The Footie Thread

[Arthur Wedge]

No room for Hughes?

I had the pleasure of watching the 70’s team a number of times. Clem was immense, and would be my first choice every time. The Hansen/VVD pairing is spot on. But I’d try and have 3 across the back with Hughes + 2 wing backs. Could Neal & Kennedy play as wing backs? We’ll never know.

But with wing backs it becomes a 3 in midfield. Could Souness play alongside Gerrard? The same style with Henderson & Gerrard worked? And who would be the 3rd? Would picking Salah in that formation cramp Dalgliesh? I’d rather see Mane in for Mo. Or go with Barnes, but would Barnes fit in with wing backs?

Rush & Dalgliesh definitely, even at the expense of Keegan.

I think you can try all sorts of formations to try and get players in - 3 at the back and wing backs was only something we played under Evans

There is no doubt that Kennedy and Neal would get up and down all day

The only issue I have with my team and formation is Salah isn’t really a true winger where as Heighway would be as an example

Mané was huge for us and was always over looked because of Mo but no way he gets in on the left over Barnes

I think Gerrard and Souness could have worked in any formation - Souness another who some forget how good he was as a player

 

[Neilds]

For me it’s

Allison/Clem - just can’t split them

Neal
Hansen
Vvd
Kennedy

Barnes
Souness
Gerrard
Salah

Rush
Kenny

Have you forgotten to include the legends?

 

[Hobbit]

I think you can try all sorts of formations to try and get players in - 3 at the back and wing backs was only something we played under Evans

There is no doubt that Kennedy and Neal would get up and down all day

The only issue I have with my team and formation is Salah isn’t really a true winger where as Heighway would be as an example

Mané was huge for us and was always over looked because of Mo but no way he gets in on the left over Barnes

I think Gerrard and Souness could have worked in any formation - Souness another who some forget how good he was as a player

Stevie Heighway is a good shout. Though not as prolific as Mo he was a far better team player. Many don’t know how much he did for the youth academy, bringing through a number of outstanding players.

 

[irip]

Stevie Heighway is a good shout. Though not as prolific as Mo he was a far better team player. Many don’t know how much he did for the youth academy, bringing through a number of outstanding players.

For those that are of a certain vintage
I’m sure we can all agree that David Fairclough would have been the 1st sub.

 

[Hobbit]

For those that are of a certain vintage
I’m sure we can all agree that David Fairclough would have been the 1st sub.

Got to be inclusive & give a place to a ginger…

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Stevie Heighway is a good shout. Though not as prolific as Mo he was a far better team player. Many don’t know how much he did for the youth academy, bringing through a number of outstanding players.

His work at the Academy has never been matched - and twice as well when he came back ten years ago

Fell bad by not even mentioning the likes of Callaghan , St John, Tosh

 

[Orikoru]

Too obvious

I don't think he's wrong to call Robertson a club legend. 270 games for the club, won two Premier Leagues and one Champion's League. If that's not a club legend I don't know what is.

 

[Neilds]

I don't think he's wrong to call Robertson a club legend. 270 games for the club, won two Premier Leagues and one Champion's League. If that's not a club legend I don't know what is.

Maybe he was just consistent? Appearances doesn't automatically mean legend.

 

[Orikoru]

Maybe he was just consistent? Appearances doesn't automatically mean legend.

A lot of appearances and honours won in a strong period for the club. Not just appearances full stop. Longevity does matter, especially in a good side.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Here’s a question on club legends. These are the Stats and trophies won by the same player. I think most here would agree this makes for a great career even legendary in some eyes.

Would people say this is a legendary club career?

Premier League (4): 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24
• **Champions League (1): 2022/23
• FA Cup (1): 2022/23
• EFL (League) Cup (2): 2019/20, 2020/21
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2023
• UEFA Super Cup (1): 2023
• **Community Shield (1): 2024
Liverpool (3 Trophies)

• **Champions League (1): 2004/05
• **UEFA Super Cup (1): 2005
• FA Cup (1): 2005/06


Now you’ve read to the bottom you find out those are the trophy wins of Scott Carson who won the medals by default
Of being in the squads !

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If City fans were ever putting together their best squad of all time, Scott Carson would definitely be the number 3 keeper

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Here’s a question on club legends. These are the Stats and trophies won by the same player. I think most here would agree this makes for a great career even legendary in some eyes.

Would people say this is a legendary club career?

Premier League (4): 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24
• **Champions League (1): 2022/23
• FA Cup (1): 2022/23
• EFL (League) Cup (2): 2019/20, 2020/21
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2023
• UEFA Super Cup (1): 2023
• **Community Shield (1): 2024
Liverpool (3 Trophies)

• **Champions League (1): 2004/05
• **UEFA Super Cup (1): 2005
• FA Cup (1): 2005/06


Now you’ve read to the bottom you find out those are the trophy wins of Scott Carson who won the medals by default
Of being in the squads !

Not bad for someone who played 2 games in 5 years at City

And 9 in two for Liverpool

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Not bad for someone who played 2 games in 5 years at City

And 9 in two for Liverpool

Never said it was bad did I?

Does show that just going off what someone has won isn’t always the best way to decides who’s a legend. I actually applaud the man for his trophy haul whilst just essentially being a training squad player.

 

[irip]

I think Legend means different things to different people.
For me any one club should only have a handful of legends really.
Otherwise the very top players get diluted in a mix with others that although great players and great for the club are a level below the true top top players.

It’s a bit like the honour members discussion last week, how many is too many?
The answer is different for different people.

 

[Orikoru]

This all comes down to your definition of legend really. In the modern social media era I've seen it used for literally any player that played for the club in some instances. I see it used affectionately for players that maybe didn't achieve much but won over the fans with their character and personality - since we're talking left backs I'd call Assou-Ekotto one for Spurs, but fans of other clubs wouldn't understand that.

I don't think you need to have been the number 1 left back in the club's history to be considered a legend. I also don't think we need to gate-keep the term to only the best players that ever lived. And I think some have whatever the opposite of recency bias is, like you can only be a 'legend' if you played donkey's years ago.

For me, someone who's spent eight seasons as a regular fixture in the side, and won four major honours (six if you include the League Cup), is perfectly entitled to be called a club legend by today's definitions.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Never said it was bad did I?

Does show that just going off what someone has won isn’t always the best way to decides who’s a legend. I actually applaud the man for his trophy haul whilst just essentially being a training squad player.

Would never call someone a legend just based on a trophy haul

 

[irip]

This all comes down to your definition of legend really. In the modern social media era I've seen it used for literally any player that played for the club in some instances. I see it used affectionately for players that maybe didn't achieve much but won over the fans with their character and personality - since we're talking left backs I'd call Assou-Ekotto one for Spurs, but fans of other clubs wouldn't understand that.

I don't think you need to have been the number 1 left back in the club's history to be considered a legend. I also don't think we need to gate-keep the term to only the best players that ever lived. And I think some have whatever the opposite of recency bias is, like you can only be a 'legend' if you played donkey's years ago.

For me, someone who's spent eight seasons as a regular fixture in the side, and won four major honours (six if you include the League Cup), is perfectly entitled to be called a club legend by today's definitions.

To call Assou-Ekotto a legend and put him in the same bracket as a Jimmy Greaves or Glen Hoddle is in my opinion wrong, bordering on insulting.
I’ll agree to go fan favourite at a push.
To be fair we are talking Spurs so most legends will be from a long long time ago

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think Legend means different things to different people.
For me any one club should only have a handful of legends really.
Otherwise the very top players get diluted in a mix with others that although great players and great for the club are a level below the true top top players.

It’s a bit like the honour members discussion last week, how many is too many?
The answer is different for different people.

A legend is someone you would name a stand after at your ground.

A great player is someone you would name a section after, or a corporate lounge.

 

[irip]

A legend is someone you would name a stand after at your ground.

A great player is someone you would name a section after, or a corporate lounge.

How many people have read this and remember the City fans voting for Colin Bell when naming a new stand after a former player.
The Bell end at Maine Road is sadly missed.
It’s ok Tashy I’m not referring to you

 

[Orikoru]

To call Assou-Ekotto a legend and put him in the same bracket as a Jimmy Greaves or Glen Hoddle is in my opinion wrong, bordering on insulting.
I’ll agree to go fan favourite at a push.
To be fair we are talking Spurs so most legends will be from a long long time ago

This is what I was trying to get people to understand, there are different levels at play here. The word legend has different meanings to different people so to quibble over it is a bit daft. The modern generation would all call Robertson a legend because it simply means a memorable player who did very well for the club, essentially. Older generations apparently have it meaning the top handful of players ever to play for the club, in which case, no Robertson wouldn't be there.

I think you would call Greaves and Hoddle 'GOATs' nowadays rather than simply 'legends'.