Labone or Ratcliffe......Who was our best Skipper?

[Dario Terracotta]

Discuss Blues..............personally all I would say is we were blessed to have both, interestingly both of them not really vocal but both commanding respect from big characters in the teams of both eras.

 

[blue61]

Best - Labone
Most successful - Ratcliffe

 

[Billysgingham.]

Don't ask the question and then sit on the fence, pick one.

 

[roydo]

Too young to appreciate Labone, yeah, really

 

[onlyme]

Labone, Labone, Labone. Always for me, he was the skipper when I was growing up so will always be the best for me. I had the pleasure of meeting him at Wembley for the Watford FA cup final, true gent and Evertonian. Last of the Corinthians.
Ratcliffe has tarnished his legacy somewhat by overly critical of our club.

 

[blulouie]

Where's the Phil Neville option.




Labone.

 

[Eggs]

...I really think the role of skipper is overplayed, especially in great teams containing players who are dedicated to the cause and know their role in the team.

What I will say is neither Labone or Ratcliffe were vociferous shouters on the pitch. Neither rolled their sleeves up and fought or kicked opponents, neither got down the referees ear to gain an advantage. Some folk on here think these are pre-requisites for a skipper, but they aren’t.

 

[T LEAFE]

Or as a side spin, who has been Everton’s best captain of all time?

 

[kev]

Labone for me.
As @Eggs said above, he wasn't one to ball and shout at referees, and I'm not sure that he was particularly vociferous in urging his team mates on.
What he did do however was lead by example. He could never be accused of going missing in a match, always gave his all.

 

[Groucho]

Like Sophie’s Choice but with footballers, this.

I’ll go Labone for sheer gentlemanly leadership.

 

[Billysgingham.]

...I really think the role of skipper is overplayed, especially in great teams containing players who are dedicated to the cause and know their role in the team.

What I will say is neither Labone or Ratcliffe were vociferous shouters on the pitch. Neither rolled their sleeves up and fought or kicked opponents, neither got down the referees ear to gain an advantage. Some folk on here think these are pre-requisites for a skipper, but they aren’t.

I think it's about being a presence, someone to look to.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Don't ask the question and then sit on the fence, pick one.

I only really saw Ratters,can only go on what my old fella and older Evertonians have told me about Labby,Ratters captained probably the best Everton side I will ever see,but I would have to say Mr Everton would shade it,"the last of the Corinthians"

 

[Blues Harp]

Labone had Bally with him, Ratcliffe had Reidy...

 

[The binman chronicles]

Best player Ratcliffe. Best captain Labone. But I am going from word of mouth on Labone.

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I was lucky enough to meet Labone a few times and he was, as was said before, an absolute gentleman and a real class act. The game at Goodison after he died myself and a lot of other people around me in the main stand that day were in floods. He talked to you kindly and with respect and actually listened to what you had to say rather than just being dismissive of you because of who he was and what he had achieved.

Anyway I know that wasn't the question.

Never saw Labone play. Saw Ratcliffe play many times but was too young to properly understand what I was watching to make a qualified opinion.

So I'm going with option 3. Dave Watson is the best Everton captain I have seen.