How close is Hyypia to being our best ever centreback?

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

I've only just turned 20 so missed the likes of Smith, Hansen, Lawrenson....

 

Since I have been a red Hyypia has been the best centreback I have seen us have, which isn't saying too much as when I started watching us play we had the likes of Babb, Ruddock and Harkness playing. Hyypia a few years back was arguably the best centreback in the world.

 

My question is how does he rate against the past legends hansen et all.

[josemisuncle]

I've only just turned 20 so missed the likes of Smith, Hansen, Lawrenson....

 

Since I have been a red Hyypia has been the best centreback I have seen us have, which isn't saying too much as when I started watching us play we had the likes of Babb, Ruddock and Harkness playing. Hyypia a few years back was arguably the best centreback in the world.

 

My question is how does he rate against the past legends hansen et all.

Hansen, Smith, Hughes and Yeats were all better.

[shanks59]

It's difficult to compare players from different eras, but for me, he is one of the best. Perhaps the biggest complement you could give Sami, is he has been our best signing since Kenny was in charge (he still has lots to give )

Edited December 22, 2006 by shanks59

[Cunny]

Hansen, Smith, Hughes and Yeats were all better.

 

as was Lawrenson and Phil Thompson

[Walrus]

And Josemi too.

[PLY]

He's as good as Gary Gillespie , who to me is one of the most underated players we've had.

[G Richards]

Most of the luminaries mentioned in this thread were probably better than Hyypia, but it's important to note that they played for us when we were the best team in the land.

 

When Hyypia came it is fair to say that the centre of our defence was a shambles. I couldn't bear to look whenever the opposition had a corner or wide free-kick.

 

The big Finn changed all of that, and so his impact on the side was sizeable. It's hard to say exactly how good he has been in comparison to some of the others, since Sami never played in a title winning team for us (fingers crossed for this year, but it is a long shot).

 

Great player and our best centre back since the Sky generation. Best ever for us? Depends when you think football started!

Edited December 22, 2006 by G Richards

[Koogan]

You can count the trophies or the goals scored/conceded or try to find some other figures with which to make that assessment, but as long as Sami does not have a League Championship medal his contribution to us over the years will always pale in comparison with the former CBs. A sad fact.

[Bao]

He's as good as Gary Gillespie , who to me is one of the most underated players we've had.

Not as good as all the others mentioned before but better than Gillespie. He is probably what Gillespie would have been had he not been so injury-prone.

[Guest Banjo]

Piechnik had more skill and Hysen had a better haircut.

Edited December 22, 2006 by Banjo

[cliff p]

Sami in the long term will be mentioned as a legend at the back (especially in the modern game for the price we bought him) but Hansen just beats him, just for the way he strode majestically down the pitch with the ball (he was practically a midfielder at times), pips Sami.

 

And how he never played more for Scotland is a travesty (especially Mexico).

[Guest StevieB]

Not as good as all the others mentioned before but better than Gillespie. He is probably what Gillespie would have been had he not been so injury-prone.

Gillespie looks decent for Sheffield. Imagine if he stayed fit when he played for us.

[shanks59]

You can count the trophies or the goals scored/conceded or try to find some other figures with which to make that assessment, but as long as Sami does not have a League Championship medal his contribution to us over the years will always pale in comparison with the former CBs. A sad fact.

mmm, Best never played in a World Cup. Does he pale in comparison to other wingers?

[Guest StevieB]

mmm, Best never played in a World Cup. Does he pale in comparison to other wingers?

Did rushy ever play in a world cup?

[RafaShanks]

You can count the trophies or the goals scored/conceded or try to find some other figures with which to make that assessment, but as long as Sami does not have a League Championship medal his contribution to us over the years will always pale in comparison with the former CBs. A sad fact.

 

What about the mass of trophies he's helped us to win over the past few years?

[Guest StevieB]

If you think about our top 5 center backs quite a few names come into my mind but look back at what Sammi has done for us and he must be knocking at the door if he isnt already in the house

[shanks59]

Did rushy ever play in a world cup?

Ditto Rushie

[fred milne]

Most of the luminaries mentioned in this thread were probably better than Hyypia, but it's important to note that they played for us when we were the best team in the land.

 

When Hyypia came it is fair to say that the centre of our defence was a shambles. I couldn't bear to look whenever the opposition had a corner or wide free-kick.

 

The big Finn changed all of that, and so his impact on the side was sizeable. It's hard to say exactly how good he has been in comparison to some of the others, since Sami never played in a title winning team for us (fingers crossed for this year, but it is a long shot).

I think the comparison with Yeats is probably the closest - both in terms of playing style and in terms of kick-starting revivals of the club.

[hideNseek]

If he was a better ball player he'd have been up there as one of the best ever of any team.

[RafaShanks]

You can count the trophies or the goals scored/conceded or try to find some other figures with which to make that assessment, but as long as Sami does not have a League Championship medal his contribution to us over the years will always pale in comparison with the former CBs. A sad fact.

 

Forgot to add, would Hansen and co won a league title playing in Sami's era? I seriously doubt it.

[Poolfrog]

Hansen, Smith, Hughes and Yeats were all better.

...as was Lawrenson

 

 

Not as good as all the others mentioned before but better than Gillespie. He is probably what Gillespie would have been had he not been so injury-prone.

Gillespie was a fine player who would keep the excellent Mark Lawrenson out of the centre-back berth in time. Before one of our 80s Cup Finals Dalglish made it clear who was in pole position when interviewed on TV before the game, saying "..Lawrenson will play in Gary Gillespie's position..." - it's that long ago now I can't remember the details, but presumably the excellent Lawrenson (superior to Hyypia) was injured/suspended

[berdoing]

I think people forget how good Lawrenson was. He could play almost anywhere!

[Poolfrog]

Forgot to add, would Hansen and co won a league title playing in Sami's era? I seriously doubt it.

Hansen was the nearest a British player ever got to the great Franz Beckenbauer. He'd walk into any top team today. Hyypia's light years behind him - good player that he is in his own right

[pipnasty]

Am I right in thinking that during the treble season, Hyypia never got booked once?

 

If so, that in itself is incredible.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I am too young to have seen the old ones regularly, but from what people say about them, I think quite a few of them are bigged up out of proportion, probably because of the league titles. You'd think we had loads of defenders who were way better than the best in the world today.