On a sunny Celtic-less Saturday one question seemed to strike a chord with fans on Twitter.Â
Celtic author St Anthony has watched and chronicled the hoops since the early seventies, in mid-morning he speculated over who was the greatest player from their own club that they had viewed in the flesh.Â
Billy McNeil, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox survived Lisbon to stretch their playing days into the mid-seventies with Lennon featuring against Real Madrid in the 1980 European Cup quarter-final.Â
Every decade has thrown up outstanding Celtic candidates but in the opinion of St Anthony there has been no-one to match or better Danny McGrain during his lifetime.Â
For a couple of years Kenny Dalglish and McGrain were the headline acts at Celtic, while Dalglish moved on to Liverpool his team-mate stayed around for the 4-2 match, the 100 Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United and the Love Street title triumph.Â
Paul McStay lit up some of the toughest seasons that the club endured, Tommy Burns and Roy Aitken spent more than a decade on the team-sheet before the more modern era started with Henrik Larsson with cases to be made for many of the Seville team.Â
Scott Brown is the most recent candidate but over the next month or so there is the potential for some additions as fans put forward the names that impressed most.Â
From the team you support, who is the greatest player you have actually seen play for them in the flesh ?
For me Danny McGrain just shades it over Dalglish, McStay, and Larsson.
— St.Anthony (@Stephen4_2) March 26, 2022
From the team you support, who is the greatest player you have actually seen play for them in the flesh ?
For me Danny McGrain just shades it over Dalglish, McStay, and Larsson.
— St.Anthony (@Stephen4_2) March 26, 2022
I really only got to see Danny, Paul and Henrik. All tremendous in their own way???
— Eddy Grady (@EddyGrady) March 26, 2022
Henrik obviously had the biggest contribution but my favourite is Lubo. Just a genius, different level to anyone else I’ve seen at Celtic. Thankful I seen all his seasons with us, a privilege. pic.twitter.com/07H1xNdVJs
— Terence (@terrythetim) March 26, 2022
Tough one but Bobby Murdoch
— Paullie ??????? (@PaullieWalnuts) March 26, 2022
For me it’s a straight up shootout between Larsson and McStay.
I am really not sure I could pick between them.
On the basis that I saw the vast majority of Larsson’s games then I would maybe (just) pick him.
— Hail Hail History (@hailhailhistory) March 26, 2022
So difficult at my age, Jinky, Kenny, George Connelly, Danny, Paul, I’ll go for king Kenny, the most complete footballer to come out of the uk ?
— Peter ??????? (@pedrovasgarcia) March 26, 2022
I agree Danny McGrain was for me the most inspirational player I have seen. I also loved watching Roy Aitken. Best technical player was Paul McStay, both McStay and mmMcGrain could have played in any team in the world.
— JonnyBhoy1967 (@JonnyBhoy1967) March 26, 2022
Horrible question to ask a Celtic fan in their 50s!! I always say Jimmy Johnstone is the reason I love football. Just edges Kenny and Henrik
— Martin Gorman (@martingorman7) March 26, 2022
The most underrated player was John Clark , I think he invented the sweeper position ,read the game, made our defence almost impenetrable and never tried to be looked upon as a star quite but uncomplicated
Seen McGrain, McStay and Larsson…tough one…Henrik shades it as a player but the Maestro was Mr Celtic to me when I was a kid and is still probably my all-time fave.
Can’t believe nobody’s said Tony Cascarino….
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Has to be Murdy. If you run the lions, who can touch you.