Hoddle - Playmaker

[Led's Zeppelin]

I remember Cyril Knowles writing in the Evening Standard that we have a kid here who can do things with a football that no one I've ever seen could do...and remember, Cyril had played alongside Mackay and Greaves

Anyway because of that i couldn't wait to see his debut..and i can remember one thing he did, on the touchline in the opponents half and surrounded by three of them, he did a sort of impossible to understand shimmy and was free, leaving three defenders wondering what had just happened while he put in a sublime cross...i can't remember the opponent (though i could easily look it up) or the score, but that bit of magic, like so much he did, soared above every other consideration.

In my view magic like that doesn't even need trophies, much as we'd love to see more of them, because it transcends the things that have to be won by someone each year...his skill was genuinely unique.

 

[Gassin's finest]

He's the reason I played football, let alone follow spurs. No understatement.

BTW Hazard was a talent. At the legends game that opened the new stadium, he seemed a cut above most others on that pitch, which is saying something.

 

[Cinemattis]

Hoddle would´ve been in the starting 11 for Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Argentina - any of the successful nations during the 80s. For any of us born outside the UK it was baffling how underrated and under appreciated he seemed to be by Bobby Robson. Easily the best and most talented English footballer since late 70s and up til now.

If you look at interviews with Rio Ferdinand and others of that generation that came up during Hoddle´s short stint as England manager, you can easily see how highly they respect and revere him.

 

[StockSpur]

our greatest player

 

[allatsea]

our greatest player

You never saw Dave Mackay or John White play then ?

 

[brisbanespur]

Thanks mate. Just in time for some summer reading. Will pick it up.

I remember growing up loving to watch him play, and wanted to be that sort of player. But every time I took the ball in midfield and tried to play a one two, or carry the ball forward from midfield my manager shouted at me to hit it to the wing or over the top and get back in to position. That prick ruined all my fun.

I feel your pain, when I ever tried the same, The coach would just shout at me "your not french, get rid of it". I think its why I enjoyed playing 5 aside or just kickabouts in the park more than actual matches

 

[Spursmatty87]

Pretty much missed hoddle. The 87 cup final was Tommy first memory of a spurs game. But love watching old clips of him.

 

[cabinfever]

You never saw Dave Mackay or John White play then ?

Would you put Kane in that elite group? (and Jimmy G).

I never saw White and only caught the end of Mackay!!

 

[allatsea]

Would you put Kane in that elite group? (and Jimmy G).

I never saw White and only caught the end of Mackay!!

All Elite players IMO. However for me Mackay and White are our best ever players BUT Kane is catching them up very fast.

 

[cabinfever]

All Elite players IMO. However for me Mackay and White are our best ever players BUT Kane is catching them up very fast.

Agree about Kane, I'd put him ahead of Hoddle as regards value to a team. He has it all really, great defender, superb passing and vision along with the extraordinary ability to score goals. (I'll probably be burned at the stake for that opinion!!!).

I did love Hoddle too and he should have been the cornerstone of that England team for years!!

 

[bigfrooj]

Great book. Hoddle is my all time hero. Really was magical. The fella could put backspin on a football, it doesn't even make sense

 

[Gassin's finest]

Great book. Hoddle is my all time hero. Really was magical. The fella could put backspin on a football, it doesn't even make sense

That wasn't that hard to do when the balls used to made of proper leather and weigh a metric tonne. These days... they just float.

 

[Jamturk]

I have tears in my eyes just reading this thread.

 

[Gilzean at the near post]

On song Hoddle's play was a thing of beauty. He didn't control a game like a Modric or Souness where they work hard, set the tempo and play short passes to colleagues. Hoddle had complete control of the football and a 360 degree vision of every player on the pitch. He could receive the ball in tight positions and find a pass anywhere with the necessary spin to control the flight as would Seve Ballesteros when chipping to the green. Hoddle would always look for the dangerous rather than safe pass.
He was a joy to watch and having started watching Spurs in the late 60's I've not seen a player come near him.
The sad thing is at times a journeyman like Sammy Lee kept him out of the England side (it could only happen in this country!)

 

[JimmyG2]

Hoddle had what I came to regard as the essential Tottenham 'elegance'
though few players actually had it.
Berbatov obviously, Gilzean and Betancur currently.
Gascoign and JimmyG1 were greats but in other ways.