Not sure how you can regret not seeing a player who played before you was born, so I'll go with Zinedine Zidane.
Wish I'd never bloody seen him ;-) A few lines from a Euro 2004 report encapsulates the all too frequent agony of watching England...
"As stoppage-time was announced they held the lead through Frank Lampard's goal and seemed unaffected by a penalty David Beckham had missed in the 73rd minute. Zinedine Zidane, though, used the seconds left for virtuoso punishment of English folly.
When the substitute Emile Heskey clumsily brought down Claude Makelele, Zidane swerved home a superb free-kick. Then, with woe rampant in England ranks, Steven Gerrard, under pressure, half-hit a pass back and David James brought down Thierry Henry.
Zidane was imperious with the penalty and another horrible night had descended on the England fans who had come in such numbers, with such trust. Their dejection had its counterpart on the turf, with the England captain Beckham already sobbing as he made for the tunnel."
Like a lot of posters of a certain age I used to hear my dad wax lyrical about Duncan Edwards and so it has to be him. Bobby Charlton still says he is the best player he has ever seen so he must have been quite special.
Maradona in his prime would have been something, as would AC Milan in 1988 with R. Gullit, M Van Basten and F. Rijkaard - just a bit on the tasty side.
Re:my earlier post: It occurred to me later that I did actually see Jimmy Greaves play, but not in the usual way of things. When he played for Barnet in '77/78 one of their supporters got him to play in a lunchtime inter-office 5-a-side game in the exotic surroundings of Brixton's Ferndale Road sports centre. JG still had a lovely touch and was good fun. Shouts of 'Not quite the San Siro, is it Jim?' were answered with 'Too bloody right it's not', and he'd score another one. Teams and crowd all enjoyed it but as he was on the wagon by then he couldn't go for a pint but came back with the team for a cup of tea. Full of stories and a nice bloke. Can't believe it slipped my mind: these old-timer's moments are getting worse!
Not sure how you can regret not seeing a player who played before you was born, so I'll go with Zinedine Zidane.
I was lucky enough to see him play for Juve v Lazio at the Delle Alpi. He came out three or four minutes before any Juve or Lazio players in the second half and did the most amazing keepy uppies I've ever seen. He was in the centre circle in a complete world of his own, surrounded by around 70,000 Italians going absolutely mental and was cooler than a cucumber. Pure magic.
Not exactly in the criteria of the original post however my tuppence is killer - although I was there whilst on his last spell with the club and can remember the chant "killer" "killer" I'm gutted I can't really remember why my dad and uncle had such adulation for him - same could be said for flash - absolute quality but gutted I couldn't appreciate it then!
Although I count myself lucky to have grown up with the likes of mark Reid, johnny h, Elliot, Walsh, Paul Walsh and seen David whyte (when real quality) and bowyer when a baby and still scoring hatricks from midfield....
I'm old enough to have seen all the old'uns, including Sam Bartram once. My Dad took me in 1954 to see us play Wolves.
I went to Highbury just to see Stanley Matthews, along with about 60000 others. I think he was about 48 at the time. The Arsenal left back, McCullough, started trying to kick him off the pitch, and the whole ground, including the Arsenal fans booed him for the whole game. I wonder whether something like that would ever happen nowadays?
Stuart Leary was, and still is, the best player I've seen in a Charlton shirt, and Tom Finney is the player I regret never having seen.
Roy Hodson, Fook me av you seen his playing record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a cont
He must be the master of blagging, Fooking Berea Park..Berea??? sounds like a pub team.
1966–1969 Tonbridge Angels (They were in the bexley league at the time) 1969–1971 Gravesend & Northfleet (shit) 1971–1972 Maidstone United (kent league) 1972–1973 Ashford Town (Kent county league) 1973–1974 Berea Park (Who the fook are this two bob mob) 1974–1976 Carshalton Athletic 1979-1981 The Kings Arms 1991- 1995 The Vareity Club (Sunshine Bus Utd)
Roy Hodson, Fook me av you seen his playing record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a cont
He must be the master of blagging,or sucking the FA Chief Off, Fooking Berea Park..Berea??? sounds like a pub team.
1966–1969 Tonbridge Angels 1969–1971 Gravesend & Northfleet 1971–1972 Maidstone United 1972–1973 Ashford Town 1973–1974 Berea Park 1974–1976 Carshalton Athletic 1979-1981 The Kings Arms 1991- 1995 The Vareity Club (Sunshine Bus Utd)
Been mentioned many times, for good reason, but Zidane for me. We were vacationing on the Costa del Sol for Christmas 2002, and Malaga (pre-relegation and promotion) was hosting Real with many tickets available. I pushed the idea, but given that I was traveling with my parents and sister (now living in the UK and holding a season ticket at the Emirates), was talked out of it, and we were for some dodgy meal instead. Resented it then, and...still do. Just checked, and it ended up 3-2 to the visitors.
Incidentally, I grew up in Burlington, Ontario, where Sir Stanley Matthews lived out his later years. Knew where he lived, but never met him.
Has to be Stuart Leary for me given that I started supporting Charlton in season 62/63 and thus would have seen him had he not fallen out with Frank "Tiger" Hill in that pre season.
I was lucky enough to see him play cricket for Kent on quite a few occasions.
Leary, superb player would have made the grade in any era, one of the best passers of the ball I have seen.
my grandad Jack Shreeve - or his best buddy Sam Bartram for that matter.
Jack shreeve a tough defender who died far to young I am sure I met him at A Redhill v finchley game. Sam I had the good fortune seeing him play and also when he judged the kids fancy dress competition at the old Charlton liberal club in the Woolwich road.
Jack owned the newsagents, now a house, opposite Fossdene Road school for many years, he was a lovely man.
Comments
"As stoppage-time was announced they held the lead through Frank Lampard's goal and seemed unaffected by a penalty David Beckham had missed in the 73rd minute. Zinedine Zidane, though, used the seconds left for virtuoso punishment of English folly.
When the substitute Emile Heskey clumsily brought down Claude Makelele, Zidane swerved home a superb free-kick. Then, with woe rampant in England ranks, Steven Gerrard, under pressure, half-hit a pass back and David James brought down Thierry Henry.
Zidane was imperious with the penalty and another horrible night had descended on the England fans who had come in such numbers, with such trust. Their dejection had its counterpart on the turf, with the England captain Beckham already sobbing as he made for the tunnel."
Ali Dia (George Weah's 'cousin' who made Souness look an idiot at Southampton).
In terms of proper players and seeing them live, Ronaldo at his peak (the Brazilian striker, obviously)
Other : Maradonna, Pele, Gunter Netzer
Plenty of mentions for George Best, my Dad played in the same team as him when they were kids.
Although I count myself lucky to have grown up with the likes of mark Reid, johnny h, Elliot, Walsh, Paul Walsh and seen David whyte (when real quality) and bowyer when a baby and still scoring hatricks from midfield....
Good times
I went to Highbury just to see Stanley Matthews, along with about 60000 others. I think he was about 48 at the time. The Arsenal left back, McCullough, started trying to kick him off the pitch, and the whole ground, including the Arsenal fans booed him for the whole game. I wonder whether something like that would ever happen nowadays?
Stuart Leary was, and still is, the best player I've seen in a Charlton shirt, and Tom Finney is the player I regret never having seen.
He must be the master of blagging, Fooking Berea Park..Berea??? sounds like a pub team.
1966–1969 Tonbridge Angels (They were in the bexley league at the time)
1969–1971 Gravesend & Northfleet (shit)
1971–1972 Maidstone United (kent league)
1972–1973 Ashford Town (Kent county league)
1973–1974 Berea Park (Who the fook are this two bob mob)
1974–1976 Carshalton Athletic
1979-1981 The Kings Arms
1991- 1995 The Vareity Club (Sunshine Bus Utd)
Present - England manager
Baresi, costacurta, tassotti and Maldini
As an ex cultured defender myself, would love to have seen that back four live.
And Socrates.
Duncan Edwards is a good call.
But other wise gazza at any club
Incidentally, I grew up in Burlington, Ontario, where Sir Stanley Matthews lived out his later years. Knew where he lived, but never met him.