'Like being hit by a cannonball' - who Smith sees as Sunderland's hardest
Throughout Thursday, we have been revealing the players that ex-Sunderland attacker Martin Smith has picked as the Black Cats' all-time toughest tacklers.And the top spot goes to...?Well, in the former player's words: "There can only be one number one" - and that is former captain Kevin Ball."I think some of the hardest players in the country have said that he is the hardest player they have ever played against," Smith explained on BBC Radio Newcastle. "As soon as you mention hard men, it has to be Kevin Ball."I remember Vinnie Jones saying he was the hardest opponent he ever played against. It has been said many times that he trained the way he played, which was horrendous for us fair players!"Unless you have been on the end of one of his tackles, it is hard to describe what it was like. It was like being hit by a cannonball. The force he could tackle with used to just send shivers through you."So here is the final list of Sunderland's top five hard men, according to Smith:Kevin BallJohn KayGary BennettLee HoweyLee CattermoleDo you agree with this list or is there someone else that ought to have been thrown into the mix?Let us know hereListen back to the full discussion on BBC Sounds
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