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World Class Spurs players since 1986

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
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.
He continued to get better the following season - he was immense that year we won the FA cup. In my opinion the best player in the World at the time

Just a shame he stunted his progress with that horrific injury

Still, arguably his defining moment in football came in 1996 when he scored the goal against Scotland (even if the tears in Italia 90 and Vinnie's bollock grab are his most iconic images)
 

ethanedwards

Snowflake incarnate.
Nov 24, 2006
3,377
2,498
Romario, Hagi, Stoichkov, Gullit, Laudrup and Baggio were all playing in that era, and sustained their brilliance over there careers.
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
Romario, Hagi, Stoichkov, Gullit, Laudrup and Baggio were all playing in that era, and sustained their brilliance over there careers.
I don't remember Romario emerging as a top talent until quite a while after world cup 90

I remember him and bebeto in 1994

I don't really know what your point is? Yea they all had better careers. Gazza ruined his progression with that cup final tackle and unfortunately never reached his full potential

But for the season after the world cup on route to the cup final in 91 he was in my opinion the best player in the world ( on form - not to forget that Maradona and van Basten were also active)
 

Fergus

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2004
718
1,317
For those of you mentioning he who shall not be named, the last three decades have been a lean spell for central defenders and have only produced one worthy of the name, and one who could have been except for injury. Baresi and King. The nameless one was good, but never world class.
 

Mr-T

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2006
2,603
563
I don't remember Romario emerging as a top talent until quite a while after world cup 90

I remember him and bebeto in 1994

I don't really know what your point is? Yea they all had better careers. Gazza ruined his progression with that cup final tackle and unfortunately never reached his full potential

But for the season after the world cup on route to the cup final in 91 he was in my opinion the best player in the world ( on form - not to forget that Maradona and van Basten were also active)
Totally agree, that season he was something else. Every time he got the ball you knew something incredible could happen. We didn't get another player of Gazzas quality until Bale.
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
6,041
13,611
For those of you mentioning he who shall not be named, the last three decades have been a lean spell for central defenders and have only produced one worthy of the name, and one who could have been except for injury. Baresi and King. The nameless one was good, but never world class.
Can't agree with that, the late 90s and early 00s were a phenomenal spell for central defenders - look at those produced by Italy and England alone. What makes the defenders prior to thirty years ago superior bar nostalgia?
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
For those of you mentioning he who shall not be named, the last three decades have been a lean spell for central defenders and have only produced one worthy of the name, and one who could have been except for injury. Baresi and King. The nameless one was good, but never world class.

The nameless one was one of the best defenders in the world at the time.
 

@Bobby__Lucky

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
2,933
3,982
Osvaldo Ardilies
Glenn Hoddle
Paul Gascoigne
Jurgen Klinsman
Gary Lineker
Ledley King
Luka Modric
Gareth Bale


I find it very odd that Roy Keane was not mentioned by Fergie...i remember that 1/4 or semi against Juve were thy were 2 down from the first leg and lost another to go 3....he won that game on his own. David Beckham was easily a world class player too. Was on another level to the whole England team his whole time there. Seems if you get outed by fergie then you lose your world class status.


Roy Keane
David Beckham
Van Nistlerooy
Peter Schmeichal

all deserve the accolade.
 

ethanedwards

Snowflake incarnate.
Nov 24, 2006
3,377
2,498
Osvaldo Ardilies
Glenn Hoddle
Paul Gascoigne
Jurgen Klinsman
Gary Lineker
Ledley King
Luka Modric
Gareth Bale


I find it very odd that Roy Keane was not mentioned by Fergie...i remember that 1/4 or semi against Juve were thy were 2 down from the first leg and lost another to go 3....he won that game on his own. David Beckham was easily a world class player too. Was on another level to the whole England team his whole time there. Seems if you get outed by fergie then you lose your world class status.


Roy Keane
David Beckham
Van Nistlerooy
Peter Schmeichal

all deserve the accolade.
Keane was booked in that semi against Juve, making him miss the final, his reaction to the booking and the way he drove the team forward was epic. If there has been a better captains performance I haven't seen it.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
Keane was booked in that semi against Juve, making him miss the final, his reaction to the booking and the way he drove the team forward was epic. If there has been a better captains performance I haven't seen it.

I remember that performance like it was yesterday.
 

am_yisrael_chai

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2006
6,409
10,931
Chris Waddle, was as influential in his final season as Bale in his. The similarities don't end there he left for a fee that was astronomical at the time and went on to win the European Cup with Marseille, was definitely world class at that time.
 

mano-obe

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,238
7,518
Chris Waddle, was as influential in his final season as Bale in his. The similarities don't end there he left for a fee that was astronomical at the time and went on to win the European Cup with Marseille, was definitely world class at that time.

I was thinking the same thing, he was unreal in 87 I think it was, he was scoring sublime goals and scoring from everywhere. Didn't they call him God there too?!
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
I was thinking the same thing, he was unreal in 87 I think it was, he was scoring sublime goals and scoring from everywhere. Didn't they call him God there too?!

I remember after the World Cup in 1990 (when I was 10) asking a hairdresser to give me a Chris Waddle haircut. She didn't know who the fuck I was on about....thank God.
 

mano-obe

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,238
7,518
I remember after the World Cup in 1990 (when I was 10) asking a hairdresser to give me a Chris Waddle haircut. She didn't know who the fuck I was on about....thank God.

lol, should have asked for the Valderama instead

bc5141f51c1a49432086edced2901a8b.jpg
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
If we are going by Fergies high standards then it's only Gascoigne.
 

Ledley's Right Foot

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2012
338
743
If we are going by Fergies high standards then it's only Gascoigne.

Ardiles. Was coming to the end by 86 but our best midfielder. He enabled us to play hoddle. He was Like Modric in attack and awesome in defence. Also had a nasty streak. Truly great player and World Cup winner to boot. Would have got into United's team ahead of Keane.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
Ardiles. Was coming to the end by 86 but our best midfielder. He enabled us to play hoddle. He was Like Modric in attack and awesome in defence. Also had a nasty streak. Truly great player and World Cup winner to boot. Would have got into United's team ahead of Keane.

Disagree that he was world class in 86 or that he would have been ahead of Keane if both in their prime.
 

Buggsy61

Washed Up Member
Aug 31, 2012
5,550
8,921
Gazza - best Spurs player I have ever seen live
Bale - don't need to say anything. There were times when I thought he was on drugs!
Klinnsman - I believed all the rubbish about him being a cheating diver, then I watched him play live for us.....................
King - injuries ruined him but the class was there for all to see.
Judas - argggh!
Modric - little magician in the Ardiles mould - rarely lost the ball

On the edge
Hoddle - sometimes went missing but a sublime talent
Waddle - Think we sold him at/just before his peak - first year he looked lost
Lloris - best keeper in that time but still liable for the odd clanger but perhaps the best is still to come
Lineker - the only thing I would say was missing was the ability to make a goal for himself and the heading ability.
 

Sevens

Well-Known Member
Apr 23, 2014
4,583
6,947
Hoddle - In a class of his own. In today's era where he wouldn't be kicked every two minutes he'd the second best player on the planet behind Messi. IMO at his best he was definitely the best European player and probably second best in the world behind Maradona. Had the best first touch of any footballer I've ever seen and was the most two footed player I've ever seen. Almost always double marked and remorselessly fouled, but never hid from wanting the ball.

Gascoigne - Not as good as Hoddle but still an amazing talent. An amazing dribbler at his peak but probably wouldn't get away with his elbow dribbles in the modern era though.

Lineker - World class goal scorer. Even in a poor Spurs side he still topped the charts.

They're the only three in my opinion. Notable other talents are:

Bale - had a great final season with us in terms of goal scoring exploits but people forget his all round game that season was often poor. I lost count of the amount of very poor performances he put in that he turned around in the blink of an eye with a world class goal. He is world class now though so maybe he should count.

King - Would've been world class had it not been for injuries.

Klinsmann - Massively over rated by Spurs fans but still a very good player. Thrived under Ardiles but from October onwards was comprehensively out performed by Sheringham in practically every department.

Sheringham - Very under rated by the Spurs faithful and the footballing community at large until he went to Man Utd. His best playing years were for Spurs between 92 to 96. It's a shame that it took a move to Utd for him to earn more recognition.

Waddle - Could be very hit and miss. When he was a hit, he was world class. Other times he was a waste of a shirt.

Carrick - The best English defensive midfielder I've ever seen. Criminally under rated for what he is good at (Positioning, tackling etc.) and massively over rated for things he isn't that great at (mainly creative passing).

Modric - An ultimate all rounder. Could do a bit of everything.

Ginola - Bit like Waddle in terms of when he was on his game he was practically unstoppable. But when he wasn't, he was poor. Incredible natural talent and in terms of pure visual poetry in motion technique the best I've seen in a Spurs shirt.

Berbatov - Could've been a world class forward if not for his attitude. Even with the attitude still an amazing talent.

Ziege - One of the best wing backs in the world and could cross a ball as well as Beckham.
Campbell - Sad but true.

Lloris - Our best Premier League keeper.

Just before 86:

Ardiles - Wasn't a top quality player in 86/87 but at his best for us he was. He was a better version of Modric in his prime.

Clemence - Was a world class keeper pre-86. Still close to it in the 86/87 season.

Archibald - Sulky bar steward at times but a very much under rated Spurs player. Absolutely brilliant at his best.
 
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