For me, Brian Welsh.
[img]http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njk2WDUwMA==/z/868AAOSwY45UUCwp/$_35.JPG[/img]

Another player

The guy just seems to float. Incredible height.

 

That middle pic OYF.

What a leap.

Heggy and big Dunc immediately spring to mind.

Ronaldo is unbelievable in the air.

Big Dunc for utd.  Hately was a handful in the air and both good on the deck too.

Heggy was great given his relative lack of height, but Andy Gray and big Dunc can't be separated for me.

When I've got all the players in the world to choose from, it gets even more difficult: Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Crespo, Bierhoff and even Zidane if it's other players.

Without looking at anyone else I went Big Dunc as per Pat; and Eric Black as per Jim@

Heggy was the best for Utd no real physical presence but amazing spring. Other than Utd Andy Sommerville Downfield juniors unbelievable power in the air used to completely clean out opposition players still got the bruises 30 years later

Heggy. Werder Bremen





Non United. Murdo



 

Arabnophobia wrote:

 
Loved the clips. Wid be surprised if he even blinked when rapping the nut on the ball in a challenge for the ball. See some muckle players these days turning their shitebag back and wincing when the going gets physical.

Heggy kent what part of the ball he was attacking!

You are bang-on Mr Phobia.

Heggy not only timed his jump to perfection but he attacked the ball with aggression and as you said never blinked.His eyes are always on the ball (even after contact is made).


Also worth remembering he scored 83 goals for Utd.The large majority of these were headers i'd wager.
 

Going back a bit but Denis Law was exceptional in the air.

Another guy who not that tall had great spring in his heels and always seemed to find space in the box and time his leap/s well.


His old team mate George Best was also excelent in the air.Always made his finish look effortless when in reality it was often harder than it looked.

When you think of how hard the game was back then and how physical the defenders could be with a Striker within the laws of the game, allied with how much heavier the leather was in both players boots and the football itself.

Well these players deserve enormous respect for their bravery in the air.

Beharder wrote:

Heggy was the best for Utd no real physical presence but amazing spring. Other than Utd Andy Sommerville Downfield juniors unbelievable power in the air used to completely clean out opposition players still got the bruises 30 years later

 
The Spiders must put something in the half time oranges - when I saw this my first thought was big Dan Dailly, father of Christian.

His brother likes to tell the story that he once saw Dan go up for a corner. He started his run at the edge of the box, jumped at the penalty spot, made contact with the ball on the six yard line, and followed through to header the crossbar!

Can't argue with Heggy, but I was always impressed with Noel Hunt's aerial ability for a relatively wee guy.