Theirry henry.

Cesc Fabregas. Both with Arsenal and Chelsea. Dominated the tempo of the game and everything went through him.

Agree with Fabregas.

When with Arsenal I think he went off injured both times and was still the best player by a country mile.

Terry Henry was brilliant to watch live, although don't think I saw him play against us.

Pontus Jansson without a doubt

In terms of performance I always remember Cesc Fabregas absolutely running a game for Arsenal at the Turf in 2009/10, they were 1-0 up and coasting and he scored their goal and was brilliant. he went off injured and we drew 1-1 and should have won the game (I think a goal was disallowed for offside if I remember rightly)

Whenever this question gets asked, I always remember a midfield masterclass against us by one Gary McAllister when he played for Coventry against us at Highfield Road in the 4th round of the FA Cup (I forget the year but we beat Derby County in the 3rd round at Pride Park).

He was outstanding that day and whilst many people were surprised when Liverpool signed him some time later, I certainly wasn't based on his performance that day. he seemed to operate in a space with a 10m radius around him.

I don't necessarily think he's the best opposition player I have ever seen, but that was certainly one of the best performances.

I always remember Warren Aspinall's impression of a sumo wrestler whilst playing for Colchester United in response to the "who ate all the pies..."

Maradonna (I was supporting the other team at the match).

Teddy Sheringham in his pomp was pretty awesome to watch live. Same for Jasper Olsen.
Most devastating would probably be Tinman for Derby (he absolutely tore us a new one).

Truth is there's been loads but I always hope they'll have stinkers against us, I'm no sportsman during a Burnley match.

"Terry Henry was brilliant to watch live, although don't think I saw him play against us"

He didn't

Judehamish wrote:I always remember Warren Aspinall's impression of a sumo wrestler whilst playing for Colchester United in response to the "who ate all the pies..."

Now there's a name from the past. Went to the same school as me in Wigan, albeit a good few years before. Visited the PE staff during my time at the school and he signed my school book. Think he was at Everton then.

Cesc. It was a masterclass at the turf for Chelsea.

Simply superb. A priveledge to watch.

No votes for drogba?

George Best even though he had some 'mares against Les Latcham.
When he was on it superb.
Ont'Turf he scored one where he dribbled around Harry Thomson to an impossible angle and squeezed it home.
At OT after he'd been presented with his European FOY trophy He won it with a header from the edge of the box.

Bryan Douglas.

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Saxoman wrote:When I say live, I mean against your club at your ground. Not on telly..

I've already editted Saxo

From 'recent' games I would also choose Cesc Fabrigas or Steve Gerrard when he effectively relegated us. Going back many years, purely based upon what I saw it would have to be Peter Thompson (Liverpool), Tony Currie (Sheffield Utd) or Alan Hudson (Stoke City).

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Best was best!

saw him presented with European footballer of the year at Old Trafford in '68!

Made a mess of that. You'll have to delete your own..

Shane Duffy when I was supporting Cardiff and Wigan the week before.

Fred Sandell from the past and currently Eden Hazard

Back to the 60's.
A. George Eastham for Arsenal away at Spurs 4-4 a cracking game as well.

B. Peter Broadbent for Wolves away at Arsenal 5-4 another cracker.

C. Jimmy Greaves for Spurs at home to Nottingham Forrest 9-2, Greavsy scored 4 that day and Forrest scored 1st and last!

Those were the days

Not necessarily the best, but Kevin Francis always put the fear of God up me whenever we played Stockport.

another one for George Best

What a top bloke Kevin Francis , all that abuse and still applauded us

In the modern era, Cesc Fabregas.
Orchestrated the best 20 odd minutes of football I've ever seen on the Turf.
We scored too early.
But my vote has to be George Best. New laid pitch or ploughed field, he could still keep the ball all to himself.

Eddie Gray.

remember Tevez tearing us a new one in the first PL season when we lost 6-1 and getting a standing ovation from our fans.

Lionel Messi. Saw him a couple of years ago playing for Argentina v Croatia at the Boleyn Ground.

[Edit: not strictly an opposition player but I was shouting for Croatia]

Has to be Jason Shackell for Derby at The Turf last season ..

Sausage wrote:Lionel Messi. Saw him a couple of years ago playing for Argentina v Croatia at the Boleyn Ground.

[Edit: not strictly an opposition player but I was shouting for Croatia]

It counts.

gc14 wrote:Has to be Jason Shackell for Derby at The Turf last season ..

I'm sure there's a joke there I'm not privvy to.

Alex Sabella for Sheff Utd in 1978. Jimmy Greaves anytime he was on the pitch.

Kindon when he belted loads past us at home versus WWW. Bellendamy, when City tonked us.

Seen a few good ones over the years.
Fabregas was awesome for Chelski.
Bobby Charlton was pretty good.
Colin Bell was too.

For me though one of the finest display by an opposition player was by Peter Thompson of Liverpool in a 0-4 pasting at Turf Moor. He ripped us a new one. I think if my memory serves me correct that it was the home debut for Jim Thomson whom we'd signed from Chelsea earlier in the week. He started at right back and Thompson on the left wing ran him ragged.

joey13 wrote:What a top bloke Kevin Francis , all that abuse and still applauded us

Preece and Francis were quite a combo.

Iwent to watch Everton Vs Boro some years ago mainly to watch Juniniho.
But Barry Horne gave the best midfield performance I have seen in a 4-0 win. He was outstanding going forward and smothered their midfield completely. Juniniho never got a kick.

Shaun Goater not the best but most effective. I'd hate to know how many goals he has against us but pretty sure it is more than goal a game. As for best Cesc has to win it.

Paul Scholes in the lancashire youth cup final at the Turf when they beat us 4-2 from memory, different class and went on to prove it

In the modern era, Cesc Fabregas by some distance.

From years ago, Gordon Hill for that lot that I have always despised with a passion - Manure.
I remember I was stood low down on the Longside and to see his wizardry at close quarters
was astounding. The quickness of his feet and his acceleration was breathtaking.

This isn't the best player I've seen against Burnley but I remember Paul Merson playing for Portdmouth. He was coming towards the end of his career but he tore us apart. I appreciated how good of a player he was.

Eto'o destroyed us when he played at the turf for Everton, was a real player in his day.

Vegas Claret wrote:Paul Scholes in the lancashire youth cup final at the Turf when they beat us 4-2 from memory, different class and went on to prove it

See saxo's post on Lampard retires he rates him slightly different.

Darren Huckerby usually ran riot against us.

Agree with Bryan Douglas - played all over the forward line, England too. You couldn't get the ball off him. Great player, despite his employer.

Forgot about Bryan Douglas saw him perform with aplom despite Rovers loosing away at Chelsea 5-1.