We have had lots of great international class players over the years but would you consider any of them to be genuinely WORLD CLASS?

Mr McIlroy according to many of his peers ... which is the best indicator really.

Trippier scored in a World Cup semi final and was named in the team of the tournament. Depends on how high you’re setting the bar to be deemed world class but he’s got to be a contender.

Gascoigne was one of the best in the world, obviously way passed it when we eventually had him but he was world class

Waddle ?

Wrighty?

I've still got my Charles Buchans International Football Book upstairs from 1960. As a young football fan I loved to read and see pictures of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus players etc, especially as we were playing in the European Cup that year. In the hundred and odd pages of this 'international' football publication there are only two British players featured with write-ups: Jimmy McIlroy and Bobby Charlton. I think that tells you something, so yes, Mac was world class.

Of the Championship winning team,i'd nominate John Angus,John Connelly,Ray Pointer & Jimmy Robson,in any other era,that quartet would have amassed dozens of England caps between them,but such was the strength in depth back then,they struggled to break through.

Jimmy Mac naturally is our greatest ever,but he's already been mentioned.If you want to go further back Tommy Lawton definitely merits a argument as world class,a shame the Second World War robbed him of the best years of his career.

Jimmy Mac up there on the all-time top 100 players

I think Trevor Steven came close.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 12:52 pm

Of the Championship winning team,i'd nominate John Angus,John Connelly,Ray Pointer & Jimmy Robson,in any other era,that quartet would have amassed dozens of England caps between them,but such was the strength in depth back then,they struggled to break through.

Jimmy Mac naturally is our greatest ever,but he's already been mentioned.If you want to go further back Tommy Lawton definitely merits a argument as world class,a shame the Second World War robbed him of the best years of his career.

I’m not disputing the names you mention - I was too young to see any play - but if they weren’t even the best in the country, were they truly world class?

I wish someone could define "world class"

DCWat wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 12:57 pm

I’m not disputing the names you mention - I was too young to see any play - but if they weren’t even the best in the country, were they truly world class?

I sadly never saw any of them play either,but clearly they were the best in the country,hence why we were crowned champions,and this was in the days when you had to win the title to consider it a successful season,never mind this finishing in the top 4 malarkey.

Wasn't Colin McDonald regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world when he played for England during the 1958 world cup?

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

John Deary

Jimmy McIlroy and Colin McDonald are the 2 names that I immediately thought of

Not my favourite ever Claret but I would have to say Leighton James in his heyday.

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

Personally I always define it as would they have got in an a world 11v11 team of their era.

Bin Ont Turf wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:21 pm

John Deary

We've never replaced him, you know!!

Alex Elder was selected for the Rest of the World X1 to play England at Wembley. A broken leg meant he didn’t play but definitely worthy of his call up.

To me ralph coates was a world beater!

COBBLE wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 12:55 pm

I think Trevor Steven came close.

I think Trevor Steven was world class. I think he suffered because he wasn't a flair player. The Waddles of this world got the plaudits because of their trickery. The truth is Waddle lost the ball, or gave it away just as often as he didn't. The one thing with Trevor was he always found a team mate. He never gave the ball away, and when he needed to he had just as many tricks in his bag. I think he was far more appreciated by his fellow professionals, and managers, than the general public. Burnley fans who enjoyed watching him apart.

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

I think..

would get in any team in the world at the time.

I would say that of all the players I’ve seen play for Burnley that only one could be considered to be world class and that’s Jimmy McIlroy of course.

Mac was world class and I’ve seen someone mention Paul Gascoigne. He was but not by the time he played for us.

Some other very good players, some outstanding but only Jimmy Mac was world class.

Agree with CT
I’d add Ian Wright and Andrew Cole to the list as up there at the peak of their powers - which like Gazza wasn’t when they were in Burnley shirt

COBBLE wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 12:55 pm

I think Trevor Steven came close.

Yep.

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

If we were playing Mars, the players who would make our starting 11.

TVC15 wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:57 pm

Agree with CT
I’d add Ian Wright and Andrew Cole to the list as up there at the peak of their powers - which like Gazza wasn’t when they were in Burnley shirt

Wright & Cole were outstanding strikers at their peak but I’d never consider them world class.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 3:24 pm

Wright & Cole were outstanding strikers at their peak but I’d never consider them world class.

All about opinions but Ian Wright was talking last week on MoTD when he was in the top 10 ballon d’or nominees or something like that.
Andy Cole I was thinking that year he did the treble.

But yes world class probably a bit far !!

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 3:24 pm

Wright & Cole were outstanding strikers at their peak but I’d never consider them world class.

All about opinions but Ian Wright was talking last week on MoTD when he was in the top 10 ballon d’or nominees or something like that.
Andy Cole I was thinking that year he did the treble.

But yes world class probably a bit far !!

What about Bob Kelly? The world's most expensive footballer at one point.

You could probably pick a few from pre 1930

sandy richardson wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 3:52 pm

What about Bob Kelly? The world's most expensive footballer at one point.

Potentially Bob Kelly given what I've heard about him - my granddad said he was better than Jimmy Mac

sandy richardson wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 3:52 pm

What about Bob Kelly? The world's most expensive footballer at one point.

My grandad's favourite player and always raved about him when I was telling him how good Leighton James was.

I presume they would have to be world class while playing for us? So not in my lifetime.

World class to me is the best in the world in your position. As in get in the team to play another imaginary world.

Can only think of Ashley Cole, maybe Lineker?, of English players that have been world class over the last 35 years or so.

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

Dean Marney!

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 5:31 pm

Can only think of Ashley Cole, maybe Lineker?, of English players that have been world class over the last 35 years or so.

Alan Shearer?

Spijed wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 5:37 pm

Alan Shearer?

He came 3rd in the world player of the year award one year he was saying on MoTD. There was a point when he was definitely world class and could have got in any team in the world.

Gazza I’d say too.
Lineker probably.
Chris Waddle maybe.
Bobby Moore surely
Bobby Charlton definitely.
Gordon Banks definitely
Peter Shilton probably
Jimmy Greaves probably - he was a better player than Geoff Hurst (by a long way)

Then there is the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard.
As someone said a good test is would they have got in any team in the world - Beckham proved he would - just look at the Real Madrid team he was part of...they would have beaten any international team.
Scholes - players like Xavi and was it Zidane too say he was the best player they ever played against. Coming from genuinely world class players like them you think that was a good marker. And I do think that Gerrard could have played for any team in the world.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 5:37 pm

Alan Shearer?

I wouldn't argue with anyone who said he was, and he certainly recovered better than anyone I know from a serious injury.

A lot of serious talent playing upfront while he was playing is my only doubt.

We did have a genuinely world class player in the 1970’s, albeit at the back end of his career. One of Jimmy Adamson’s most astute signings....... Keith Newton. Featured in 1970 World Cup and a class footballer, did a great job for BFC. RIP Keith.

FactualFrank wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 2:44 pm

If we were playing Mars, the players who would make our starting 11.

What if we were playing Twix.

Big Bad John Gayle.

Chris Pearce must rate for his dancing.

Joe Hart - in his heyday

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

I would suggest it is a player who would feature in your best 11 ever from any country.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Thu May 14, 2020 9:48 am

Chris Pearce must rate for his dancing.

Amazed to see we only paid £4,000 for him,that was a helluva a bargain,and we definitely got our monies worth with that signing,he played over 200 league and cup games in his Clarets tenure.

Colin Mac and Jimmy Mac would both have graced any World 11
The rest perhaps Trevor Steven at a big push

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Wed May 13, 2020 1:00 pm

I wish someone could define "world class"

Its like Staying Alert. Ooops

Peter Beardsley was one of my favourite players who on his day must have been close to World Class. Apparently we turned him down after a trial early in his career? Tenuous but mildly interesting if true.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Thu May 14, 2020 9:59 am

Amazed to see we only paid £4,000 for him,that was a helluva a bargain,and we definitely got our monies worth with that signing,he played over 200 league and cup games in his Clarets tenure.

When things were dire, he raised the spirits.