If there was one midfielder I've most enjoyed watching over the past decade, when I've had the chance it would be Andrea Pirlo. Zidane has been an incredible talent, the best of the modern era even but I just like watching how Pirlo plays the game.

His self-confidence on the ball, especially in tight spaces and when near his own goal is impressive. He'll never launch it into the stands under pressure but calmly try and find a pass. So cool. Not just his array of passing but he's very two footed and is always a step ahead of the game. Marvellous talent. Although the plaudits he received in the press here after dominating England were embarrassing, as if recently discovered from Outer Mongolia. He'd been controlling midfields for most of his career. Even if he often played in very good sides.

Finally to add, under Ancelotti he was a key figure in the re-emergence of a position that had somewhat disappeared from the game for a generation, perhaps since Ancelotti's days as a player - the deep lying playmaker. I've been watching the game for many years and not many midfielders have been as clever as him IMO. One of Italy's best, which in itself says it all.

Veron was a great buy as he was a great player.

He got to points approaching his preUnited form for his national side after leaving Chelsea.

He had the ability to go on to much better and I think it's as much bad luck as anything.

Moving to United wrecked his career. It's not a dig at United in any way. You're in a side with XI, sometimes it just doesn't work out regarding chemistry with the other X and then confidence can wane.

It's the same with musicians. 'Supergroups' don't always create songs that the original teams they started out with did.

TGM,

Pirlo is a brilliant player. It's embarrassing that people only started salivating over him due to what he'd done at the Euros, he's been playing like that for years.

TKT, I don't think Veron was as bad at United as people made out.

The problem is that he cost a fortune and his ceiling level was far higher than what we saw in England. However, people made out that he played terrbily, which is not true, he was still better than most players in the league.

I agree it was a bad thing for his career. It's a shame Fergie didn't know how to use him with Keane and Scholes.

Played well at Inter, though. And was amazing for Estudientes and Argentina after leaving. Might be coming out of retirment apparently.

It's so strange because Veron would be absolutely perfect for us now.

In theory, a midfield of Keane, Scholes and Veron should have been tremendous.

agreed DTKF

he didn't flop at United at all

the problem was that he was a world superstar before joining and he ended up just a very good player in a very good side.

Brilliance was the expectation and that didn't happen so he was a 'flop'. Which is wrong but reality in perception unfortunately.

Finally to add, under Ancelotti he was a key figure in the re-emergence of a position that had somewhat disappeared from the game for a generation, perhaps since Ancelotti's days as a player - the deep lying playmaker.
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I saw an article making a similar point about Guardiola. Guardiola himself had said that players such as himself were dying out and that they're no longer needed (this was circa 2000) as players like Viera, Davids et al., were becoming the norm.

It then went on to state that now the deeplying playmaker is very important nowadays and some of that is down to Guardiola. The writer said realistically, Guardiloa could still have been playing in a midtable La Liga side at the age of 37, rather than taking over at Barca, had this not been the case.

TKT

Great eulogy Major and great discussion everyone, please keep it going.

Darren,

Typical English press. It's been happening for years. That was particularly amusing though the articles came flooding in ten-a-penny on him. There'll be someone else sometime soon I imagine.

Actually if I recall, there was a big over-reaction on here as well. Bit daft really as you say he wasn't a novelty, he'd done it for a decade.

Yeah, I remember some of the articles.

I was gutted at the Euros, though. I put a bet on Pirlo to be player of the tournament as I knew he'd turn up, and they gave it to Iniesta, which was undeserved, in my opinion.

Good to see playmakers are becoming important to the game. Maybe Brazil will realise and ditch donkeys like Ramires? A humiliation at the hands of Spain, Italy or Germany in their own backyard might hammer it home.

He did deserve it indeed and I suspect you would have won a few bob on whatever his odds were beforehand.

Game is always changing with new ideas, always has but it's not as enjoyable if there isn't a good ball player in the middle of park, stands to reason. Although worryingly in this country not something we see enough of.

With the potential emergence of Bayern Munich as the next force perhaps we'll see teams scouring for big, strong, athletes who can get on the ball and dictate like a Schweinsteiger. Different to a Pirlo for instance. We might soon look back at the recent past with the likes of him and Scholes and say the game has moved on again to something new. Subtle changes.

Interesting little read about Guardiola by the way. Thanks for the debate and reading in any how gents. Been an interesting thread.