There were many workhorses in Ferguson's teams, cogs in a wheel rather than world class, those players have medals that show their worth whereas the likes of Ronaldo, Cantona, Rooney etc claim the plaudits.
Henderson is the new Gerrard mate Obviously you want a player to have both but players like Neymar, Messi, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Pires, Bergkamp, fat Ronaldo have very poor work rates defensively but their ability us the best around.
A team obviously needs a mixture but if you had to chose work rate or ability then ability wins every time. If there was no Cantona, Rooney, Ronaldo there would be no titles.
I think a Ability XI would lose nearly every weak. Teams would recognise their work ethic weakness and exploit it. It's harder to exploit a lack of ability unless you have better players. In reality a Ability XI or Work Ethic XI would both be relegated.
Silva does work, so does Messi. No way in hell would I have signed Berbatov and I've used him as an example in these arguments many times. As I've already said, it's not a choice of one or the other and players shouldn't with just one or the other either.
If a player works hard but as little ability then he is a **** player. Equally, if a player doesn't work hard but has a mad amount of skill, I don't want them. All signings should have minimum amount of each quality (including game intelligence) and never lack any of the three!
Di maria has tailed off recently (the break in has really impacted his family settling) but his numbers are still decent. Notice Astro mentioned Blind too Balotelli and Lovren have been awful. Even the worst players have at leasr one good thing you can point too. These two don't. Ben arfa too (was it this season?) The qpr team are another shout.
Falcao is on loan so how exactly can he be considered the worst flop? Sure the worst flop is the one so bad even his team cant bin him. They would have to cancel his contract and would willingly pay others to get **** of him. Falcao has flopped but his loan status prevents him being the worst. 6million and his wages (nowhere near 300million) were a gamble worth taking. So much so half the world was after him.
Im still waiting for the evidence. Despite United and Falcao both stating hes not I am sure one day someone will show otherwise. Until then we shall just go off his loan fee.
I should hope not While I'm obviously glad he's not banging them in for you, it's a shame to see a formerly top player be so far off their best.
Ángel Di María was wrestling with the referee yesterday and got sent off. What a waste of resources ?