lionelmessi

this season many has said cristiano is the best in the world. but is he really? or is it only because the other stars are not performing.

of cause as im a united fan, cristiano is a great player who is such a joy to watch..

but, is he really as good technically as the all time greats such as maradona, pele, ronaldo R9, ronaldinho, zidane, etc

highthief

Well, here's what Pele has to say to that idea:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...423127&cc=5901

In a wide-ranging interview, Pele said: 'To mention him as one of the best players in the world is very soon... We have Kaka, who plays very well, too...

'Four or five years ago, we had Ronaldinho in good shape. We have to wait a little bit. Let's see, in one or two more years, if they keep at the same level.'

He's been very, very good this season for sure. I'd give him player of the year in the Prem, but I agree he needs to maintain that level for a while before hanging a big tag on him.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

fatbob

i think he is performing the best at the moment BUT he is not the best the world has ever seen, not yet he has an awful lot to prove if he is to take that mantle. one good season in the premiership does not a world best make.
lets see if ronaldhinio (spelling??) picks up next year and i will look forward to seeing messi in the next couple of years...

it seems though that every year the english press goes wild about someone in their league, cantona, beckham, henry, gerrard, owen and now ronaldo - they like their poster child!

__________________
change happens when those who don't normally speak get heard by those who don't normally listen.

Glory's Sun

This is because the Premiership is the hardest league..period.

Anyway, I'm a huge Utd fan and I don't think Ronaldo is the best. It's Rooney

highthief

After today's game, do you get the feeling that the machine that is Chelsea is going to catch you out for the title at the game at Stamford Bridge?

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Glory's Sun

I think Utd will hold on. What else would you want me to say??

highthief

Lucky for you, Chelsea was held 0-0 by Newcastle today. They definitely have one eye on this week's Champion's League meeting with Liverpool.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Glory's Sun

I despise Liverpool and Chelsea so really, I can't say I'd rather one win over the other..

highthief

So, you'll be disappointed in a Liverpool-Milan rematch in the final?

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

fatbob

not sure about the premiership being the hardest league...really don't think it is. it is definitely different from the other leagues but not better or harder.
personally i still think that la liga is better because there is more strength and depth from top to bottom, plus i prefer the footballing mentality there.

rooney's still got a lot to prove. i was a wee bit scared of him a couple of years back but am not really so scared any more...

__________________
change happens when those who don't normally speak get heard by those who don't normally listen.

Glory's Sun

I'm disappointed with any final that doesn't feature Utd.

You are absolutely correct that he still has alot to prove. My statement was more from the emotional side as I have yet to jump on board the Ronaldo fan-bus. I think if Rooney can stay healthy, and keep up his pace, he will eventually prove just how good he is.

highthief

I dunno - people have made that comment a lot re depth of field, but looking at La Liga, the same teams tend to dominate - going back to 1985, the title has been won 18 times by either Barca or Real Madrid. That's an SPL Old Firm level of domination by just two teams. And the way the TV money is in Spain - each team can negotiate it's own deals - means those two will continue to dominate.

I think the Prem is, currently, the top league but only by a smidgen, and in years to come, it will likely shift again. I would not be surprised to see the Bundesliga end up as top dog in a few years - with the biggest population, entertaining, high scoring football and the highest attendances of any European country, it may only be a matter of time.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

fatbob

yeah maybe you are right about the bundesliga...i've watched a couple of games from it this year (being scottish i have setanta sports for the spl and thus get the bundesliga coverage too)
from all the leagues that i watch i do enjoy the spanish most , that is apart from my beloved serie a, but then i am an inter milan season ticket holder so i am completely biased there!

i think we are all waiting to see if rooney manages to fulfill his promise...

__________________
change happens when those who don't normally speak get heard by those who don't normally listen.

Glory's Sun

Well.. Rooney certainly looked good against Milan

highthief

United will have to score another 3 against Milan, methinks, at the San Siro, because their defence was abysmal. I get the feeling that no matter how bad Ferdinand and Neville are feeling, they'll be playing next week.

But the most impressive play of the game was that Scholes pass. Very clever.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Glory's Sun

I'm positive Ferdinand will be back. Utd needs him to anchor the backfield. I'd like to see both of them back but if we can at least have one on the pitch it will be alot more secure back there.

Countdown

I think Scholes is one of the most underrated midfielders.. what a player that man is! He hardly gets mentioned but he is a true force in the team of ManU

tisonlyi

Christiano Ronaldo has won nothing, so far, is very yojng and has failed on every big stage he's been put on.

Much like ryan giggs, he's all fluff and no substance. Typical Man Utd.

__________________
"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." - Winston Churchill, 1937 --{ORLY?}--

Glory's Sun

Yeah, that's why Man Utd is second only to Liverpool in number of tropies won

You can't be that successful with all fluff and no substance.

highthief

Just so long as you remember your place!

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Jimellow

In my opinion, he's not the best in the world.

I have trouble picking just one player as the best in the world, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't pick Cristiano, if only because I'm not a fan of his, and feel he is overrated already. He is obviously a very talented player, but there are quite a few very talented players in the European leagues. Thus, if I had to pick a single player as best in the world, I'd likely go with more of a sleeper pick. Perhaps Miroslav Klose from Werder Bremen or Lionel Messi from Barcelona. Eto'o is also exceptionally good, but so is Steven Gerrard, Thierry Henry, and many others.

I think Cesc Fabregas will eventually develop into one of the best players in the world, and Arsenal has nice young talent around him to compliment that development, but it's very difficult to pick just one player to represent the best in the world.

If I had to pick one right now, I would say Messi, as he is young and certainly has the potential to improve more with age. Some of his goals are just ridiculous, and I love seeing him hustle whenever he is on the field. If he's not the best player in the world, he's certainly one of the most exciting ones.

__________________
Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

inkriminator

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...maradona-messi

this is an argument for messi in case anyone hasn't seen it. beautiful comparison of maradona's famous goal (the one where he didn't use his hand) versus a messi goal, downright eerie.

as for c. ronaldo being best in the world, i can't stand for that assertion. i'd put both messi and ronaldinho ahead of him. c. ronaldo plays with heart but he hasn't nearly the physicality i'd expect of a dominant player.