Hard as nails c*nts

MrJoeSoap · 18-12-2007 03:19AM #1

So, who's your favourite 'ard man 'en?

For me its all about Scott Parker, the guy takes some amount of punishment every time he steps out on the pitch. Brave is an understatement for little Scott, against Everton on Saturday he absolutely launched himself into a header at waist-height and almost got decapitated for his trouble.

The week before, against Chelsea, he made two brilliant blocks from powerful free-kicks and got straight back up to play on. Best tackler in the Premier League by some distance.

Arsenal and Newcastle fans might remember his legendary performance against Jens Lehmann a couple of seasons back, playing on and on until he literally couldn't give any more, he lost a couple of teeth that day too if I recall.

So who's your favourite? Razor Ruddock? Vinnie Jones?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8QUzr94sYA

kinaldo · 18-12-2007 03:42AM

Wor Batty.

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 03:54AM

Ha ha Detective Gerry Lynch would be proud of the title!

So many 'choppers' out there.

For City in my lifetime we've had Andy Morrison, Jamie Pollock and Richard Dunne. They all love a tackle.

Thinking outside the box I'd consider these boys hard b*stards:
- Duncan Ferguson
- Vinny Jones
- Neil Ruddock
- Stuart Pearce
- Julian Dicks

Further afield I wouldn't cross these lads -

Andoni Goikoetxea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpcBkpOf4z8

Javi Navarro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDtPPfotPLs

Mr.Nice Guy · 18-12-2007 06:00AM

Of all time I would say Roy Keane.

Out of the current bunch I would say Wayne Rooney. He seems to have the proverbial 'red mist' about him and you always feel he's got the potential to lose it and do something rash.

hoolio · 18-12-2007 06:16AM

Ah but i think there's a difference between being "hard" and just being a violatile thug.

For example say Michael Brown - commentators will call him "commited", he's not, he's just malicious. Rooney's hot streak doesnt make him hard, it makes him a liability, likewise with Steve Gerard's love of the odd two footed tackle.

I think Brian McBride is hard as nails, in a really odd understated sort of way.

cson · 18-12-2007 07:07AM

Spot on Hoolio, theres a difference between being hard andbeing a tramp. Like you pointed out, Michael Brown is plain nasty. I'd have to go with Roy Keane if I'm honest, he had a bit of tramp in him too, but mostly he was a work hard play hard guy.

From my own club I suppose Tony Adams or Keown were the hard men that I can remember, maybe Vieira as well. Nowadays Arsenal don't really have a hard man (In fact most teams don't) but I have to say, Fabregas is fiery little fella, kept pushing Lampard in the back on Sunday, goading him and then that "tackle" on Cole

hoolio · 18-12-2007 07:13AM

Yeah Roy Keane always seemed to swing between old school tough and sickening thuggery, depending on his haircut.

Ah come on, arsenal are all too pretty to be a hard dressingroom. So to speak.

Dont be at yourself · 18-12-2007 07:30AM

Gattuso. He's a fiery little fella, and seems to be a genuine nutjob. I've rarely seen him maliciously try to 'do' someone though.

Seems to be the same off the pitch too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5U69BLmr0

Guy:Incognito · 18-12-2007 09:41AM

C Ronaldo. Th epoor guy gets viciously assaulted numerous times in every game making him end up on the ground, yet gets up everytime like he wasnt touched. Double rock hard bastard.

Bit OT but I really liked the bit in that programme the other day (about the 57 and 07 cup finals) where the guy says about getting levelled (obviously a guy from the 57 final) and sayign how he'd jump back up so that the other guy wouldnt think he hurt him. t's a pity that attitude is mostly gone from the game.

Of recent times I'd go with somone like Keane. He could dish it out and wouldnt be lying on the ground if he wasnt genuinly hurt (most likely because he wanted to kill whoever put him there in the first place

)

chopperbyrne · 18-12-2007 09:46AM

Myself.

My nickname speaks for itself!

Gattuso is definitely one of the best hard men around nowadays.

Salgado at Madrid used to be, not so much anymore though.

Gravison is another one.

Bluetonic · 18-12-2007 09:59AM

Joe Parkinson or Barry Horne, hard as nails but very fair.

No play acting, no messing, just work horse commitment.

Fratton Fred · 18-12-2007 10:26AM

Stuart "Psycho" Pearce is mine.

I remember when he broke is leg playing for West Ham. You could hear the crack on TV and he just went "Oh Bugger" and tried walking off :eek:

tonc76 · 18-12-2007 11:09AM

Graeme Souness and his replacement at Liverpool Steve McMahon

Two hard as fvck players :eek:

jem · 18-12-2007 11:53AM

tonc76 wrote: »

Graeme Souness and his replacement at Liverpool Steve McMahon

Two hard as fvck players :eek:

I was going to mention these two, others would be Claudio Gentile
Daniel Passarella, Archie Gemmill, alan ball etc

Helix · 18-12-2007 11:55AM

ruddock for that hilarious challenge on cole

that was the greatest tackle ive ever seen

PHB · 18-12-2007 12:25PM

I do think the 'hardest' players are the creative players who just keep getting up. Ronaldo is one of the modern ones, but I always thought Zidane was incredibly tough. He got fouled and fouled and fouled and would keep going.

Juan Pablo · 18-12-2007 12:28PM

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Gravison is another one.

Gravesen is not hard! He's just bald. It has been assumed he is a defensive midfielder due to his folically challenged bonce also, and as any Everton or Real fan would attest, he is not. I honestly believe Real meant to buy Carsley that time! For a hard Dane, Stig Toefting would fit the bill. The like of Norman Hunter and Ron Harris were also "proper 'ard".

ciaran76 · 18-12-2007 12:41PM

Barry Horne would be up there for me.

Richard Gough too.

_blank_ · 18-12-2007 12:47PM

Terry Butcher

http://www.tractor-boys.com/Butcher%20blood.gif

Didn't Der Kaiser Beckenbauer play with a broken arm once too?

And didn't Johann Cruyff play with a dislocated shoulder?

Eirebear · 18-12-2007 01:05PM

wow....never thought id get to mention Terry Hurlock in two threads so close together!

UnitedIrishman · 18-12-2007 01:12PM

Nemanja Vidic is one hard c*nt.

For me Stuart Pearce is the ultimate hard player, quite a decent autobiography aswell. The time he broke his leg he was determined to stay on and asked if they could do an x-ray at half-time (it was close to finish of half) and get him back on in the second half.

patmac · 18-12-2007 01:24PM

Keano for me for that tackle on Overmars in the 1st minute of the Dutch game, they were scared to go near him after that. As for Ruddock not very hard judging by his crying and whinging on 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here'
There's always Leeds Utd circa 1970 Giles, Bremner, Hunter and all.

gustavo · 18-12-2007 01:59PM

Steve Birks again

also Lee Thew
Trifan Ivanov

therecklessone · 18-12-2007 02:15PM

cson wrote: »

Spot on Hoolio, theres a difference between being hard andbeing a tramp. <snip> but I have to say, Fabregas is fiery little fella, kept pushing Lampard in the back on Sunday, goading him and then that "tackle" on Cole

So which is he?

therecklessone · 18-12-2007 02:17PM

PHB wrote: »

I do think the 'hardest' players are the creative players who just keep getting up. Ronaldo is one of the modern ones, but I always thought Zidane was incredibly tough. He got fouled and fouled and fouled and would keep going.

I'm sorry, but by that logic Wildebeast are the best hunters in the wild, they keep getting eaten but they still come and come and come...:D

PHB · 18-12-2007 02:34PM

It's not the same. Giving tackles isn't what makes people tough, it's taking tackles. George Best was imo one of the toughest players of all time. Constantly kicked and it didn't matter, he just kept running. One of United fans fondest memories of him is when he rode that tackle to score in Europe. The fact that he rode the tackle meant he was just as 'hard' as Keano or whoever, but he had a level of skill miles beyond him. He could do both. 'Hard' men like Vinny Jones can only do one thing, players like Best can do both. I also have a huge amuont of respect in this area of players like Mark Hughes, who I think would eat up todays hard men like Terry for breakfast.

Nalz · 18-12-2007 02:39PM

PHB wrote: »

I also have a huge amuont of respect in this area of players like Mark Hughes, who I think would eat up todays hard men like Terry for breakfast.

Like alot of debates comparing times and older players, Hughes is now considered from a different era. Even though its only 10 or 11 years a go since we saw Sparky lead the line (before he dropped into midfield), he wouldn't get away with some the challenges and moves today.

Raekwon · 18-12-2007 02:52PM

Dion Dublin for me.

He broke his neck playing for Villa against Sheffield Wednesday and was nearly paralyzed, but he was back playing for Villa three months later. Plus he headbutted Robbie Savage in the face in a Birmingham derby match! Love it!

ParkRunner · 18-12-2007 02:53PM

The current Man Utd defence are pretty hard (apart from Rio and O'Shea) Brown, Vidic, Evra and Neville would throw themselves in the firing line at any sign of a shot at goal. Carragher too for Liverpool I admire for that

RedorDead · 18-12-2007 02:54PM

Helix wrote: »

ruddock for that hilarious challenge on cole

that was the greatest tackle ive ever seen

Was that not in a reserve game??? How did you see it????

Berndt Trautman for playing on with a broken neck. Lunatic!

Xavi6 · 18-12-2007 02:58PM

RedorDead wrote: »

Berndt Trautman for playing on with a broken neck. Lunatic!

+1. Forever will be a City legend.

Hard as nails c*nts

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