Reid compares current crop to class of '85

[billycopper]

Southall> Howard
Stevens< Coleman
Ratcliffe= Jagielka
Mountfield= Distin
Van den Hauwe< Baines
Bracewell= McCarthy
Reid= Barry
Steven>Mirallas
Gray<Barkley
Sharp<Lukaku
Sheedy>Pienaar

What do you reckon? Lots of similarities. Jags is quick, a leader and reads the game well like Rats. Barry and McCarthy are hard-working without being spectacular like Bracewell and Reid. I think that the major differences though are that Nev made world-class saves on a regular basis, Steven and Sheedy weighed in with more than their fair share of goals, and the team had the right combination of aggression, team spirit and footballing intelligence to see off most opposition. We possibly have more individual quality these days but we don't have quite the same level of understanding and nous as our illustrious forebears.

 

[chicoazul]

The 84-85 team would do the current one.

 

[flibbyflob]

Will be really controversial and say Gray was better than Barkley but that was only because of end product for that season. Give Ross another year or two and it a no brainer. Can't have Jags as equal to Ratcliffe, best defender I seen wearing blue and my favourite ever player so bias will kick in. Tempted to say Stevens was on a par with Coleman too.

 

[quasi modo]

When this team starts winning things that's when you can start comparing them.

 

[Zatara]

Reid ia being very humble there I think.

 

[Del]

Nope

 

[BlueLlama]

Why even bother trying to compare Gray and Barkley ffs?

 

[bluestevon]

Southall> Howard
Stevens< Coleman
Ratcliffe= Jagielka
Mountfield= Distin
Van den Hauwe< Baines
Bracewell= McCarthy
Reid= Barry
Steven>Mirallas
Gray<Barkley
Sharp<Lukaku
Sheedy>Pienaar

What do you reckon? Lots of similarities. Jags is quick, a leader and reads the game well like Rats. Barry and McCarthy are hard-working without being spectacular like Bracewell and Reid. I think that the major differences though are that Nev made world-class saves on a regular basis, Steven and Sheedy weighed in with more than their fair share of goals, and the team had the right combination of aggression, team spirit and footballing intelligence to see off most opposition. We possibly have more individual quality these days but we don't have quite the same level of understanding and nous as our illustrious forebears.

85 team pisses all over the current one mate, it was the best team in Europe at the time never mind England

As for your player v player rating, it gives your age away that you never saw any of the players in the 85 team mate

Ratcliffe - Best defender I've ever seen at us - i love jags but it's not even close mate, Bracewell is what McCarthy will become if he keeps developing and learning - he's not that level yet, Gray and Sharp definitely above the two you compare them to, they were both top top strikers at their peaks in 85, Barkley and Lukaku if they keep developing will possibly both end up better, but their not their yet by a long shot. Stevens was also one of the best rb's in Europe in the mid 80's, until baines came along by a way the best fullback I've seen at everton like

 

[Groucho]

The 84-85 team would do the current one.

I agree, but think it'd be tight. This is the best side we've had since then, I reckon better than the side that played Fiorentina, personally.

These ones surprised me;

Stevens< Coleman
Ratcliffe= Jagielka
Sharp<Lukaku

I'm not saying I disagree, just if an 84/85 squad member is comparing a lot of our squad favourably, Martinez is already on a winner.

 

[Blues Harp]

Once we buried Man U 5-0 in that season we knew we were special.....i don't think we have reached the same level and the comparisons between players from then and now are somewhat artificial - different time and game...what I will say in these early months with RM is that there is now a genuine optimism around the whole club which is similar to when we started to believe in ourselves .... Brock, Sharp v Coventry, - it may take a little more time but our expectations have been raised ...at the moment Radcliffe & co would win..but it would be close COYB !!

 

[chicoazul]

There's only Baines on my list that would get into the 84-85 team at present.

And even then I felt arl arse on Van Den Hauwe.

 

[bluestevon]

There's only Baines on my list that would get into the 84-85 team at present.

And even then I felt arl arse on Van Den Hauwe.

same mate, although must admit part of me started to wonder just how boss would stones be with a year alongside Ratcliffe

 

[chicoazul]

same mate, although must admit part of me started to wonder just how boss would stones be with a year alongside Ratcliffe

Aye, give it time like. Mountfield was probably the weakest out of the defence but then how would you replace his goals? One boss team. We haven't even gave a nod to Richardson, Harper and Heath yet too.

 

[muddy mudguard]

Sharp was 100% without doubt light years ahead of Lukaku. Bloody light years!

 

[billycopper]

85 team pisses all over the current one mate, it was the best team in Europe at the time never mind England

As for your player v player rating, it gives your age away that you never saw any of the players in the 85 team mate

Ratcliffe - Best defender I've ever seen at us - i love jags but it's not even close mate, Bracewell is what McCarthy will become if he keeps developing and learning - he's not that level yet, Gray and Sharp definitely above the two you compare them to, they were both top top strikers at their peaks in 85, Barkley and Lukaku if they keep developing will possibly both end up better, but their not their yet by a long shot. Stevens was also one of the best rb's in Europe in the mid 80's, until baines came along by a way the best fullback I've seen at everton like

I loved Ratcliffe too but Jags has many of the same qualities.

Bracewell was part of a great team but he struggled to make an impact at international level (3 caps) and he didn't inspire any of his subsequent clubs to great things.

Gray and Sharp were very good at what they did but they were technically limited. They could never have ran half the length of the pitch or smashed one in with their 'wrong' foot from outside the area.

I liked Stevens too but the only part of Coleman's game that seems to be lacking at the moment is crossing.

The class of '85 were collectively awesome but a lot of them struggled at international level and when they left Everton. If we could harness the individual ability of our current squad so that they performed as well as a team they would take some beating.