi final but Spurs were down and out at Portsmouth at half time and his second half performance was sensational scoring twice and bossing the game like only he could. Italia 90 he had more impact than any footballer I can remember it was immense
Modric - just a great player similar to Ardilles in frame but Modric didn't have the ball winning abilities of Ossie but his passing was very similar and he moved the ball beautifully

others I guess Lloris probably is he is isn't a flashy keeper but makes vital saves this could be his year - King great player but everyone knows injuries prevented him - Allen for one season he banged them on scored non stop but he could have had a hundred that year given the number of chances he had and he missed half of them against Arsenal in the semi final of the league cup. Ginola was great but don't mention him being world class in Paris but a joy to watch - there is one other bloke but we won't talk about him
 

Fergus

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2004
718
1,317
Genuinely world class and appeared for us during or after 1986?
Ray Clemence
Jürgen Klinsmann
A less fragile Ledley King
Gareth Bale
Ossie Ardiles
 

bomberH

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
28,455
168,222
Since 1986

Hoddle
Waddle
Ardiles
Gazza
King
Bale
Modric
VDV
Lineker
Klinsmann
Lloris
Berbatov

Ask again in 3 years time and I'll add Dier. And hopefully Kane.
 

Lemon

End World Debt
Jul 17, 2014
2,436
4,664
World Class = Abstract, something that has no set physical/logical measure, meaning all our conceptions of 'World Class' make us unable to agree an across the board interpretation of such things.

As we become more invested on an idea, based on abstract concepts, we create beliefs which mean we encounter cognitive dissonance if we are faced with contradictory views/ideas, so become less able to adapt (or change) as the brain creates an amnesia like response to protect our world views. This may be seen as blind dogmatic adherence to an outdated model of thought, but the viewer is often unable to change as the brain literally does not allow the new ideas to entrench, as it may also mean other facets of the world view need re-evaluation which we are less able to cope with cognitively as we age (which contributes greatly to the often cantankerous nature older people seem to adopt).

Ferguson was very, very, strong on psychology, he should be an honorary Professor (no joke, kind of). Actually he has lectured at Harvard -
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/espn-f...rvard-business-school-was-a-hit-and-heres-why

It was IMO another dig at Roy Keane, wrapped in a socially enticing media snippet to advertise his book.

Or, that was a load of waffle and Gazza, Lineker, King, Klinsmann, Bale, Modric are/were deffo World Class, ya get me.
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
I never saw Hoddle or Ossie play for Spurs

Waddle I think was World Class although I'm not sure if he became so more once he moved to France and developed his game a little more. I was very young when I watched him play for us, he was amazing to me but I was probably too young to judge. Waddle in Italia 90 was world class for sure

Gazza pre injury certainly was world class, Lineker too, no question

I think a case could be made for Sheringham at his best - the Teddy that played in Euro 96 was potentially a world class number 10

Klinsmann was 100% a world class player - he was so before he signed for us but that season he played for us in 1995 was outstanding and he was one of the best players I've ever seen in a Spurs shirt that year

After that. Ginola had a season where he was the best player in the Premier league, I dunno if he could be called world class but he was the closest we had for many years after the Klinsmann era (well a certain mr campbell potentially too but I refuse to count him in this)

King I think would have been had it not been for injury, he was up there on talent alone.

Berbatov probably fell just below the world class bracket. Modric has gone on to become world class even if he had not quite reached that bracket for us (personally I think its only the extra exposure he gets at Real that has changed that perception so I'd include him)

Bale during his last season was unquestionably world class and indeed he was sold for a world record fee
 

Dinghy

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2005
6,326
15,561
Anyone that hasn't said Hoddle really needs to go find some videos and watch him play... He was the best player on the England training pitch by a country mile when he was managing them!
 

bomberH

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
28,455
168,222
I feel so sad/gutted for people who didn't see Hoddle play 'live'. It's like how my dad feels for me because I didn't see Greaves & Mackay etc play live.

Hoddle was just so fucking magnificent to watch it's difficult to explain. He's like no other player before or after. How he only got 50 odd caps for England says a lot more about our country than it does Hoddle. My dad still reminds me that he'd be asking me something during a pre match warm up and I'd be in a different world watching Hoddle train & do tricks with the ball.

Hoddle is the greatest player I've known since I've been going (1980). Fazio a close second.
 

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
20,141
Hoddle
Paul 'Gazza' (my nickname for him) Gascoigne
Lineker
Klinsmann
King
Bale

I truly believe at their best each of these players would walk into any team in the world.

I'd like to add others but I'm being dispassionate and as honest as I can be.
 

TaoistMonkey

Welcome! Everything is fine.
Staff
Oct 25, 2005
32,629
33,577
World class to me means could that player walk in to any team in the world.

Really tough. Ledley in my eyes was world class as I honestly believe there were very few across the globe with his ability.
 

Hoops

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2015
3,650
6,363
Since 90

Lineker
Gazza
Lloris
Modric
Bale
He who shall not be name
 
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