[50%] [50%] 
110% wrote:Both overrated, but I'd go with Pirlo. Put them both in the scottish team and you'd see that pirlo is a better passer over distance, more likely to create chances etc. Xavi would pass to fletcher who'd boot it forward, he'd pass to ... (fuck it I can't think of any other scottish players). You get the idea. Tiki-taka needs at least 2 players, so half of xavi's strength is that busquets or iniesta is passing it back to him, without them he's be half the player, as can be seen in his earlier years.
never thought of it that way
110% wrote:Both overrated, but I'd go with Pirlo. Put them both in the scottish team and you'd see that pirlo is a better passer over distance, more likely to create chances etc. Xavi would pass to fletcher who'd boot it forward, he'd pass to ... (fuck it I can't think of any other scottish players). You get the idea. Tiki-taka needs at least 2 players, so half of xavi's strength is that busquets or iniesta is passing it back to him, without them he's be half the player, as can be seen in his earlier years.
messiah wrote:strangely enough xavi has more goals than pirlo in his career, even i was shocked to see that given pirlo is a ace freekick taker
Pirlo: 652 Games, 66 goals
Xavi: games 723, goals 83 goals.
i knew xavi had more assist, that was a surprise
messiah wrote:
both are studs
shazlx wrote:110% wrote:Both overrated, but I'd go with Pirlo. Put them both in the scottish team and you'd see that pirlo is a better passer over distance, more likely to create chances etc. Xavi would pass to fletcher who'd boot it forward, he'd pass to ... (fuck it I can't think of any other scottish players). You get the idea. Tiki-taka needs at least 2 players, so half of xavi's strength is that busquets or iniesta is passing it back to him, without them he's be half the player, as can be seen in his earlier years.
Xavi apparently is rumoured to be a quality penalty taker... who was stopped from doing it by Ronaldinho and Messi in their prime.Jaime wrote:It would really have been interesting to see if one or both had ventured out of their domestic leagues during their best years.
Blut is probably not far off although Pirlo has things in his game that Xavi never had like free kicks & penalty kicks.
Yeah, thats because he never had to play alongside Ronaldinho and Messi in their prime. During AC Milan glory days Pirlo was clearly behind Kaka and probably Seedord was on similar level (and importance) to him.bluenine wrote:Both great players, playing similar roles but couldn't be more different.
However, IMO Pirlo is a different level of a player than Xavi. Xavi played with the same club and his national team also played the same style. He does his role remarkably well, but Pirlo has so much more skill to his game. Pirlo has proved himself in counter attacking teams, catenaccio style teams, possession football style, almost any tactical style you can think of. He has had to reinvent himself, but because he can so much talent & skill (specially the through passes) he has adapted so easily. Pirlo also has been the best player for almost any team he has played, can't say that for Xavi.
That is why such comparisons are unfair. I am sure Xavi is far better a player for tiki-taka football that he has always played, while Pirlo is better in any other style of football. So I would pick Pirlo.
He lacks the testicles.It just means your anti-Barca bias is getting worse (I mean better - from your perspective). Or you just are getting oldJaime wrote:I don't remember him taking a penalty in 2002 or the one in PSG. So it probably didn't happen.
And I see now that it's been already set.Fey wrote:As for Pirlo, I love him. But I always feel he is an attacking midfielder becoming a deeplinglying playmaker due to his lack of an engine.
messiah wrote:strangely enough xavi has more goals than pirlo in his career, even i was shocked to see that given pirlo is a ace freekick taker
Pirlo: 652 Games, 66 goals
Xavi: games 723, goals 83 goals.
i knew xavi had more assist, that was a surprise
. Kimbo wrote:If only they had 10 hopeful long range punts per game like some midfielders.
110% wrote:messiah wrote:strangely enough xavi has more goals than pirlo in his career, even i was shocked to see that given pirlo is a ace freekick taker
Pirlo: 652 Games, 66 goals
Xavi: games 723, goals 83 goals.
i knew xavi had more assist, that was a surprise
Their goal stats are rather low because basically neither are good at shooting from distance. It's more strange for Pirlo who can take a great freekick from distance. Xavi is all about the short sideways passing, so if he finds himself 20 metres out with no-one in front of him, he'd still pass it sideways.
Xavi's better assist stats are easily explained playing alongside messi. He passes to messi at the halfway line, messi dribbles around 3 players and scores, assist to xavi
110% wrote:Kimbo wrote:If only they had 10 hopeful long range punts per game like some midfielders.
Cabaye? Yes, he is a bit of a hit and hope merchant, but he does score occasionally. I just get the feeling that for all the people sucking xavi off, he really can't shoot from distance, which for me is like a midfielder not being able to tackle well (e.g. scholes) or not having good stamina (e.g. Pirlo). Basically every midfielder has their weaknesses, but we seem to overlook those of xavi and pirlo because we're too busy admiring the passing ability.
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