Alan Ball.

[JJB77EFC]

Heard my arl fella laud Alan ball for years and heard other ex-pros talk about him. But for blues of an older age could I have views on how good he was for us and why he left in his prime?

 

[The binman chronicles]

why he left in his prime

Because we are not allowed nice things, that is the Everton way.

 

[Joey66]

Heard my arl fella laud Alan ball for years and heard other ex-pros talk about him. But for blues of an older age could I have views on how good he was for us and why he left in his prime?

Mr perpetual motion best box to box goalscoring midfielder you could ever see in a blue [Poor language removed] = he was World Class - plus no way could we afford him today - why we sold him only The Catt knew that a big blunder imo....

 

[tommye]

Little Curly Alan Ball,
he's the greatest of them all

 

[Eggs]

...simply the best ever, i idolised him.

 

[kev]

Alan Ball was one of only a very small handful of truly world class players to have ever played for us.
On his day he was simply unplayable and would dictate games. Even on his rare off days you could always guarantee 100pc effort.
The term 'perpetual motion' could have been invented for Bally.
Why was he sold? I've asked myself that every day for the past 49 years

 

[LEONARD]

208 games for Everton, and 66 goals.

What a player.

 

[JJB77EFC]

Alan Ball was one of only a very small handful of truly world class players to have ever played for us.
On his day he was simply unplayable and would dictate games. Even on his rare off days you could always guarantee 100pc effort.
The term 'perpetual motion' could have been invented for Bally.
Why was he sold? I've asked myself that every day for the past 49 years

That team should have won more with the talent they had but the rot set in the season after seemingly. Golden era for older Blues that should have seen more of it.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

For those of us never to have seen him play, what modern player is the closest comparison to him?

 

[klingklang]

My hero when I was growing up, still my favourite ever player. Had a signed shirt from an FA Cup game at Wolves, various house moves later and it went missing

 

[LEONARD]

For those of us never to have seen him play, what modern player is the closest comparison to him?

I can only think of KDB at Man City.

 

[rochdaleblue]

My late dad said the selling of Bally knocked the stuffing out of the club. He said the fans were in disbelief and dare I say it, so were the the players and we never recovered. Catterick’s health was failing and so was his judgement. He hated the RS as much as anyone, but he said Bally was as influential to Everton as Gerrard was to the RS. Bally led by example he said, was the heartbeat of the team. He said George Best was the best ever player he saw live at Goodison in his prime, but Ball was the best Everton player. Two world class players.

 

[rochdaleblue]

I can only think of KDB at Man City.

My dad passed away some 15 years ago but from what he told me I can see why you suggested KDB. He only mentioned Gerrard as Bally would time and time again stamp his influence on the game as unfortunately Gerrard used to.

 

[Eggs]

For those of us never to have seen him play, what modern player is the closest comparison to him?

...very good question. I always think he was a ‘tiki taki’ player before Barcelona tiki taki was invented. Graeme Souness was some midfielder and he said he played against Ball when he was nearing the end of his career and couldn’t get near him, it was touch and always on the move.

He’d also get in great goalscoring positions and score. He’d score in the big games, he’d score when his team most needed. Great mentality, with the ability to sit on the ball during a game because he could.

Scholes/Iniesta hybrid perhaps.

 

[royalblue66]

Alan Ball leaving us still hurts after all these years, best I have seen in the royalblue.