I’d love to have seen Best live, the footage we do have available is great to watch.
Best played 474 games for the club, scoring 179 goals. Only about less than 50 of those goals he scored we actually televised, which everybody has seen 1000s of times. The chance of them being some of the greatest goals he scored in his carer are pretty slim. As are the outrageous things he did on the pitch week in and week out that we also see on film and TV archives. So unless you paid to see him play live regularly you really arent in a position to judge or compare him with others who came later where every second of their entire careers are available for reference. Which is why we have to take the word of those who did see him play most weeks (and other great players of that time like Greaves) who can truly judge him.
I think manusince52 is probably as qualified as anybody to confirm how good George actually was.
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 4 minutes ago
Best played 474 games for the club, scoring 179 goals. Only about less than 50 of those goals he scored we actually televised, which everybody has seen 1000s of times. The chance of them being some of the greatest goals he scored in his carer are pretty slim. As are the outrageous things he did on the pitch week in and week out that we also see on film and TV archives. So unless you paid to see him play live regularly you really arent in a position to judge or compare him with others who came later where every second of their entire careers are available for reference. Which is why we have to take the word of those who did see him play most weeks (and other great players of that time like Greaves) who can truly judge him.
I think manusince52 is probably as qualified as anybody to confirm how good George actually was.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's true. As he was playing in the years that I saw every home game and most aways I saw nearly all his games for us. Also, as some might know, I have always said Sheffield United would probably have beaten us, just on fitness.
He was a flawed human being, but a famn nearly perfect player.
Messi is almost certainly as good or better. But I've never seen him live, he doesn't play for us, he can't play and drink half a bottle of bourbon and coke the night before, and he's absolutely no chance of pulling three Miss World's. Though not, it must be said, at the same time. George, what were you thinking.
I've watched probably all the footage that exists of him playing and I believe he was the best of all time. I have never seen a player who dribbles so well but often starts his own dribbling by chasing players down and tackling them. He was excellent defensively which seems a strange thing to play for an attacking wide player. Apart from his obvious lifestyle problems, I can't think of a single weakness he had.
My Dad always said that Best greatest weakness was that he was too good looking by half
Spent 50% of his wages on wine, women and fast cars and wasted the rest. 🤣
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 4 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was the best I have ever seen.
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 7 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly Sheriff George was better, and I really rate Ronaldo of course. I've no way of proving it, but I know it.
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 7 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly Sheriff George was better, and I really rate Ronaldo of course. I've no way of proving it, but I know it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
People tend to have a bias for players of their generation. It's like when I spent years swearing that Brazil's Ronaldo was different league to Cristiano because I idolized R9 as a kid. I've long since re-evaluated that opinion given the freakish consistency of CR7 (this freak scored 450 goals in 438 matches for Real Madrid).
I think many United fans never quite had the same emotional connection with Ronaldo as they did with other club legends (probably partly because he saw Man U as a bus stop to the ultimate destination that was Real Madrid - and he's also a preening waanker) and undervalue him because of that.
I think many United fans never quite had the same emotional connection with Ronaldo as they did with other club legends (probably partly because he saw Man U as a bus stop to the ultimate destination that was Real Madrid - and he's also a preening waanker) and undervalue him because of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
More to do with the fact I found George more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo doing step overs.
or maybe some United fans who actually watched both Best and Ronaldo regularly for United formed their own opnion that they thought Best was better?
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 7 minutes ago
or maybe some United fans who actually watched both Best and Ronaldo regularly for United formed their own opnion that they thought Best was better?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
As a kid I was so lucky to watch him playing at Windsor Park for Northern Ireland and as a Leeds supporter can honestly say he's the best player I've ever seen.
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
…
He wouldn’t make my top five.
Best, Charlton, Giggs, Scholes and Wazza all above him. And a few more.
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
+++
no I said it was some United supporters who have actually watched both Best and Ronaldo form this opinion. Not just watched youtube clips og Best. Like you have. Did Jim actually follow United and attend matches in the 60s and early 70s. I doubt it.
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 12 minutes ago
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
+++
no I said it was some United supporters who have actually watched both Best and Ronaldo form this opinion. Not just watched youtube clips og Best. Like you have. Did Jim actually follow United and attend matches in the 60s and early 70s. I doubt it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Best would have been 6-years-old when Jim Ratcliffe was born. Why would you "doubt" whether Jim Ratcliffe watched him play?
I don't think it's complicated. The older United fans would typically claim Best was greater because Best was their generation. People are nostalgic for what they loved in their youth - whether music, films or whatever. And the views of the younger fans who didn't watch Best are influenced by the older fans who did.
He's the best player who has ever played for united. Never seen him play.
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 48 minutes ago
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
…
He wouldn’t make my top five.
Best, Charlton, Giggs, Scholes and Wazza all above him. And a few more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol....behave. Ronaldo was legitimately the best player in the world at a point at Man U (with all the individual accolades from his peers, media, FIFA, UEFA etc to show for it). Scholes, Giggs and Rooney never were - and were never close to being so.
It's also strange the way George Best nostalgia makes certain Man U fans deride Ronado's flair as a Man U player. When George Best himself (never renowned for his flattery of players) said that comparing people Ronaldo to him (in Ronaldo's days at Man Utd) was the first time he ever saw such a comparison as a credit to himself.
I don't think it's complicated. The older United fans would typically claim Best was greater because Best was their generation.
….
It does not work like that no matter how much you want it to. I don’t think Graham Hill or James Hunt were the greatest racing drivers. Likewise no golfers from that time were as exciting to watch as Rory is or Bryson Dechambeau.
I could go on.
*people comparing Ronaldo
Lol....behave. Ronaldo was legitimately the best player in the world at a point at Man U (with all the individual accolades from his peers, media, FIFA, UEFA etc to show for it). Scholes, Giggs and Rooney never were - and were never close to being so.
….
In your opinion. Not in mine.
In all seriousness, yeah I've only watched video clips but I've seen enough to show me I much prefer Best's style of play to any other player I've seen live in my lifetime. Probably only Messi comes close but Best just had something special.
He could easily go left or right and he was hard as nails on the pitch.
I can really appreciate how good they were with those 2 kilo boots, in absolute w@nk conditions with a stupidly heavy ball when I play on my weekend league and there's potholes over the pitch and there is a bit of rain.
My dad used to tell me stories about him all the time when I was younger.
I once met him in the Crowne Plaza in Malta. Never meet your heros they say?
Sign in if you want to comment
George Best
Page 1 of 3
posted on 8/8/24
I’d love to have seen Best live, the footage we do have available is great to watch.
posted on 8/8/24
Best played 474 games for the club, scoring 179 goals. Only about less than 50 of those goals he scored we actually televised, which everybody has seen 1000s of times. The chance of them being some of the greatest goals he scored in his carer are pretty slim. As are the outrageous things he did on the pitch week in and week out that we also see on film and TV archives. So unless you paid to see him play live regularly you really arent in a position to judge or compare him with others who came later where every second of their entire careers are available for reference. Which is why we have to take the word of those who did see him play most weeks (and other great players of that time like Greaves) who can truly judge him.
I think manusince52 is probably as qualified as anybody to confirm how good George actually was.
posted on 8/8/24
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 4 minutes ago
Best played 474 games for the club, scoring 179 goals. Only about less than 50 of those goals he scored we actually televised, which everybody has seen 1000s of times. The chance of them being some of the greatest goals he scored in his carer are pretty slim. As are the outrageous things he did on the pitch week in and week out that we also see on film and TV archives. So unless you paid to see him play live regularly you really arent in a position to judge or compare him with others who came later where every second of their entire careers are available for reference. Which is why we have to take the word of those who did see him play most weeks (and other great players of that time like Greaves) who can truly judge him.
I think manusince52 is probably as qualified as anybody to confirm how good George actually was.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's true. As he was playing in the years that I saw every home game and most aways I saw nearly all his games for us. Also, as some might know, I have always said Sheffield United would probably have beaten us, just on fitness.
He was a flawed human being, but a famn nearly perfect player.
Messi is almost certainly as good or better. But I've never seen him live, he doesn't play for us, he can't play and drink half a bottle of bourbon and coke the night before, and he's absolutely no chance of pulling three Miss World's. Though not, it must be said, at the same time. George, what were you thinking.
posted on 8/8/24
I've watched probably all the footage that exists of him playing and I believe he was the best of all time. I have never seen a player who dribbles so well but often starts his own dribbling by chasing players down and tackling them. He was excellent defensively which seems a strange thing to play for an attacking wide player. Apart from his obvious lifestyle problems, I can't think of a single weakness he had.
posted on 8/8/24
To say*
posted on 8/8/24
My Dad always said that Best greatest weakness was that he was too good looking by half
posted on 8/8/24
Spent 50% of his wages on wine, women and fast cars and wasted the rest. 🤣
posted on 8/8/24
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
posted on 8/8/24
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 4 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was the best I have ever seen.
posted on 8/8/24
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 7 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly Sheriff George was better, and I really rate Ronaldo of course. I've no way of proving it, but I know it.
posted on 8/8/24
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff John Brown - Arteta IN!!! (U7482)
posted 7 minutes ago
Ronaldo has pretty great arguments for being the best player in your history. Saying "George was the best, undoubtedly" seems a tad exaggerated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly Sheriff George was better, and I really rate Ronaldo of course. I've no way of proving it, but I know it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
People tend to have a bias for players of their generation. It's like when I spent years swearing that Brazil's Ronaldo was different league to Cristiano because I idolized R9 as a kid. I've long since re-evaluated that opinion given the freakish consistency of CR7 (this freak scored 450 goals in 438 matches for Real Madrid).
I think many United fans never quite had the same emotional connection with Ronaldo as they did with other club legends (probably partly because he saw Man U as a bus stop to the ultimate destination that was Real Madrid - and he's also a preening waanker) and undervalue him because of that.
posted on 8/8/24
I think many United fans never quite had the same emotional connection with Ronaldo as they did with other club legends (probably partly because he saw Man U as a bus stop to the ultimate destination that was Real Madrid - and he's also a preening waanker) and undervalue him because of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
More to do with the fact I found George more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo doing step overs.
posted on 8/8/24
or maybe some United fans who actually watched both Best and Ronaldo regularly for United formed their own opnion that they thought Best was better?
posted on 8/8/24
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 7 minutes ago
or maybe some United fans who actually watched both Best and Ronaldo regularly for United formed their own opnion that they thought Best was better?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
posted on 8/8/24
As a kid I was so lucky to watch him playing at Windsor Park for Northern Ireland and as a Leeds supporter can honestly say he's the best player I've ever seen.
posted on 8/8/24
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
…
He wouldn’t make my top five.
Best, Charlton, Giggs, Scholes and Wazza all above him. And a few more.
posted on 8/8/24
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
+++
no I said it was some United supporters who have actually watched both Best and Ronaldo form this opinion. Not just watched youtube clips og Best. Like you have. Did Jim actually follow United and attend matches in the 60s and early 70s. I doubt it.
posted on 9/8/24
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 12 minutes ago
It's mostly on forums like this I see people say this, tbh. And I suspect the vast majority of those who say it have only seen YouTube clips of George Best. Your 71-year-old current owner for example said Ronaldo is the greatest United player he's watched, ahead of Bobby Charlton (though saying Best is the most "naturally gifted".
+++
no I said it was some United supporters who have actually watched both Best and Ronaldo form this opinion. Not just watched youtube clips og Best. Like you have. Did Jim actually follow United and attend matches in the 60s and early 70s. I doubt it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Best would have been 6-years-old when Jim Ratcliffe was born. Why would you "doubt" whether Jim Ratcliffe watched him play?
I don't think it's complicated. The older United fans would typically claim Best was greater because Best was their generation. People are nostalgic for what they loved in their youth - whether music, films or whatever. And the views of the younger fans who didn't watch Best are influenced by the older fans who did.
posted on 9/8/24
He's the best player who has ever played for united. Never seen him play.
posted on 9/8/24
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 48 minutes ago
Best being more entertaining to watch than Ronaldo is another matter (and he played at Man U much longer), but such was Ronaldo's impact and his accomplishments and individual accolades in his 6 years at Man Utd that he has a pretty good argument as the best to play for the club.
…
He wouldn’t make my top five.
Best, Charlton, Giggs, Scholes and Wazza all above him. And a few more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol....behave. Ronaldo was legitimately the best player in the world at a point at Man U (with all the individual accolades from his peers, media, FIFA, UEFA etc to show for it). Scholes, Giggs and Rooney never were - and were never close to being so.
posted on 9/8/24
It's also strange the way George Best nostalgia makes certain Man U fans deride Ronado's flair as a Man U player. When George Best himself (never renowned for his flattery of players) said that comparing people Ronaldo to him (in Ronaldo's days at Man Utd) was the first time he ever saw such a comparison as a credit to himself.
posted on 9/8/24
I don't think it's complicated. The older United fans would typically claim Best was greater because Best was their generation.
….
It does not work like that no matter how much you want it to. I don’t think Graham Hill or James Hunt were the greatest racing drivers. Likewise no golfers from that time were as exciting to watch as Rory is or Bryson Dechambeau.
I could go on.
posted on 9/8/24
*people comparing Ronaldo
posted on 9/8/24
Lol....behave. Ronaldo was legitimately the best player in the world at a point at Man U (with all the individual accolades from his peers, media, FIFA, UEFA etc to show for it). Scholes, Giggs and Rooney never were - and were never close to being so.
….
In your opinion. Not in mine.
posted on 9/8/24
In all seriousness, yeah I've only watched video clips but I've seen enough to show me I much prefer Best's style of play to any other player I've seen live in my lifetime. Probably only Messi comes close but Best just had something special.
He could easily go left or right and he was hard as nails on the pitch.
I can really appreciate how good they were with those 2 kilo boots, in absolute w@nk conditions with a stupidly heavy ball when I play on my weekend league and there's potholes over the pitch and there is a bit of rain.
My dad used to tell me stories about him all the time when I was younger.
I once met him in the Crowne Plaza in Malta. Never meet your heros they say?
Page 1 of 3