How good was Sir Bobby Charlton?

Foxbatt

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How good was Sir Bobby? When fans and supporters chose an all time great United eleven his name never seems to come up.
He later dropped into midfield and is one of the very few British players to have won the World Cup, The European Cup and the European footballer of the year. I think the only one to win these three.
 
Foxbatt said:
How good was Sir Bobby? When fans and supporters chose an all time great United eleven his name never seems to come up.
He later dropped into midfield and is one of the very few British players to have won the World Cup, The European Cup and the European footballer of the year. I think the only one to win these three.
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One of the best players in world when he played. Was England and Utd’s top goal scored for 35+ years, part of the Holy Trinity (Best, Law, Charlton). Legend.

You just be talking to the wrong people if his name doesn’t come up in conversation as one of England and Utd’s best players. He’s always been in the mix as far as I am concerned.
 
I mean here too. When an United best eleven is compiled his name is not there. Yes I do agree that he was probably the best player England ever had as Duncan Edwards did not play for long.
 
My grandfather always used to say he was one of the greatest players to ever wear the United shirt.
 
My heart dropped when I saw this thread at the top of the page :(
Never saw him play but he's considered a legend by everyone
 
It is always or either RVN, Ronaldo, Best and Cantona and Scholes and Keane. I cannot remember Sir Bobby being included and yes I do agree that he is probably the best attacking midfield we or England ever had.
 
Aside from his ability, I don't think his football story will ever be beaten. He survived Munich as such a young man in 1958, he won the European Cup 10 years later, the World Cup two years previously and was arguably the best player in both of those sides. All time top scorer for united for 40 odd years and most of his goals were scored as a midfielder. I have heard from those that have met he is both a gentleman and humbleness personified.

He is the physical embodiment of Manchester United. Along with Sir Matt and Sir Alex he is the most significant man in our history. We, as a club should cherish him whilst he is still with us.
 
He peaked fifty years ago, so there won't be that many on here that will remember him playing. Giving the success United had under Fergie, there is no shortage of players to be considered when formulating an all-time eleven and people favour those players that they can remember seeing.
 
I met him about 17 years back at OT and even then he looked very frail and old. Gave me his autograph too.
 
One of the best players I ever saw. Even at the fag-end of his career, he was still one of the bright lights in the team.
 
nycender said:
My heart dropped when I saw this thread at the top of the page :(
Never saw him play but he's considered a legend by everyone
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Mine too. There should be some sort of standard for thread titles with bad news so we don't get scares like that!
 
To be honest, whenever I've done an all time XI on here I've never included Charlton, although I should, just never saw him play. But he's part of the Holy Trinity, and should be in any all time XI for United or any XI for that matter..
 
His goal against Mexico in the WC stages in 66 was one of the finest you'll see. Looking back he certainly didn't get the recognition he deserved. I always had the likes of Best and Law ahead of him and reflecting on it now it was probably due to his nice guy image. It wasn't hip to have Sir Bobby as your hero when you were a kid. He didn't always go down well with the crowd either. He was known for his 25 yarders but more of them found the stands than the target tbh. Remember the sigh that used to go through the crowd.
 
Class of 63 said:
Any chance of the thread title being edited to save anybody else from a needless heart in mouth moment, cheers

On Bobby, one of the very best, old footage doesn't do him justice.
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Very true, OP should change it..
 
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Class of 63 said:
Any chance of the thread title being edited to save anybody else from a needless heart in mouth moment, cheers

On Bobby, one of the very best, old footage doesn't do him justice.
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I agree with this..The thread on the top makes your heart skip a bit.
Didn't watch Sir Bobby play live,,but when you see some of the footage, you can imagine he was absolutely phenomenal. The hype I guess was Beckham/Ronaldo level.
 
Naturally two footed. Good in the air. Could strike what was essentially a metal divers helmet painted brown and called a football about 35 yards. Scored 300 goals for club and country. Scored in a European cup final. He was alright wasnt he?
 
Met him a couple of times, once fairly recently and he seemed very shaky, which really affected me. And yet, despite his ill health, the man still has an aura. It was pretty surreal.

My dad and uncle will never reconcile over Best, Law or Charlton. It's an argument that has raged for decades!

We're genuinely privileged to be associated with such a legend of the game.
 
FujiVice said:
Naturally two footed. Good in the air. Could strike what was essentially a metal divers helmet painted brown and called a football about 35 yards. Scored 300 goals for club and country. Scored in a European cup final. He was alright wasnt he?
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Put England into the 1966 World Cup final too.
 
I thought the global concensus regarding him (by people really passionate about football) was him considered the best english player of all-time and and overall all-time great :confused:

But when I think about it, it definitely feels like the more the time passes, the more he's getting forgotten. From an outsider POV, I feel like he's missing the "rock-n-roll"/"WTF" part in his career for a lot of casual supporters that love rating players with off the pitch elements. A bit like from now, people will always remember David Beckham (and the player that he was and that I like a lot and his exploits, even though his persona why but still) but beside portugueses and real football fans Luis Figo tend to be forgotten.
 
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FujiVice said:
Naturally two footed. Good in the air. Could strike what was essentially a metal divers helmet painted brown and called a football about 35 yards. Scored 300 goals for club and country. Scored in a European cup final. He was alright wasnt he?
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Were footballs really heavy back in the day? Gosh...
 
Probably United and Englands greatest ever player . Leading scorer for both for a long time until Rooney came along .
 
In the hopefully long long distant future when Sir Bobby leaves this life, there will be about 20 pages of the thread 30 seconds after the first post. It'll be a proper "can'ee take it captain" moment.
 
I would change the title if I knew how I could. Can someone tell me how to change the title?
 
Denis79 said:
My grandfather always used to say he was one of the greatest players to ever wear the United shirt.
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And your grandfather is quite right.
Bobby Charlton was one of the most naturally talented footballers I have ever seen.
Completely two footed and so graceful he used to glide across the ground and remember how terrible the pitches were then.
Another very difficult skill was the ability to hit a shot really hard while running at pace.
A brilliant ball striker with tremendous balance.
He was respected the world over and in his day one of the very best.
 
Easily England's best ever he was true world class. You've had other world class players but nobody can touch him so far. It's different eras but he had so many skills he'd be world class even now. Some of the amazing things he did looked effortless which for me is the mark of an all time great.
 
How much would prime Bobby Charlton be worth in today's market? Whenever someone talks about the old legends like Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Beckenbauer,
Müller, I always wonder why his name is never really mentioned up there.
 
Would be worth £200m+ in today's game according to my old man.
 
Bobby was my grandad’s hero, but even he said Duncan Edwards is the best player he’s ever seen.
 
Buster15 said:
And West Germany were so concerned about him that they put their very best play Franz Beckenbauer to man mark him.
Hell of a player.
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Such a shame that his final match for England was the 1970 World Cup QF against West Germany, when he was subbed by Ramsey with us winning 2-0, and comfortably as well, but then Beckenbauer was let loose, having no one to mark he ran the show, and we lost aet. I can understand why Ramsey did it, saving Charlton for the semi, but a sad way to end his International career.
 
Easier to be England’s greatest ever than United’s.
That said there is a very short list ahead of him in United’s pantheon.
This man personified the courage, skill and desire of the club in such a humble and quiet fashion. Some of today’s superstars could certainly learn a lesson about application, dedication and manners from him.
 
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