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Post by terryconroyslegs on Oct 9, 2011 18:08:56 GMT
There`s quite a bit written about how highly Alan Hudson rates Jimmy Greenhoff. Happy to lend you the books if you wish.
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Post by terryconroyslegs on Oct 9, 2011 18:21:29 GMT
When Jimmy had to leave Stoke he walked into the Manure first X1. Ric couldn`t make this step `up` now for sure [much as I love him] but nor would he have been able to do so 3/4 years ago. So, as far as it is possible to compare players across generations, as someone who has seen both, Jimmy Greenhoff is clearly the better player. And one of the best English players I [and countless others who know more about football than me] have ever seen. Greenhoff was simply the best.
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Post by werrington on Oct 9, 2011 18:35:24 GMT
When Jimmy had to leave Stoke he walked into the Manure first X1. Ric couldn`t make this step `up` now for sure [much as I love him] but nor would he have been able to do so 3/4 years ago. So, as far as it is possible to compare players across generations, as someone who has seen both, Jimmy Greenhoff is clearly the better player. And one of the best English players I [and countless others who know more about football than me] have ever seen. Greenhoff was simply the best. TBF though mate back then Man Utd were not the Man Utd of today. Greenhoff was indeed superb and it was a pleasure to see him in a Stoke shirt but for me Ric and Hudson are up there with him |
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Post by terryconroyslegs on Oct 9, 2011 19:22:22 GMT
When JG to Manure they were a cut above us just as now.
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Post by werrington on Oct 9, 2011 19:25:05 GMT
When JG to Manure they were a cut above us just as now. Only in terms of club size....on the pitch there was not much difference |
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Post by terryconroyslegs on Oct 9, 2011 19:45:59 GMT
Dunna know how old you are duck but they won the FA Cup soon after and we were then relegated. Funny but I ve always noticed a gap between us and them.
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Post by werrington on Oct 9, 2011 19:48:14 GMT
Dunna know how old you are duck but they won the FA Cup soon after and we were then relegated. Funny but I ve always noticed a gap between us and them. Thats the point though....we got relegated cos the stand blew down and had to sell the crown jewels to pay for it not because we were way behind them.....they were in the 2nd division 3 years earlier |
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Post by therightside on Oct 9, 2011 20:08:21 GMT
I was priviledged to watch Jimmy play many times for Stoke in the seventies.
To compare footballers to motor cars, Alan Hudson was the Aston Martin and Jimmy was the Rolls Royce.
The fact that Jimmy was never selected for England was just a crime.
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Post by meirsquare on Oct 9, 2011 20:47:46 GMT
I well remember the Boothen singing "Bring back, Bring Back, Bring back my Jimmy to me" to the tune of "My Bonny lies over the ocean" after he had left us.
I travelled to Old Trafford to watch him play his first game there,(mid week vs West Ham...I think it was)just to prolong the goodbye. He was something different, something special, I don't remember any other player sharing that special affinity and bond with the fans...... he was worshipped.
He would walk into todays side, should have been capped for England, him and Hudson would have carried their telepathy on to the international level too.
He was a class player in what was a class side !
My favourite stoke player of all time.
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Post by oldgit57 on Oct 9, 2011 21:43:25 GMT
I was priviledged to watch Jimmy play many times for Stoke in the seventies. To compare footballers to motor cars, Alan Hudson was the Aston Martin and Jimmy was the Rolls Royce. The fact that Jimmy was never selected for England was just a crime.  Spot on this, how did Mick Channon keep Jimmy out of the England team? ??? |
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Post by SingaporeNobby on Oct 10, 2011 2:52:29 GMT
Comparing Fuller to Jimmy Greenhoff is both naive and ignorant...and not fair to Riccy Fuller.
Fuller did a good job for Stoke and for that we are grateful, but time to move on guys.
Jimmy Greehoff is a Stoke City Legend. To attract players of his calibre today you would need to be spending well in excess of 15-17 million. I don't think that there is a player today with too many Greenhoff traites and abilities; Probably a blend/mix of Lampard, Rooney and ?.
To conclude - Jimmy Greenhoff is beyong comparison with any member of our squad today...or since his transfer!
Nobster
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Post by wrighter on Oct 10, 2011 7:05:47 GMT
Tommy Docherty has been reported saying that JG was his best ever signing ..
Can NEVER EVER be compared to Fuller, [not saying Ric isnt good, but nowhere near in the same league as JG.] imho
Someone wrote before about his volley at St.Andrews as being the best, for me, it was his headed goal at the muddy Baseball Ground, where somehow he arched his back & neck low down to score. Will never know how he did that.
The word "legend" is over-used, but JG WAS/IS a legend
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Post by DannyStokie on Oct 10, 2011 9:56:47 GMT
Last i heard he was driving a forklift at ROF Radway Green after losing a lot of money after a failed insurance business which i believe his partner mismanaged. allegedly. You know your stuff, we were once part of his company, my mum and dad knew him well, my grandad still sees him all the time, doesn't like him though. |
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Post by braddamick on Oct 10, 2011 11:54:54 GMT
Having spotted this thread about the great Sir Jim, it moved me to make my very first posting to The Oatcake. He was my boyhood hero. For me No Stoke player has ever lived up to his carisma. One saturday morning the sport headline in the Express was "Greenhoff brothers United" I thought we had signed Brian. But i remember being devistated when i read the article. Went to Derby on the Train on my own in early 70`s. They were top, we beat them 2-0. On that gluepot pitch. It was on Sunday Soccer. Jimmy scored both goals. Typically a diving header and a volley. Pure class. He still my hero today.
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Post by braddamick on Oct 10, 2011 12:02:05 GMT
You just jogged my memory meirsquare. I also went to see Jimmy`s debut for the mancs against west ham. Just a one-off, but i think it shows what a lot of us thought of him. By the way he very nearly scored from halfway line that day.
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Oct 10, 2011 16:34:54 GMT
Been a Stoke fan since 1965 and the one, the only, the great Jimmy Greenhoff is my favourite Stoke player of all that time.
I've said on previous threads that watching Jimmy was like watching an artist at work, every touch, every pass, every shot, every volley, every header Jimmy performed was with sublime skill.
It's unlikely in today's transfer market Jimmy would be playing for Stoke as I doubt we could afford the sort of fee a player as good as Jimmy would command.
As already mentioned a couple of memories really stand out about Jimmy and represent everything about the player, THAT volley at Birmingham and THAT header at Derby. I was at both games and can remember them like it was yesterday, when you see displays of skill like that you never forget it.
My lad's middle name is James in Jimmy's honour.
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jonah8
Academy Starlet
Posts: 113
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Post by jonah8 on Oct 10, 2011 17:00:33 GMT
Derby away was my first ever away match made all the more memorable by the two goals scored by Sir James of Greenhoff, who is and always will be my all time Stoke hero.
I had my photo taken with Jimmy outside the Brit a couple of years ago and the photo now adorns the wall along with a signed picture when he scored a hat trick against Man City.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2011 17:42:11 GMT
My lads middle name is James too
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Post by awrypotter on Oct 10, 2011 18:52:13 GMT
Incredibly talented player and totally committed to Stoke City. As well as his overall play I saw hime score some amazing goals. A couple of examples - his goal against Arsenal when we beat them 5-0. Bob wilson was devastated. Also remember a goal against Chelsea when we beat them 6-2 in a mid-week League Cup game.
Stilll remember seeing the Sentinel bill-board the day he left. Still painful. What would we give for him now?
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Post by Fred Ferret on Oct 10, 2011 19:29:04 GMT
Jimmy Greenhoff?
Our first £100,000 player - an absolute gem.
Watched his debut at home - he smashed a volley from just outside the corner of the penalty area (on the Stoke End Butler Street side) that would have been a better volley than Allan Mullery's had it gone in, given the flighted pass to him was sent over from the left side of the pitch. Couldn't believe what I'd seen - he was head and shoulders above our other forwards at the time.
Ric has been very good for us but JG, for me, can not be beaten. If I remember correctly, he finished the game against Chelsea in 72 having played the last 15/20 mins with his arm in a sling.
My detestation of Manure started from the day the Stoke board (at the time) betrayed us all and sold the family silver for a giveaway £120k.
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Post by Bagwash on Oct 10, 2011 19:34:16 GMT
Comparing Fuller to Jimmy Greenhoff is both naive and ignorant...and not fair to Riccy Fuller. Fuller did a good job for Stoke and for that we are grateful, but time to move on guys. Jimmy Greehoff is a Stoke City Legend. To attract players of his calibre today you would need to be spending well in excess of 15-17 million. I don't think that there is a player today with too many Greenhoff traites and abilities; Probably a blend/mix of Lampard, Rooney and ?. To conclude - Jimmy Greenhoff is beyong comparison with any member of our squad today...or since his transfer! Nobster Agree 100% 442 footy mag did a survey a few years ago asking various managers,ex players,supporters,journalists etc..who they thought was the best player never to have played for England and Jimmy Greenhoff was the number 1 choice. Best player I have seen play for Stoke. |
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Post by werrington on Oct 10, 2011 19:49:03 GMT
Comparing Fuller to Jimmy Greenhoff is both naive and ignorant...and not fair to Riccy Fuller. Fuller did a good job for Stoke and for that we are grateful, but time to move on guys. Jimmy Greehoff is a Stoke City Legend. To attract players of his calibre today you would need to be spending well in excess of 15-17 million. I don't think that there is a player today with too many Greenhoff traites and abilities; Probably a blend/mix of Lampard, Rooney and ?. To conclude - Jimmy Greenhoff is beyong comparison with any member of our squad today...or since his transfer! Nobster Agree 100% 442 footy mag did a survey a few years ago asking various managers,ex players,supporters,journalists etc..who they thought was the best player never to have played for England and Jimmy Greenhoff was the number 1 choice. Best player I have seen play for Stoke. I;d give that to Hudson tbh.......Was a pleasure to see them both in the same team |
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Post by Bagwash on Oct 10, 2011 20:14:37 GMT
Yes it was close between Greenhoff and Hudson.My old man,who has seen a lot more Stoke players than me,also reckons that Alan Hudson is the best player he has seen play for Stoke.
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Post by klute2011 on Oct 10, 2011 20:28:17 GMT
Jimmy was as some have already mentioned on here the proverbial legend. The reasons he was so adored ranged from his panache, his sex appeal, his demeanor, his volleying ability and his undoubted star quality. Yes Hudson was a genius, but as a footballer, Greenhoff was a more exciting player. He was capable of the ultimate surprise. His ability to volley a ball at 5 feet with his standing foot on the ground was just unbelievable. He could pick out a 40 yard pass, he could tackle and harrass and pressurise a defence. He could turn on a sixpence, hold a ball up and just oozed class. The one thing which summed up Jimmy Grrenhoff for me was his "Rounded Slouched Shoulders and Chewing gum" Look which everyone in my school used to copy. It was such a look. A statue of him at the back of the Boothen just has to have this look Style and Grace.............but complete with Gum Fuller in his prime could do the unexpected which made Jimmy such an exciting player to watch. But Jimmy had more to his game. I hated the day he was sold to Man U and prayed he would fail, so he would come back  .I learnt of his transfer whilst in Adderley Green Club on the Friday before it was announced. A Life Changing moment. He was SUCH an awesome player, and a gent ! "And Greenhoff has scored" was often followed by the arm in the air salute......Superb ! GRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEENNNNN HHHHHOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!! |
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Post by bristolpotter123 on Oct 11, 2011 9:32:29 GMT
Probably with Alan Hudson sums up an era of intense football supporting home and away. A time when for a couple of seasons we were real contenders and played outstanding football as well. I remember the Sunday times doing a two page spread just on Stoke and their way of playing. Happy days .
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Post by jimmygscfc on Oct 11, 2011 10:29:10 GMT
As another old git who remembers the halcyon days, Jimmy Greenhoff was my favourite player. I used to try and model my own style of play on him when I played schoolboy footy and even held my shirt cuffs in the same way that he did. I'd hate to compare him with Huddy as they played in different positions but he, too, was sublimely gifted. To have them both in our team as well as the other nine we had was almost a dream in retrospect. We were the best footballing side in the League for that one glorious season.
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Post by ceejays on Oct 11, 2011 10:50:30 GMT
Sheffield Wednesday (away).Jack knife header springs to mind.
He was simply the best striker we have ever had and scored wonderful 'picture' goals.Somewhere there is a picture of that Sheff Wed header - brilliant.The guy was just brilliant
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Post by waddosnavy on Oct 11, 2011 11:15:54 GMT
Jimmy first caught my eye as a young outside right for Leeds around April 1968. Stoke were in a relegation battle and desperate for points. It was a Wednesday evening and we played a formidable Leeds side at home who were cruising to the League Championship. With no recognised centre forward available, Peter Dobing played number 9, scoring an outstanding hatrick in a 3-2 victory. However, it was Jimmy, cutting in from the right and hammering in some violent shots that kept my heart fluttering until the final whistle. I'm sure Waddo noted his performance, and although he went to Birmingham at the end of the season, he became a Stoke player a year later.
After his career was over he had an insurance business based in Audley, which through no fault of his own became his financial downfall. I understood he was employed as Astra-Zenica??.
I heard of a story of an older Stoke fan working there, talking to a younger man about football, when Jimmy came into the rest room. The older fan said to the younger - 'See that man there, one of the greatest footballers ever and won the Cup for Man Utd. The youngster could hardly believe it.
Jimmy gave all us fans of that era such joy and happiness.
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Post by Staying up for Grandadstokey on Oct 11, 2011 17:14:58 GMT
He certainly didn't want to leave. It was reported at the time that both he and Waddo cried together when the board told Waddo that he was to be sold to help pay for the Butler Street Stand debacle. Both of them have confirmed it many times since. Having said that, Jimmy gave his all for Man Utd like the good pro that he is. I was devastated when he left (who wasn't?) but I was delighted for him that he moved to a top club and that he had a successful time there including that elusive FA Cup winners' medal. You didn't have to know a lot about football to realise what a good player he was. My mum picked him out as the best player on the pitch on her ONLY visit to the Vic. Superb technique, great vollyer, unselfish and both Hudson and Ritchie played better when he was alongside them. My favourite Stoke player of all time - I can still remember his first goal for Stoke (scored in front of the Boothen of course) and my biggest regret is that he didn't score in our League Cup final - he was, in fact, injured and didn't finish the game. Strangely I was talking to another legend Alan Hudson only yesterday and we were talking about Stokes winning goal in the league cup final and Huddy said that 2 very unusual things happened in the build up to that goal , firstly Greenhoff mishit his volley (Huddy said Jimmy was the best volleyer of the ball he had ever seen) and Bonetti allowed the ball to bounce off him ,which of course went straight to Eastham who duly scored. He said he was getting into position to receive the ball from Bonetti as he was usually such a safe keeper. |
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Post by beershot on Oct 11, 2011 17:21:01 GMT
As others have said can be seen fairly often at the ground on match days.
He and all Stoke fans cried the day he left us.
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Spot on this, how did Mick Channon keep Jimmy out of the England team? ???
.I learnt of his transfer whilst in Adderley Green Club on the Friday before it was announced. A Life Changing moment.
