I lived in West Ham and would often see Clyde Best walking past my house on his way to the match, he always said hello and had time for us lads. Frank Lampard senior was often at Memorial park and I stood next to him at Wanstead flats once watching a Sunday league game. I loved the announcement of team members before the match started at Upton Park. Great times standing in the North Bank, wish I had a time machine.
I love watching these games again from back in the day, I was a 9 year old Spurs supporter at the time of this match, nearly 60 now, still a Spurs supporter lol but I was also a fan of the football I grew up watching from back then with so many legends of the game as we know them nowadays!
I was there for this match. Being a West Ham supporter and delighted with the result I must say Denis Law was outstanding and got my vote for best player on the day.
This game took place while WH were involved in their 4-match LC semi-final saga against Stoke. Geoff Hurst missed/Gordon Banks saved a late extra time penalty in the second leg at Upton Park to take the tie to 2 replays. The first was at Hillsborough, about a 50 mile drive from Stoke and about 170 from London. Result 0-0. The 2nd replay was held at Old Trafford! - even further from London and even closer to Stoke! I complained long and loud to the FL but, of course, to no avail. Bobby Moore took over in goal for part of the 2nd replay and saved a penalty. Stoke won 3-2 anyway and it was a miserable drive back home. If only Hurst had taken that 2nd leg extra time penalty like he took the one in this match.
ExEssex - That game at Old Trafford stands out in my memory as one of the best matches I have ever seen. Played in pouring rain on a waterlogged pitch and packed with drama. You are right about Bobby Moore saving a penalty (from Mickey Bernard) but Bernard followed up to put in the rebound. Such a shame for either side to get knocked out. It was a game that would have made a fantastic final.
Following this game, Best missed training for a week, (his discontent was just showing here) was dropped for the next match vs Wolves, 1-3. This was the first of a run of 7 straight league losses for United, an unwanted club record. It looked a great match, thanks for the upload.
United's last hurrah. We'd been going well in the league for a while before that slump. When we were top, Best was asked about our chances for the league and he said we'd finish eighth.
Best also walked out on United towards the end of the season, journalists eventually tracked him down in Marbella. Then he went awol again after the 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in December, just before Docherty took over.
Thanks for this channel whoever you are. The best of times was football in the late 60's and in the70's. If you got hurt or dived you were considered a big girls blouse. COYI
Shane mcnamara, so true. I thought i was the only one that noticed that lol. It was actually a good header from best and you could see there was power behind it, but it was strait at the goal keeper. But i have noticed now i am looking back at the games from the 1960s and 70s and 80s also but not as much becouse i thinck people were starting to write in to the bbc and tell them. And thats that the commentators are exaggerating how good or brilliant a shot or header and a goal is, when really its mostly basic stuff and a player scored from 5 yards out but the commentator said "and that was a well taken goal once again by this man" when the goal keeper was on the ground 7 feet away lol. I noticed the 1960s was really bad for it, especialy when george best passed the ball to denis law who was 10 yards away, and the commentator said "and thats a beautiful pass there from best to law" i thought uck come on this is taken it too far! When i read comments about it alot of people said the same thing, it was to make the game look alot better than it really was especialy when it came to all the big names, but even the not so big names as well. And am sure the commentators were told to do this. Becouse they all did it.
i remember living across the road from the boleyn ground in 2013 - 2016 best times ever i loved west ham then and i would always get tickets to the games as i literally lived acros the road! best times ever i really wish i had a time machine!
I saw that game. As I recall it was after this game that George Best went AWOL, the beginning if his rapid decline. And looking at this from the perspective of 2024, how remarkably open it was. No low block defending with nine men behind the ball. Attackers attacked, and defenders defended. It made for such wonderful entertainment. And what players: Charlton, Law, Best, and Moore, Hurst, Bonds, Brooking and Pop Robson. And note Lampard and Redknapp seniors.
@tony may, denis law was a great player. But george best was the supporters joy! Best was the greatest player in the world from 1966 to 1972. But it should have been from 1966 to 1980. So sad he walked out at age just 26.
Brings back memories. We were riding high at the top of the First Division for a few months under Frank O'Farrell but then we went on an incredible losing streak starting with this defeat. We didn't win a game again until March when we beat Huddersfield 2-0. We ended up 8th, where George Best predicted we would be.
How bizarre to find this comment ...from NZ all I can say is I was there and I was 13 too ...nuts! Not even sure why I looked this up. . Can't remember the game too well remember a lot of trouble on the tube getting there . I travelled from Chatham via central London. Take care out there and greetings.
@@williambyfleet9573 not so far for me- Barking. I even caught a glimpse of myself on the big match the next day. and I still have the match program safely stored away
@@redalligator8342 Hope you still go even if its not Upton Park. No real soccer here in New Zealand and I miss it ... I note they sing a very PC version of Bubbles these days it used to end with something like ''wer'e the West Ham boot boys and we are running after you'' or some such sentiment. Stay safe ... I have nothing further to add.
So many memories of those days when it was proper football and no namby pamby divers and cheats full blooded and great football I'm an Evertonian and it was electric at Goodison Park no matter who we played love to watch these old games 👍♥️
Remember it well and travelling up to Stoke in midweek. Long old journeys in them days up A1 and back in Lacey's coaches. Only way to travel, unless you were on the train with the players. Great times and proper kits, pitches not manicured.
It was a great game. I was in the stands with apprentice mates 'Chipper' Harris, and Peter Neve, we decided to splash out on seats instead of the usual North Bank. One of the alltime best games I ever saw, the quality of the players was phenomenal, Bobby Chalton still showing why he was the best of all time. Great to watch Pop Robson again. Happy memories.
so much top talent on show in one match - earning the applause great football being played * *Upton Park* * I haven't been to the athletics track , don't intend to either , that move was the final nail in the coffin ( in my eyes ) the vultures had moved in and turned the whole thing into a grubby money making scheme - glorified pimps , the lot of them . They stole the heart of the club . West Ham London / No castle on the badge . My spotty har-harce . But , we have RUclips .
I was there too. Nice to see a game between W Ham and Man Utd where the ref has been unable to influwnce the game in Man Utd's favour. There were some great players there. as a Wesy Ham fan I would say that Dennis Law was the finest attacking player to grace the game in that era
Not Greaves? (I'm a Manchester United fan btw). Law was a great striker, but Greaves's stats are near Messi-like, in an era of cabbage patch pitches and hatchet man defenders.
@@robicenco1 The thing about Law was that he could hit the ball with both feet. head powerfully, chip, lob, bicycle kick. He was a team player and did creative passing, and also very brave, he never used to back away if there were dirty tactics against him he gave as good as he got. The best thing about Law, however, was he scored the goal for City which relegated Manchester United
George was at his best in 1971, somehow in 72, starting right here, he was never the same, and never again was afterwards of course. Here, despite moments of brilliance he seems exhausted - probably hungover, given the date.
I am West Ham through and through brilliant bit of nostalgia Law And Best s far ahead of game except maybe in Brazil at 1970 only Bobby could of kept them quiet well fairly quiet many great players on the pitch that day 👍⚒️ thanks for getting that match on You Tube.
That was West Ham's day but be honest that Man Utd was full of stars. Pity they went on a bit too long which eventually led to their relegation in 1974.
I was also there typical superb Upton Park atmosphere now sadly gone forever this was the beginning of the end for Frank o Farrell and for a certain George Best
Georgie told the tale of when he was playing for Los Angeles Aztecs of the old NASL. He had an apartment (you would call it a flat) in Santa Monica about a mile from the beach, but he never saw the ocean. This was because, or so he said, there was a bar between his place and the beach and every time he'd leave to hit the beach he would stop in and wind up staying until close, 2:00 AM.
"We've got Harry Harry Harry Harry Redknapp on the wing, on the wing." Great days. Great lineup, and no signs of missing Martin Peters. At the time, I was living within walking distance of the ground in Hall Road. That area now is completely different, but I still have very fond memories from the late 60's and early 70's.
Awesome. I think I was there in person in The East Stand. Never knew that team could play that well though! Bobby Ferguson could be awesome on his day and had a huge kick too.
This was the first home match since the League Cup semi-final draw against Stoke City, and the infamous Gordon Banks penalty save (which I was standing right behind, in the North Bank). Hurst put the penalty against Man Utd in exactly the same place, high to the keeper's right, relying mainly on power. I think every goalkeeper in the League knew where Hurst would place his penalties but I don't recall him ever not scoring, apart from that Banks save.
Tavy@ That was a great game despite the score line. George best is just a pure joy to watch thats why, or part of it. His control and back heels were just a delight i had a wee laugh. Especialy the one that came into the box and he controled it with his phie then back heeled it perfectly to brian kidd who missesd again. When i watched that clip again it amazed me how best even knew where brian kidd was once he controled the ball to then back heel it to him on a plate. It was as if best had eyes on the back of his head. But i have never seen best being furious with a team mate before in all the years he played. Then i just saw him being raging with brian kidd twice in 7 minutes? No wonder but best does hes magic by sending players the wrong way then puts it on a plate for kidd 8 yards out and he doesnt even hit the target. Thats bad. Then best does hes own magic again and controls a difficult ball going into the box fast then decievs every one with that brilliant back heel right onto kidds foot and kidd misses the target again from 8 to 9 yards out. No wonder best whent mad. so would any one. A mean he didnt even hit the target never mind score. At goals 8 feet high and 12 feet long! Between 1965 to 1972 george best was the greatest player in the world. Easy. Av watched alot of maradona recently and you can see alot of george bests style of play in him. With the back heels, dummys and fients and swerves and nutmegs and flicks. What a player to watch. but best was a better all round player! Maradona said george best was his boy hood hero and defined him into the player he became. What a compliment from the greatest player from 1982 to 1996. Pele was great but i always thought best and maradona made him look boring and over rated. In the whole of 1971 alone best was sublime and unstoppable. He made gordon banks look average and a bit silly alot. In that year best scored about 5 or 6 breath taking goals against banks and one was disalowed for what? No one knows. the famous one at belfast as n,ireland played england and banks threw the ball up in the air to kick it up field but best got it first then flicked it round him and the two men chased after it like two school boys in a play ground playing 15 a side, then best got to it first and headed it in to the empty net. Banks kept waving and saying no goal no goal, so why did banks chase after george while trying to pull him back then dived into hes goal to try and save it. The crowd were loving all this, becouse no one had seen it done before and the referee disalowed it but why? Dangerous play he said at the time. But he hadnt seen it becouse he ran up field with his back to play, anything couldv happend and it did. This was show bussines football now as there was cat calls of boos and roars of laughter around the ground. What could happen next with best was any ones guess as he had officials that day rumiching through the rule books. George just made great goal keepers look average, if that. With george you expected the unexpected. In one game he took of his top and tried to hand it to the defender who kept pulling and holding george back george got sick of it and the referee doing nothing. He was saying here take my top just ask for it instead of grabbing me all day. He told the referee well no one is helping me and you cant see him doing it. Iol
alan mctavish while Best was a brilliant player, especially between 1967 to 1972. His time at the top ( just five really peak years) was too short to call him the greatest. He was also untested at world cup level. Yes, i know he played for Northern Ireland, but the fact still remains. He was untested at World Cup level. Longevity is a key component, when assessing a players true greatness. Staying at the top for across two to three decades, playing to an elite level, is very rare. Pelé, Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Ronaldo 7, Messi, have all done that...Best didn't. To call Pelé boring in relation to Best & Maradona is just plain crazy. Pelé brought a range of skills to the game, football hadn't witnessed on the greater scheme of things. I. e. sombrero's, rabona's, no- touch move, the seal, one- two's of defenders shin's, etc. Maradona went on to replicate many of these skills twenty years later in the 1980s. He was a more limited version of Pelé. Predominately one footed, not much heading aerial prowess like Pelé & more individualistic. Always looking for the flamboyant dribble, rather than sizing up what's best for the team in the moment, like Pelé did & the same for Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Cruyff. Imagine any player today working a sombrero skill on a defender in a world cup final to score like Pelé did in the 1958 WC Final against Sweden? Just outrageous & even more beguiling, he did that at seventeen years of age, in the biggest finale in football. Watch this for the measure of the man: ruclips.net/video/THs2cEn1CoY/видео.html, who for me, is the most complete player I've seen. Followed next by Di Stéfano , Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Messi.
United had a great great start that season but then fell apart. Best's antics were a definite factor, but the cheekbone injury to Steve James didn't help either.
United were top at the time but finished 8th this match was the beginning of the end for manager Frank O’Farrell sacked by Christmas later that year with the club 21st in division 1
I lived in West Ham and would often see Clyde Best walking past my house on his way to the match, he always said hello and had time for us lads. Frank Lampard senior was often at Memorial park and I stood next to him at Wanstead flats once watching a Sunday league game. I loved the announcement of team members before the match started at Upton Park. Great times standing in the North Bank, wish I had a time machine.
brilliant watching those classic matches from the 1970ies. ❤❤
I love watching these games again from back in the day, I was a 9 year old Spurs supporter at the time of this match, nearly 60 now, still a Spurs supporter lol but I was also a fan of the football I grew up watching from back then with so many legends of the game as we know them nowadays!
Clyde Best versus George Best - what a brilliant match-up that was back then !! 😎👍👍
Proper football with proper players. No cheating or diving.
Exactly 👍
I was there for this match. Being a West Ham supporter and delighted with the result I must say Denis Law was outstanding and got my vote for best player on the day.
Not often that a side loses 3-0 and the striker from the loser is best on ground. But you were there. I was not.
@@frankmachin5438 i wasnt there either
This game took place while WH were involved in their 4-match LC semi-final saga against Stoke. Geoff Hurst missed/Gordon Banks saved a late extra time penalty in the second leg at Upton Park to take the tie to 2 replays. The first was at Hillsborough, about a 50 mile drive from Stoke and about 170 from London. Result 0-0. The 2nd replay was held at Old Trafford! - even further from London and even closer to Stoke! I complained long and loud to the FL but, of course, to no avail. Bobby Moore took over in goal for part of the 2nd replay and saved a penalty. Stoke won 3-2 anyway and it was a miserable drive back home. If only Hurst had taken that 2nd leg extra time penalty like he took the one in this match.
ExEssex - That game at Old Trafford stands out in my memory as one of the best matches I have ever seen. Played in pouring rain on a waterlogged pitch and packed with drama. You are right about Bobby Moore saving a penalty (from Mickey Bernard) but Bernard followed up to put in the rebound. Such a shame for either side to get knocked out. It was a game that would have made a fantastic final.
Watch that penalty again - it was a miracle save by Banks. Can’t blame Geoff! Gordon later said it was his best save of his career
You can see the respect between the players from both sides. Most of them were mates. Great game. Law was some player.
Corr Upton Park was a great place right up till the end of standing, great memories!!
Following this game, Best missed training for a week, (his discontent was just showing here) was dropped for the next match vs Wolves, 1-3. This was the first of a run of 7 straight league losses for United, an unwanted club record. It looked a great match, thanks for the upload.
United's last hurrah. We'd been going well in the league for a while before that slump. When we were top, Best was asked about our chances for the league and he said we'd finish eighth.
Best set up Kidd loads of times and lost patience,showed his annoyance.
Best also walked out on United towards the end of the season, journalists eventually tracked him down in Marbella. Then he went awol again after the 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in December, just before Docherty took over.
Thanks for this channel whoever you are. The best of times was football in the late 60's and in the70's. If you got hurt or dived you were considered a big girls blouse. COYI
1:15 Brian Moore asking how did Ferguson save Bests header!, it was straight at him!!
Shane mcnamara, so true. I thought i was the only one that noticed that lol. It was actually a good header from best and you could see there was power behind it, but it was strait at the goal keeper. But i have noticed now i am looking back at the games from the 1960s and 70s and 80s also but not as much becouse i thinck people were starting to write in to the bbc and tell them. And thats that the commentators are exaggerating how good or brilliant a shot or header and a goal is, when really its mostly basic stuff and a player scored from 5 yards out but the commentator said "and that was a well taken goal once again by this man" when the goal keeper was on the ground 7 feet away lol. I noticed the 1960s was really bad for it, especialy when george best passed the ball to denis law who was 10 yards away, and the commentator said "and thats a beautiful pass there from best to law" i thought uck come on this is taken it too far! When i read comments about it alot of people said the same thing, it was to make the game look alot better than it really was especialy when it came to all the big names, but even the not so big names as well. And am sure the commentators were told to do this. Becouse they all did it.
Pop Robson, legend
Absolutely top drawer!
What a marvelous shot at the beginning, three greats, the Bobby More, Bobby Charlton, and our greatest ever ref, Jack Taylor.
Oh more than three and still more top performances too
I was there . Unforgettable . The start of United 's decline from the very top to the Second Division .
i remember living across the road from the boleyn ground in 2013 - 2016 best times ever i loved west ham then and i would always get tickets to the games as i literally lived acros the road! best times ever i really wish i had a time machine!
Greetings from Greece , " HAMMERS FOR EVER " !!
In Crete watching this now👍👍🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷⚒⚒⚒⚒⚒super west ham!!
I saw that game. As I recall it was after this game that George Best went AWOL, the beginning if his rapid decline. And looking at this from the perspective of 2024, how remarkably open it was. No low block defending with nine men behind the ball. Attackers attacked, and defenders defended. It made for such wonderful entertainment. And what players: Charlton, Law, Best, and Moore, Hurst, Bonds, Brooking and Pop Robson. And note Lampard and Redknapp seniors.
You could make a case that in Moore Charlton and Best,Britain’s 3 greatest players ever were on the pitch
Don't you just love these early 70s games ?
too right , 3 WC winners , the holy trinity of George ,Denis and Bobby, Trevor breaking through and Bobby Ferguson equal to Denis in final minutes.
Proper football and footballers
Law was quality. Making chances out of very little in a "past its best" United team. Great game. The Hammers had some players back then.
Best was,not to shabby either ⚒️👍
Dennis Law, absolute class 👏
@tony may, denis law was a great player. But george best was the supporters joy! Best was the greatest player in the world from 1966 to 1972. But it should have been from 1966 to 1980. So sad he walked out at age just 26.
63@@alanmctavish4802
Brings back memories. We were riding high at the top of the First Division for a few months under Frank O'Farrell but then we went on an incredible losing streak starting with this defeat. We didn't win a game again until March when we beat Huddersfield 2-0. We ended up 8th, where George Best predicted we would be.
I was there, 13 years old , behind the goal in the north bank. How I love telling people I saw best, Charlton and law AND beat them 3-0!
How bizarre to find this comment ...from NZ all I can say is I was there and I was 13 too ...nuts! Not even sure why I looked this up. . Can't remember the game too well remember a lot of trouble on the tube getting there . I travelled from Chatham via central London. Take care out there and greetings.
@@williambyfleet9573 not so far for me- Barking. I even caught a glimpse of myself on the big match the next day. and I still have the match program safely stored away
@@redalligator8342 Hope you still go even if its not Upton Park. No real soccer here in New Zealand and I miss it ... I note they sing a very PC version of Bubbles these days it used to end with something like ''wer'e the West Ham boot boys and we are running after you'' or some such sentiment. Stay safe ... I have nothing further to add.
So many memories of those days when it was proper football and no namby pamby divers and cheats full blooded and great football I'm an Evertonian and it was electric at Goodison Park no matter who we played love to watch these old games 👍♥️
Remember it well and travelling up to Stoke in midweek. Long old journeys in them days up A1 and back in Lacey's coaches. Only way to travel, unless you were on the train with the players. Great times and proper kits, pitches not manicured.
First time i ever watched the big match ! i was 8 years old
It was a great game. I was in the stands with apprentice mates 'Chipper' Harris, and Peter Neve, we decided to splash out on seats instead of the usual North Bank. One of the alltime best games I ever saw, the quality of the players was phenomenal, Bobby Chalton still showing why he was the best of all time. Great to watch Pop Robson again. Happy memories.
so much top talent on show in one match - earning the applause
great football being played
* *Upton Park* *
I haven't been to the athletics track , don't intend to either ,
that move was the final nail in the coffin ( in my eyes )
the vultures had moved in and turned the whole thing into a grubby money making scheme - glorified pimps , the lot of them . They stole the heart of the club .
West Ham London / No castle on the badge . My spotty har-harce .
But , we have RUclips .
I was there too. Nice to see a game between W Ham and Man Utd where the ref has been unable to influwnce the game in Man Utd's favour.
There were some great players there. as a Wesy Ham fan I would say that Dennis Law was the finest attacking player to grace the game in that era
Not Greaves? (I'm a Manchester United fan btw).
Law was a great striker, but Greaves's stats are near Messi-like, in an era of cabbage patch pitches and hatchet man defenders.
@@robicenco1 Jimmy Greave the former West Ham player?
@@sagahammer Yes, played for West Ham towards the end of his career. Prime years at Spurs and Chelsea.
@@robicenco1 The thing about Law was that he could hit the ball with both feet. head powerfully, chip, lob, bicycle kick. He was a team player and did creative passing, and also very brave, he never used to back away if there were dirty tactics against him he gave as good as he got. The best thing about Law, however, was he scored the goal for City which relegated Manchester United
George was at his best in 1971, somehow in 72, starting right here, he was never the same, and never again was afterwards of course.
Here, despite moments of brilliance he seems exhausted - probably hungover, given the date.
Brian kidd was having such a bad day. Rumours have it that he didnt finish his dinner either
I am West Ham through and through brilliant bit of nostalgia Law And Best s far ahead of game except maybe in Brazil at 1970 only Bobby could of kept them quiet well fairly quiet many great players on the pitch that day 👍⚒️ thanks for getting that match on You Tube.
Really disappointing match! No Diving, No Rolling around on the ground after a tackle, No arguing with the officials- where's the spectacle?
No choreographed goal celebrations either. Just handshakes and a pat on the back. What's going on?
@Winston Coolidge you obviously don’t remember Francis Lee
Francis Lee
And a great tight ground (the goal is nearly in the first row!) which gave great matches. Football grounds of about a century should be Listed.
No var either, no trainers coming on with magic sponges, no multi million pound salaries and twitter accounts.
Alf Garnett went home happy.
In real life Warren Mitchell was a Spurs fan...believe it or not!!!
You silly moo!
That was West Ham's day but be honest that Man Utd was full of stars. Pity they went on a bit too long which eventually led to their relegation in 1974.
I was also there typical superb Upton Park atmosphere now sadly gone forever this was the beginning of the end for Frank o Farrell and for a certain George Best
Georgie told the tale of when he was playing for Los Angeles Aztecs of the old NASL. He had an apartment (you would call it a flat) in Santa Monica about a mile from the beach, but he never saw the ocean. This was because, or so he said, there was a bar between his place and the beach and every time he'd leave to hit the beach he would stop in and wind up staying until close, 2:00 AM.
I was a month old when this game was played. No doubt my Dad was there.
"We've got Harry Harry Harry Harry Redknapp on the wing, on the wing." Great days. Great lineup, and no signs of missing Martin Peters. At the time, I was living within walking distance of the ground in Hall Road. That area now is completely different, but I still have very fond memories from the late 60's and early 70's.
2:27 Bonds handball in lead up to Robsons goal. VAR…surely.
Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop Robson score a little goal for me!
Awesome. I think I was there in person in The East Stand. Never knew that team could play that well though! Bobby Ferguson could be awesome on his day and had a huge kick too.
first live game i saw Man utd play, i was heartbroken 😢
I was at this game as a kid and recall it well.. Rednapp was cack!
A pleasure to watch 👍
Loved upton park best days when it was standing stood on all 4 sides but preferred lower west or the south bank
No diving. No cheating. No shit refereeing. Just brilliant football. Man U unlucky. From an iron.
Great match and vid, love the classic kits.
Was that Harry redknapp?
Yes.
This was the first home match since the League Cup semi-final draw against Stoke City, and the infamous Gordon Banks penalty save (which I was standing right behind, in the North Bank). Hurst put the penalty against Man Utd in exactly the same place, high to the keeper's right, relying mainly on power. I think every goalkeeper in the League knew where Hurst would place his penalties but I don't recall him ever not scoring, apart from that Banks save.
Too many legends in this game
I was at this match at the tender age of 8 ⚒️
Gowling: “but Ref it hit my chest” Ref: “Ok let’s take a look at VAR”
I was at that game...My old man took me...I would have been 9yo...I got passed down to the front of the standing section of the Main stand.
“How did Ferguson get to that one?” he screams. Er … it was straight at him. 😂 Brilliant team, great result.
I was at this game as a 14 year old.
Tavy@ That was a great game despite the score line. George best is just a pure joy to watch thats why, or part of it. His control and back heels were just a delight i had a wee laugh. Especialy the one that came into the box and he controled it with his phie then back heeled it perfectly to brian kidd who missesd again. When i watched that clip again it amazed me how best even knew where brian kidd was once he controled the ball to then back heel it to him on a plate. It was as if best had eyes on the back of his head. But i have never seen best being furious with a team mate before in all the years he played. Then i just saw him being raging with brian kidd twice in 7 minutes? No wonder but best does hes magic by sending players the wrong way then puts it on a plate for kidd 8 yards out and he doesnt even hit the target. Thats bad. Then best does hes own magic again and controls a difficult ball going into the box fast then decievs every one with that brilliant back heel right onto kidds foot and kidd misses the target again from 8 to 9 yards out. No wonder best whent mad. so would any one. A mean he didnt even hit the target never mind score. At goals 8 feet high and 12 feet long! Between 1965 to 1972 george best was the greatest player in the world. Easy. Av watched alot of maradona recently and you can see alot of george bests style of play in him. With the back heels, dummys and fients and swerves and nutmegs and flicks. What a player to watch. but best was a better all round player! Maradona said george best was his boy hood hero and defined him into the player he became. What a compliment from the greatest player from 1982 to 1996. Pele was great but i always thought best and maradona made him look boring and over rated. In the whole of 1971 alone best was sublime and unstoppable. He made gordon banks look average and a bit silly alot. In that year best scored about 5 or 6 breath taking goals against banks and one was disalowed for what? No one knows. the famous one at belfast as n,ireland played england and banks threw the ball up in the air to kick it up field but best got it first then flicked it round him and the two men chased after it like two school boys in a play ground playing 15 a side, then best got to it first and headed it in to the empty net. Banks kept waving and saying no goal no goal, so why did banks chase after george while trying to pull him back then dived into hes goal to try and save it. The crowd were loving all this, becouse no one had seen it done before and the referee disalowed it but why? Dangerous play he said at the time. But he hadnt seen it becouse he ran up field with his back to play, anything couldv happend and it did. This was show bussines football now as there was cat calls of boos and roars of laughter around the ground. What could happen next with best was any ones guess as he had officials that day rumiching through the rule books. George just made great goal keepers look average, if that. With george you expected the unexpected. In one game he took of his top and tried to hand it to the defender who kept pulling and holding george back george got sick of it and the referee doing nothing. He was saying here take my top just ask for it instead of grabbing me all day. He told the referee well no one is helping me and you cant see him doing it. Iol
I stopped reading at "despite the scoreline"
Best tormented West Ham many times. He was a class act. Law was the greatest poacher of all time. I hated Man Utd then and still do.
Finished yet?
alan mctavish while Best was a brilliant player, especially between 1967 to 1972. His time at the top ( just five really peak years) was too short to call him the greatest. He was also untested at world cup level. Yes, i know he played for Northern Ireland, but the fact still remains. He was untested at World Cup level.
Longevity is a key component, when assessing a players true greatness. Staying at the top for across two to three decades, playing to an elite level, is very rare.
Pelé, Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Ronaldo 7, Messi, have all done that...Best didn't.
To call Pelé boring in relation to Best & Maradona is just plain crazy. Pelé brought a range of skills to the game, football hadn't witnessed on the greater scheme of things. I. e. sombrero's, rabona's, no- touch move, the seal, one- two's of defenders shin's, etc. Maradona went on to replicate many of these skills twenty years later in the 1980s.
He was a more limited version of Pelé. Predominately one footed, not much heading aerial prowess like Pelé & more individualistic. Always looking for the flamboyant dribble, rather than sizing up what's best for the team in the moment, like Pelé did & the same for Di Stéfano, Beckenbauer, Cruyff.
Imagine any player today working a sombrero skill on a defender in a world cup final to score like Pelé did in the 1958 WC Final against Sweden? Just outrageous & even more beguiling, he did that at seventeen years of age, in the biggest finale in football. Watch this for the measure of the man: ruclips.net/video/THs2cEn1CoY/видео.html, who for me, is the most complete player I've seen. Followed next by Di Stéfano , Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Messi.
@@johnpacino007 Well said and totally agree
United had a great great start that season but then fell apart. Best's antics were a definite factor, but the cheekbone injury to Steve James didn't help either.
at the begining world cup winners, england team mates, captains
Two Bests
Some noise in there ⚒⚒⚒
I am sure they took more shots in those days. And I am not making a joke at George Best's expense.
I was there that day.
What a strange game. Could easily have been 5-4 to United ..
Why wasn't the badge on United's shirts?🤔👹
Clyde Best was better than George Best.. Bryan Robson was better than Bryan Robson... I can dream can't I...
What a great game skill...class...ability.... proper football...everything that’s missing from today’s current crop of athlete’s....
United were top at the time but finished 8th this match was the beginning of the end for manager Frank O’Farrell sacked by Christmas later that year with the club 21st in division 1
Not even a badge on the shirt let alone ugly sponsor details
Wow!
Stepney didn't look very interested in saving that penalty.
fortress Upton park
Bobby Charlton was 34 years old at this point but looks about 64 with that hairdo.
Actually it's harder to tell a man's age when they go bald early.
George Best the greatest ever British player fact
Coyi ⚒
Check who payed Kidd's wages that week..
I never liked Brian Moore as a Commentator.. Always inferior to what BBC had at the time..
"Thomas it's up for grabs now is a classic though"
Agreed Graeme! However, compared to what ITV have today - Sam Matterface - Brian was Barry Davies calibre 🤣.
No prima donnas on show here.!!