Who is your favourite player, and why?

He joined in '96, so might have signed that summer.

For me it's Paul Scholes. Why? I love the way he wears a plaster over his wedding ring during games to avoid removing it, yet I love the fact I can't name his wife. I love that I know nothing about his private life, plus I love his limited television interviews. I love his non-existent over-the-top goal celebrations, yet I love seeing his passion shine through in moments. I love his rather rugged look and I love the way he never removes his shirt. I love the way he's remained a grounded human being in a league full of celebrity egoists, hence perhaps the real reason for quitting international football, and I strangely love the way he always looks shattered. I love his technique, but I love that his reckless tackling means he isn't perfect. I love his surname, and I love how unassuming he seems. I love the fact people think he's shy - I mean, he plays in front of 70,000 every week, ffs - when in fact, he's just normal. I love the fact he apparently still goes down the local with his wife for a pint as opposed to some pretentious bar, so I love the fact he still seems like you and me. I love the fact that he has no agent, and just overall, I love his modesty. Great player, great man.

Cantona would be my second, which might seem bizarre after listing Scholes as my first. I dunno, he had a discreet arrogance about him rather than a full on smugness which I admired. He wouldn't go out of his way to be noticed, I've heard he was pretty introverted, but he simply refused to be intimidated, and if you messed with him, he'd snap and take revenge. I think a healthy trait to have. Pity I can't find this goal with the full break away, but still

Fantastic post, despite the fact it's about a Manure player. ;D

It's amazing how many people don't know how good he was.

I remember my history teacher saying he had 'forged and entire career on one goal' and this was by no means a unique opinion.

Post of the month.

yeah red hot player.

u watch any watford highlight from the 80's and barnes is usually involved in the attacking play.

in that video clip 2:55 is probably my favourite goal of all time. just the way he does it with so much class. just glides across the pitch and perfectly rounds the 2 defenders to slot it home.

yeah sully, lovely post man, really well written.

theres one sentence sully forgot in his scholes post.

i love the fact that his little willy once popped out of his shorts and a picture was taken of it and posted on the internet.

yeah, that was class tbh.

you could also add "I love the fact that he tackled sweden's hard boy håkan mild so hard that he got a bullet hole in his leg".

I'd add zidane to my list, because instead of winning a second world cup for his country on his own he took out materazzi for calling his mum a terrorist whore. best moment in sport ever (that I can think of now)
zidane is somewhat of a combination of pail scholes and eric cantona in a way, in how sully describes them.

or: i love the fact that because his little willy once popped out of his shorts and a picture was taken of it and posted on the internet everything i mentioned above is true

See Barny, Axl gets it.

He's fucking gorgeous as well. Definitely had a bit of a man-crush on him.

stop moaning you cunt we agree.

I would have thought yours would have been a referee tbh

mario basler

german midfielder for bremen, bayern and kaiserslautern. smoked like a chimney, never denied a beer and couldn't be arsed about what people think of him. he was a genius, but also a waste of talent, thanks to his habits. in the 1995 (i think) he was the best goal scorer in the bundesliga. as a fucking MIDFIELDER! what a hero!

here he smashes the interior when shooting the goal wall of german "sportstudio", cos he's pissed after that guy asked stupid questions.