14 days later

He's the biggest transfer I've ever experienced - definitely between him, Bergkamp and Ozil. No potential, no question marks, just a ready made world class player coming in and walking straight into herodom.

    daredevil don't think anything will ever beat following the Bergkamp transfer via Ceefax over what felt like days. Can only imagine what this place would have been like back then, "oh no, Barcelona have come in for him, we've fucked it"...

    Although spending days reading about Vieira going to Madrid and then picking up the paper at work to see Sol was coming our way was pretty special!

      We had 2 "internet computers" in our office at the time. I remember logging in one morning and seeing the news. I may have gone a bit mad around the office.

      It was definitely interesting waking up to the Sol news (happened overnight our time) given my parents were Spurs fans.

      10 days later

      Just randomly came on my timeline so thought I'd share it.

      Honestly what a privilege it was watching this guy play for Arsenal, my all time favourite player. He was so good in Euro 2000 as well, that was probably the year for Holland. If they had beaten Italy good chance they would have beaten France in the final.

        JazzG absolute baller. Wasn't that the game Kluivert scored 4 goals? Loved that guy those days at Barca next to Rivaldo.

            JazzG great share. watching bergkamp at France 98 informed so much of my view of football. he definitely encapsulated football being played the 'right way'

                Big Willie Google says hatrick with Overmars scoring 2.

                Sometimes I think whether players like him weren't as good as I remember, when you're young and you have nostalgia thinking back to your carefree days. Seeing these videos if anything makes me think he was even better than I thought. An artist on the pitch, this guy could literally see things before they even happened.

                Gazza M That goal against Argentina, always love watching it with Dutch commentary. I can't speak a word of Dutch but know exactly what he the commentator is saying 😆

                      JazzG Google says hatrick with Overmars scoring 2.

                      I was pretty sure it was 4. Long time ago though so maybe I'm wrong.

                      Edit: just checked and it seems he did "score: 4 goals but one was later taken from him because apparently he didn't actually touch the ball.

                      At UEFA Euro 2000 held in the Netherlands and Belgium, Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the 6–1 quarter-final demolition of Yugoslavia; he was originally credited with four goals, but the third was later re-attributed as an own goal by Yugoslavia's Dejan Govedarica, after Kluivert admitted not getting a touch on Paul Bosvelt's cross. Had all four goals stood, Kluivert would have been the first player to score four times in a European Championship match.

                      JazzG Sometimes I think whether players like him weren't as good as I remember, when you're young and you have nostalgia thinking back to your carefree days. Seeing these videos if anything makes me think he was even better than I thought. An artist on the pitch, this guy could literally see things before they even happened.

                      Dennis really was. Actually many of our players those days were. Yes defending wasn't as tactical as it is no and teams aren't as sharp defensively but they were brutal as fuck and would chop you down and snap you in two if you let them.

                      The level of technique the likes of Dennis, Thierry, Robert and Vieira had was crazy. Even guys like Wiltord would bang for us if he played today I reckon. You mention us being carefree back then, but the players themselves you could feel were free to express themselves on the field and enjoy themselves in ways players nowadays can only dream of.

                            JazzG His touch still looks otherworldly after the years, and you can see how much he's multiplying the ability of every other player on his team ... it's like watching one man think on behalf of eleven. Kluivert was never so lucky, for one.

                              Big Willie going back and watching these guys doesn't make them look archaic. some of the stuff still looks like some year 3000 football. the peak wenger teams could still play and compete at a high level today, I'm convinced of that. they were way ahead of their time

                                DB10 is why I'm harsh on guys like Ødegaard. He'll always be the gold standard in that role.

                                Possibly the finest first touch and through ball execution I've ever seen, and don't get me started on him seeing the openings in the first place.

                                Can't believe how long ago Euro 2000 was 🥲

                                daredevil that was the way we did things back then. It was definitely rubbish.