List of legends

[BringBack_leGin]

As it’s obviously a hot topic right now in he who shall not be named’s thread, thought I’d ask you all who in your mind is a legend and why.

Not a thread to start bashing a certain player in or debating what he’s done for us, we all know what he’s achieved, how he’s behaved, and there’sa thread specifically to do that in over in the transfer forum - I imagine if that spills into here that’s an instant locking from the mods.

Just interested to see how people decide who is a legend and which players met those subjective criteria.

My list:

• There entire double side and Bill Nicholson, no explanation needed.
• Perryman - youth player becomes record appearances holder and wins multiple trophies in some of our best sides to watch.
• Hoddle - arguably our best ever player, almost universally seen as the most talented, and like Perryman came through the ranks to win multiple trophies as the catalyst for our best football. Stayed despite relegation.
• King - maybe injuries are all that kept him here, but he started with us his entire career while being the best centre back all of us have ever seen.
• Jennings, Ginola, Gazza and Vertonghen - absolutely wonderful players for us who were almost entirely top class in their time here and had to be practically forced out.
• Greaves - exaggerated version of the above, achieved incredible feats with us, won multiple trophies, set incredible records and was truly heartbroken to be sold. Also arguably our best ever player.
• Mabbutt - I think he doesn’t get half the credit he deserves. Involved in a couple of trophy wins as a key player, played all his best years with us for well over a decade and conducted himself with nothing but dignity (and continues to do so) while battling a truly impactful disease.
• Ossie and Ricky - aside from being wonderful footballers, they made history by joining us and have the fans countless amazing memories in their own ways while clearly remaining forever in love with the club.
• Burkinshaw - the only truly successful manager we’ve had since Bill left.

My criteria is mainly fluid, it can be based on achievement, it can be based on connection to the fans, and it can be based on pure ability and level of performance. Vital to me is how that player is remembered and to my mind that means not really judging it until after a player has retired. I also don’t think being a great player for us necessarily means being a legend, we’ve had far more great players than legends- hence why someone like Keane or Waddle just misses out. I’ve obviously relied a lot on testimony from my dad and the old boys around me from the Lane (the real Lane, not No-Heart Lane) too full in the gaps as I was only born in 85.

 

[Trix]

Part of me wants to put Chrissy Hughton on that list, and certainly Alan Gilzean.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Part of me wants to put Chrissy Hughton on that list, and certainly Alan Gilzean.

I considered both, and big Chiv, but there came a point to draw the line in players I hadn’t actually seen. But I imagine for you they definitely qualify ahead of Ginola or King, for instance.

 

[Dougal]

Graham Roberts.

 

[poc]

In my lifetime

Hoddle
Jennings
Perryman
Roberts
Mabutt
King
Ossie

Probably missing a cuople but those always come to mind when i think about this topic.

 

[Meercat]

My list would be very similar - and I tend not to put players into that bracket until after their playing career, this term legend is way too prevalent these days. Mabbs, Perryman, Hoddle… these are my legends, and maybe that’s also related to them being the heroes of my youth - which would mean I can understand younger fans putting the likes of Ginola who were the flare-heart of the team as they started following the club, or a Dawson who bled for the club heart and soul in the decade he was with us, including absolutely having peak-Zlatan in his pocket.

 

[WaldotheCat]

I'm a little older than many on here, from when I was kid, John White, Danny Blanchflower and Dave Mackay, all seemed like Legends - still do.
Soft spot for Alan Mullery and Mike England, Clive Allen when he was banging in goals, Almost Defoe, and pretty much all the Burkinshaw squad.
I realise there is a touch of rose-tinted spectacles here....
.... and thumbs up for all in the above posts.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

Would surely have Teddy on that list although he has said a few strange things in the media against us at times.

 

[Meercat]

Clive Allen, 49 goals in a season. How could I forget? Yeah, that kind of writing yourself into the history books is what legendary ought to be about.

 

[AdamsMorgan]

Harry Kane

 

[Marty]

I'm 32 so if I were to comprise a list of legends from my lifetime it would only consist of one name, which is obviously Ledley King. To achieve legendary status takes a special combination of talent and longevity that nobody else comes close to in the last 30 years.

Icons, sure plenty, same with cult heroes. But legends? None.

Sonny could become a legend if he has a few more amazing seasons for us. Lloris isn't far off tbf.

 

[Japhet]

I'd have Moussa Dembele on my list. We had the very best of him and he was a phenominal player.

 

[Blake Griffin]

lucas.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Would surely have Teddy on that list although he has said a few strange things in the media against us at times.

I think he’d have made mine if not for how he acted up in his second stint under Hoddle. Plus he ignored my letter begging him not to leave the first time when I was 11/12.

I'm 32 so if I were to comprise a list of legends from my lifetime it would only consist of one name, which is obviously Ledley King. To achieve legendary status takes a special combination of talent and longevity that nobody else comes close to in the last 30 years.

Icons, sure plenty, same with cult heroes. But legends? None.

Sonny could become a legend if he has a few more amazing seasons for us.

I think we all have our own criteria which is why I find the discussion fascinating. There is a sort of checklist per se but within that, almost an unofficial points system were more of one thing can mitigate less another (for instance, Ginola has both less impact and less longevity than both Kane and, Bale, but was at least as connected to the fans if not more, still the most entertaining player I’ve seen, and had to be forced out having turned down Man United to stay after his first season).

 

[Marty]

I think he’d have made mine if not for how he acted up in his second stint under Hoddle. Plus he ignored my letter begging him not to leave the first time when I was 11/12.

I think we all have our own criteria which is why I find the discussion fascinating. There is a sort of checklist per se but within that, almost an unofficial points system were more of one thing can mitigate less another (for instance, Ginola has both less impact and less longevity than both Kane and, Bale, but was at least as connected to the fans if not more, still the most entertaining player I’ve seen, and had to be forced out having turned down Man United to stay after his first season).

Yeah I obviously became a fan in the early-mid 90s and the first season I properly remember was 94/95 which happened to coincide with Klinsmann being my God for the first year I followed football. He also scored in both games I attended that season, my first two games at WHL.

But I still set the longevity criteria so high that neither he nor Ginola quite make it. Had Graham not pushed Ginola out so early, maybe I wouldn't feel that way about him, but he's just not quite there.

 

[Freddie]

Ginola will always be my favourite player. I don't think he fits legendary criteria, but it was a time when we were so drab that the sheer presence of someone who just might dazzle, or produce a moment of pure joy was as much as we could hope for. Football is a bit like music too; the feelings that those you adored in your teens evoked will always stay with you. It probably says a lot about Spurs that I still remember Ruel Fox, Willem Korsten, Matty Etherington and Stefan Dalmat fondly.

In terms of legends, Lloris has got to be in the list. Spent almost his whole career here, captain, world cup winner during his time here, never once uttered a word against the club or expressed desire to leave.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

Son almost certainly is destined for this list.

 

[Marty]

Ginola will always be my favourite player. I don't think he fits legendary criteria, but it was a time when we were so drab that the sheer presence of someone who just might dazzle, or produce a moment of pure joy was as much as we could hope for. Football is a bit like music too; the feelings that those you adored in your teens evoked will always stay with you. It probably says a lot about Spurs that I still remember Ruel Fox, Willem Korsten, Matty Etherington and Stefan Dalmat fondly.

In terms of legends, Lloris has got to be in the list. Spent almost his whole career here, captain, world cup winner during his time here, never once uttered a word against the club or expressed desire to leave.

Yeah I edited my post above to say that Lloris isn't far off. Had it not been for the drink driving I probably would've put him higher in my estimations but if he has a good season and a good send-off next May I think he has to be considered a legend and I have no problem with people arguing he already is.

 

[McFlash]

 

[Klinsmannic]

Klinsmann surely.