Since we are talking about our favourite non-cafc players and not the best, which is a different thing, I'd probably go for Gazza too although Zola is a great shout. Both top quality but also very likeable and played with a smile on their face.
Past players - Roy Keane, Matt Le Tissier, Peter Schmeichel, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Current players - Peter Crouch, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Liam Bridcutt, Ashley Williams
Uses to love watching Davior Sukor, he was nearly unplayable around the 96-98 era, him and bergkamp, that goal against Newcastle was worth the PPV I paid for that game, no idea why I paid for it but was glad I watched it during live play.
Le Tissier was the other. One club man, capable of absolute brilliance and maintained a healthy appetite for pastries throughout his career. If could have been a footballer, I'd have been Charlton's version Le Tiss.
Being born with red and white blood, it's quite difficult to 'like' other team's players.
But I do appreciate a maverick type .....Stan Bowles, Paolo di Canio, Gazza, Cantona, Robin Friday - something a bit loopy about them that I can identify with(!).
Stern John and Steve Claridge just for a goal each they scored that brought me so much joy and delivered pain to "them" for those moments I will be eternally grateful
Luis Enrique - my favourite player ever. Graft, skill, passion - everything. Plus he left the scum to join a real club Andres Iniesta - almost as much man-love as for Luis Enrique Messi - well, that's obvious really, innit - he's a genius Le Tissier - his top ten goals are absolutely outrageous Dennis Bergkamp - utter class Maradona - better than Pele
Pele - Best player of all-time. He could do the lot. Quick over ten yards and as strong as an Ox. Scored goals with both feet, long shots, one-against-ones, headers, and had as many assists as goals, which was over 1000. Brilliant team player and Won 3 World Cups! (and I saw Maradona play live 4 times, so I'm aware of how good he was - Messi isn't even the greatest Argentinian of all-time).
George Best - the best British Player of all time. Marvellous skill & lightening pace. Won matches on his own. Shame he never got to play in a World Cup Finals.
Hagi, Zindane and the real Ronaldo are some of my favourites from distant shores. All are players I remember impressing during World Cups of my youth. ZiZi at France 98 was one of the all time top World Cup performances imo and then to have that wonderful flawed genius end to his career meant he went out in style.
I quite like the current Ronaldo too, strangley, I think because he's a bit of an anti-Hero to the too perfect Messi. Love a bit of Balotelli too - you can't really call him a great player (yet) but the man has personality and I love his upredictability. A proper cult hero.
Finally this guy for giving kids of my age such a great goal celebration to copy on the playground:
Comments
Current players - Peter Crouch, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Liam Bridcutt, Ashley Williams
Phillips is the one player I realistically wish we'd signed in his career.
;o)
A grafter who led the line superbly. And chipped in with his fair share of goals....as we well know!
But I do appreciate a maverick type .....Stan Bowles, Paolo di Canio, Gazza, Cantona, Robin Friday - something a bit loopy about them that I can identify with(!).
Pavel Nedved and Petr Cech for being great players and great role models
Andres Iniesta - almost as much man-love as for Luis Enrique
Messi - well, that's obvious really, innit - he's a genius
Le Tissier - his top ten goals are absolutely outrageous
Dennis Bergkamp - utter class
Maradona - better than Pele
Favourite non charlton players include scholes, balloteli, joe cole, joe hart, Henry
George Best - the best British Player of all time. Marvellous skill & lightening pace. Won matches on his own. Shame he never got to play in a World Cup Finals.
All quality players and true gentlemen.
I quite like the current Ronaldo too, strangley, I think because he's a bit of an anti-Hero to the too perfect Messi. Love a bit of Balotelli too - you can't really call him a great player (yet) but the man has personality and I love his upredictability. A proper cult hero.
Finally this guy for giving kids of my age such a great goal celebration to copy on the playground:
Ronaldo
Scholes
Henry
(Jensen better than all of them though)