The Greatest Hardmen of them all

**OwlsFan** · 28/09/2009, 12:30 PM

Souness at No. 1 ??

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-hard-men.html

p.s. Spot the picture of our assistant manager in that famous goal celebration.

**DeLorean** · 28/09/2009, 12:51 PM

Neil Ruddock and Julien Dicks can't have been far from that list.

Anybody around at the moment...Morgan (Sheff Utd) maybe. Vidic and to be fair John Terry is hard and brave although I'm sure people will disagree cos they don't like him. I don't either by the way. Carragher also.

**rava** · 28/09/2009, 1:20 PM

I dont understand how a lot of players on this list can be considered "hard". The likes of chopper harris was just dirty whats so hard about that. Would the likes of lineker or Best not be considered harder for being able to take some of the assaults dished out by these "hard" men.

**Macy** · 28/09/2009, 1:32 PM

The Shankill Skinhead doesn't make the 50, but the likes of Shearer and Savage do? Still, nice to see Remi Moses get on it.

**Den Perry** · 28/09/2009, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

The Shankill Skinhead doesn't make the 50, but the likes of Shearer and Savage do? Still, nice to see Remi Moses get on it.

My Dad used to love Bremner. I don't rem Bremner playing but I've seen him on DVD / Video.

The way the rules are nowadays its very difficult for the "hard men" to survive because twpo mistimed tackles, even if they are not bad and you're off.

Didn't see Chris Kamara on the list....and he was hard(or should that be, filthy?)I also thought Mick McCarthy was as hard as nails. People go on about Bryan Robson being hard...brave yes. But if he was that hard he wouldn't have gotten so many injuries would he?

**superfrank** · 28/09/2009, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

But if he was that hard he wouldn't have gotten so many injuries would he?

Huh?

He could have injured himself with a bad tackle a la Roy Keane vs. Haaland, the first time.

**Infadel** · 28/09/2009, 5:17 PM

Surprised Andoni Goikoetxea isn't higher up the list but then again the list is obviously leaning towards British players

**bennocelt** · 28/09/2009, 6:33 PM

Originally Posted by Infadel

Surprised Andoni Goikoetxea isn't higher up the list but then again the list is obviously leaning towards British players

damn just got there before me - yeah that list is silly - I mean Pearce as second (ha ha ha ha ha)

Goikoetxea has to be at least in the top 10

Didnt read the whole list but Rugerri was tough too

Dicks, Jones, Keane and Mccarthey were hard IMHO

**Poor Student** · 28/09/2009, 6:59 PM

Paolo Montero anybody?

**Noli** · 28/09/2009, 7:40 PM

Tommy Smith for me, Julien Dicks was utter garbage had no pace and couldnt take the kicking back that he received as for Ruddock his whole attitude to football was shocking

**Blue Man** · 28/09/2009, 8:18 PM

Paulo Montero was one hard defender. The type who would kick his Granny for 0-0!!

**old git** · 28/09/2009, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

damn just got there before me - yeah that list is silly - I mean Pearce as second (ha ha ha ha ha)

Goikoetxea has to be at least in the top 10

Didnt read the whole list but Rugerri was tough too

Dicks, Jones, Keane and Mccarthey were hard IMHO

yeah pearce second

?? he was only the second pyscho the original mark dennis southampton

**gustavo** · 29/09/2009, 7:09 PM

Pablo Alfaro

**Noelys Guitar** · 29/09/2009, 9:34 PM

Johnny Giles would be right near the top. Best said Giles was the one he feared the most of the Leeds 60's/70's side.

**old git** · 29/09/2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Johnny Giles would be right near the top. Best said Giles was the one he feared the most of the Leeds 60's/70's side.

giles was a bit diferent to most hardmen he could also play great football and then get stuck in when it was needed and also when it was not needed ..

**Noelys Guitar** · 29/09/2009, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by old git

giles was a bit diferent to most hardmen he could also play great football and then get stuck in when it was needed and also when it was not needed ..

Too true. I can remember a late 70's/early 80's radio interview with Jimmy Holmes. Holmes was talkng about the infamous 70's away match in Bulgaria (his horendous broken leg)and the pre match teamtalk from Giles came up. The Irish players worried about one particular Bulgarian player. Giles said "Don't worry about him. I'll sort it". And he did without anyone noticing. Giles was crafty in a dirty way. And was honest enough to admit it years later.

**DeLorean** · 30/09/2009, 9:12 AM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Too true. I can remember a late 70's/early 80's radio interview with Jimmy Holmes. Holmes was talkng about the infamous 70's away match in Bulgaria (his horendous broken leg)and the pre match teamtalk from Giles came up. The Irish players worried about one particular Bulgarian player. Giles said "Don't worry about him. I'll sort it". And he did without anyone noticing. Giles was crafty in a dirty way. And was honest enough to admit it years later.

Kind of ironic how you can give praise somebody for being honest about being so dishonest

**cheifo** · 30/09/2009, 9:48 AM

Gentile. Man marker supreme, hatchet man and Assasin.

Use to pretend to ref he was helping players to their feet after he sliced them but he was really squeeezing their nipples!!

**old git** · 30/09/2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Kind of ironic how you can give praise somebody for being honest about being so dishonest

was part of the game back then every team had a few hardmen to try and sort out opponents..

fans / managers / players / refs all knew it and everybody was happy to accept it... it is one part of modern football i miss .. not saying we need a return to to 70/80's early ninties
but in current game it is nearly coming to a stage of non contact football.. giles / souness / gentille etc would have sorted out our current prima donna's - divers ronaldo / drogba / gerrard etc

**Den Perry** · 30/09/2009, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by old git

was part of the game back then every team had a few hardmen to try and sort out opponents..

fans / managers / players / refs all knew it and everybody was happy to accept it... it is one part of modern football i miss .. not saying we need a return to to 70/80's early ninties
but in current game it is nearly coming to a stage of non contact football.. giles / souness / gentille etc would have sorted out our current prima donna's - divers ronaldo / drogba / gerrard etc

Yes, I think the game is become too "non-contact". Part of the allure of the game were the ongoing persoanl battles you'd get between players.The likes of Drogba etc ddrive me nuts

Btw, Basil Boli sorted out Stuart Pearce in Euro 92 and there wasn't much retribution taken by Mr Pearce