Who are the world class players in the PL?

It's going off on a bit of a tangent but the more I read about Zambrotta, the more I'm convinced that you can't have him as one of the world's best right backs in those late 90's early 00's.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/08/10/how-gianluca-zambrotta-became-one-of-the-modern-eras-finest-full-backs/

But it's not really that important - the point was really that it's quite possible that you can be one of the world's best in your position but not be world class.

Yeah Zambrotta was kind of rogue

comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 36 minutes ago
It's going off on a bit of a tangent but the more I read about Zambrotta, the more I'm convinced that you can't have him as one of the world's best right backs in those late 90's early 00's.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/08/10/how-gianluca-zambrotta-became-one-of-the-modern-eras-finest-full-backs/

But it's not really that important - the point was really that it's quite possible that you can be one of the world's best in your position but not be world class.
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I would class him as a world class right back and left back.

comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 36 minutes ago
It's going off on a bit of a tangent but the more I read about Zambrotta, the more I'm convinced that you can't have him as one of the world's best right backs in those late 90's early 00's.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/08/10/how-gianluca-zambrotta-became-one-of-the-modern-eras-finest-full-backs/

But it's not really that important - the point was really that it's quite possible that you can be one of the world's best in your position but not be world class.
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I would class him as a world class right back and left back.
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So would I, but not in the timeframe I put forward.

Define world class, good enough for most top teams? Change the match by their own? I believe these players on my list is truely good enough, despite recent form.

My list:

GK:
Allison
Ederson
Lloris
De Gea (debatably recent form)
Kepa (debatably recent form)

DEF:
Laporte
VVD
TAA
Maguire
Shaw

MID:
Salah
Mane
Sterling
KDB
Son
Sane (now Bayern)
Bruno Fernandes
Pogba
Mahrez
Bernardo Silva


FORW:
Aguero
Aubameyang
Kane
Jimenez
Rashford
Firmino
Vardy


For these people read so far, Shaw was a joke.

comment by RedCred (U11917)
posted 4 hours, 31 minutes ago
Define world class, good enough for most top teams? Change the match by their own? I believe these players on my list is truely good enough, despite recent form.

My list:

GK:
Allison
Ederson
Lloris
De Gea (debatably recent form)
Kepa (debatably recent form)

DEF:
Laporte
VVD
TAA
Maguire
Shaw

MID:
Salah
Mane
Sterling
KDB
Son
Sane (now Bayern)
Bruno Fernandes
Pogba
Mahrez
Bernardo Silva


FORW:
Aguero
Aubameyang
Kane
Jimenez
Rashford
Firmino
Vardy


For these people read so far, Shaw was a joke.

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Everyone has their own definition for what world class is but for me it is anyone who has displayed outstanding quality consistently for 2 seasons or more in multiple competitions.

The "outstanding quality" differs depending on position i.e. strikers would have to be scoring at a 2 in 3 goal rate. Generally though it involves being a match winner in your team or making a key difference in big games, the sort of stuff you can tell when you watch a match.

I would say that if you were at that level and it has since fallen below that for a couple of seasons then you're no longer world class. So someone like Sanchez is a good example of that.

comment by RedCred (U11917)
posted 6 hours, 30 minutes ago
Define world class, good enough for most top teams? Change the match by their own? I believe these players on my list is truely good enough, despite recent form.

My list:

GK:
Allison
Ederson
Lloris
De Gea (debatably recent form)
Kepa (debatably recent form)

DEF:
Laporte
VVD
TAA
Maguire
Shaw

MID:
Salah
Mane
Sterling
KDB
Son
Sane (now Bayern)
Bruno Fernandes
Pogba
Mahrez
Bernardo Silva


FORW:
Aguero
Aubameyang
Kane
Jimenez
Rashford
Firmino
Vardy


For these people read so far, Shaw was a joke.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope kepa was a joke too

comment by RedCred (U11917)
posted 6 hours, 46 minutes ago
Define world class, good enough for most top teams? Change the match by their own? I believe these players on my list is truely good enough, despite recent form.

My list:

GK:
Allison
Ederson
Lloris
De Gea (debatably recent form)
Kepa (debatably recent form)

DEF:
Laporte
VVD
TAA
Maguire
Shaw

MID:
Salah
Mane
Sterling
KDB
Son
Sane (now Bayern)
Bruno Fernandes
Pogba
Mahrez
Bernardo Silva


FORW:
Aguero
Aubameyang
Kane
Jimenez
Rashford
Firmino
Vardy


For these people read so far, Shaw was a joke.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
This has got to be the worst list so far

comment by RedCred (U11917)
posted 1 week, 1 day ago
Define world class, good enough for most top teams? Change the match by their own? I believe these players on my list is truely good enough, despite recent form.

My list:

GK:
Allison
Ederson
Lloris
De Gea (debatably recent form)
Kepa (debatably recent form)

DEF:
Laporte
VVD
TAA
Maguire
Shaw

MID:
Salah
Mane
Sterling
KDB
Son
Sane (now Bayern)
Bruno Fernandes
Pogba
Mahrez
Bernardo Silva


FORW:
Aguero
Aubameyang
Kane
Jimenez
Rashford
Firmino
Vardy


For these people read so far, Shaw was a joke.

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Ive read 2 team of the season lists this morning with Leno in goal but doesnt even make your list with 5 other keepers on it. Shows your bias.

I'm hoping Chelsea have bought a couple who might fit on here...Pulisic is showing signs, but it's early days