What is the greatest XI City have ever fielded?

[Kid in the Riot]

Quite a niche question, and one I can't answer, as I believe all of City's great sides were around way before me. 

I'm talking about a specific XI for one game that was our greatest ever side on a football pitch.

Are we talking one of the sides from 76-80, or do we have to go back much further? 1909 cup final team maybe, appreciating no-one still alive was there. But in terms of what that team achieved, maybe that one? 1974 Leeds at Elland Rd?

Is there a game from our past that stands out that you've looked at the starting line-up and gone **** me that is a great side? 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Kid in the Riot

[cityexile]

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

[AG City]

I don’t know about the best but in my 36 years this is definitely my worst - circa 1995

Kite

 

Hansen

McKop

Patterson 

Dryden

Flatts

McAree

Loss

Fowler

 

Barclay

Partridge 

 

[pl00peh91]

Dean Gerken

Bradley Orr

Louis Carey

Liam Fontaine

Jamie McAllister

Lewin Nyatanga

Paul Hartley

Evander Sno

Cole Skuse

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Danny Haynes

Marvin Elliott

Nicky Maynard

Patrick Agyemang

[pongo88]

7 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

That is as great team. It’s such a pity Cheesley was injured in the next match and the treatment / support he subsequently received was criminal. A team is more than one player, but he had the potential to develop into a top Division 1 forward. 

[pongo88]

2 minutes ago, pl00peh91 said:

Dean Gerken

Bradley Orr

Louis Carey

Liam Fontaine

Jamie McAllister

Lewin Nyatanga

Paul Hartley

Evander Sno

Cole Skuse

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Danny Haynes

Marvin Elliott

Nicky Maynard

Patrick Agyemang

This team has a rather unfair advantage - there are 14 players!  Did the ref notice?

[cidercity1987]

2018/19 squad probably the best in my time since late 1990s. Rock solid goalkeeper and defence, perhaps just Bobby Reid light from a promotion winning team. Second best finish except the 2008 team who overachieved without a strike force to mention.

Maenpaa

Hunt Webster Kalas Kelly

Eliasson Pack Brownhill Paterson

Diedhiou Weimann

 

[And Its Smith]

23 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

We might have a winner already.  Before my time but my old man spoke extremely highly of all of these players! 

[CodeRed]

16 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Yes that promotion side rolls off the tongue after all these years.

AD kept the same team, and didn't sign anyone in the summer, to start the first division opening game and was rewarded with a win.

The additions came later- Hunter Cormack etc

Cashley - Sweeney Collier Merrick Drysdale - Tainton Mann Gow - Ritchie Cheesley Whitehead. Sub: Fear.

My favourite team.

 

[sticks 1969]

Nicky Maynard playing behind bob Taylor and Andy Cole would be a good strike force ,bent on one wing and Jackie on the other 

 

[pongo88]

25 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Here it is 

 

 

[Rudolf Hucker]

9 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

I think that you may be right. We knew at the time that they were a good team but, as in so many things, it’s the passage of time which makes us realise just how exceptional they were. That Arsenal game was Cheesley’s last full match as a fully fit footballer and even though I was fortunate to see Atyeo play a few times, Cheese was destined to be, imo, our best ever striker. Gow was simply our greatest ever midfielder whilst Merrick and Collier were the most cultured and effective central defensive pairing we’ve ever had.

Weve had some fabulous players over the years but, as a team, this was the best. Shame that we had our best ever team almost 50 years ago!

As for the best manager, I’m torn. Alan Dicks or Danny Wilson? Hmmm.

[redysteadygo]

30 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Had been supporting City for 24 years prior to this team and ever since. Hands down and easily the best team in my era.

[Lew-T]

1 minute ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

As for the best manager, I’m torn. Alan Dicks or Danny Wilson? Hmmm.

Don’t you dare start him off.

[Malago]

The obvious answer is the 1909 team.  Remember they were league runners up as well.

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Malago

[stephenkibby.]

9 minutes ago, CodeRed said:

Yes that promotion side rolls off the tongue after all these years.

AD kept the same team, and didn't sign anyone in the summer, to start the first division opening game and was rewarded with a win.

The additions came later- Hunter Cormack etc

Cashley - Sweeney Collier Merrick Drysdale - Tainton Mann Gow - Ritchie Cheesley Whitehead. Sub: Fear.

My favourite team.

 

Has to be the side that beat Liverpool in 77 last home game of the season, 40,000 or more in that night.

Liverpool already league Champions then going on to win the European Cup.

Shaw,Gillies,Hunter,Collier,Sweeny,Tainton,Gow,Mann,Whitehead,Garland,Ritchie.

 

[CodeRed]

5 minutes ago, Malago said:

The obvious answer is the 1909 team.  Remember they were league runners up as well.

 

Fair enough - you'll have to name the team 1 to 11 though....and no googling!!!!

[Davefevs]

My first game:

swap Collier in for Rodgers and Cheesley for Royle and that would be tidy.  I preferred Shaw over Cashley.

[chinapig]

6 minutes ago, pongo88 said:

Here it is 

 

 

It wasn't just that we won, we completely outplayed them. Gary Collier spoiled Malcolm MacDonald's Arsenal debut by not giving him a look in while Arsenal's best player was their keeper Jimmy Rimmer.

My best ever away day.

[cityexile]

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

My first game:

swap Collier in for Rodgers and Cheesley for Royle and that would be tidy.  I preferred Shaw over Cashley.

Wasn’t in fairness too shabby a Liverpool side either! The days when an international player was a cannie wee Scotsman in midfield.

Difficult for many to get their heads around what a ‘wait, what now’ moment Spurs signing two Argentinian WC winners was back in the day.

[Fordy62]

It’s not the question asked, but I thought that squad of 98/99 had the potential to be… how very wrong I was. 

Despite finishing bottom of the championship (with Crewe and Bury in!), it’s still a better team than any team that contains the surname Paterson. 

[Shauntaylor85]

37 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

2018/19 squad probably the best in my time since late 1990s. Rock solid goalkeeper and defence, perhaps just Bobby Reid light from a promotion winning team. Second best finish except the 2008 team who overachieved without a strike force to mention.

Maenpaa

Hunt Webster Kalas Kelly

Eliasson Pack Brownhill Paterson

Diedhiou Weimann

 

We were very average. Barely scored many goals. Good defence and still Johnson found a way to bottle it. 

[Shauntaylor85]

4 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

It’s not the question asked, but I thought that squad of 98/99 had the potential to be… how very wrong I was. 

Despite finishing bottom of the championship (with Crewe and Bury in!), it’s still a better team than any team that contains the surname Paterson. 

97/98 team was great. I still can’t believe how good that Tinnion goal was v Walsall in the promotion celebration game. How on earth did he get that swerve. And the comedy triple save from Naylor in the same game with Welchy out (the American football pitch!), great times and a Gary Owers bullet header to boot! 

[cidercity1987]

7 minutes ago, Shauntaylor85 said:

We were very average. Barely scored many goals. Good defence and still Johnson found a way to bottle it. 

Life as a Bristol City fan is to support average at best teams, no?

[The Bard]

1 hour ago, AG City said:

I don’t know about the best but in my 36 years this is definitely my worst - circa 1995

Kite

 

Hansen

McKop

Patterson 

Dryden

Flatts

McAree

Loss

Fowler

 

Barclay

Partridge 

 

Jesus that's not even football league standard 

[ralphindevon]

29 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

My first game:

swap Collier in for Rodgers and Cheesley for Royle and that would be tidy.  I preferred Shaw over Cashley.

Harsh on Royle! He’s got the winner against Liverpool in your first game and you’ve binned him off…..

Not having Cheesley for more than one and a half top flight games is a burden all us fans of a certain age will always have. What might have been.

Although I was a huge fan of Norman Hunter, if I had to pick a team on a certain day it’d have to be the away to Arsenal team. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by ralphindevon

[pl00peh91]

1 hour ago, pongo88 said:

This team has a rather unfair advantage - there are 14 players!  Did the ref notice?

I think an even more unfair disadvantage is that it’s the team that lost 6-0 to Cardiff in 2010

Edited September 6, 2023 by pl00peh91

[The Bard]

1 hour ago, pl00peh91 said:

Dean Gerken

Bradley Orr

Louis Carey

Liam Fontaine

Jamie McAllister

Lewin Nyatanga

Paul Hartley

Evander Sno

Cole Skuse

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Danny Haynes

Marvin Elliott

Nicky Maynard

Patrick Agyemang

Are you on crack?

[GrahamC]

5 minutes ago, The Bard said:

Jesus that's not even football league standard 

Or one that was ever fielded in a game.

[bearded_red]

[cidered abroad]

A brilliant thread and while I could go for some of the most memorable games with the giants of English football, so many have been mentioned by others.

So my choices are two matches at the depths of the Third and Fourth Divisions.

Firstly, what we thought might be our last ever game away to Newport County when a nil nil draw was thought to be our last result.

Secondly the Ashton Gate Babes losing 7-1 at Northampton about six months after Newport. I walked out of that match disappointed at the result but so proud of the way that all the boys fought to the last whistle.

City til I die!

[GrahamC]

43 minutes ago, stephenkibby. said:

Has to be the side that beat Liverpool in 77 last home game of the season, 40,000 or more in that night.

Liverpool already league Champions then going on to win the European Cup.

Shaw,Gillies,Hunter,Collier,Sweeny,Tainton,Gow,Mann,Whitehead,Garland,Ritchie.

 

Post Cheesley that probably has to be it & I reckon was the side for the Coventry game too (I was there).

It contains arguably our greatest defender in Hunter, Gary Collier (plus Sir Geoffrey) who won’t be far behind as our next best, our greatest ever midfielder, plus Thomas Ritchie, and loads of all time greats like Sween, Tainton, the late Chris Garland, Whitehead & Mann.

Looking back (I was only 13 then), that was some side.

Edited September 6, 2023 by GrahamC

[Red-Robbo]

37 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

My first game:

swap Collier in for Rodgers and Cheesley for Royle and that would be tidy.  I preferred Shaw over Cashley.

I was there. 'Pool fans taking it out on the cars parked behind the stadium. Pandemonium around the Raynes Rd exit. 

[Kid in the Riot]

So we're down to Liverpool home '77

Or Arsenal away '76.

Maybe in terms of our overall history, a team from that 1909 season would have to feature, given it was our season of greatest achievement in the league pyramid. 

[Dolman_Stand]

Surely the team that beat United and ran Guardiola's City close has to be in the discussion?

[Not Banksy]

Bas Savage

Bas Savage, Bas Savage, Bas Savage, Bas Savage

Bas Savage, Bas Savage, Bas Savage, Bas Savage

Bas Savage, Lois Diony

Edited September 6, 2023 by Not Banksy

[2015]

Generally I think any team that you can name 1 - 11 straight away usually is a good side.

I think we have a few seasons worth of sides that can be named aside from the obvious 1970s teams.

1989/90, 1997/98, 2002/03, 2007/08, 2014/15, 2017/18  for the majority on OTIB will always be remembered quite easily as starting elevens go.

[Kid in the Riot]

15 minutes ago, Dolman_Stand said:

Surely the team that beat United and ran Guardiola's City close has to be in the discussion?

The performance and result at Man C in the first leg is the highest level I've seen City perform at in my lifetime. We narrowly lost to one of the best teams in recent top flight history. 

BUT I still can't believe that's the greatest XI ever fielded at this club. 

• 1Fielding
• 5Wright
• 4FlintBooked at 56mins
• 6Baker
• 23MagnússonSubstituted forWalshat 72'minutes
• 8Brownhill
• 21Pack
• 7SmithBooked at 58mins
• 3BryanBooked at 60mins
• 20Paterson
• 14Reid

[hollydog]

2 hours ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Very difficult to argue with this (in my lifetime a least). Importantly a great team - much more than the sum of their parts.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, ralphindevon said:

Harsh on Royle! He’s got the winner against Liverpool in your first game and you’ve binned him off…..

Not having Cheesley for more than one and a half top flight games is a burden all us fans of a certain age will always have. What might have been.

Although I was a huge fan of Norman Hunter, if I had to pick a team on a certain day it’d have to be the away to Arsenal team. 

Yep, he got a hatrick in my second game too, against Cov (5-0)!!!

If you have to pick a team that actually played a match, that 76 game v Arsenal, from the highlights, seems about as good as any of us living will have witnessed.

 

Digressing slightly, the Jordan team of 89/90 was one of my favourites and in terms of a single game, the 5-1 victory against Fulham at home over Easter was amazing.  We were so good in attack I can only recall off the top of my head the front 6….

Shelton and Rennie in CM

Gavin and Smith on the wings

and Taylor and Turner….no, Ferguson and Morgan up top.

Not sure who was in goal, Llewelyn at RB, Bailey at LB, Newman CB.

 

[elhombrecito]

2 hours ago, bearded_red said:

Christ 

I actually have zero recollection of Marc Joseph and Kelly Youga

[Super]

3 minutes ago, elhombrecito said:

Christ 

I actually have zero recollection of Marc Joseph and Kelly Youga

Think Youga was on loan from Charlton never heard of Joseph either tbh

[Offside]

For me, the 1989-90 team at it’s best was absolutely sublime. 

Sinclair

 

Llewellyn

Humphries

Newman

Bailey

 

Gavin

Shelton

Rennie

Smith

 

Taylor

Turner

 

[ralphindevon]

7 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Yep, he got a hatrick in my second game too, against Cov (5-0)!!!

If you have to pick a team that actually played a match, that 76 game v Arsenal, from the highlights, seems about as good as any of us living will have witnessed.

 

Digressing slightly, the Jordan team of 89/90 was one of my favourites and in terms of a single game, the 5-1 victory against Fulham at home over Easter was amazing.  We were so good in attack I can only recall off the top of my head the front 6….

Shelton and Rennie in CM

Gavin and Smith on the wings

and Taylor and Turner….no, Ferguson and Morgan up top.

Not sure who was in goal, Llewelyn at RB, Bailey at LB, Newman CB.

 

Oh yeah, loved that Fulham game. We were in the open end. Cracking easter game. 

Loved that tean too. 

[GrahamC]

7 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Yep, he got a hatrick in my second game too, against Cov (5-0)!!!

If you have to pick a team that actually played a match, that 76 game v Arsenal, from the highlights, seems about as good as any of us living will have witnessed.

 

Digressing slightly, the Jordan team of 89/90 was one of my favourites and in terms of a single game, the 5-1 victory against Fulham at home over Easter was amazing.  We were so good in attack I can only recall off the top of my head the front 6….

Shelton and Rennie in CM

Gavin and Smith on the wings

and Taylor and Turner….no, Ferguson and Morgan up top.

Not sure who was in goal, Llewelyn at RB, Bailey at LB, Newman CB.

 

Without looking it up I’d say probably Ronnie Sinclair in goal & Glenn Humphries as the other CB.

[Oh Louie louie]

Yes, 89 90 for me, just looking at the names in defence not many would take liberty's there, all had a nasty aggressive streak, the wing play of Gavin and Smith beautiful non stop at teams throats

[AshtonGreat]

On a slightly separate note, I was just looking at our 2014-15/squad. I'd forgotten how prolific a scorer Aden Flint was. With a record of nearly 1 in 4, he was our second-highest goalscorer, ahead of Kieran Agard. Amazing really

[ralphindevon]

7 minutes ago, AshtonGreat said:

On a slightly separate note, I was just looking at our 2014-15/squad. I'd forgotten how prolific a scorer Aden Flint was. With a record of nearly 1 in 4, he was our second-highest goalscorer, ahead of Kieran Agard. Amazing really

The games against Bradford and Walsall would be up there as best performances but you'd have to look at the quality of the opposition 

[Son of Fred]

10 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

We might have a winner already.  Before my time but my old man spoke extremely highly of all of these players! 

Same as the 66 world cup side, in as much as greater than the sum of their parts...

Was a privilege to watch them.

[fisherrich]

10 hours ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

I think that you may be right. We knew at the time that they were a good team but, as in so many things, it’s the passage of time which makes us realise just how exceptional they were. That Arsenal game was Cheesley’s last full match as a fully fit footballer and even though I was fortunate to see Atyeo play a few times, Cheese was destined to be, imo, our best ever striker. Gow was simply our greatest ever midfielder whilst Merrick and Collier were the most cultured and effective central defensive pairing we’ve ever had.

Weve had some fabulous players over the years but, as a team, this was the best. Shame that we had our best ever team almost 50 years ago!

As for the best manager, I’m torn. Alan Dicks or Danny Wilson? Hmmm.

Best City 11 by far.

Paul Cheesley was at his peak. Potential England player in the future. So cruel how the Stoke City home game injury finished his career. I was sat in Dolman B block that game and saw it happen in front of me. Did not realise at the time how serious it was.
The 75/76/77 seasons were when I fell in love with Bristol City. That love affair I will take to the grave.
Even if the current Bristol Sport setup I totally disagree with. Sod the rugby & basketball. We need new owners.

Edited September 7, 2023 by fisherrich

[Red Exile]

Great thread. Strikes me - looking back to the early 70s - that all the great City line ups had a consistency and the teams that 'more than the sum of the parts' feel.

I can't disagree with the 76-77 side as the greatest, not least because even after all these years - and I was in my early teens then - I could still name each player and their position. But the same would be true of the GJ side that got to the play-offs, or the Cotts side from 2014-15. I mean Flint & Wilbs are unlikely to feature in lists of the greatest ever City players - but they were vital cogs in well oiled machines - and it was a pleasure to watch a team playing so effectively as a collective. 

[CyderInACan]

1 hour ago, Offside said:

For me, the 1989-90 team at it’s best was absolutely sublime. 

Sinclair

 

Llewellyn

Humphries

Newman

Bailey

 

Gavin

Shelton

Rennie

Smith

 

Taylor

Turner

 

Yup - 89/90 is the only team i can name easily 

[Lorenzos Only Goal]

11 hours ago, Malago said:

The obvious answer is the 1909 team.  Remember they were league runners up as well.

Hi Jesus that's some innings.

[Oh Louie louie]

Only problem with the 89 90 team, penalties im sure that season we missed three on the trot? Can recall wimbleton started as taker, then it was like pass the parcel 

[1960maaan]

Bit late to this, but for me and probably anyone of a certain age it has to be the Arsenal line up.
Against a top side, just signed "superMac" we totally deserved a win.
That team worked well together, had grown up together and it showed. Not just that but;

Gary Collier , absolute Rolls Royce of a CB. Gutted when he left using the new freedom rules.
Geoff Merrick , top quality defender who could have been playing for Arsenal that day.
Gerry Gow, legend !
Jimmy Mann, very under rated MF with a tremendous shot.
Tom Ritchie, I didn't realise what a great player he was until he came back when we were shite.
Clive Whitehead, the best winger I've ever seen on his day. 2 footed , could dribble , pacey and a great crosser.
Then Cheesley , could have been the best striker we ever had, and I know thats a bold statement. Fast, strong, could shoot with either foot, monster in the air and strong. Missed an England U23 call up to play for us, and I'm convinced he would have played for England if not for the injury. He had the lot.
Add 2 decent Fb's, Speedy was a real fav of mine, and Trevor Tainton an unsung hero of the team for years. It was special. The one weak link IMO , was Cashley. Did a very solid job , but I never felt convinced. 

 

[TomThumb84]

2 hours ago, Offside said:

For me, the 1989-90 team at it’s best was absolutely sublime. 

Sinclair

 

Llewellyn

Humphries

Newman

Bailey

 

Gavin

Shelton

Rennie

Smith

 

Taylor

Turner

 

I’d second this (my lifetime).

Unreal season and side and the front 4 (which it was at times when we were in full flow), of Gavin, Smith, and the T-men was as special.

Gavin and Taylor especially would have been in high demand for high money if it was now.

[Super]

2 hours ago, Offside said:

For me, the 1989-90 team at it’s best was absolutely sublime. 

Sinclair

 

Llewellyn

Humphries

Newman

Bailey

 

Gavin

Shelton

Rennie

Smith

 

Taylor

Turner

 

Andy Llewellyn always delivered.

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Without looking it up I’d say probably Ronnie Sinclair in goal & Glenn Humphries as the other CB.

I think you’re right.

16 minutes ago, TomF said:

I think you've gotta consider that 1906/07 season side too - promoted the year before winning 30 out of 38 games and then finishing 2nd first year in the first division.  Only our home form (lost 5) let us down from winning the title (Newcastle won all but 1 game at home which is staggering). That's also (05/06) when we originally set the record for consecutive wins at 14.. 

it’s like you were there Tom.

12 minutes ago, Super said:

Andy Llewellyn always delivered.

The problem was when nobody was home!

[22A]

 

[italian dave]

10 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

The performance and result at Man C in the first leg is the highest level I've seen City perform at in my lifetime. We narrowly lost to one of the best teams in recent top flight history. 

BUT I still can't believe that's the greatest XI ever fielded at this club. 

• 1Fielding
• 5Wright
• 4FlintBooked at 56mins
• 6Baker
• 23MagnússonSubstituted forWalshat 72'minutes
• 8Brownhill
• 21Pack
• 7SmithBooked at 58mins
• 3BryanBooked at 60mins
• 20Paterson
• 14Reid

I guess that highlights something you could probably say about any of the posts in this thread: greatest XI as in best team or best 11 individuals??

Edited September 7, 2023 by italian dave

[Chessels Chick]

2 hours ago, Offside said:

For me, the 1989-90 team at it’s best was absolutely sublime. 

Sinclair

 

Llewellyn

Humphries

Newman

Bailey

 

Gavin

Shelton

Rennie

Smith

 

Taylor

Turner

 

Yes yes yes! Solid defence, great (unsung) midfield, two wingers and dream team up front! 

Edited September 7, 2023 by Chessels Chick

[Davefevs]

10 minutes ago, 22A said:

 

Haha that’s me on 43 secs!

[cotswoldred2]

Apart from the '76 squad..Gibson, Briggs, Thresher, Parr, Connor, Low, Derrick, Clark, Atyeo, Williams, Hooper. 

Too early for most on here but a entertaining team.

[One Team]

13 hours ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Before my time but surely has to be this? League away win at Arsenal in the top division surely trumps everything else? 

[City oz]

19 minutes ago, One Team said:

Before my time but surely has to be this? League away win at Arsenal in the top division surely trumps everything else? 

Probably not the best 11 to go down in history but the team that won the Freight Rover Trophy at Wembley will always be cherished. I remember it was my first time at the stadium and we won 3-0 against Bolton. 

Any team we had with the great Norman Hunter, Terry Cooper and Joe Jordan will also be a great starting credible 11.

For me the 76/77 first division away match at the Gunners where the mighty cheese scored in front of 40 K Plus will also be part of a great team.

The teams in the late70s with the likes of Gow, Royle, Collier, whitehead (one of the best right wingers ever) Emmanuel (great player to come out of Wales) and Tom the sticks Ritchie (one of the best commanding center half's to ever play for us) will also have to be included in an overall best 11. 

[Bristol Oil Services]

13 hours ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

I'd liked to have seen what LJ ( 's emotional intelligence ) could've done with that lot ....

[mozo]

13 hours ago, Malago said:

The obvious answer is the 1909 team.  Remember they were league runners up as well.

 

We were runners up in 1906 so might be a slightly different line up to the cup final team, certainly the league position got worse over that period.

11 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

The performance and result at Man C in the first leg is the highest level I've seen City perform at in my lifetime. We narrowly lost to one of the best teams in recent top flight history. 

BUT I still can't believe that's the greatest XI ever fielded at this club. 

• 1Fielding
• 5Wright
• 4FlintBooked at 56mins
• 6Baker
• 23MagnússonSubstituted forWalshat 72'minutes
• 8Brownhill
• 21Pack
• 7SmithBooked at 58mins
• 3BryanBooked at 60mins
• 20Paterson
• 14Reid

I think that team was punching above its weight. Wright, Maggers and Fielding weren't legends.

I think 89/90 is the best team I've seen if we're talking pound for pound for their relevant era, but they were still a 3rd flight team and wouldn't have had the modern day athleticism to deal with our current 11.

It's got to be a team from the 70s.

[Bristol Oil Services]

1 hour ago, TomThumb84 said:

I’d second this (my lifetime).

Unreal season and side and the front 4 (which it was at times when we were in full flow), of Gavin, Smith, and the T-men was as special.

Gavin and Taylor especially would have been in high demand for high money if it was now.

If it was now, we sell Rob Newman before we get near promoted. We possibly sell Bob Taylor the season we get promoted. We might not replace either, before we get promoted. And Joe Jordan clears off to Aston Villa or Scotland or somewhere, before we get promoted. And we probably don't get promoted. If it was now.

[CodeRed]

Surprised no has mentioned the Danny Wilson team ( the Lee Peacock era)....as I recall the most popular line up was:

Carling - Heineken Stella Artois Carlsberg -  Guinness Grolsch Amstel Bass -  and up front Benson and Hedges

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

14 hours ago, cityexile said:

Can only go back in my time, but this has got to be up there..

Saturday 21 August 1976. Arsenal 0, Bristol City 1.

Raymond Cashley

Gary Collier

Brian Drysdale

Geoff Merrick

Gerald Gow

Jimmy Mann

Gerry Sweeney

Trevor Tainton

Clive Whitehead

Paul Cheesley

Thomas Ritchie

Manager: Alan Dicks

Hard to argue with that in my lifetime too. Whether Jon Shaw is a better keeper than Ray Cashley is open to debate. Collier was certainly better than the honest hardworking David Rodgers.