The 300 best soccer players in the world
08-06-2011
, 09:46 AM
I see there's a new list (should have been a new thread imo, some mod should split it up)...I'll comment on the Bundesliga stuff once I read through it.
Predictions:
Ballack will be on the list but shouldn't be
Marko Marin will be way too high
Dortmund players will still be undervalued (fanboy alart)
Bundesliga players undervalued, Italian players overvalued
I will disagree with quite a lot of the stuff
Still much love for doing this
Predictions:
Ballack will be on the list but shouldn't be
Marko Marin will be way too high
Dortmund players will still be undervalued (fanboy alart)
Bundesliga players undervalued, Italian players overvalued
I will disagree with quite a lot of the stuff
Still much love for doing this
08-06-2011
, 11:22 AM
08-06-2011
, 11:45 AM
08-10-2011
, 01:15 PM
08-10-2011
, 01:27 PM
Quote:
http://footballpantheon.com/2011/08/...-in-the-world/
Football Pantheon have made a top 50 players in the world list. While I have enjoyed their previous best teams and best managers of all time lists I thought this attempt was pretty poor (Alexis Sanchez at #8 was particularly bad). Some of the individual rankings are equally confusing, for example Angel Di Maria received an 18/20 for ability while Rooney, Cesc, Aguero, Robben etc got 17/20. Anyway, still posting this here for comparisons sake (and just to bump the thread in the hope it gets you to continue).
Football Pantheon have made a top 50 players in the world list. While I have enjoyed their previous best teams and best managers of all time lists I thought this attempt was pretty poor (Alexis Sanchez at #8 was particularly bad). Some of the individual rankings are equally confusing, for example Angel Di Maria received an 18/20 for ability while Rooney, Cesc, Aguero, Robben etc got 17/20. Anyway, still posting this here for comparisons sake (and just to bump the thread in the hope it gets you to continue).
08-10-2011
, 01:35 PM
08-10-2011
, 04:27 PM
08-10-2011
, 07:09 PM
08-12-2011
, 07:48 AM
More to come later, and hopefully much more, but three quick ones right here:
32 (+13)
Rafael Van der Vaart - Netherlands - Tottenham
Attacking midfielder
He continued to flourish at Tottenham where he has a lot of freedom.
Superb left-foot that's capable of just about anything with a football. Controlling, passing or dangerous set pieces.
He is also a very good finisher. Something he proved time and time again taking care of Crouch garbage, once it eventually landed from up high, bagging several goals.
That turned out to be a nice little niche for the team and VdV. Even if not it's something that's sufficient basing your attack on if you want to compete with the best in the long run.
He has also been working admirably hard. Even putting in a good amount of tackles.
Having said that, this is also a player I'm starting seeing referred to as Spurs 60 minute-man, and he did seem to get subbed quite a lot. To his defense though, at least some of the time he looked ready to keep going rather than totally exhausted.
31: (no change)
Bastian Schweinsteiger - Germany - Bayern München
Midfielder
The man I approximately 50 percent of the time, still mistakenly call Sebastian.
But not much to dislike here, as "Schweini" brings the complete central midfield package in the form of quality defensive work like winning balls, intelligent teamwork in general both with and without the ball and impressive passing distribution of all ranges.
He is not really creative and sometimes his game will lack tempo, or that could just be Bayern when they are at their current worst, which is fresh from memory, you don't really see it for Germany it should be said, but while good enough technical with his touches and reasonably dynamic, it does highlight why, despite loving to shoot the ball and all, he wasn't earlier in his career a great attacking midfielder or wide player.
30 (+48)
Edinson Cavani - Uruguay - Napoli
Forward
His massive displays last season were often so impressive that he has a case for an even better ranking, but I'm going to hold back a little and see if he can keep that kind of incredible form up.
Not that I think this was really a fluke or anything, at Palermo he was in a more limited role complementing talented fatboy-talisman Fabrizio Miccoli and for the national team it's with the workhorse-shoes well and truly nailed to his feet, but I do think this was still enough of an amazing improvement over really anything shown previously, that I think a little caution is justified when it comes to his ranking.
Cavani has outstanding physical tools. He is tall, strong, yet pretty agile and can be very dynamic with great balance. He also has unbelievable stamina and works hard all game long. Including defensively if that's what's needed.
He can play with his back to the goal, hold up play, or front it attacking the box, whether it's from wide or central with or without the ball.
Technically he has enough ability to make some pretty sharp turns. Now that I think about it, I would say his dribbling isn't unlike what countryman Forlan does so intelligently, without it should be noted, being razor sharp like other countryman Suarez.
Cavani is a threat in the air and good finisher, both when it comes to power from longer range or curling shots in and around the box.
In positions on the field where it's relevant, he even has good range of precise passing.
Overall he is so complete that I don't even know how many type of strikers make up this very impressive player.
32 (+13)
Rafael Van der Vaart - Netherlands - Tottenham
Attacking midfielder
He continued to flourish at Tottenham where he has a lot of freedom.
Superb left-foot that's capable of just about anything with a football. Controlling, passing or dangerous set pieces.
He is also a very good finisher. Something he proved time and time again taking care of Crouch garbage, once it eventually landed from up high, bagging several goals.
That turned out to be a nice little niche for the team and VdV. Even if not it's something that's sufficient basing your attack on if you want to compete with the best in the long run.
He has also been working admirably hard. Even putting in a good amount of tackles.
Having said that, this is also a player I'm starting seeing referred to as Spurs 60 minute-man, and he did seem to get subbed quite a lot. To his defense though, at least some of the time he looked ready to keep going rather than totally exhausted.
31: (no change)
Bastian Schweinsteiger - Germany - Bayern München
Midfielder
The man I approximately 50 percent of the time, still mistakenly call Sebastian.
But not much to dislike here, as "Schweini" brings the complete central midfield package in the form of quality defensive work like winning balls, intelligent teamwork in general both with and without the ball and impressive passing distribution of all ranges.
He is not really creative and sometimes his game will lack tempo, or that could just be Bayern when they are at their current worst, which is fresh from memory, you don't really see it for Germany it should be said, but while good enough technical with his touches and reasonably dynamic, it does highlight why, despite loving to shoot the ball and all, he wasn't earlier in his career a great attacking midfielder or wide player.
30 (+48)
Edinson Cavani - Uruguay - Napoli
Forward
His massive displays last season were often so impressive that he has a case for an even better ranking, but I'm going to hold back a little and see if he can keep that kind of incredible form up.
Not that I think this was really a fluke or anything, at Palermo he was in a more limited role complementing talented fatboy-talisman Fabrizio Miccoli and for the national team it's with the workhorse-shoes well and truly nailed to his feet, but I do think this was still enough of an amazing improvement over really anything shown previously, that I think a little caution is justified when it comes to his ranking.
Cavani has outstanding physical tools. He is tall, strong, yet pretty agile and can be very dynamic with great balance. He also has unbelievable stamina and works hard all game long. Including defensively if that's what's needed.
He can play with his back to the goal, hold up play, or front it attacking the box, whether it's from wide or central with or without the ball.
Technically he has enough ability to make some pretty sharp turns. Now that I think about it, I would say his dribbling isn't unlike what countryman Forlan does so intelligently, without it should be noted, being razor sharp like other countryman Suarez.
Cavani is a threat in the air and good finisher, both when it comes to power from longer range or curling shots in and around the box.
In positions on the field where it's relevant, he even has good range of precise passing.
Overall he is so complete that I don't even know how many type of strikers make up this very impressive player.
Last edited by Bjørn; 08-12-2011 at 08:02 AM.
