What I find hilarious is that this "complete player" label generally focuses on physical attributes and overlooks the most important component in a footballer: his brain.
Ronaldo's brain is tuned to scoring goals and little else. I watch him every week, and the amount of simple decisions he consistently gets wrong is appalling for a man considered by some to be among the greatest footballers of all time. That he is one of the best goalscorers of all time I will not dispute, but one of the best footballers? Gimme a break. I've had the good fortune down the years of being able to watch talents such as Maradona, Laudrup, Zidane, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, etc. etc., and I really can't take these "Ronaldo best" statements seriously.
The number of times he goes for glory instead of picking out an unmarked teammate making a run into acres of space is appalling. He breaks up so many attacks for that reason, screeching to a halt and performing 2 or 3 stepovers in a standing position while the opponents regroup, finally laying the ball off to the nearest player, generally a few yards backwards, or firing a shot from 35 yards out that generally goes well wide of the mark. 2, 3 or 4 goals a season scored that way do not compensate fr the number of chances it ruins.
His crossing is excellent, but his passing on the ground is comparatively poor for a player of his supposed calibre. He rarely proves capable of seeing a passing-line through a tight-knit defence, and when he does, his execution is very often poor.
He is petulant, and has more than once got himself sent off for petty retaliation.
In short, CRonaldo would be a far better player if he had Messi's brain and vision. But he's got Cristiano Ronaldo's.
what about gascoine before his knee itsonlyagame ?
Messi has been more than prolific in Spain but ONLY Spain.
---
Yer, because I suppose being able to perform well against West Brom is more telling than doing it against Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, etc. etc. Being the outstanding player (and top-scorer) in the Champions League for 3, probably 4 straight seasons doesn't count because none of those teams have the quality to provide a serious enough test.
JPB, I try to base my opinions on what I've seen (hence my reluctance to judge Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer etc.) and I didn't watch Gascoigne as much as the players mentioned above. He was a very gifted player from what I did see, but I can't say I saw him enough to put him in the same bracket.
fair enough. cheers for your thoughts.
he will always be my favourite player i suspect.
It's not about individual teams. It's about a footballing culture. In England, we play football at an electricifying pace which former imports from la liga and other similarly possession based leagues have struggled with.
Aguero, Mata & Silva are PRIME examples. They're all exceptional players, but have all tired this season the longer it's gone on, resulting in jaded performances come Feb-Mar. And Messi COULD, i'm not saying would, suffer the same shock if he transfered into the division.
Though his CL stats are impressive, not gunna discredit a thing there, i find it odd that no-one it seems besides me has picked up that in Barca's last four semis - he's turned up once in eight games (and in the one he produced, the opposition were down to 10 before he blossomed into life). I know sods law dictates he'll blow that notion apart once he faces us again, but i do find that interesting.
Your right about Ronaldo btw, through i suspect that's through selfishess rather than lack of ability.
Though his CL stats are impressive, not gunna discredit a thing there, i find it odd that no-one it seems besides me has picked up that in Barca's last four semis - he's turned up once in eight games (and in the one he produced, the opposition were down to 10 before he blossomed into life).
--
Although that's very selective and you I could argue that finals are more important than semis, Chelsea and Inter did manage to keep him quiet.
However, vs United in 08, it's only true in terms of goal production. The problem is that all else is forgotten over time.
From the BBC website for the 2 legs vs United in 08. 1st leg:
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona's Lionel Messi 7.89 (on 90 minutes).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7356114.stm
2nd leg:
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona's Lionel Messi 7.98 (on 90 minutes).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7368730.stm
That's the player rating on a British website in a tie Barcelona lost vs a British team, in which Messi failed to score. You can read the match reports and live coverage to see what people thought of him on the nights.
You also can't doubt he was MoM vs Madrid. He basically decided the tie, and Madrid (deservedly) being down to 10 men had little to do with his single-handedly getting past the entire defence. There were no less than 7 Madrid men behind the ball when he picked it up.
He wasn't so crucial in the return leg, but the Telegraph correspondent still wrote: "Inevitably Messi was at the heart of all their elegant movement, the ball riding a joyful carousel with him."
Overall, Madrid's performances were reminiscent of the treatment Maradona used to get back in the days where attacking players weren't afforded the protection they're generally given today.
And all of this aside, pivotal as Xavi and Iniesta may be to Barça's passing game, Messi's continuously involved in helping to keep the game ticking over. His contribution goes further than Ronaldo's in almost every aspect of the game.
I'm a huge Maradona fan and still hold him to be the best I've ever seen, but he too had quieter days, every single player does.
"maradonna basically won a world cup on his own."
===
What a stupid comment.
What a stupid comment.
________________________
He really did. Just like how Ronaldo is winning this La Liga on his own.
Although that's very selective and you I could argue that finals are more important than semis, Chelsea and Inter did manage to keep him quiet.
_________________________
He couldn't get past the incredible Portuguese lion, Bosingwa!
Sign in if you want to comment
So I'm sitting here watching Barca
Page 10 of 10
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
posted on 8/4/12
What I find hilarious is that this "complete player" label generally focuses on physical attributes and overlooks the most important component in a footballer: his brain.
Ronaldo's brain is tuned to scoring goals and little else. I watch him every week, and the amount of simple decisions he consistently gets wrong is appalling for a man considered by some to be among the greatest footballers of all time. That he is one of the best goalscorers of all time I will not dispute, but one of the best footballers? Gimme a break. I've had the good fortune down the years of being able to watch talents such as Maradona, Laudrup, Zidane, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, etc. etc., and I really can't take these "Ronaldo best" statements seriously.
The number of times he goes for glory instead of picking out an unmarked teammate making a run into acres of space is appalling. He breaks up so many attacks for that reason, screeching to a halt and performing 2 or 3 stepovers in a standing position while the opponents regroup, finally laying the ball off to the nearest player, generally a few yards backwards, or firing a shot from 35 yards out that generally goes well wide of the mark. 2, 3 or 4 goals a season scored that way do not compensate fr the number of chances it ruins.
His crossing is excellent, but his passing on the ground is comparatively poor for a player of his supposed calibre. He rarely proves capable of seeing a passing-line through a tight-knit defence, and when he does, his execution is very often poor.
He is petulant, and has more than once got himself sent off for petty retaliation.
In short, CRonaldo would be a far better player if he had Messi's brain and vision. But he's got Cristiano Ronaldo's.
posted on 8/4/12
what about gascoine before his knee itsonlyagame ?
posted on 8/4/12
Messi has been more than prolific in Spain but ONLY Spain.
---
Yer, because I suppose being able to perform well against West Brom is more telling than doing it against Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, etc. etc. Being the outstanding player (and top-scorer) in the Champions League for 3, probably 4 straight seasons doesn't count because none of those teams have the quality to provide a serious enough test.
JPB, I try to base my opinions on what I've seen (hence my reluctance to judge Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer etc.) and I didn't watch Gascoigne as much as the players mentioned above. He was a very gifted player from what I did see, but I can't say I saw him enough to put him in the same bracket.
posted on 8/4/12
fair enough. cheers for your thoughts.
he will always be my favourite player i suspect.
posted on 8/4/12
It's not about individual teams. It's about a footballing culture. In England, we play football at an electricifying pace which former imports from la liga and other similarly possession based leagues have struggled with.
Aguero, Mata & Silva are PRIME examples. They're all exceptional players, but have all tired this season the longer it's gone on, resulting in jaded performances come Feb-Mar. And Messi COULD, i'm not saying would, suffer the same shock if he transfered into the division.
Though his CL stats are impressive, not gunna discredit a thing there, i find it odd that no-one it seems besides me has picked up that in Barca's last four semis - he's turned up once in eight games (and in the one he produced, the opposition were down to 10 before he blossomed into life). I know sods law dictates he'll blow that notion apart once he faces us again, but i do find that interesting.
posted on 8/4/12
Your right about Ronaldo btw, through i suspect that's through selfishess rather than lack of ability.
posted on 8/4/12
Though his CL stats are impressive, not gunna discredit a thing there, i find it odd that no-one it seems besides me has picked up that in Barca's last four semis - he's turned up once in eight games (and in the one he produced, the opposition were down to 10 before he blossomed into life).
--
Although that's very selective and you I could argue that finals are more important than semis, Chelsea and Inter did manage to keep him quiet.
However, vs United in 08, it's only true in terms of goal production. The problem is that all else is forgotten over time.
From the BBC website for the 2 legs vs United in 08. 1st leg:
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona's Lionel Messi 7.89 (on 90 minutes).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7356114.stm
2nd leg:
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona's Lionel Messi 7.98 (on 90 minutes).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7368730.stm
That's the player rating on a British website in a tie Barcelona lost vs a British team, in which Messi failed to score. You can read the match reports and live coverage to see what people thought of him on the nights.
You also can't doubt he was MoM vs Madrid. He basically decided the tie, and Madrid (deservedly) being down to 10 men had little to do with his single-handedly getting past the entire defence. There were no less than 7 Madrid men behind the ball when he picked it up.
He wasn't so crucial in the return leg, but the Telegraph correspondent still wrote: "Inevitably Messi was at the heart of all their elegant movement, the ball riding a joyful carousel with him."
Overall, Madrid's performances were reminiscent of the treatment Maradona used to get back in the days where attacking players weren't afforded the protection they're generally given today.
And all of this aside, pivotal as Xavi and Iniesta may be to Barça's passing game, Messi's continuously involved in helping to keep the game ticking over. His contribution goes further than Ronaldo's in almost every aspect of the game.
I'm a huge Maradona fan and still hold him to be the best I've ever seen, but he too had quieter days, every single player does.
posted on 8/4/12
"maradonna basically won a world cup on his own."
===
What a stupid comment.
posted on 8/4/12
What a stupid comment.
________________________
He really did. Just like how Ronaldo is winning this La Liga on his own.
posted on 8/4/12
Although that's very selective and you I could argue that finals are more important than semis, Chelsea and Inter did manage to keep him quiet.
_________________________
He couldn't get past the incredible Portuguese lion, Bosingwa!
Page 10 of 10
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10