George Best - Hero or villian

[Glaws Eagle]

I've just been watching Mr Best on ITV's Stars and their Lives.

Does anybody remember the dreadful tackle by Mr Best, in the game v Fulham in 1978, when he broke Ian Evans leg.

I reckon it was totally pre-meditated.

N Ireland were playing Wales in a World Cup qualifier just a few weeks after the Palace -Fulham game. I think Best did it on purpose.

Yet he is still seen as some sort of "hero".

Anybody got any views?

[richit]

On the field - hero (to some)
Off the field - villain

[Isleworth Eagle]

I agree with richit.
Do you remember the clever goal that was not allowed when he beat the england keeper Bank's when he (Banks) attempted a kick out and Best flicked the ball into the net?

[JohnA]

I regard him as a football hero up there with Johann Cruyff. Sadly off the field he was flawed but on the field he never had the reputation of being dirty.

[johnny]

.......never had a reputation for being dirty?!.Maybe not when he was a youngster,but he soon realised after a few "kickings" that the best form of self defence was offence.That tackle on Ian Evans was dreadful,I was there,and you could have heard the bone break at Thornton Heath Station.People always forget that he was also involved in a tackle with Glyn Pardoe of Man City a few years earlier that broke the City players leg so badly that surgeons held a meeting to discuss whether they should amputate Pardoe's leg or not.In my opinion,he was a great player,but once he lost his pace and fitness,and the booze started to affect his moods,he became more and more violent and vicious on the football pitch.I'm not sure of his sendings off record,but it's very high for an era in which you had to do much more than give the linesman a dirty look to get sent off-I remember him getting sent off in a match against Wales once for slinging mud into the refs face!.
I should also add,that Ian Evans has always been upset at the fact that Best didn't so much as send him a get well card while he was recovering in hospital-I think that says quite a lot about George Best.

[This message has been edited by johnny (edited 23 July 2000).]

[Chocky]

Originally posted by johnny on 07-23-2000 02:38 AM
I should also add,that Ian Evans has always been upset at the fact that Best didn't so much as send him a get well card while he was recovering in hospital-I think that says quite a lot about George Best.


Hear hear. http://www.cpfc.org/ubb/frown.gif

[dickie]

i knew one of the players in that match who told me that Bestie had done exactly the same thing a year or two earlier against Stoke, and that it too was a cynical "challenge".....

no question.....VILLAN.

I seem to recall a photo of Rachid with a facial expression filled with hatred and evil intent taken at the time of the Ian Evans incident. If I remember well he was being held back by teammates otherwise he would have ripped Best's head off.

Anyone else remeber the song?

"He forges dollars and he hates George Best,

Rachid, Rachid,

He forges dollars and he hates George Best,

Rachid Harkouk"

[Blind_Eagle]

Top call Johnny, reading your posting reminded me of the sound of the break and it still makes me feel sick.