Post by QPR Report on Jun 23, 2009 6:54:02 GMT
One day they'll do QPR's 50 Greatest...But we don't have to wait...!
The Times
The 50 greatest Arsenal players
From Cesc Fàbregas to Bob Wilson and Liam Brady to Tony Adams, the best footballers in the club's history
9 Frank McLintock
1964-73, 408 appearances, 32 goals
A man who was always up for "it", whether "it" was brawling in the streets with Lazio players or dragging an exhausted team over the line to clinch the double in extra-time in the 1971 Cup Final. That team may lack the glamour of Chapman or Wenger's sides, but it shouldn't be dismissed lightly. The double was a tremendous feat, made possible by in a large part by sheer bloodymindedness as embodied by their captain.
21 David Seaman
1990-2004, 564 appearances
Great, great keeper but not as great as he thought - particularly after he became David Seaman England Hero post Euro 96. Still, he had played through the pain barrier in two great runs in Europe in 1994 and 95 and had almost as good a first season at the club as Jens Lehmann (losing 1 league game to the German's 0). Despite his wish to be a TV personality he isn't as much fun as the German either.
32 Kenny Sansom
1980-88, 394 appearances, 6 goals
Footballers are supposed to be big and athletic, at least compared to a 14-year-old, which was the age I met Kenny Sansom and was disappointed to find I was taller than him. But footballers don't have to be any particular shape when they are as talented as this left back. He played in some poor Arsenal sides but his partnership with Graham Rix was remarkable.
+ A Couple who SHOULD/Could have been QPR
10 Liam Brady
1973-80, 307 appearances, 59 goals
Responsible for a whole generation of children of Irish descent supporting Arsenal, Brady disappeared to Italy before he'd really got going. Arguably he had a bigger impact on Arsenal by leaving than he ever could by staying. He seemed irreplaceable. Still we had memories of that goal at White Hart Lane, his performance in the 1979 FA Cup final and much more besides.
11 Ian Wright
1992-1998, 288 appearances, 185 goals
Most people remember Ian Wright's footballing career with some fondness, mainly because he was on the television less. It was hard for other Arsenal players to get a look in when Wrighty was around - twice Kevin Campbell scored hat-tricks in game only for Wright's one spectacular effort to claim all the headlines. How many true goal poachers had his ability to score so many outrageous strikes?
17 Charlie George
1969-75, 179 appearances, 49 goals
The local boy made good who still works at the club, George was paradoxically one of the chief bad boys in an era of rebels. But for all the long hair and flashy image, it is as a player that George fascinates most - according to Brian Glanville, George had 'every conceivable gift in abundance save self-discipline'. Islington's finest.
+ Our ex youth Coach
40 George Graham
1966-72, 308 appearances, 77 goals
With a nickname that would come back to haunt him, 'Stroller' Graham bought the class to a workmanlike midfield in his playing days. It's often said that Graham the manager would have no time for Graham the player, though it is hard to believe that 'Gorgeous' George would be able to look at his younger self with anything than a deep admiration.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article6503542.ece?print=yes&randnum=1245739582354e
The Times
The 50 greatest Arsenal players
From Cesc Fàbregas to Bob Wilson and Liam Brady to Tony Adams, the best footballers in the club's history
9 Frank McLintock
1964-73, 408 appearances, 32 goals
A man who was always up for "it", whether "it" was brawling in the streets with Lazio players or dragging an exhausted team over the line to clinch the double in extra-time in the 1971 Cup Final. That team may lack the glamour of Chapman or Wenger's sides, but it shouldn't be dismissed lightly. The double was a tremendous feat, made possible by in a large part by sheer bloodymindedness as embodied by their captain.
21 David Seaman
1990-2004, 564 appearances
Great, great keeper but not as great as he thought - particularly after he became David Seaman England Hero post Euro 96. Still, he had played through the pain barrier in two great runs in Europe in 1994 and 95 and had almost as good a first season at the club as Jens Lehmann (losing 1 league game to the German's 0). Despite his wish to be a TV personality he isn't as much fun as the German either.
32 Kenny Sansom
1980-88, 394 appearances, 6 goals
Footballers are supposed to be big and athletic, at least compared to a 14-year-old, which was the age I met Kenny Sansom and was disappointed to find I was taller than him. But footballers don't have to be any particular shape when they are as talented as this left back. He played in some poor Arsenal sides but his partnership with Graham Rix was remarkable.
+ A Couple who SHOULD/Could have been QPR
10 Liam Brady
1973-80, 307 appearances, 59 goals
Responsible for a whole generation of children of Irish descent supporting Arsenal, Brady disappeared to Italy before he'd really got going. Arguably he had a bigger impact on Arsenal by leaving than he ever could by staying. He seemed irreplaceable. Still we had memories of that goal at White Hart Lane, his performance in the 1979 FA Cup final and much more besides.
11 Ian Wright
1992-1998, 288 appearances, 185 goals
Most people remember Ian Wright's footballing career with some fondness, mainly because he was on the television less. It was hard for other Arsenal players to get a look in when Wrighty was around - twice Kevin Campbell scored hat-tricks in game only for Wright's one spectacular effort to claim all the headlines. How many true goal poachers had his ability to score so many outrageous strikes?
17 Charlie George
1969-75, 179 appearances, 49 goals
The local boy made good who still works at the club, George was paradoxically one of the chief bad boys in an era of rebels. But for all the long hair and flashy image, it is as a player that George fascinates most - according to Brian Glanville, George had 'every conceivable gift in abundance save self-discipline'. Islington's finest.
+ Our ex youth Coach
40 George Graham
1966-72, 308 appearances, 77 goals
With a nickname that would come back to haunt him, 'Stroller' Graham bought the class to a workmanlike midfield in his playing days. It's often said that Graham the manager would have no time for Graham the player, though it is hard to believe that 'Gorgeous' George would be able to look at his younger self with anything than a deep admiration.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article6503542.ece?print=yes&randnum=1245739582354e