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an all time hard men eleven
- Thread starter geronimo06
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geronimo06
Subs Bench
most of that leeds team could handle themselves , they were not called dirty leeds for nothing .
OohBaldyBally
Striker
With Whitehurst and Harford upfront, it really doesn’t matter who the other 9 are. My money would still be on them against any XI
Who?
BNM
Striker
Agree.
Difficult to say who was the hardest of the two.
I'll go for MH, just because he's a local!!
Soton Pete
Central Defender
You don't think Monty was hard? He got flattened every week by the hard men and the dirty bastards, and then got up! Played at a time when there wasn't much protection for keepers, and could dish it out when necessary. Don't remember him being injured much either. All keepers prior to 1990 had to be hard men!
TheBronzeBummer
Winger
Jimmy Barnes, Spuggy Purvis and Benny the brick across the back three.
Sons of The Wear
Winger
Be it on the streets or on a football pitch, in 99% of cases, most hard men usually aren't obvious and don't go around acting themselves or want to attract any sort of attention but if trouble comes to them can handle it effectively.
Most of the footballer's mentioned on here might have been involved in on field controversies but most of them would get a shock if they behaved similarly in most town and city centres in the UK. People like Billy Whitehurst and Mick Harford etc. are naturally tough lads but there's lots mentioned who in essence are cowards acting in the confines of a football field who'd run a mile if confronted.
Most of the footballer's mentioned on here might have been involved in on field controversies but most of them would get a shock if they behaved similarly in most town and city centres in the UK. People like Billy Whitehurst and Mick Harford etc. are naturally tough lads but there's lots mentioned who in essence are cowards acting in the confines of a football field who'd run a mile if confronted.
Remember down Boro once Benny the Brick driving a removal van that released the Eagle Army out of the back doors on the corner of the Holgate End.
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In 20 years time 09 will be on this list. He seems to understand the game and that there’s times in a match you’re going to take a kicking. He doesn’t shy away and keeps his head up.
geronimo06
Subs Bench
physical contact as been taken out of the game now , nowhere near as tough as it used to be back then , players are been booked now for diving or feigning injury , instead of trying to win the ball or take somebodies leg off , part of the enjoyment of the game back then was the combative side of the game
Sallycinamon
Midfield
Chopper Harris wasn’t hard, just a dirty twat who spent the entire time just going through the back of people. Any footballer could do that.
Ibrahimovic is a black belt in Taekwondo, he picked Gattuso up and put him in the bin at Milan.
Ibrahimovic is a black belt in Taekwondo, he picked Gattuso up and put him in the bin at Milan.
vinegar hill
Striker
Nah
WIthout a shadow of a doubt, Grobbelaar in goal.
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Jelly Belly
Striker
Kevin Ball is a shoe-in on that, I remember chatting to Lee Nogan about him years ago. Nogan played against Jones and Ball and commented on how Ball was by far and away the hardest opponent he'd ever faced
Zinedine Kilbane
Midfield
No Roy Keane … I’m out
geronimo06
Subs Bench
the amount of alternatives been offered , would have to put another twenty players on the subs bench .
Keawyeds
Striker
It's been replaced by skill and speed, rather than clogging.
geronimo06
Subs Bench
many would disagree , playing on pitches like bowling greens nowadays instead of playing on mudheaps again different conditions for different eras , physical contact was an essential element of the game back then , if it got a bit nippy they did not need to wear a pair of tights or a pair of gloves to keep warm .
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