Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Not sure if this will have legs, but... I was chatting to a younger Dons fan the other night and telling them about some of the players who won us the ECWC. I was explaining that McLeish was a very classy centre half and I was asked for comparisons with any players playing today. I suggested there was perhaps similarities to the likes of (Rio) Fedinand or Pique. Which got me thinking, who in world football today could we compare to some of the team who won us the ECWC? Jim Leighton Doug Rougvie Alex McLeish Willie Miller John McMaster Neale Cooper Gordon Strachan Neil Simpson Mark McGhee Eric Black Peter Weir John Hewitt Stuart Kennedy Bryan Gunn Andy Watson Ian Angus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ally s Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I was only 3 when we won the ECWC so I'm not even going to attempt to compare similarities. What I would say is imo you don't get keepers like Jim Leighton anymore, always held the ball when he could. Most keepers nowadays tend to punch/parry it away. That's my view anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Tradesman Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I was only 3 when we won the ECWC so I'm not even going to attempt to compare similarities. What I would say is imo you don't get keepers like Jim Leighton anymore, always held the ball when he could. Most keepers nowadays tend to punch/parry it away. That's my view anyway. I dunno, I think Van de Sarr would spring to mind but maybe because he's of a different generation of 'keeper. Although Jimbo couldn't kick a ball for toffee due to his bandy legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 I too thought of Van der Sar for Leighton. Couldn't really think of anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgowdon Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Simmy - Essien but less of a dick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Not sure if this will have legs, but... I was chatting to a younger Dons fan the other night and telling them about some of the players who won us the ECWC. I was explaining that McLeish was a very classy centre half and I was asked for comparisons with any players playing today. I suggested there was perhaps similarities to the likes of (Rio) Fedinand or Pique. Don't agree with Ferdinand there at all. Pique or Vidic, can play a bit as in can pass the ball out of defence but primarily there for their physical presence, not blessed with a huge amount of pace (which, for a centre back, Ferdinand certainly is/was) but quick enough to get themselves out of a hole. Ferdinand is nowhere near as physical a player as McLeish was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Vidic is probably a better comparison for Big Eck. Jim Leighton - VDS Doug Rougvie - Alex McLeish - Vidic Willie Miller - Lucio John McMaster - Neale Cooper - Gordon Strachan - Fabregas Neil Simpson - Mark McGhee - Tevez Eric Black - Torres? (more like Van Basten but he's hardly contemporary), Pavylucenko? Peter Weir - Messi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptayles Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Doug Rougvie- Puyol? Without the hair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtS Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I'd say Willie Miller was more like Puyol. And Mcleish was a far better/more effective player than Vidic IMO opinion. Neil Simpson = Roy Keane Peter Weir = David Beckham Gordon Strachan = Messi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I'd say Willie Miller was more like Puyol. Peter Weir = David Beckham Really can't agree there CtS I'm afraid. Miller's reading of the game was exceptional, something I find a bit lacking in Puyol who is a more blood and guts defender who also lacks Miller's class on the ball. Really not sure who I'd compare Miller with these days, the game is so different now and you don't see many guys in Miller's style. At a push, maybe Ayala at his peak because he sat a bit deeper and his reading of the game was excellent, as well as being a hard bastard. Weir's forte was beating players on the wing, something Beckham rarely did because he didn't have the quickness or trickery of Weir. I'd say Giggs was a better fit for Weir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Really can't agree there CtS I'm afraid. Miller's reading of the game was exceptional, something I find a bit lacking in Puyol who is a more blood and guts defender who also lacks Miller's class on the ball. Really not sure who I'd compare Miller with these days, the game is so different now and you don't see many guys in Miller's style. At a push, maybe Ayala at his peak because he sat a bit deeper and his reading of the game was excellent, as well as being a hard bastard. Weir's forte was beating players on the wing, something Beckham rarely did because he didn't have the quickness or trickery of Weir. I'd say Giggs was a better fit for Weir. Agree with the above. Can't think of anyone else to compare with for Weir. As for Puyol, he is a great tackler, but as you say does not have the same class as Miller had. Further up, I'm not sure about Strachan and Fabregas. Both are/were exciting players who drive/drove their teams forward, but Strachan was very much a winger in his days with us!? How about Aaron Lennon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Nah, Strachan relied on his guile rather than pace to beat a man but he also tucked in quite a lot. Maybe Iniesta rather than Fabrega? I thought about Ayala for WM but Miller was more of a leader. as as mentioned there aren't a whole load of real sweepers playing today. Lucio is as close as I can think of today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtS Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Miller was more like Puyol than Rougvie, is the the point I was making in reply to Ptayles post. There are no modern players that compare to Rougvie, none that I can think of anyway. He was quite unique. The Giggs/Weir comparison I agree with, but I think Weir's crossing was more like Beckhams, he was also the first player I saw scoring direct from a free kick, which is obviously Beckham's trade mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Rougvie was hardly unique though. He was probably THE stereotypical 80s full back. An athlete with tree trunk legs who'd bomb about all day. Stuart Pearce, Viv Anderson, Mel Sterland, Gary Stevens types. I'd say there has been a move away from that type of fullback though the boy Ivanovic fae Chelsea is a possible. Black = Berbatov? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptayles Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 At the end of the day Rougvie was not exactly talented and there are plenty of defender who just put the head on the line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 So Broadfoot it is then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Nah, Strachan relied on his guile rather than pace to beat a man but he also tucked in quite a lot. Maybe Iniesta rather than Fabregas? Yep, great shout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Rougvie was hardly unique though. He was probably THE stereotypical 80s full back. An athlete with tree trunk legs who'd bomb about all day. Stuart Pearce, Viv Anderson, Mel Sterland, Gary Stevens types. I'd say there has been a move away from that type of fullback though the boy Ivanovic fae Chelsea is a possible. Black = Berbatov? Michel Salgado at his peak was probably a Rougvie style player, nothing fancy and basically just a tough nut, probably had a bit more pace and offered a bit more in an attacking sense as a result. Black's a tough one, I'd have always have said a mix between van Basten (as you'd mentioned earlier) and Mark Hughes. Could lead the line well and combined strength and power with such a lovely touch and lethal finishing. Possibly better in the air than Hughes and van Basten though. Cooper is a hard one as well because he wouldn't have lasted two seconds in the game these days. He was also actually a centre half by trade, and not a midfielder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ally s Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I don't think there's any one player you could compare Miller with. You'd have to take certain attributes from a few central defenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Black's a tough one, I'd have always have said a mix between van Basten (as you'd mentioned earlier) and Mark Hughes. Could lead the line well and combined strength and power with such a lovely touch and lethal finishing. Possibly better in the air than Hughes and van Basten though. Black was an incredible header of a football, one of the best I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ally s Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Black was an incredible header of a football, one of the best I've ever seen. Would Larsson be a fair comparison for Black? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Would Larsson be a fair comparison for Black? Definitely in terms of heading prowess. both had an amazing leap and seemed to almost hang in the air longer than you'd ever think possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Aye, Black was awesome in the air, maybe Alan Shearer is a good shout. Both classic British Centre fowards with great touch. Salgado is a good call, hard as nails as well with a nasty streak. Hewitt - Lethal. OG Solskjaer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilbobaggins Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Would Larsson be a fair comparison for Black? Aye, decent shout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Alan Shearer was a dirty cheating bastard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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