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World Class Spurs players since 1986

kungfugrip

Well-Known Member
Apr 8, 2005
1,613
1,523
Seems strange to say it, but he certainly falls into the category of players who played in a different era. He was a striker when the offside rule was something that even the FA needed to pop down the cafe to use their salt + pepper pots to figure it out. He was the ultimate goal hanger, without taking anything away from his foresight and ability to be hanging exactly where he was required to be. When you're talking about players who can read a game he must go in high on the list.

Yep Lineker was very, very good.
Even on the 'world class' stage of the World Cup, his tally was 10 goals in 12 matches. That is very impressive. Especially when you have people like Peter Reid and Terry Fenwick in your team.
 

carpediem1906

COYS singapore spurs
Sep 3, 2011
816
2,391
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.

Agree with this definition - any team including barca real n bayern - at that point in time they were playing

Hence (since 91, where I've started watching)
1) Lineker
2) Gazza
3) Modric (watch him boss Spain in euro)
4) Bale

Only because I'm comparing them to their peers playing in their position at that very point in time

Hence
- Klinsmann, Ginola, King, VdV, Lloris missing out

I didn't watch Hoddle Waddle Ardiles
 

Good Doctor M

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2010
2,839
8,766
Bale was the last truly standout - walk into any team in the world, no questions asked.

We haven't had another player like that since probably Gazza and before that possibly Hoddle.

Modric, VDV, Ginola et al, aren't in that bracket. Modric, simply because Xavi, Iniesta and Pirlo were top dogs when he played for us. Certainly now, you could make the argument that he would be fielded in any team you could possibly assemble.

But the term world class is nonsense. It's a term that means different things to different people, a bit like "God" or "Maggie Thatcher".
 

cliff jones

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
4,059
6,514
Lloris
King
Ghod
Gazza
Modric
Bale
Klinsmann
Lineker

throw in the haringey and district class trio of austin, edinburgh and vega and youve got a fine first XI right there!
 

Montasura

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2008
7,256
6,768
I see your Neale Fenn and raise you Steve Slade!

Ouch!! Can just about remember him, a centre forward if I remember correctly.

It shows just how far we have come since the 90s. Makes most of our current squad appear world class.
 

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
20,141
Neale Fenn was post 86 wasn't he??

I wonder how many fans even remember that boy!!


I remember going to Old Trafford for a FACUP game and our front two was Fenn and Paul McVeigh.

Legends who bestrode the pitch like the colossus they were.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
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.

I think you've nailed world class there.
Could play in any team in the world and still look good.

Berbatov looked quality for us but often blended in at united.
Whereas Modric and Bale are 1st on the Madrid team sheet when fit.
 

sim0n

King of Prussia
Jan 29, 2005
7,947
2,151
Ouch!! Can just about remember him, a centre forward if I remember correctly.

It shows just how far we have come since the 90s. Makes most of our current squad appear world class.

not necessarily raise, but have Dave McEwen... remember where from they signed that youngster? :playful::woot:

not exactly the finest scouting machine ever assembled at WHL during that period...
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,353
87,819
The only truly world class players to have played for us since 1986, and being as true to that label as possible (as in, being among the best in the world at that time) would be:

Hoddle,
Gazza,
Lineker,
Klinsmann,
King,
Davids,
Modric,
Bale


Each one of those would (and in most cases, did) go into any team in the world and improve them. 4 of them are world cup semi finalists, two are finalists, and one a winner. Each one of them, bar King and Gazza, has won at least one major European trophy. Despite the lack of honours, King and Gazza get included on the strength of their utter footballing genius.
 

ethanedwards

Snowflake incarnate.
Nov 24, 2006
3,377
2,498
Agree with this definition - any team including barca real n bayern - at that point in time they were playing

Hence (since 91, where I've started watching)
1) Lineker
2) Gazza
3) Modric (watch him boss Spain in euro)
4) Bale

Only because I'm comparing them to their peers playing in their position at that very point in time

Hence
- Klinsmann, Ginola, King, VdV, Lloris missing out

I didn't watch Hoddle Waddle Ardiles
What position are you playing Gazza in, as I believe there were better players around than him.
 

carpediem1906

COYS singapore spurs
Sep 3, 2011
816
2,391
What position are you playing Gazza in, as I believe there were better players around than him.

tbh, 1990-1991 i was barely 8/9. so i can't really justify, nor compare to the many better players around. then, serie A was where the world's best went. and i only know that he was a standout performer at the world cup in midfield. in a world cup where the germans, argentinians and italians were head and shoulders above the rest.
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
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.
I never had the pleasure of seeing Hoddle play live

I have of course heard many a story growing up from my dad and grandad about how great he was

I've also seen many video clips of him. Not least my grandads tapes of the motd and big match footage of the 87 season

The man was simply a football genius

Some of the goals he scored were amazing and would grace any messi or ronaldo compilation

My personal favourite being his last goal in his last match against Oxford
 

ethanedwards

Snowflake incarnate.
Nov 24, 2006
3,377
2,498
tbh, 1990-1991 i was barely 8/9. so i can't really justify, nor compare to the many better players around. then, serie A was where the world's best went. and i only know that he was a standout performer at the world cup in midfield. in a world cup where the germans, argentinians and italians were head and shoulders above the rest.
It's just a pity Italia 90 was the peak of his career, the ensuing circus of hangers on and the injury took their toll.
 

Misfit

President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
May 7, 2006
21,014
34,214
Waddle deffo in there for me. Not a complete player but he was outrageously skilled and did it in Yoorup as well as international football. Also, that mullet. :love:

John Scales, obviously.
 
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