The family moved in 1962 to North London, I was only a kid but White and Greaves for Spurs in the sixties were absolutely awesome and the rest of the team were not bad either. But after a short while I still travelled back to CAFC as my heart was at the Valley.
Usual ones from our Prem days but other matches I've been to: Ronaldinho - was at the Chelsea Barca game when he scored that toe poke from the edge of the box, absolute class Nesta - Saw Milan a couple of seasons ago, one of the best central defensive performances I've ever seen, so composed and won everything in the air. Ibrahimovic - from the same match above but he scored a "Mark Hughes special" you know that sort of flying sideways volley Kaka - Although he hasn't been as good for Real I saw him there against Getafe, I've never seen a player with so much ball control, just seemed to glide past players
The family moved in 1962 to North London, I was only a kid but White and Greaves for Spurs in the sixties were absolutely awesome and the rest of the team were not bad either. But after a short while I still travelled back to CAFC as my heart was at the Valley.
I was at that game with Chris Ritchie (does that name ring a bell?), who lived along the road from me in Broadfield Road. He's a good friend of Peter Varney. Didn't know you were there....great day wasn't it and we came oh so close to getting the draw we so richly deserved. Remember that shot from Brian Tocknell (I think it was) in the last minute or so that just flashed past the post....agonising!
For Spurs, Gazza (his performances in the Spurs '91 cup run alone put him up there let alone anything else!), saw Klinsmann and Ginola win player of the year awards in very average Spurs sides. Hoddle could put the ball on a sixpence from anywhere. Over the years, we've been somewhat blessed. (Cant put Bale in that list yet, he's been sensational and unplayable at times but needs some consistency!)
For the opposition: Terry Henry, Ronaldo, Zola, Cantona.and almost every opposition goalkeeper that comes to WHL as they seem to have the game of their lives against us.
Seen loads of amazing performances live but the one that had the biggest impact on me was a pre season friendly - can't remember when. On that day we played QPR and Ray Wilkins played as player manager I think. Such a simple approach to the game. Pass, move, pass again. Changed the way I played the game.
Giggs in the 3-3 draw. Hit the crossbar from his own half, scored a tidy goal and nearly repeated his famous solo run in the cup semi-final against Arsenal on 3 or 4 occasions.
Cantona, Giggs and Kanchelskis were awesome for man utd in the fa cup, you would never have known they had ten men, the way they moved and the speed they attacked was frightening! Henry used to seem to enjoy tearing us apart on his own at times, Bergkamp was sheer class. Others would include, Beardsley and John Barnes at liverpool, Gascoigne at Tottenham to name a few.
For us... Paolo DiCanio Robert Lee Claus Jensen Mark Kinsella Simon Webster Clive Mendonca John Humphreys Mark Reid Peter Shirtliff Jim Melrose
I am not sure whether these come under best players OR best performances but these pop into my mind:- Ryan Giggs the day he scored after hitting the crossbar and was absolutely superb. Paul Parker one night at Selhurst when it seemed to be us against him. Earl Barrett again at Selhurst on a night we needed to get a result against Oldham and he just seemed to be everywhere. Clive Mendonca playing for Grimsby when they I think beat us 3-1and caught the eye, and I was so pleased a few years later when we bought him. Thierry Henry (who always seemed to really want to beat us for some reason), superb pace. Micky Quinn???!!! who amazingly and memorably tore us apart one day in Portsmouth. Nicky Johns I recall one game (no idea which), where he just was amazing and seemed totally unbeatable and the only reason we werent stuffed.
I know some of these are a bit iffy but they just stood out as individual performances that changed games.
Meant to say...the Paul Parker night was when Fulham were already relegated and he played centre-back against us (the night we practically went up in 1986). He won almost every header against John Pearson.
Meant to say...the Paul Parker night was when Fulham were already relegated and he played centre-back against us (the night we practically went up in 1986). He won almost every header against John Pearson.
Yes, just about the best one man show from a defender I've ever seen....quite remarkable. One or two had high hopes that he might join us the following season.
Eddie Firmani, 26/10/1963 vs Cardiff City at the Valley. Virtually unplayable that day and tearing his old rival from his Italian days, John Charles, to pieces in the process.
Wayne Rooney. I seem to remember him coming off the bench for Everton when he was 16 and there was a buzz of expectation from the away fans. After about 3 mns I could see why.
Good call on Tony Currie, Queensland. I remember him paying against us for Sheffield United in an evening match at the Valley sometime in the late 60s. Superb player and a fabulous match - finished 4-3 to us, if I remember correctly, and one of those magical Valley nights.
Remember that one, I was 8 or 9 and it was the first time I took any notice of a player on the other side. What a player he was.
Thought Giggs in that 3-3 was amazing, Thierry Henry - he must have been a Millwall fan the amount of punishment he gave us, Zola was another great one.
Saw Figo play for Inter in his twilight years, he more or less turned the game on his own through sheer determination and naturally provided two assists for the goals they got to pull back a 2-0. What you notice seeing some of these people live is how much work they put in as well as the flashy stuff.
Ronnie Rosenthal at Shithouse....cant remember if he got 3 or 4 against us in a 4-0 defeat, but every time he got the ball it looked like he would score.
Going way way back Ron Yeates for Tranmere.....the other ten didnt matter, it was us against him.
Andrea Konchelskis in the cup game...second half sublime.
I remember the Rosenthal game - he scored 3 and looked very tidy. It was 4-0 in the end and if memory serves, John Barnes was unplayable that day, playing off Rosenthal as they had injuries and we thought we were in with a shout of taking them(!).
Around that time I also remember Southampton beating us 4-2 at Selhurst with a front three of Le Tissier, Shearer and Rod Wallace. We couldn't lay a glove on them, amazing interchanging forward play. Only real consolation was a Steve Mackenzie 25 yarder.
I assumed this thread wasn't about generally good players, but outstanding performances by individuals (who otherwise may be very ordinary) witnessed live. To that end I remember a 0-1 defeat to Plymouth at chitehurst when Plymouth were forced to play a stand in goalkeeper (a farmer I believe) who had the game of his life, kept us out, and looked like the greatest goalkeeper who ever lived. Anybody else remember that?
Apart from the usual PL suspects, a player that stands out for me was the 40 something, then Sheffield wednesday manager Trevor Francis, who played in the Bob Bolder testimonial at The Valley, even though he was retired and his legs had gone, his class stood out amongst the journeymen on the pitch.
Apart from the usual PL suspects, a player that stands out for me was the 40 something, then Sheffield wednesday manager Trevor Francis, who played in the Bob Bolder testimonial at The Valley, even though he was retired and his legs had gone, his class stood out amongst the journeymen on the pitch.
Yes, remember him receiving the ball about 40 yards out, flicking it up and placing a volley in the bottom corner. Big Bob dived after it and then stood up to applaud.
Saw Beckham play for United at Stamford Bridge and he scored an absolute belter and completely controlled the match. When he played well he was unbelieveable
Henry was a great player to watch aswell, saw him play in a couple of big Champions League games at Highbury when on top of his game. Honourable mention to Scholes, in 2009 watched United play Fulham at OT and Scholes bossed it.
Blimey, too many to remember over the years - Best, Law and Charlton in their best days at Manu; also Greaves, Moore, Ball etc etc. Eddie Firmani on his return from Italy; Cliff Holton when he came and saved us from relegation; Peter Knowles for Wolves at the Valley in '66; Simonsen; Scott Parker in a 2-3 defeat at Saints. No, way to many to remember
Comments
Ronaldinho - was at the Chelsea Barca game when he scored that toe poke from the edge of the box, absolute class
Nesta - Saw Milan a couple of seasons ago, one of the best central defensive performances I've ever seen, so composed and won everything in the air.
Ibrahimovic - from the same match above but he scored a "Mark Hughes special" you know that sort of flying sideways volley
Kaka - Although he hasn't been as good for Real I saw him there against Getafe, I've never seen a player with so much ball control, just seemed to glide past players
Didn't know you were there....great day wasn't it and we came oh so close to getting the draw we so richly deserved.
Remember that shot from Brian Tocknell (I think it was) in the last minute or so that just flashed past the post....agonising!
For the opposition: Terry Henry, Ronaldo, Zola, Cantona.and almost every opposition goalkeeper that comes to WHL as they seem to have the game of their lives against us.
Henry used to seem to enjoy tearing us apart on his own at times, Bergkamp was sheer class.
Others would include, Beardsley and John Barnes at liverpool, Gascoigne at Tottenham to name a few.
For us...
Paolo DiCanio
Robert Lee
Claus Jensen
Mark Kinsella
Simon Webster
Clive Mendonca
John Humphreys
Mark Reid
Peter Shirtliff
Jim Melrose
just off the top of my head
One or two had high hopes that he might join us the following season.
No other player will ever come close to him.
Thought Giggs in that 3-3 was amazing, Thierry Henry - he must have been a Millwall fan the amount of punishment he gave us, Zola was another great one.
Saw Figo play for Inter in his twilight years, he more or less turned the game on his own through sheer determination and naturally provided two assists for the goals they got to pull back a 2-0. What you notice seeing some of these people live is how much work they put in as well as the flashy stuff.
Around that time I also remember Southampton beating us 4-2 at Selhurst with a front three of Le Tissier, Shearer and Rod Wallace. We couldn't lay a glove on them, amazing interchanging forward play. Only real consolation was a Steve Mackenzie 25 yarder.
To that end I remember a 0-1 defeat to Plymouth at chitehurst when Plymouth were forced to play a stand in goalkeeper (a farmer I believe) who had the game of his life, kept us out, and looked like the greatest goalkeeper who ever lived.
Anybody else remember that?
Cruyff - Eng v Holl 1977
Platini - Villa v Juventus 1983
Best - for Fulham, (didn't he play in a testimonial game at the Valley v Arsenal?)
Of the 66 team - Cohen, Jack Charlton, Peters, Ball, Hurst, Hunt, & the great Bobby Moore.
Henry was a great player to watch aswell, saw him play in a couple of big Champions League games at Highbury when on top of his game. Honourable mention to Scholes, in 2009 watched United play Fulham at OT and Scholes bossed it.
etc etc.
Eddie Firmani on his return from Italy; Cliff Holton when he came and saved us from relegation; Peter Knowles for Wolves at the Valley in '66; Simonsen; Scott Parker in a 2-3 defeat at Saints.
No, way to many to remember