Who was the best you've seen?

[Zippity]

Obviously, Shearer is the greatest striker but, in terms of skill/ability, who's the best you've seen?

Prime Beardsley is hard to look past, imo. That second stint with us was just a different level at times.

Yours?

[Jammy89]

Aye - prime Beardsley has to be up there.

For 6 months Cisse was basically unplayable if that counts.

[Zippity]

It does and that's a great shout, Jammy.

I guess this thread is as much about personal experience as it is a more generally held view of 'who was good for us'.

[ex_pat_magpie]

Obviously, Shearer is the greatest striker but, in terms of skill/ability, who's the best you've seen?

Prime Beardsley is hard to look past, imo. That second stint with us was just a different level at times.

Yours?

I'd have to add to those two Jackie Milburn and Bobby Mitchell, All four were superb.

[MidsMagpie]

David Ginola he was magical.

[Ragatino]

David Ginola he was magical.

For Newcastle: Ginola, Beardo, Shearer, Gazza, Ben Arfa, Robert.

In general. Rivaldo, R9, Ronaldinho (at PSG epic), Messi & Ronaldinho, Xavi & Inesta (for Barcelona v Velencia)

Ibrahimavic (at Ajax v Feyenoord) in the 1-1 draw early 2000s. He was superb. It booted off big time between the Ajax and Feyenoord boys afterwards.

[Zippity]

If Ben Arfa had been more of a team player-and more consistent-he'd be right up there.

Mind, we all knew at the time, that if he had those two attributes, he wouldn't have been playing for us.

Aye, Ginola was special, like.

[MidsMagpie]

Non Newcastle for me its Dragan Stojkovic he was amazing at italia 90 one of the best players in the tournament and would have been even better at euro 92 and usa 94 if Yugoslavia were not unfairly banned, and Zico an absolute genius.

[toonviking]

Well, if its Skill and ability, at their top level;

Newcastle: Ben Arfa, Ginola

In general: Messi, Zidane

[toptoon]

Beardsley for me. Waddle was a joy to watch on his day too. A lazy style of dribbling, he?d just glide past players. I remember Jackie Charlton saying that he?s so deceptive because he always looks knackered but it?s just his way! 😆

[HughieG]

When I went to St. James', I saw Tonali. It wasn't his best match, but he was probably the greatest player I've ever seen live.

Before that, Ben Arfa and Ciss? were pretty amazing. Cabaye was also a superb player. I'd have to include him on the list.

And obviously the legendary wingers Gouffran and Obertan!

[Guybrush]

Ooooh, Shefki Kuqi 😆

But that first half season we had Cisse he was on a different level and could score from anywhere - wasn?t it him at an international game who scored with a header from 20 yards out 😳

[Ragatino]

Ooooh, Shefki Kuqi 😆

But that first half season we had Cisse he was on a different level and could score from anywhere - wasn?t it him at an international game who scored with a header from 20 yards out 😳

Cult legend Leon Best

[HughieG]

Cult legend Leon Best

Fun fact about Leon Best: He scored 10 goals for 7 clubs after he left us before he retired.

[Ragatino]

Fun fact about Leon Best: He scored 10 goals for 7 clubs after he left us before he retired.

Good lad in general. A rare positive in a very miserable period of modern club history. Lovenkrands was another.

Whilst these lads were never gonna be on the levels of the truly elite players like Zidane etc, what they gave me as a fan, at that time, was a sense of pride and hope.

Big respect for the likes of Kev Nolan for his professionalism, dogged determination, world class sh!thousery and unwillingness to compromise or bend the knee to the fat man or let the noise around the club dictate the out come of results.

Barton love him or hate him like Nolan in his own was was 'the best I've ever seen' at seriously p**sing off opponents and manage to get results at a time when hope was in short supply.