Unpopular Opinions (Association Football version)
- Thread starter LukasTheGreat
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Apr 2, 2000
- 74,801
- 25,011
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
Overrated as a player, yes. As a commentator, no. He and Carra are terrific IMO.
- Apr 2, 2000
- 74,801
- 25,011
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
I think I did this the first time round from maybe a year or more ago when this thread was doing the rounds but ill say it again.
Unpopular opinion. Jordan Henderson is actually a very, very good footballer.
Unpopular opinion. Jordan Henderson is actually a very, very good footballer.
I think with Henderson he is more of a Jack of all trades, master of none. But he's very solid all round.
Still stand by my statement about players from the 90s/00s being better for the most part.
Still stand by my statement about players from the 90s/00s being better for the most part.
Could you provide some reasoning though? Are you sure you are not just being nostalgic?
Personally, I think with the ever-increasing amount of money in the game and changing (for the better) levels of professionalism, today's players in general are obviously better than those of yesteryear.
Tulip
Hall of Famer
- May 3, 2009
- 37,249
- 34,495
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Tottenham
Was thinking about this the other day.
I think that, without Messi and Ronaldo, the spread of talent at the top was given a far better chance to shine and be recognised for it.
So its part nostalgia, part media-driven and part true - because there was some mercurial talent back in the day.
Look how many world class players there were back in those days. To name a few Matthaus, Rijkaard, Savicevic, Boban, Romario, Batistuta, Henry, Maldini, Nesta, Zidane, Figo, Redondo, Bergkamp, Rivaldo, Baggio, Desailly. And that's really only scraping the surface.
A 90s/00s XI is far more balanced overall than one from nowadays - which only looks so much better cos of Messi and Ronaldo.
Maybe as BlueBen suggest it is part nostalgic - I do love the older players, but players like Luis Figo are non existent these days.
Bojan KantKick
Man United Legacy Supporter
- Sep 5, 2014
- 30,050
- 28,658
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Manchester United, Stevenage FC
I'd certainly agree in term of defenders. They're few very good defenders in world football these days. Watching Irwin, Neville, Cole, Dixon and Winterburn at FB growing up, they were excellebt defenders first and overlapping full backs second. The reverse is true these days. Same can be said of cb's.
Magma
TheBrownDog
or we're under appreciating some of the current day talents.
messi, ronaldo, kun, silva, suarez, sanchez, neymar, pogba, lewandowski, vidal, di maria, neuer, lahm, reus, muller, bale, de gea, hames, toure, thiago silva, modric, isco, courtois, robben, ribery, schweinsteiger, iniesta, xavi, ibra, pirlo, rooney, kompany, bosquets, gotze, alaba
there's a bit of talent from the last 2-3 years in there.
messi, ronaldo, kun, silva, suarez, sanchez, neymar, pogba, lewandowski, vidal, di maria, neuer, lahm, reus, muller, bale, de gea, hames, toure, thiago silva, modric, isco, courtois, robben, ribery, schweinsteiger, iniesta, xavi, ibra, pirlo, rooney, kompany, bosquets, gotze, alaba
there's a bit of talent from the last 2-3 years in there.
There were also a lot of bog average players making up teams too....
I'd say talent in teams runs deeper in most leagues now than in the late 90's/00's
Magma
TheBrownDog
prime casillas, john terry, carles puyol, lahm and cole
i mean, that's not a bad back 4 and keeper by any means
i mean, that's not a bad back 4 and keeper by any means
Not at all, but compare it to say
Schmeichel/Buffon/Kahn
Thuram/Cafu
Nesta/Canna/Stam/Desailly/Campbell/Blanc/Costacurta
Maldini/Carlos/Zanetti/Lizarazu
Here is one.
Mata is a superior footballer than Silva.
Mata can do anything Silva can but Silva cannot do anything Mata. Silva only starts for Spain ahead of Mata because he fits into the system better than as Mata opts to go more direct. But that doesn’t mean Silva is a better. Silva needs space and time created for him while Mata is more individualistic and can take on the game. Silva without a supporting midfield is found out a lot while Mata during his time in Chelsea was practically carrying the team. Silva needs the game to be on his terms to be effects while Mata doesn’t. Mata is more potent up forward can score (long distance as well), better free kick taker, penalty and dead ball specialist. I think Mata is the better player.
Mata is a superior footballer than Silva.
Mata can do anything Silva can but Silva cannot do anything Mata. Silva only starts for Spain ahead of Mata because he fits into the system better than as Mata opts to go more direct. But that doesn’t mean Silva is a better. Silva needs space and time created for him while Mata is more individualistic and can take on the game. Silva without a supporting midfield is found out a lot while Mata during his time in Chelsea was practically carrying the team. Silva needs the game to be on his terms to be effects while Mata doesn’t. Mata is more potent up forward can score (long distance as well), better free kick taker, penalty and dead ball specialist. I think Mata is the better player.
Magma
TheBrownDog
yeah nah
Bojan KantKick
Man United Legacy Supporter
- Sep 5, 2014
- 30,050
- 28,658
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Manchester United, Stevenage FC
That's a very unpopular opinion........imo if mata had pace he'd be a superstar.
Silva is a beautiful player. They play in different positions and are v different players so not sure why you're comparing them
Magma
TheBrownDog
silva as a playmaker deserves to be mentioned up alongside iniesta and xavi.
it's not his fault that quite often his team mates let him down, unlike iniesta and xavi through the years.
it's not his fault that quite often his team mates let him down, unlike iniesta and xavi through the years.
- Sep 30, 2011
- 4,588
- 2,498
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- Melbourne Victory, Blackburn Rovers
Mata of two years ago would've been an interesting comparison. The bloke did make the 2012-13 team of the year after all, and had an absolutely phenomenal year.
- Moderator
- #746
Agree with Bojan, If Mata had pace he'd be a super star.
I'd take him over Silva too, but I'm a bit biased.
I'd take him over Silva too, but I'm a bit biased.
Stan_Darsh72
Hall of Famer
- Jun 18, 2011
- 39,064
- 65,622
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
Mata was faster he would be far greater still a great player but lacks pace.
The whole premier league is going through a post SAF downturn, the top 4 teams from 2009 would smash the current top 4 teams.
The whole premier league is going through a post SAF downturn, the top 4 teams from 2009 would smash the current top 4 teams.
- Apr 2, 2000
- 74,801
- 25,011
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
What's SAF got to do with it?
Magma
TheBrownDog
silva is up there with the great creators of football when it comes to chances. pretty sure he's lead chances created ever since he's come to the league, and that includes an injury riddled season last season. he's an absolutely insane player and would be rated higher if he played elsewhere. i hope we can win a champions league while he's still playing for us, because he is absolutely pure magic.
- Apr 2, 2000
- 74,801
- 25,011
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
I think Suarez led chance creation the last two season didnt he?
Similar threads
