Some interesting suggestions there.Yeah, there’s a layer below the absolute all-time greatest players and it’s no shame to be a part of it, but I think you can win a lot of trophies and some Ballon D’Ors and still not crack that tier.
Of our generation, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, no doubt about it. Does Zidane make it? Maybe. Xavi? Won everything there was to win, unbelievable player, but not Maradona level genius. Thierry Henry? Don’t think so. Luka Modric? Pirlo? Figo? Even Ronaldinho?
Yup, I thought that the Brazil team played more cohesively after he went off. Contrast that to how teams play in the absence of a true great.Neymar wasn't even the best Brazil player last night.
Henry did win a world cup though. But that was when he was an above average winger, not the genius striker he became. No one thinking about France 98 immediately thinks "Oh yeah, Thierry Henry".I totally agree with all of that.
Henry also the best player I’ve seen in the flesh. Amazing that he’s not rated at god level, because he was the best Premier League player - by a mile - for many seasons. Think if he’d done that at Barca and won a World Cup he might be in there, but weird how he’s not rated as the best player of that generation by people who didn’t have the misfortune of playing Arsenal twice a year!
You’re bang on about Xavi as well. He’s very, very close. And I think Zidane makes it into the book of legends alongside Platini and the likes of van Basten.
Was trying to think of great players from the 80s who might make the cut.Henry did win a world cup though. But that was when he was an above average winger, not the genius striker he became. No one thinking about France 98 immediately thinks "Oh yeah, Thierry Henry".
van Basten's another good one - shortened career rules him out on the dullards' scale, but on quality over quantity - right up there.
yeah braithwaite is greatThought he was unreal for a couple of seasons at Barca with Messi and Suarez and looked like he was gonna be top dog one day. For whatever reason that hasn’t materialised, I find him hard to like now a days. Too much drama
Zico - the white pele as he was knownWas trying to think of great players from the 80s who might make the cut.
Diego obviously, then Gullit, van Basten, Platini, Maldini. Then… Dalglish? Bryan Robson? I’m def forgetting a few, to be fair I was young.
I was mint likeWas trying to think of great players from the 80s who might make the cut.
Diego obviously, then Gullit, van Basten, Platini, Maldini. Then… Dalglish? Bryan Robson? I’m def forgetting a few, to be fair I was young.
Some interesting suggestions there.
Xavi didn't have the extraordinary abilities of the likes of Maradona or Proper Ronaldo, but he did something different and simple to such an astonishingly effective extent you'd have to put him very very close. Not to mention the platform him and Iniesta gave Messi - I honestly don't think you can appraise Messi's Barcelona years and not give some credit to the levels he achieved to those two.
Pirlo I'd put on a level with Xavi as well - all he lacked was the same calibre of teammates.
Zidane was extraordinary, never sure why he doesn't get mentioned more in these discussions, because on his day he had everything.
Henry the best I've ever seen in the flesh. Watching him always softened the blow of getting hammered by Arsenal over and over again.
Ronaldinho was just astonishing, a circus act, but not a show pony - the stuff he did made a difference.
This is why I hate this whole GOAT thing being reduced to numbers, it's so joyless. CR has accumulated a filing cabinet full of evidence to call himself the best ever, but very little for me in terms of memories. I don't really care about "best", "favourite" will do for me. Aside from the above, there's no player I ever enjoyed watching more than Gheorghe Hagi. Not as consistent or high achieving as those in the debate, but every bit as good and an absolute delight to watch.
I totally agree with all of that.
Henry also the best player I’ve seen in the flesh. Amazing that he’s not rated at god level, because he was the best Premier League player - by a mile - for many seasons. Think if he’d done that at Barca and won a World Cup he might be in there, but weird how he’s not rated as the best player of that generation by people who didn’t have the misfortune of playing Arsenal twice a year!
You’re bang on about Xavi as well. He’s very, very close. And I think Zidane makes it into the book of legends alongside Platini and the likes of van Basten.
keeper?———————Giroud——————
——-Witsel—Neymar—Bale———-
———-—-Kante—Matic—————-
Burn—Maguire—Lindelof—Dawson
————-—-????????——————
Southgate to Karanka era players that we almost should have but didn’t sign..
Who goes in goal? That back four looks a bit.. meh