An old debate that raged on the Beeb's 606. What makes a World class player?
What defines that player?
What defines that player?
A player that can have a bad game, but no-one notices. His team-mates might see that something's off about his game, but the spectators can't tell.
Peter Schmeichel : "People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is, For me, it is a player who has a bottom level that means his worst performance is not noticed.If he is having a bad game, a team-mate might feel Paul Scholes is not quite on his game, but a spectator wouldn't notice. Scholes, of all the players I have played with, has the highest bottom level. His reading of the game is unsurpassed.
Found it

A player that is at one with the football. A world class player commands respect on the football pitch, it is not just about vision, technique, size, pace or flair although they are all important factors. I would say the biggest attribute in a world class player is presence.
A world class player is someone who is invented by his agent when he hears Mancini is after him
An English player who has done alright at a club surrounded by more talented teammates.
Someone who confuses you as to how they do what they do e.g. Messi - How did he get round them, Ronaldo - how does he strike a ball so well, Xavi - how did he know where his team mate was going to be etc.
Ok, so also:
Carragher - how did he manage to stay on the pitch?
Heskey - how is he still playing in the EPL?
Berbatov - how the **** did he miss from there?!
Crouch - just how?
You mean Jack Wilshere?
For me a world class player is one that would make it into all but the top two or three teams in the world. In other words, one of the top three or four players in the world in their given position.