Best passer of the ball?

[theonlywayisup]

In your opinion, who would you say are those players who could claim to be up there with the best passers of the ball? I'm not saying those that now and then play the great pass that creates an opportunity, but those who every week are spraying the ball around, creating opportunities for their team.

I'd think that Xavi and Iniesta would be top of the list, so to make this more interesting on a weekend when there are no Hibs games, who would be your top picks for:


Best Hibs player in recent years (say last 10 years)
Best Hibs player prior to that
Best non-Hibs Scottish player
Best ever category

I'm sure this will stimulate some debate :greengrin

I'd expect Scott Allan would be close to top of the list for more recent Hibs players. Players like Sauzee, Collins, Latapy for hibs players prior to that. Players like Platini and Michael Laudrup would be good calls in the best ever category, along with many Brazilians. For Scottish players, my picks would be biased towards the great teams we had in the late 70s and early 80s.

No right or wrong answer! Though, red card to anyone who puts forward a claim for Joe Newell. :na na:

[Fanforlife]

In your opinion, who would you say are those players who could claim to be up there with the best passers of the ball? I'm not saying those that now and then play the great pass that creates an opportunity, but those who every week are spraying the ball around, creating opportunities for their team.

I'd think that Xavi and Iniesta would be top of the list, so to make this more interesting on a weekend when there are no Hibs games, who would be your top picks for:


Best Hibs player in recent years (say last 10 years)
Best Hibs player prior to that
Best non-Hibs Scottish player
Best ever category

I'm sure this will stimulate some debate :greengrin

I'd expect Scott Allan would be close to top of the list for more recent Hibs players. Players like Sauzee, Collins, Latapy for hibs players prior to that. Players like Platini and Michael Laudrup would be good calls in the best ever category, along with many Brazilians. For Scottish players, my picks would be biased towards the great teams we had in the late 70s and early 80s.

No right or wrong answer! Though, red card to anyone who puts forward a claim for Joe Newell. :na na:
Alex Edwards!!!!

[hibsbollah]

Scott Allan
Sauzee (of those who I’ve seen personally)
Collins
Zico

I’ve given this some thought and I think it has to be a relatively modern era, and I honestly can’t think of a better Scottish passer than Collins. Stanton? Davy Cooper? John Robertson? But both more of a winger. McStay? A bit overrated. I imagine Jim Baxter must have been a bit special but before my time and an era where accurate passing was less fundamental .

Nice question though.

[HarpOnHibee]

Guillaume Beuzelin had a pass on him on his day as well.

[BILLYHIBS]

Scott Allan

Alex Edwards

Barry Ferguson

Bobby Johnstone

[H18 SFR]

Tom Smith that played in McLeish’s team of 99/00 must have had the highest pass completion rate ever in that league. Never misplaced a pass.

[hibsbollah]

Guillaume Beuzelin had a pass on him on his day as well.

Yeah, I considered him too. Sauzee just.

[Carheenlea]

Dylan McGeouch was a great passer of the ball. Not so much in a flamboyant manner but more just solid, simple passing while always looking for a return ball to keep possession.

Hugely important players for sides who like to play a passing game, but maybe don’t stand out in the way the likes of Scott Allan did with ingenious through balls that had you rising to your feet in appreciation.

[BILLYHIBS]

Alex Mickey Edwards best passer of a ball ever

Absolutely sublime

Could hit a 50 p piece from 50 yards and thread a ball through the eye of a needle

Absolute travesty he never played for Scotland

[Radge70]

Porto in recent times

[darwenhibby]

Scott Allan
Paul Scholes

[staunchhibby]

Pat quinn

[Zambernardi1875]

chic charnley

[ronaldo7]

Alex Edwards!!!!

Nobody better.

[MKHIBEE]

Alex Edwards!!!!

That was my thought immediately I read the question.

[Fanforlife]

Alex Mickey Edwards best passer of a ball ever

Absolutely sublime

Could hit a 50 p piece from 50 yards and thread a ball through the eye of a needle

Absolute travesty he never played for Scotland
🗯👍👍👍

[Smartie]

All from my time watching football…

Scott Allan

Russell Latapy

I always thought Gary McAllister was excellent in possession - short passes, long passes, the defence splitter when needed.

And Pirlo was simply majestic to watch, quality passer. Honourable mention for Paul Scholes who I didn’t initially appreciate but came to realise later was a top notch player.

[StarMan10]

In terms of Hibs players in recent ish memory:

Scott Allan
Guillaume Beuzelin
Liam Miller (R.I.P)

[Northernhibee]

Joe Newell is massively under rated in this team too.

[Scouse Hibee]

Dalglish to Rush or Keith Wright 😀 no one better.

[Itsnoteasy]

George Mccluskey

[pollution]

George Best. A 40 yards cross field pass at Pittodrie sticks in my mind.

[Springbank]

Sauzee all day

[leith lynx]

Ally Mcleod (70's), Alex Cropley, John Blackley , John Collins, IMO all great passers.

[superfurryhibby]

Beuzelin was a very good passer of the ball

[wookie70]

Ally McLeod for Scottish. That was my time starting to watch Hibs

Scott Allan would deserve recognition as a player who kept trying the difficult ball despite how often it never worked. Like Jason he had incredible self belief. Chic Charley was better than Allan imo and worked far harder too. Currently Joe N is actually a good passer and we may see more of that now he is up the park a bit

[KeithTheHibby]

Stevie Mallan could pass a ball.

[Donegal Hibby]

Non Hibs .
Messi .
Modric.
Kroos.
Pirlo .

Hibs .
Allan.
Miller
Collins.
Wilkins.

[Norrieg]

Willie Hamilton:not worth
Pat Quinn:not worth
Alex Edwards:not worth
I wish i could turn the clock back:boo hoo:

[Speedy]

Jarko Wiss

[Roxyhibee]

We’ve had some truly great passers but Alex Edwards’ vision and execution was on another level. Genius.

[A Hi-Bee]

Pat Quinn, Willie Hamilton, Alex Edwards, John Collins, Xavi & Iniesta would be hard to pass by.

[hibbycraig]

Canny beat a 60yard cross field Zambernardi.

[The Wireless]

Willie Hamilton
Alex Edwards
George Best
John Collins
Frank Sauzee

[hibby rae]

Non Hibs .
Messi .
Modric.
Kroos.
Pirlo .

Hibs .
Allan.
Miller
Collins.
Wilkins.

Surprised I had to scroll this far down before I saw Pirlo.

Best Hibs passer right now? There's an argument for Marshall. Certainly the passing keeper in the league.

I remember a story where Sauzee played 70 yard ball to Lovell who had to adjust and take it on his other foot, prompting Sauzee to apologise for the inaccuracy of the pass.

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

Alex Edwards,his slide rule passes to John Brownlie were a thing of beauty 👌💚

[May21/05/216]

Alex Edwards

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

[Clarence]

Tom Smith that played in McLeish’s team of 99/00 must have had the highest pass completion rate ever in that league. Never misplaced a pass.

The thinking man’s Derek Collins.

[oneone73]

Honourable mention for Iain Munro.

[stu in nottingham]

Andrea Pirlo was the master I thought, totally sublime.

Home-bred player, Don Masson. Any kind of pass, short, medium, long. Would pick out players without even looking. Would generally always manage to hang on to the ball before releasing it to a teammate. None better in this country that I've seen.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

Non Hibs

Scholes
Pirlo
Modric
Çalhanoglu deserves a mention
Kroos
Xavi
Beckham


Hibs

Allan
Thomson
Murphy
Sauzee
Liam Miller
And of course the great Michael Nelson, what distribution the big man had [emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BILLYHIBS]

Andrea Pirlo was the master I thought, totally sublime.

Home-bred player, Don Masson. Any kind of pass, short, medium, long. Would pick out players without even looking. Would generally always manage to hang on to the ball before releasing it to a teammate. None better in this country that I've seen.

This

Was close to picking Masson but opted for Barry Ferguson for always moving the ball on never dilly dallying and controlling the tempo of a game never caught in possession but fouled often and always available for a pass

Pirlo was simply sublime up there with Modric Iniesta Sauzee and Mickey

[Since452]

Scott Allan (some of the most sublime passes I've seen).
Chick Charnley (what a natural talent).
Paul McStay (class. Should have played at a higher level).
Paul Scholes (world class).

[WeeRussell]

Dylan McGeouch was a great passer of the ball. Not so much in a flamboyant manner but more just solid, simple passing while always looking for a return ball to keep possession.

Hugely important players for sides who like to play a passing game, but maybe don’t stand out in the way the likes of Scott Allan did with ingenious through balls that had you rising to your feet in appreciation.

Interestingly, pretty much for the reasons and the distinction you’ve made, I wouldn’t ever describe DM as a great passer of the ball. I think of him as more neat and tidy. I can’t think of a time I would ever shout “great ball” after Dylan played a pass.

I think it’s more how we define a great passer though rather than a straight disagreement. If someone like McGeough never gives the ball away then arguably that’s a great passer I suppose!

Maybe I’m starting to convince myself the other way now… 😁

[Greencore]

Zidane.

[Mibbes Aye]

Can’t remember his name but it was whoever used to pass the ball to David Murphy. He was an excellent passer because it always seemed to land perfectly for Murph :greengrin

In the flesh for Hibs, I always really liked Kevin Thomson at the start of his career. Scott Allan could play a ball, especially when he didn’t try too hard to make it a Hollywood pass. And Darren Jackson funnily enough. Towards the end of his spell he was carrying the attack, if not the team, and his passing was a big part of that.

Those I’ve seen away from Hibs, Tomas Rosicky was one of those players who always looked like he had the proverbial extra second of time to pick a pass. Mesut Ozil looked like he played with a protractor and a pair of compasses.

For those I never saw in the flesh, The Brazil teams from the 1970 and 1982 World Cups. Not one individual, just the collective, often just strolling about with socks at their ankles knocking the ball across the park then a killer pass that the apparent recipient dummies or feints and the next guy fires it in like a cannonball.

[EastThomasSTboy]

🗯👍👍👍

Alex Edwards….deffo best ever…..only modern player to get near him was Paul Scholes😁😁😁😁.

[gbhibby]

Alex Edwards some of his crossfield passes to Arthur Duncan were sublime.

[eastterrace]

Alex Edwards!!!!
:thumbsup:

[MWHIBBIES]

Stevie Mallan could pass a ball.

To the opposition mainly

[ShanksSaidNo]

In recent times, hard to see passed Allan. Maybe not the complete range of passing but in terms of killer passes no one gets close. His pass at Ibrox for Horgans goal was ridiculous.. he’s the only one that could see and execute that.
A mention in the past 10 years category for Marc Milligan - that guy was quality and emptied a bit too early.
Prior to that, in my lifetime I’d go for Latapy and Brebner - ability to spray the ball short or long with both feet was class.
Outside Hibs - Iniesta and Zidane

[theonlywayisup]

Alex Edwards!!!!

Lots of mentions of Alex Edwards. Before my time watching Hibs, so how good was he. I knew he started at Dunfermline and was in our Tornado's team, but as I say that was before my time.

‘If you know your history’ to feature Turnbull’s Tornado Alex Edwards | The Edinburgh Reporter (https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2020/08/if-you-know-your-history-to-feature-turnbulls-tornado-alex-edwards/)

[adam middlemass]

Alex Edwards, Paul Mcstay, Chick Charley, Kevin Thomson, Scott Allan :aok:

[Paulie Walnuts]

Messi.

[Jones28]

Scott Brown played one of the best passes I’ve ever seen in the flesh. He hit a volley out to the left wing in front of me in the west stand and it was a thing of beauty and technical brilliance.

[hibeg]

Another one for Alex Edwards but in the same team Alex Cropley wasn’t far behind.

[BILLYHIBS]

Another one for Alex Edwards but in the same team Alex Cropley wasn’t far behind.

Sweet left peg loved a cross field pass and a goal against the Hearts

Heart of a lion

[Crunchie]

Alan Hansen wisnae a bad passer of the ball. As was Beckenbauer. As Hibs players go it has to be Pat Stanton for me.

[MWHIBBIES]

The best pass I've ever seen was Kaka in the 2005 CL final, for Crespo. Absolutely unbelievable. Maybe the most perfectly weighted pass ever.

[O'Rourke3]

Edwards and Cropley. Probably yhe best combination in my time as a supporter. When we played Leeds at Ellend Road, David Coleman was frothing over Cropleys range of passing as we outplayed the home team.

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

[Crunchie]

The best pass I've ever seen was Kaka in the 2005 CL final, for Crespo. Absolutely unbelievable. Maybe the most perfectly weighted pass ever.

The chances are that the best pass of all time wasn’t even by a professional.

[Percy Vere]

Sauzee
Allan
And….
In current team
The man many in here love to hate….
Joe Newell has got a very sweet left peg

[Svengali]

Sauzee for me. Edwards, Stanton before my time

Always thought Grant Brebner was underrated, hardly wasted a pass. Boozy was classy in possession and had perfectly weighted pass on him too.

Brian Kerr could have been a great passer if we had managed to see what he did

[7-Heaven]

Alex Mickey Edwards best passer of a ball ever

Absolutely sublime

Could hit a 50 p piece from 50 yards and thread a ball through the eye of a needle

Absolute travesty he never played for Scotland

I have to agree with this :)

[CropleyisGod]

Alex Mickey Edwards best passer of a ball ever

Absolutely sublime

Could hit a 50 p piece from 50 yards and thread a ball through the eye of a needle

Absolute travesty he never played for Scotland

Absolutely this but best pass EVER…Fyvie to Stokesy 2016 [emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JamesHFC]

KDB & Eriksen have probably produced some of the best assists I've ever seen.

[EVENTUALLY]

Alex Mickey Edwards best passer of a ball ever

Absolutely sublime

Could hit a 50 p piece from 50 yards and thread a ball through the eye of a needle

Absolute travesty he never played for Scotland

He was a brilliant player, a genius in fact.

[BILLYHIBS]

He was a brilliant player, a genius in fact.

Precision passer

[cameronw-hfc]

Xavi, best centre mid of all time imo. Best I've seen at Hibs was boozy for accuracy, Allan for splitting a defence though.

[Hibernian Verse]

Joe Newell.

[wandering_hibee]

As many others have said, best ever in my lifetime of watching Hibs was Alex Edwards, absolute perfection.

Not seen many since that would come close to him.

[lyonhibs]

Can't believe this thread has got this far without a mention for Yannick Zambernardi. For shame Hibs.net, for shame. Loved those cultured crossfield bombs he used to launch in the vague general direction of..........someone............

For me it's Scott Allan at Hibs recently, king of the reverse ball in behind in particular.

[heretoday]

Alex Cropley.

[theonlywayisup]

Canny beat a 60yard cross field Zambernardi.


Can't believe this thread has got this far without a mention for Yannick Zambernardi. For shame Hibs.net, for shame. Loved those cultured crossfield bombs he used to launch in the vague general direction of..........someone............

For me it's Scott Allan at Hibs recently, king of the reverse ball in behind in particular.

On page 2

[ancient hibee]

Recently Scott Allan

Before Alex Edwards

All time Bobby Johnstone. In both his spells at ER he was the master of disguised passes off either foot making space for himself and others.
Unlike most mentioned on this thread he was also a prolific goal scorer.The complete player really.

Non Hibs Jim Baxter never wasted a ball in his early days.

Hearts have never had an outstanding passer. Probably George Thomson was about the best and he was a good left back who could play midfield.

[KenN]

Alex Edwards!!!!

That was the first name I thought of !:thumbsup:

[Edina Street]

In your opinion, who would you say are those players who could claim to be up there with the best passers of the ball? I'm not saying those that now and then play the great pass that creates an opportunity, but those who every week are spraying the ball around, creating opportunities for their team.

I'd think that Xavi and Iniesta would be top of the list, so to make this more interesting on a weekend when there are no Hibs games, who would be your top picks for:


Best Hibs player in recent years (say last 10 years)
Best Hibs player prior to that
Best non-Hibs Scottish player
Best ever category

I'm sure this will stimulate some debate :greengrin

I'd expect Scott Allan would be close to top of the list for more recent Hibs players. Players like Sauzee, Collins, Latapy for hibs players prior to that. Players like Platini and Michael Laudrup would be good calls in the best ever category, along with many Brazilians. For Scottish players, my picks would be biased towards the great teams we had in the late 70s and early 80s.

No right or wrong answer! Though, red card to anyone who puts forward a claim for Joe Newell. :na na:


Dylan McGeouch
Franck Sauzee
Gary McCallister
Pele (Must have been a pretty good passer given the fact that his goal assists as a playmaker out number his goal amount, and this is saying something given that he is Brazil's record top goalscorer).

[Trinity Hibee]

The best pass I've ever seen was Kaka in the 2005 CL final, for Crespo. Absolutely unbelievable. Maybe the most perfectly weighted pass ever.

That was incredible. So was the finish

[BILLYHIBS]

Dylan McGeouch
Franck Suazee
Gary McCallister
Pele (Must have been a pretty good passer given the fact that his goal assists as a playmaker out number his goal amount, and this is saying something given that he is Brazil's record top goalscorer).



His assist for Carlos Alberto in the 1970 World Cup Final was pure class

[theonlywayisup]

Another name to through into the mix is Harry Kane. I recall a Sky Sports piece on him and his passing was exceptional. That was from 2-3 years ago, so not sure if it's still as good.

[Bushwoof]

Dom Malonga was exceptional at the short pass. Don't remember him doing any long ones, but his short passes to feet were always perfectly weighted so the recipient never had to adjust their stride even slightly.

[eastmainsmsh]

John Collins

[Broken Gnome]

That was incredible. So was the finish

That's about the most perfect three/four touches in football, covering a good 80 yards.

[Kato]

Recently Scott Allan

Before Alex Edwards

All time Bobby Johnstone. In both his spells at ER he was the master of disguised passes off either foot making space for himself and others.
Unlike most mentioned on this thread he was also a prolific goal scorer.The complete player really.

Non Hibs Jim Baxter never wasted a ball in his early days.

Hearts have never had an outstanding passer. Probably George Thomson was about the best and he was a good left back who could play midfield.Alex Young played for Hearts, never seen him play but by reputation a great passer of the ball. A hero at Everton with the nickname "The Golden Vision", which speaks volumes. Alan Gordon said his passes were sublime but was forced out at Hearts as fans used to boo him as they wanted the ball blootered forward most of the time.

Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk

[hibsbollah]

Nicola Sturgeon