He said the word, World Class is used to often and that the only World Class players for him are Suarez, Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta. Do you guys agree with that list? I am not sure at this age Iniesta is still World Class? Hes getting old and was better when younger. For me, I say Suarez, Messi, Ronaldo, Bale
Iniesta is the finest player with the ball that I've seen since Zidane. Elegant players. It's just glued to his feet and he's not half bad without it either! Definitely should be up there and probably would be if Messi wasn't in the team taking all the plaudits
World class, are players that can walk into any team and you have to consider all positions; Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Yaya Toure, Lahm, Thiago Silva.
A world class player to me is someone that is better than anyone else in the World in their position. Means there must be a World Class goal keeper out there somewhere along with centre backs and full backs.
Neuer Zabaleta Thiago Silva Kompany Lahm Y.Toure Busquetes Iniesta Ronaldo Suarez Messi Struggled for a RB but think Zabaleta offers a lot going forward and defensively. Very good balance for a FB.
Your definition of World Class is wrong, like Barton said, World Class are players who could win matches by themselves and can do something out of nothing. Only Suarez, Messi and Ronaldo could do that and prob Iniesta too.
'World class' suggests 'can walk into any first team' i.e. Undisputed/Undisputable. Kompany, Thiago Silva, Zab, Pirlo, Xavi, Toure, Ibra are all good shouts, but not at the Undisputed level atm. I agree with Barton's argument and that quartet of players. Would add Neuer, Bale and Silva, but those would still be my picks and could see how they could be disputed (hence not really world class).
That doesn't match up with your definition of a world class player though. You've put Lahm & Messi out of position just to fit them in. Surely if it 'world class' meant best in their position then only one of Suarez/Messi & Zabaleta/Lahm could be in there? And that's where your definition is flawed, because you could have 3 of the greatest strikers in history playing in the same era but only 1 or 2 of them (depending on the formation you are fitting them in) are considered world class? That would make no sense!
To me, a World Class player is someone who wouldn't look out of place in the World XI. Iniesta is definitely world class - we can talk about his technique, but his intelligence, vision is something else. That's a good definition for midfielders and attackers but less so for defenders and arguably keepers. Lahm can't change a match but he's still the best full back in the world, and by some distance.
Not sure that starting a discussion about 'world class' as a definition, only to tell people theirs is wrong is a good idea...
Lahm played LB for a number of years so wouldn't say he's out of position at all. Only in the last few years has he been playing RB/CM. Suarez/Messi/Ronaldo all play in a front 3. Which ever order you fit them in is up to you, if I stick Suarez out wide like he does for us and Messi in the middle then that would replicate where they currently play. I don't class as Ronaldo/Suarez or Messi as strikers. Ibrahimovic, Lewandowski are striker. Players that play through the middle. Those 3 are players that can play anywhere acro the front 3.
Whether they fit or don't fit into a world XI formation means fig all. If they are awesome and deserving of the epithet 'World class', so be it.
how can you have the only world class players as all attacking players? Surely some defenders must be world class or some goalkeepers. I think its probably better to say the best 3 players in each position are world class, afterall football is a team sport Ronaldo/Messi would win nothing on their own.
A world class dream tournament 23 man squad : Courtois Lloris Neuer Zabaleta Azpilicueta Kompany Hummels Thiago Silva Chiellini Alaba Lahm Toure Martinez Schweinsteiger Busquets Ronaldo Reus Kroos Messi Robben Bale Suarez Falcao
