World Class Players

[FatTony]

I was listening to the radio this afternoon and they discussed the overuse of the term "world class". The general opinion was that a top side needed at least 2 or 3 world class players, and that world class can be defined as players who would make it into a world 11 team plus bench. Although its flawed, its quite a good way to decide what is world class.

The only english players that were mentioned were Gerrard, Rooney and Terry.

At the moment, I'd agree that we have just one world class player, in Gerrard. You have to think who would be picked by fans of other clubs from our squad.

Manu have Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs (when fit). Tevez is well on the way and may well be up there by the end of next season.

The Chavs have Terry, Drogba and Cech. I suppose some might argue that Robben, Carvalho, Makellele and Ashley Cole might make it to the bench or a larger squad of say 20 players.

So on that basis we're 2 players off. Torres was a major coup, but he wouldn't make it into the squad of 3 or 4 strikers.

Who could we realistically add that would take us a step closer.

[mickeydocs]

Mascherano is well on his way to being world class as is Torres. Carra is world class at club level.

[Revo]

dont forget michael essien the best player on chelseas books

[FatTony]

Mascherano is well on his way to being world class as is Torres. Carra is world class at club level.

As much as I love Carra, I wouldn't have him in a world 11 or on the bench

[FatTony]

dont forget michael essien the best player on chelseas books

I actually feel a bit embarrassed for missing him off, but it is late.

[Sir Bob]

Graeme Souness always talksabout special players, players who at the very top level can influence a game. Souness usually spouts a lot of ****e but here I agree with him. The trouble with us is that SG apart all our best players are defensive players. After SG are best players are Carra, Mascherano, Reina & Finnan - all defensive players. We only have 1 'special player', an attacking player who influence a game and thats SG. We need at least 2 more. Hopefully Torres will be one but we need another one at least.

Utd have 3 'special players' in attacking positions, Rooney, Ronaldo & Scholes. Tevez will probably make it 4. Chelsea are a bit like us in that most of their best players are defensive, Terry, Essien, Cech & Carvalho. They do have Drogba though whilst robben when fit is a great player too. just under this level they have Lampard & Ballack.

In short against the best teams we are too often pretty toothless. In the league last season we didn't score 1 goal against the big three away from home. We won't challenge for the title unless this changes.

[FatTony]

Graeme Souness always talksabout special players, players who at the very top level can influence a game. Souness usually spouts a lot of ****e but here I agree with him. The trouble with us is that SG apart all our best players are defensive players. After SG are best players are Carra, Mascherano, Reina & Finnan - all defensive players. We only have 1 'special player', an attacking player who influence a game and thats SG. We need at least 2 more. Hopefully Torres will be one but we need another one at least.

Utd have 3 'special players' in attacking positions, Rooney, Ronaldo & Scholes. Tevez will probably make it 4. Chelsea are a bit like us in that most of their best players are defensive, Terry, Essien, Cech & Carvalho. They do have Drogba though whilst robben when fit is a great player too. just under this level they have Lampard & Ballack.

In short against the best teams we are too often pretty toothless. In the league last season we didn't score 1 goal against the big three away from home. We won't challenge for the title unless this changes.

I agree with almost all of that. We need some real match winners in attack.

[ningnangnong]

Personally, i genuinely believe that Xabi Alonso is world class, not sure if many will agree with me.

Has an ace passing game which we didn't see much of last season because he began focusing more on his defensive duties. One of the most successful tacklers in our team i think.

[Boogs]

I was listening to the radio this afternoon and they discussed the overuse of the term "world class". The general opinion was that a top side needed at least 2 or 3 world class players, and that world class can be defined as players who would make it into a world 11 team plus bench. Although its flawed, its quite a good way to decide what is world class.

I listened to the same radio program. Terry Christian showed that he is the biggest bell end on the planet.

[bobbyfallon]

tough one this lads... who is going to have the first stab at naming their world eleven ????

[JPK]

Cech is a world class keeper.I would'nt say there are any real world class defenders.Gerrard is the complete midfielder and I would say he is up there.Kaka is the current best and Messi in time will be.Ronaldinho was but got fat.Robinho will take football by storm in the next year or two.
Rooney is'nt near that elite group in his position and will never be.
Until Ronaldo does it in the big games like the aforementioned he is'nt.
Too many overated players in the game today.Good players but not world class.

[The_weatherman]

So we are talking:

Cech

Alves ?? ?? Abidal

Ronaldo/Messi Gerrard/Kaka Pirlo/Gerrard Ronaldinho

Drogba Eto'o

Tough to call the defenders, Abidal is said to be Europes best left back by some reports I can´t say for myself, and Alves is disputed by some as the best right back but I have reservations about him. Between Messi and Ronaldo I´d take Messi, Ronaldinho scores about 20 in the league, not sure what else you want.

[Colemere]

Cech is a world class keeper.I would'nt say there are any real world class defenders.Gerrard is the complete midfielder and I would say he is up there.Kaka is the current best and Messi in time will be.Ronaldinho was but got fat.Robinho will take football by storm in the next year or two.
Rooney is'nt near that elite group in his position and will never be.
Until Ronaldo does it in the big games like the aforementioned he is'nt.
Too many overated players in the game today.Good players but not world class.

Agree with the Rooney bit, there are many better goalscorers than him, Henry, VNR, Eto'o, Shevchenko, Crespo, to name a few. However Ronaldo is World class and proved all through last season, he cut down on his diving and proved that he could take it, If he has anopther season like his last there will be no doubting that he is up there with the very best.

Blind obedience as an LFC fan my friend.

[Howard_lfc]

So we are talking:

Cech

Alves ?? ?? Abidal

Ronaldo/Messi Gerrard/Kaka Pirlo/Gerrard Ronaldinho

Drogba Eto'o

Tough to call the defenders, Abidal is said to be Europes best left back by some reports I can´t say for myself, and Alves is disputed by some as the best right back but I have reservations about him. Between Messi and Ronaldo I´d take Messi, Ronaldinho scores about 20 in the league, not sure what else you want.

Abidal was so poor in the World Cup that Alan Hansen took to calling him Abigail.

Call me Mr Picky but I can't see beyond Kaka for anybody else to be genuine world class. Loads of players are very good (Gerrard, Rooney, Cech, Essien, Scholes, Henry, Pirlo, so on and so forth; but in my eyes Only Kaka is genuine World Class. You may disagree, if so, how would you class Maradonna, Cruyff and Pele as they are way above the players mentioned in this thread.

[JPK]

Agree with the Rooney bit, there are many better goalscorers than him, Henry, VNR, Eto'o, Shevchenko, Crespo, to name a few. However Ronaldo is World class and proved all through last season, he cut down on his diving and proved that he could take it, If he has anopther season like his last there will be no doubting that he is up there with the very best.

Blind obedience as an LFC fan my friend.

Name a big prem game he did it in?
Did he pull it out in Europe when he was needed?
Kaka showed them all up in the both legs and made it look easy.
I'm not blind to that