linnyplant 303 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I have been following Rangers since the early to mid sixties and since that time I have so many wonderful Rangers players grace the famous blue jersey. Recently I was in a conversation at work about the best players to have played against Rangers at Ibrox . Here is my top five which will I am sure be completely different from your top five. I also give my reasons for choosing these players.Franz Beckenbauer= The most skillful centre back I have ever seen. He played against us five times and I first saw him at Ibrox in a uefa cup tie and he just strolled around the park passing the ball with the outside of his foot all night long. A fantastic performance that night and Bayern knocked us out.We did however get our own back a couple of seasons later and Colin Stein gave the Kaiser the biggest runaround of his life in the semi final ,forcing him to toe the ball into the centenary stand more than once that wonderful night. Never the less Franz Beckenbauer was majestic the first time he played at Ibrox.Alan Ball- Bally came to Ibrox with Arsenal to play a friendly in the early seventies and his midfield play was an absolute joy to watch. He had boundless energy and was a pocket dynamo his passing and first touch were superb that day and the Rangers midfield struggled to cope with the wee ginger guy with the white boots on.We just couldn't close him down. he gave a midfield master class that day.Johann Cruyff- Like Beckenbauer Cruyff was one of the best players to have ever graced the world stage and I was again very fortunate to have seen him play at Ibrox when an impressionable young teenager from Kinning Park. All I can say is if you weren't there that night when we played Ajax in the super cup then you missed something truly special. Cruyff had everything -elegance ,style, pace and a fantastic football brain.Mario Kempes - The Argentinian world cup winner played at Ibrox for Valencia in the early 80s I think. He was a striking figure with his flowing black hair and he had skill, pace and power. Kempes was superb for Valencia and scored at Ibrox to knock us out the cup.Frank Riykard Played at Ibrox in a pre season tournament with Ajax after they had won the european cup.I think he was just 18 at the time and he just oozed class and ran the show from mid field ,it was no surprise to me that he went on to sign for AC Milan and played in one of the greatest club sides ever with Van Basten and Gulit.Well thats my five ,but I would also like to mention one other player who I know will not please some on RM. Jimmy Jonstone - Jinky tormented Ranger defences for a good five years and his ability to twist and turn his way past defenders was astonishing (and painful to watch) at times. A wonderful Scottish winger.Jinky got introduced to John Grieg who went to left back. Griegy introduced Jinky to the running track around Ibrox. He was never as effective against Rangers again. I happened to end up working with wee Jinky when we were both at Lafferty Builders in the 1980s, but thats a story for another time.Remember its not about the greatest players who came to Ibrox its about the best performances from players.For example Messi played at Ibrox but did he have a world class performance that night? Over to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEPPS BOY 73,762 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Robert ProsineckiClaudio LopezGaika mendietaJoan roman RiquelmeLilian Thuram Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 4,868 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hard to pick just 5 ...MessiRooneyCantonaGiggsXaviIniestaVan NistelrooyDel PieroMatthausVollerVialliKluivertLampardScholesBeckhamLoads I've forgot Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott12003 710 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 illiam thuram good for 5 we should clone him 5 times Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingWilBEARy 4,319 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 1. Abede Pele - outstanding in an outstanding Marseille team.2. Lotthar Matthius (sp) - Didn't have a very good game but was good to see someone like him in the flesh.3. Hagi - see above4. Mendieta - Was outstanding in a fantastic Valencia team.5. Del Piero. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcbear 10,913 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Kempes for sure/Brady and Rummenige were class, Ardiles made it look simple and Mendieta was brilliant probably tons more but these 5 shot to mind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 4,868 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hard to think how fast Mendieta went downhill when he left Valencia. He was world class in midfield with that guy Baraja .... they defo peaked and had their prime from 98-2003 or so Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLE SUPER WILBERT 2,475 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 HenryLampardGerrardScholesNade Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sco22y 280 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Don't know about five but juan roman riquelme was a joy to watch even if it was against our own club. Don't think he gave the ball away all night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 PuskasDi StefanoEusebioGreavesCruyff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcb 1,167 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 1 Cruyff2 Platini3 Beckenbauer4 Rijkaard5 Kempes Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingWilBEARy 4,319 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hard to think how fast Mendieta went downhill when he left Valencia. He was world class in midfield with that guy Baraja .... they defo peaked and had their prime from 98-2003 or soThe striker they had - Lopez? - was class as well, just completely disappeared after leaving Valencia. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameron1873 510 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 buffonIniestaBenzemaMessiThuramNot in that order Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEPPS BOY 73,762 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hard to think how fast Mendieta went downhill when he left Valencia. He was world class in midfield with that guy Baraja .... they defo peaked and had their prime from 98-2003 or so'The Aberdeen of Spain'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueblue68 2,497 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 The Juventus and Ajax teams that beat us at Ibrox in the 90's had so many world class players that even now i shake my head. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnyplant 303 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 PuskasDi StefanoEusebioGreavesCruyffHi Ed I told Clan Macrae that you would pick Puskas, Di Stefano and Eusebio. I know you well LOL!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 4,868 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 The striker they had - Lopez? - was class as well, just completely disappeared after leaving Valencia.Think he went to Inter Milan and had a couple of good years but faded too ....Some team they had ... Medieta ... Baraja.... Lopez ... Caniraes ... Kiky Gonzalez ... Vlaovic ... Adrian Ille ... etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coatbrigpirate 23 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Yous have stole me thunder with requelme he was a class act, seen em all in ibrox but he is one I remember, how the fuk didn't we go to the last 8 that year Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hi Ed I told Clan Macrae that you would pick Puskas, Di Stefano and Eusebio. I know you well LOL!!!Hi Linny,An age thing lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuistraHairDo 12,489 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 off the top of my head i can remember 5 players in the same gameBartezDesaillyBoksicVollerDeschamps and I want to say Jean Piere Papin? but not to sure about that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnyplant 303 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hi Linny,An age thing lolThats right ED and its interesting to see the younger bears picking recent players and the older bears picking players going way back. Us older bears were lucky to see the truly great players Unlucky young bears!!! LOL!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 I have been following Rangers since the early to mid sixties and since that time I have so many wonderful Rangers players grace the famous blue jersey. Recently I was in a conversation at work about the best players to have played against Rangers at Ibrox . Here is my top five which will I am sure be completely different from your top five. I also give my reasons for choosing these players.Franz Beckenbauer= The most skillful centre back I have ever seen. He played against us five times and I first saw him at Ibrox in a uefa cup tie and he just strolled around the park passing the ball with the outside of his foot all night long. A fantastic performance that night and Bayern knocked us out.We did however get our own back a couple of seasons later and Colin Stein gave the Kaiser the biggest runaround of his life in the semi final ,forcing him to toe the ball into the centenary stand more than once that wonderful night. Never the less Franz Beckenbauer was majestic the first time he played at Ibrox.Alan Ball- Bally came to Ibrox with Arsenal to play a friendly in the early seventies and his midfield play was an absolute joy to watch. He had boundless energy and was a pocket dynamo his passing and first touch were superb that day and the Rangers midfield struggled to cope with the wee ginger guy with the white boots on.We just couldn't close him down. he gave a midfield master class that day.Johann Cruyff- Like Beckenbauer Cruyff was one of the best players to have ever graced the world stage and I was again very fortunate to have seen him play at Ibrox when an impressionable young teenager from Kinning Park. All I can say is if you weren't there that night when we played Ajax in the super cup then you missed something truly special. Cruyff had everything -elegance ,style, pace and a fantastic football brain.Mario Kempes - The Argentinian world cup winner played at Ibrox for Valencia in the early 80s I think. He was a striking figure with his flowing black hair and he had skill, pace and power. Kempes was superb for Valencia and scored at Ibrox to knock us out the cup.Frank Riykard Played at Ibrox in a pre season tournament with Ajax after they had won the european cup.I think he was just 18 at the time and he just oozed class and ran the show from mid field ,it was no surprise to me that he went on to sign for AC Milan and played in one of the greatest club sides ever with Van Basten and Gulit.Well thats my five ,but I would also like to mention one other player who I know will not please some on RM. Jimmy Jonstone - Jinky tormented Ranger defences for a good five years and his ability to twist and turn his way past defenders was astonishing (and painful to watch) at times. A wonderful Scottish winger.Jinky got introduced to John Grieg who went to left back. Griegy introduced Jinky to the running track around Ibrox. He was never as effective against Rangers again. I happened to end up working with wee Jinky when we were both at Lafferty Builders in the 1980s, but thats a story for another time.Remember its not about the greatest players who came to Ibrox its about the best performances from players.For example Messi played at Ibrox but did he have a world class performance that night? Over to you.Re Alan Ball Linny.....Arsenal play in yellow that day at Ibrox Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Thats right ED and its interesting to see the younger bears picking recent players and the older bears picking players going way back. Us older bears were lucky to see the truly great players Unlucky young bears!!! LOL!!!spot on Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelrug 268 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 RiquelmeMendietaDel PieroArshavinAugenthaler Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnyplant 303 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share Posted September 4, 2013 Re Alan Ball Linny.....Arsenal play in yellow that day at IbroxI can remember that strip but its in my mind that it was red and white. Not sure ED Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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