Can Kuyt do this:
Or this:
Axeslammer wrote:I know Dirk isn't a striker....but to compare him with a DM makes no sense to me.
Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:Olé wrote:Kimbo wrote: That's like asking who's better, Darren Fletcher or Mascherano.
Or Xabi Alonso or Sideways Carrick.
And Lennon or N'Zogbia
Kimbo wrote:Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:Olé wrote:Kimbo wrote: That's like asking who's better, Darren Fletcher or Mascherano.
Or Xabi Alonso or Sideways Carrick.
And Lennon or N'Zogbia
You fail.
Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:Kimbo wrote:Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:Olé wrote:Kimbo wrote: That's like asking who's better, Darren Fletcher or Mascherano.
Or Xabi Alonso or Sideways Carrick.
And Lennon or N'Zogbia
You fail.
Like Howard Webb's failing?
Riviera wrote:How can Kuyt have the majority of the votes?
Kuyt is such a waster, plus Essien is black!
Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:Rosicky wrote:Dragões azuis e brancos wrote:I can celebrate progress. can you?
To 8th
I have never seen a team with so much World-class talent turn into a one-man team so quickly.
Are Arsenal the new England?
Are you "TEN World Class players plus ARSHAVIN?"
Ade wrote:I like many rate Essien highly but best player in the world? How do you come to that conclusion Saints? It's something you have said in the past too from what I've read.
Ade wrote:I like many rate Essien highly but best player in the world? How do you come to that conclusion Saints? It's something you have said in the past too from what I've read.
Ray Parlour wrote:Saints logic IMO
forza_rossi wrote:FEY i am with you. Essien is great but Kuytinovic is just wow !!
Stimulus Package wrote:Ade wrote:I like many rate Essien highly but best player in the world? How do you come to that conclusion Saints? It's something you have said in the past too from what I've read.Ray Parlour wrote:Saints logic IMO
Much as I love the typically BPITW sort of players - Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and so on, very rarely are they the sorts of players who consistently turn the tides in the very biggest games. Essien is the most complete player of his age, capable of playing in the middle and out wide, doing defensive and attacking duties, dominating any part of the pitch you put him in. He scores the odd wonder goal, usually in big matches, his absence crippled the team that came very close 2nd in both the EPL and Europe last season and they suddenly regained their competitive edge when he returned.
The question you should be asking, really, is 'why don't more people think Essien is the best player in the world?'
Three questions basically determine the title of best player in the world - are they a critical part of one of the best teams around? Yes, Essien is. Is any other player better than them in their preferred position? No, Essien is equal to or better than any other player in a midfield general role. Can he maintain his excellent level of performance playing in unfamiliar roles against unfamiliar opponents of high quality? Without doubt he can.
He plays an unglamorous position with tremendous style - people see him running about a lot and classify him as a destroyer but he's a very good passer and crosser of a ball, can run and shoot, has excellent movement and anticipation. He is the total footballer.
kas wrote:
I don't agree with your 2nd and 3rd questions. What is a "midfield general" - a box to box player? Considering not every top team needs one, who are we really comparing Essien with? Or is it just someone who controls/leads/organises their team's midfield, regardless of what style the team plays? In which case, Xavi >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Essien.
As for his "excellent level of performance in unfamiliar roles", I'm pretty sure I remember him looking pretty lost in a couple of games last year when Grant played him at RB. Have a horrible memory so someone will need to look this up to confirm, but I think it was also in some big games. ie. opponents of high quality.
It's also odd to say that the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka don't consistently turn the tides in the very biggest games. They do it so many times, and in less subtle ways than Essien might. ie. goals and assists, which is what football is about.
And Essien doesn't have to deal with double marking, triple marking, defenders kicking the shit out of him, or opposition managers spending several days leading up to the match re-configuring their defensive system to stop him.
Also, he came back from injury a few weeks after Hiddink took over - yes he performed well instantly, and yes he added some missing drive and a real spark to their midfield, and also scored a key goal against Juve. But we can't say for sure because the other variables are not the same. ie. Hiddink's methods and freshness had already gone some way to improving the team.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's a phenomenal player...but if you are to rate him as the best, I find TS' logic more sensible.
S4P wrote:He played poorly at CB when we had Terry & Carvalho out. His only poor display at RB from what I can remember was the 1st half of the CL final. Considering it's not his natural position I think he performed superbly in that role in all the other games.
Anyone else remember him bombing up the wing from RB against Valencia in the 90th minute of that CL quarter-final? The man's energy levels are just ridiculous.
Hamann said: "It was the worst tackle I have experienced in my career. I really feared that I might have broken my leg."
S4P wrote:He played poorly at CB when we had Terry & Carvalho out. His only poor display at RB from what I can remember was the 1st half of the CL final. Considering it's not his natural position I think he performed superbly in that role in all the other games.
Anyone else remember him bombing up the wing from RB against Valencia in the 90th minute of that CL quarter-final? The man's energy levels are just ridiculous.
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