Beckham vs Maldini

[Joe King]

Who has been a better role model?

Claridge has just said Beckham was technically better than Maldini because he was a midfielder

Discuss.

[Neil Young]

Who has been a better role model?

Claridge has just said Beckham was technically better than Maldini because he was a midfielder

Discuss.

I didn't know Steve Claridge was actually qualified to pronounce on technique.

[Shaggy]

Claridge, for once, is right. Beckham does have a more skilled technique in terms of first touch, passing range and striking the football.

Doesn't make him a better or more effective footballer though.

It's fair to say an attacking player is more likely to have more technical ability with the ball than a defender.

Maldini has been the ultimate role model though - although in fairness to Beckham, he too is an excellent role model.

[Joe King]

I didn't know Steve Claridge was actually qualified to pronounce on technique.

He didn't. There was a translator who could speak idiot and English. I'm sure it was Boris Johnson

[Joe King]

Claridge, for once, is right. Beckham does have a more skilled technique in terms of first touch, passing range and striking the football.

Doesn't make him a better or more effective footballer though.

It's fair to say an attacking player is more likely to have more technical ability with the ball than a defender.

Maldini has been the ultimate role model though - although in fairness to Beckham, he too is an excellent role model.

Did you watch Maldini as a left back when he first broke out?

He was Roberto Carlos before Roberto Carlos. He had pace, dribbling ability for a player of his size, great crossing.

[Neil Young]

He didn't. There was a translator who could speak idiot and English. I'm sure it was Boris Johnson

[Neil Young]

Did you watch Maldini as a left back when he first broke out?

He was Roberto Carlos before Roberto Carlos. He had pace, dribbling ability for a player of his size, great crossing.

Who was Paolo Maldini before Paolo Maldini? Was it Cesare Maldini?

[Shaggy]

Did you watch Maldini as a left back when he first broke out?

He was Roberto Carlos before Roberto Carlos. He had pace, dribbling ability for a player of his size, great crossing.

Of course I did.

He wasn't Roberto Carlos but he was no John Arne Riise, that's for sure. A truly great player but still I think it's fair to say Beckham does/did have more 'technical ability', if that's what Claridge was getting at.

If Claridge is trying to say simply Beckham was a "better" or more effective player than Maldini then of course that is nonsense, despite them hardly being comparable due to playing in different positions. Maldini was a master of his trade, although Baresi is the greatest defender I've seen in my lifetime - even if he was a dirty, cynical *******.

[the rev leeroy brown]

Who has been a better role model?

Claridge has just said Beckham was technically better than Maldini because he was a midfielder

Discuss.

maldini....no contest.

[Joe King]

On a side note,

Doesn't Maldini have a radio station?

[dww]

The comparison is simply irrelevant and pointless. If you want a role model for the type of player to be it is obviously dependent on a/ your natural abilities and b/ the position you desire to play. So to decide overall who would be the best role model of two palyers who played in totally different positions is plain daft.

If you want to see who is the 'better man' in some sense then really who is to say. Both seem to have publicly conducted themselves well and so presumable the decsion came down to who looked better in a sarong.

[slimbimjim]

Who would be your striker role model?

[Gingawaria]

Who would be your striker role model?

Has to be Shearer doesn't it? Chose to play for his hometown club instead of taking the money and glory and going to play for the Scum.

Didn't win many trophies in his career (only 1?) but he'll go down as one of the all time greats. Seems a sound guy too, never any bad press, just got on with the game. He could be a dirty ****er at times, but you need that aggression, I doubt he'd have been half as effective without that mean streak.

[dww]

It actually pretty difficult as Shearer while a top player was at times quite thuggish and was all about moaning. Linekar has somewhat blotted his copy book with some of the rumours of late - still maybe as an English man willing to go abroad and learn the language and the like he would be good although a bit one dimensional on the pitch.

Actually I've got it - Zola. He is a top guy and was a brilliant player, trained hard and made the most of his talent.

[Shaggy]

Striker role model – aaah that lovely Shearer, what a role model! I’m sure Neil Lennon would agree!