Alan Ball.

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Also is it just me? going off older footage from 70's, 80's, 90's and the 60's the general standard and style of play too me looks more pleasing from 60's to early 70's. had our great team's, Man utd played decent stuff and the quality of top division was very even
 

Granada blue said:
I burst into tears in the street when I saw on a newspaper sellers board that he’d been sold. Absolutely world class, no one comes close, my all time favourite.
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I burst into tears the bright summer morning in 1966 whilst on holiday at Pontins in Morecambe my old fella walking in with the Mirror and said read the back page our Tommy.
 
Eggs said:
...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.
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Yes I saw that interview with Souness.
During his Career the only 2 players he couldn't get near to was Zico and Alan Ball.
AB was fantastic, a fighter who hated losing and always used to score against 'them'... they were afraid of him.
 

Alan Ball was a fantastic player for Everton, he was the difference between winning or losing when he played....

His influence on the field was second to none & he was my favourite player who I had the pleasure to watch live....

His move to Arsenal broke my heart & was so puzzling as to why he was sold at the peak of his career....

Heard various stories why he was sold but surely this was a huge mistake whatever the reasons....

Truly an Everton legend....
 
Westend Blue said:
Also is it just me? going off older footage from 70's, 80's, 90's and the 60's the general standard and style of play too me looks more pleasing from 60's to early 70's. had our great team's, Man utd played decent stuff and the quality of top division was very even
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Football in general back then and before the sky era wasn’t dominated by the top 6. Squads weren’t as big as they are now and the player talent was spread more evenly around the league. In the 70s Everton, Arsenal, Derby, Liverpool, Leeds and Forest all won the league. In the early 80s the likes of Watford, Ipswich and Southampton finished runners up in the league. It was a much more even playing field back then and many would say a better league, then the overhyped premier league of today.
 
Eggs said:
....no doubt, Joey, but we’re just trying to define a ‘type’ of player he was for the majority on here who didn’t see him. Iniesta/Scholes hybrid perhaps.

The clips are brilliant, a few of us were fortunate to be at those games. What a goal from Alex Young against United, such a great mover with a football and what a player Bobby Charlton was but there was only one Alan Ball.
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The GV was adored - Bally was idolised having less off days ......it was a pleasure a memory that will stay in my mind when the GV wearing the no 7 jersey and Bally were in the same team - they were breathtaking.......the bannners in the Gladwys steeet for the GV were tremendous sight as a ten year old it was a picture I will never forget ........
 
rochdaleblue said:
Football in general back then and before the sky era wasn’t dominated by the top 6. Squads weren’t as big as they are now and the player talent was spread more evenly around the league. In the 70s Everton, Arsenal, Derby, Liverpool, Leeds and Forest all won the league. In the early 80s the likes of Watford, Ipswich and Southampton finished runners up in the league. It was a much more even playing field back then and many would say a better league, then the overhyped premier league of today.
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Also the pitches were very poor the referees did not protect players, and as you say any team out of six were in with a chance of winning the title - plus you got fined for playing a weak team - also the FA Cup meant something .........the big teams wanted the double ......
 
Joey66 said:
The GV was adored - Bally was idolised having less off days ......it was a pleasure a memory that will stay in my mind when the GV wearing the no 7 jersey and Bally were in the same team - they were breathtaking.......the bannners in the Gladwys steeet for the GV were tremendous sight as a ten year old it was a picture I will never forget ........
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My late dad wouldn’t disagree with any of that. He said Ball was loved but Alex Young was idolised by the support. He said Alan Ball was the best player he ever saw play for the club and was the more consistent player, whereas he said on his day Alex Young was simply breathtaking with his brilliance. You were lucky to witness both players during this period.
 

rochdaleblue said:
My late dad wouldn’t disagree with any of that. He said Ball was loved but Alex Young was idolised by the support. He said Alan Ball was the best player he ever saw play for the club and was the more consistent player, whereas he said on his day Alex Young was simply breathtaking with his brilliance. You were lucky to witness both players during this period.
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Yes the GV had games where you would not notice him on an off day Bally was always in the hub of the action even if we were getting beat..... I was so luck to see that era of pure football ......
 
a rare book -
83473
 
Set the stands and the team on fire. We were always in with a shout with him on the pitch. Had arrogance, which he usually saved for the other lot. Remember him killing a ball with his arse to the amazement of Peter Thompson. He was the player every fan boy would have been ... but with ability to match the enthusiasm.

By a country mile the best post - war player we've had and, dare I say, will ever have. God rest you, Sir Alan.
 
tommye said:
Just reading this thread almost 50yrs after he left and seeing the passion he invokes in blues of all ages is testament enough to the player Bally was.


He really was the greatest of them all
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I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that when playing against the RS he used to bark to Ron Yeats (original yard dog) when he was trying to kick him. Could never catch him though. Only a little feller but make no mistake he was hard as nails. What I would give for him today
 
Bazlar said:
I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that when playing against the RS he used to bark to Ron Yeats (original yard dog) when he was trying to kick him. Could never catch him though. Only a little feller but make no mistake he was hard as nails. What I would give for him today
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We could never be able to afford him today sadly - he would have been playing for Barcelona etc .....
 

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