Though Van Persie was incredible for a couple of years when not injured, and Van Nistelrooy was the best pure finisher I think I've seen in the Premier League.
In the days before football was invented by Sky, Frans Thijssen at Ipswich was superb.
Muhren and Thijssen, amongst two of the very first foreigners to play in England .. brought a whole new dimension to the Tractor Boys under Bobby Robson
Bergkamp was just brilliant. Full stop. Will never forget the goals against Newcastle and his hattrick against Leicester for the scum. oh and the goal for the Dutchies against Argentina.
One closest to my heart was Van der Vaart though. Was an absolute pleasure to watch him in his season and a half or whatever it was at Spurs. 4 goals in 4 NLDs against Arsenal, including the pen in our first win on enemy territory for what felt like 150 bloody years. His legs has pretty much gone by then and he rarely lasted 90 mins but against Arsenal he was bloody everywhere and his quality shone above everyone. One of the best players I've seen at Spurs in the last 30 years unquestionably.
I'd happily concede that Bergkamp is the best natural footballer of the lot and was a magician, but to say there is no contest is not fair to many on that list. His goal scoring record isn't fantastic, Van Nistelrooy & Van Persie were far better 'strikers' than Bergkamp, if Bergkamp didn't have the best player in premier league history alongside him scoring for fun then his strikerate of 1 in 3.5 wouldn't look too clever
Bergkamp wasn't a 'striker' as such though was he. He'd chip in with goals but his game was about laying it on a plate for his strike partner which he did countless times. Can't really compare him with Van Nistelrooy or Van Persie as they were different types of players. For me he's in the top 5 best players to play in the premier league.
Bergkamp is one of the footballers that made me fall in love with the game, which makes it a no contest.
Stam, van der Sar and RVP are all equally justifiable (not Ruud for me, given how much of a poacher he was), but... man, with the ball at his feet, Bergkamp just played the game like you wanted to see it played.
Bergkamp wasn't a 'striker' as such though was he. He'd chip in with goals but his game was about laying it on a plate for his strike partner which he did countless times. Can't really compare him with Van Nistelrooy or Van Persie as they were different types of players. For me he's in the top 5 best players to play in the premier league.
was he the prototype, the original 'Number 10' ? (NOT Mrs Maybeyes Mightbeno)
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Then realised it was Premiership players only ... oops
Grrr...
Most underated player in the prem IMO
Sad that Netherlands are such big country in the footballing world and our only contribution to this list is Jimmy Floyd
So for that reason, I vote Matt Holland
Though Van Persie was incredible for a couple of years when not injured, and Van Nistelrooy was the best pure finisher I think I've seen in the Premier League.
Berkamp played when he wanted to
One closest to my heart was Van der Vaart though. Was an absolute pleasure to watch him in his season and a half or whatever it was at Spurs. 4 goals in 4 NLDs against Arsenal, including the pen in our first win on enemy territory for what felt like 150 bloody years. His legs has pretty much gone by then and he rarely lasted 90 mins but against Arsenal he was bloody everywhere and his quality shone above everyone. One of the best players I've seen at Spurs in the last 30 years unquestionably.
For me he's in the top 5 best players to play in the premier league.
Stam, van der Sar and RVP are all equally justifiable (not Ruud for me, given how much of a poacher he was), but... man, with the ball at his feet, Bergkamp just played the game like you wanted to see it played.
Genius.