Here's an easy poll. Since "World Class" is a wildly volatile concept, teasing the grasp of even our most experienced semantics experts, we will forge this definition democratically: Top 10 players atm of whom 1. Messi, CR, Suarez and Iniesta are locked in. 2. Any 6 other (please vote your choice) We will then tally and see. By democratic vote, those 6 players will also proudly flount the badge of "World Class Players as per not606".
Voted for David Silva, Hazard, Robben and Toure. Accidentally forgot to vote for Thiago Silva (best centre back in the world).
I only voted three; Silva, Ibra and Pirlo. World class for me is the absolute best. Of that list, many are out of form or would never be first pick in a XI team.
I didnt vote for xavi, pirlo, hazard, Ozil or costa. Xavi past it. Pirlo look amazing in Italy but Italian football is played at 2mph. Giggs would be a young, speedy left winger and Gerrard would be considered an acadamy player in tge zimmer league. Others just are not world class. Ozil could so easily have been though.
You gotta admit mate you're finding it hard to not mention Utd's past in your comments. Maybe one day they'll give you something new to be proud of, but don't hold your breath.
Yet, Ibra and Pirlo would not probably pass the Ozil test. Ozil was a player I rated very highly before this past winter - yet he's struggling to adapt to the pace and power of the PL. If you try to imagine Pirlo playing in the PL, week in week out, instead of Gerrard say, or Coutinho, or Mata - you may see that in that scenario he's struggling to adapt. Ditto for Ibra. IMO that test is the acid test for World Class.
Lets say no one is world class then, since no one can play in every league in their career and still perform. Actually, Ibra is the closest one to have done that... Ozil is top drawer, but a seriously poor run of form. Next year might well be different, his class won't stay subdued for long.
Well, Serie A and the PL are the opposite poles really. Italy --(Skill--Vision--Strength--Stamina--Pace)--England. If you can do both, you can do all. Obviously, there've been many great players who never graced the PL who we all called world class. But the combo of their strength/skill/pace/stamina gave you confidence that they would've been amazing had they come to the PL. Ozil, Xavi, Ibra (today), Pirlo lack in the overall combo required in the PL imo. While, I have a sneaky suspicion that Cristiano Ronaldo might not hack it very well in Italy.
If we are talking current World class players and not based on the players they were 3-4 years ago:- Rooney (biases aside)- Nope. He's a good player (not great or WC) and could have been World Class but he's fallen well short Xavi- Was, his decline has also been Barca's decline. Pirlo- Don't get how people still think he's WC, he reached that level later in his career yes but no. Schweinsteiger- Another good player that fits the Bayern style perfectly, but his greatness is more of a team thing. RVP- No, no. Most injury prone player. Two great seasons and in those seasons he was very close to WC, but injuries. Ozil- Still needs a fair bit of work, could be. David Silva- So very close. 2nd tier under the genuine WC players. Thiago Silva- 2nd tier Hazard- Same as Ozil but much closer Aguero- Yes Bale- Same as Ozil and Hazard Robben- 2 tier Diego Costa- Great season, lets see next year to see if it lasts. Ibrahimovic- Yes, when he wants to be. Yaya Toure- Yes and same as Ibra, when he wants to be.
I simply cannot vote for a single one of these guys!!!!! where the f is neuer and lahm. they are the onyltwo world class players really out there. Rooney no way. 2 seasons in 10 that are of the standard. its not enough period. Xavi - has got on. i feel he's getting past it. Pirlo - in italy he's great but again past it. Schweinsteiger - meh.. not pushed on him RVP - no chance. relegated to wing by his country and sulked. i dnt think world class Ozil - god no. can;t play 90 David Silva - eh no. good in england, very good in fact but not in the top spanish list IMO Thiago Silva - maybe. Hazard- no too soon. I don't give world class to guys with potential and on thier first real good season Aguero - no, sorry too many injuries Bale - come on... be serious Robben - he's improved at bayern but world class... top player but top top player? he did well last year but ebfore that bottled it. deliver another treble and best player i nthe final and ok. Diego Costa - not yet, hasn't proved it yet Ibrahimovic- f no. lazy, but capable of something amazing. but mostly easy to mark out of a game. Yaya Toure - indulged. there is a reaosn barca were happy to see him go. top prem player but neglects his full role. like i said Neuer is the best keeper since buffon and schmicheal which makes him a real top player. Lahm is the best full back in 20 odd years, cafu is the only guy in the category, not roberto carlos etc.
