To an extent. You see it as the end all be all of defining world class, I don't. But I understand why you see it that way. I just don't think Messi, Cavani, Ibra, Sergio Ramos, Lahm, Pirlo, etc have to play in the prem to prove it though. They do enough in the CL and World Cups and their respective leagues to show that. So no De Rosario on the list though?
Never claimed they have to play in the PL for World Class to stick. It's a matter of confidence in their abilities, that if they did grace the PL, they would most likely do very well. Messi, for instance, has got enough acceleration and physical edge (on top of his fantastic technique) to make me very confident he'd be wonderful in the PL. On the other hand, Pirlo & Xavi, at this point in their careers might end up the way of Mata and Ozil.
Very neatly, we have Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aguero voted as World Class by the Majority of voters. World Class Team: ---------Neuer------- -Lahm--x---Silva---x- ---------Toure------- --Silva--Messi--Suarez ------CR-----Ibra---- Aguero: Sub. Not-quite-world-class team: ------------x----------- ----x---x------x---x---- ---Schwein-Pirlo--Bale-- -Robben--RVP---Hazard- Xavi: Sub Two-notches-below-world-class-team: ----------DeGea--------- -Zab-Komp--Pique-Alves- -------Busquets--------- ----Ozil--------Ribery---- --Rooney--Costa--Cavani Vidal: Sub
i think that says it all livtor world class defenders are rare, plenty of good uns out there but likely post world cup people will see more and pick a few i also see in effect one cm who's world class and theres in effect 4 forwards... there's always forwards i still dont think ibrahimovich was ever "world class" but thats just me. it is pretty stark showing either midfield and defense doesn't stand out or right now theres not so many... your second team has balce in midfiedd and next level has ribery who is as much a forward as robben.
They are rare, but far from impossible. The world opinion has gone gaga in the past for goalkeepers (Yashin, Schmeichel, Kahn, VDS, Buffon), centrebacks (Baresi, Maldini, Desailly, Cannavaro), fullbacks (Carlos Alberto, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Brehme, Thuram), sweepers/DMs (Beckenbauer, Matthaus, Makelele, Davids, Deschamps).
i agree, it swings around. cannarvo IMO is last real worldie CB. Lahm, maldini and cafu stand out as best full backs... i think its fair to say nobody floats the boat out there right now. certainly if you look to spain pepe, ramos, pique just don't excite. Italy is italy right now and england? kompany is a certain type but is he really a read reader of the game too? as in really great.
I agree with all that. There has to be a spark, a perpetual wow moment, with any world class player, be it a striker or a centreback. I didn't vote for Thago Silva for that reason. He is disciplined, fast, great on the ball and has drive enough to cross the half way line (which is a great asset from a CB I admit). But, I haven't seen enough genius in all that. Maybe I have to look better.
You laugh, but many Chelski fans were eager to name him world class a couple seasons ago. How he makes Brazil's first team, I'll never know. Even more weirdly, he's used at CB rather than DM for Brazil.
he's undisciplined... he is a cb but an average one. mourinho made him a dfensive player but he wants to run forward so watchim him ook at the boss before deciding anything is a good reason to exclude him. true greats know their job.
