Bobby Moore...Better than you think.

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Moore's reading of the game and of the immediate situation was unparalleled then, now and all times in between. Watch the video above again. He gets so many 'easy' interceptions because he knew where the ball was going. Watch him when he isn't the first defender. He's going to where the ball will break after the first tackle, or where the attacker will be after he's got past the first defender. When he's backing off as a attacker runs at him he bides his time and when he senses a slight advantage his foot flashes in like a snake striking and takes the ball.

edited to correct 'defender' to 'attacker'

[Tezza65]

You see Bobby up against the World's very best eg Pele,Eusebio and Gerd Muller and he took the ball off them time and time again.Muller(many say Germany's greatest striker ever) didn't hardly touch the ball according to the commentary has Moore just kept winning it.

[Albie Beck]

For those that didn't see him play 'live' I can understand the skepticism and it was a long while ago. However, I consider myself privileged to have seen him many times in the flesh and without a doubt he is one of the best footballers I have ever seen. Believe the hype, he was that good.

Correct. He had an "aura" about him anywhere - on the pitch and off.

[goa127]

It was a shame he never had a decent defensive partner to play with. He was playing with Alan stephenson or john cushley when I first saw him (68-69) Billy Bonds and John Charles were the FB. Charles was soon superseded by a young frank snr. and Bonds moved into midfield

[WestHamLyallStyle]

How many players did he play alongside at centre back during his West Ham career ?

[Westcliffspur]

In 1972 I was 11 years old. I couldn't believe it when I came home from playing football and my mother told me to get washed up.as my older brother's mother in law was taking me up from Southend to see West Ham play Coventry.

Fifty years later I can still recall the excitement of going to Upton Park. My dream was to see Bobby Moore play. Anyway, West Ham won 1-0 and I believe the vast majority of the game my sole focus was watching Bobby Moore. He always played with such poise and elegance and read the game superbly. I find it hard to believe there was any supporter in the land who did not admire Bobby.

I remember reading a Jimmy Greaves biography were he said the only player Bill Nicholson ever told him to mark was Bobby Moore. Nicholson was aware of Bobby's long range passing accuracy - like when he played Geoff Hurst in for England's 4th goal agai St West Germany in 1966. That image of Greavsie being told to mark Bobby Moore has never left me.

Bobby was treated appallingly by football after he retired. I was fortune to speak with the great game several times when he briefly managed my home town team Southend. He was friendly, modest and a true gentleman.

In all the years I've been watching football he's the greatest defender these shores have ever produced.

[kentboleyn]

Sorry mate,has much as I love Dec,he couldn't lace Bobby's boots.

The nearest to Bobby,was Rio,but he could never pass the ball like Mooro.Actually he passed the ball better than a lot of midfielders in his day and of today.

100% agree, Bobby was at a different level, his passing was simply brilliant. I can remember going to Highbury to watch us get 0¬ 0 draw, it was attack v defence and Bobby WAS the defence,his passing as usual superb and most of our attacks stemmed from him, my Charlton mate who came with me just couldnt believe how good he was.

[Puff Daddy]

It was a shame he never had a decent defensive partner to play with. He was playing with Alan stephenson or john cushley when I first saw him (68-69) Billy Bonds and John Charles were the FB. Charles was soon superseded by a young frank snr. and Bonds moved into midfield

Tommy Taylor wasn't too bad

[goa127]

Tommy Taylor wasn't too bad

Not too good either. Tommy had talent, but a bit lacking on the application side. I always remember him laughing as he scored an own goal

[Shabu]

Nice photo of Bobby & his Mrs.

[WCpete]

Brilliant video so far. I couldn't help chuckle though when the barely audible (possibly) 'Arry said (paraphrasing) 'the amazing thing is that when he made his tackles he never left his feet', and the next 4 tackles on screen Sir Bob left his feet on all of them.

[Puff Daddy]

He's rightly lauded for his tackling, interceptions and all-round positional play.

But look at how he brings the ball out, and how many attacks he sets up. Including a goal that won the world cup...

I had seen Geoff Hurst score that goal I don't know how many times for West Ham

[-DL-]

I really wanted to watch this video, but got a few minutes in, and had to turn it off. The music on it was doing my nut in.

[Take It to the Limit]

Still gives me goosebumps remembering I saw him and his fellow ‘icons’ playing live.
And who can forget ‘THAT’ tackle against Brazil in 1970!

[old fart]

Nice photo of Bobby & his Mrs.

That photo had quite an effect on a young 13 year old supporter, if I recall..........

[chappo59]

For those that didn't see him play 'live' I can understand the skepticism and it was a long while ago. However, I consider myself privileged to have seen him many times in the flesh and without a doubt he is one of the best footballers I have ever seen. Believe the hype, he was that good.

Ditto

[vietnammer]

Dad told me that I saw BM, and other legends like Best and Charlton when he took me as a kid, but I just don't remember and couldn't have appreciated it. Legends are born out of history I guess. Good video!

[WestHamLyallStyle]

[dettles]

People comparing Declan Rice to Bobby Moore, my word.

[MooresTheHero]

Mooro, the best defender I’ve ever seen. Pele is the best player overall.