What makes a Great player?

Was reading on the Telegraph or Guardian about Dyke's new plan and in the comments section a bloke said Beardsley, Barnes and Waddle were "good' players but not "great" players.

So what's everyone definition of a great player?

I'm not talking "epic" in the realms of Maradona  or Pele just great.

Waddle and Barnes would get into my great category as does Beardsley. Waddle was a f*ggin a great player in the days when some English footballers actually looked as good as their foreign counterparts. Barnes was amazing too.

My definition of a great player is someone that would walk into the current squad of the majority of the top club teams

Pat Jennings

Shay Given

Great players are those who perform on a very high level - with consistency.

Was reading on the Telegraph or Guardian about Dyke's new plan and in the comments section a bloke said Beardsley, Barnes and Waddle were "good' players but not "great" players.

So what's everyone definition of a great player?

/quote]

Good vision, and having the technique and committment to turn it into actuality.

Spectacular back flips / somersaults / thunderbolt shooting from either foot

Obafemi Martins

Power / Style / Jewellery

Cyril Regis

Dribbling/Vision/Cool

Laurie Cunnigham

Rolled Down Socks/Left Foot/ Incisive Passing

Liam Brady

Pace/Glide/Finishing/Laughing at Cocks

Thierry Henry

Smarter than any other player possibly ever

Johan Cruyff

Intimidation/Reputation/Athleticism/ Best team shirt

Lev Yashin

Interesting question which opens up the debate as to how you define "great" and how strict your definition of "great" is...Personally I consider the three players mentioned to be very good players, but not greats. Barnes for example was a wonderful player for Liverpool and would definitely be considered a club great. However he was an exceedingly poor player at international level, and never came close to replicating his club performances for England. Waddle was good for England; much better than Barnes, but I'd struggle to consider him a truly great player for England: the word "erratic" comes to mind, but on his day great to watch. For me, Beardsley would come closest to being a great, when you analyse performances for club and country. He was a clever little player who was fantastic at Liverpool, and had a terrific partnership with Lineker at International record. I think "great" is an overused term, and is so difficult to define, but it's a fun game to play!

I think the things that set apart the very, very good from the great are imagination/vision and balance. These two things are what the best ever players, Pele, Cruyff, Maradona, Puskas, Beckenbauer, all had in spades.

Do results matter when looking at 'great' players? Does that help to define a great player?

Imagine thinking Barnes wasn't a great player. 

depends.

Undoubtedly both Platini and Maradona are considered great because of the results they got for their respective nations in '84 and '86.

John Charles could also be called great but the results expectation on him would probably be less. 

...and super jedi spatial awareness and timing....

A huge schlong?

Would explain why I'm rubbish at football though.

...decent taste in music.

I don't care how good a player you are if you have sucky taste in music then you will never be a GREAT player.

Of the old school Stuart Pearce was/is right into his punk and Pat Nevin had decent taste (The Fall, Joy Division, Factory Records). Carlos Puyol likes Napalm Death.

Of the current bunch Leighton Baines likes a few decent bands (although overall his taste is a bit too twee for me) and Joey Barton might be a nutter but at least he likes The Smiths.

As for Steven Gerrard - Phil Collins?? There's why you will never win the league mate, right there.