World class players

[Buckleys Jocks]

World class for me is being in the top 5 players in the world in your position

I get that line of thought to an extent but I don't think you can out a cap on it like that, especially considering how many brilliant attacking players there are these days. I mean just because there are five players in the world who are slightly better than you it doesn't mean you can't be considered world class. IMO if your game is at a high enough level then you are world class, regardless of how many others may be ahead of you.

 

[BlueBen]

ADL9798 makes a fair point about Diego Costa - until this season, his only prolific season was last season with Atletico. His only other season where his record is impressive is in 2011/12 where he scored 10 goals in 16 appearances for Rayo Vallecano. He is obviously doing well at Chelsea and if he maintains this sort of scoring pace then he will get there eventually - but I don't think he has done enough yet to be considered world class.

As for us, I don't think Sturridge is world class either, basically because like Costa, he hasn't been good enough for long enough (through no fault of his own of recent times with injury). If he returns and can get back to last season's form then he will have to be in the conversation. Coutinho shows flashes but will be nowhere near world class until he improves his wayward passing and lamentable finishing.

 

[Milanista28]

If these guys are world class what class does Ronaldo and Messi qualify for? Just outright legends?

 

[typeclub]

They must be galactic status.

 

[typeclub]

I've got players who stood out in European comps in addition to domestic as World Class. Maybe international comps too

Arsenal: Sanchez
Chelsea: Courtois, Terry, Felipe Luis, Costa, Cech
Liverpool: Nay
Man U: RvP, Di Maria... Sorry Rooney
Man C: Aguero, Silva

 

[Spitter9]

I've got players who stood out in European comps in addition to domestic as World Class. Maybe international comps too

Arsenal: Sanchez
Chelsea: Courtois, Terry, Felipe Luis, Costa, Cech
Liverpool: Nay
Man U: RvP, Di Maria... Sorry Rooney
Man C: Aguero, Silva

sorry but Filipe Luis isn't world class when he isn't even a regular started for Chelsea. RVP isn't world class anymore either, Rooney is ahead of him. Add Yaya Toure to Man City's list

 

[Magma]

sanchez, hazard, terry, courtois, costa, kun, di maria, silva, vinny.

 

[pieman123]

For us id say De Gea, Rooney and Di Maria.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

De Gea, Rooney, Di Maria.
Silva, Aguero
Sanchez
Hazard, Costa, Courtois, Cech.

 

[glenferry23]

People have this misconception that Costa has been banging in goals for years. It was only very recently that he's stepped up to actually be considered in that top bracket of strikers, last year was the first season he managed to score more than 10 league goals in a season despite making 31, 16, 28, 34, 35 and 30 league apps in his previous 5 seasons. With the exception of his injuries through the first half of this season Sturridge has been performing at the top level for just as long.

As you say it's subjective to say who is the better player, there isn't all that much between them, Costa certainly isn't 'much better' than Sturridge.

Fair point on Costa in recent years. But I'm not sure you'll find too many who consider Sturridge to better than him (other than Liverpool supporters I mean).

Anyway, Liverpool would be very happy having Sturridge and Chelsea the same with Costa. I'd take either in a heartbeat at Arsenal. Either would improve us significantly.

 

[Nallad]

To people saying Costa can't be world class because he has had one 'world class' season, does that rule apply to Suarez as well?

 

[glenferry23]

To people saying Costa can't be world class because he has had one 'world class' season, does that rule apply to Suarez as well?

Whilst I agree there should be a minimum period sustained before being labelled world class, Suarez certainly did it for longer than just one season.

 

[CrowsB4hoes]

Our only WC player is Lloris, he would be a fine GK for any team. Eriksen still has a lot to work on, drifts in and out of games too much for my liking.

I genuinely believe our next player to step up to WC level is Harry Kane. The boy has something special.

 

[jd2010]

Eriksen is our only certainty to get to that level. Only 22 and leading goal scoring midfielder in 2014 in the Premier League (if you take out all of Gerrard and Yaya's pens). Also had if I remember correctly the 3rd most key passes in the league last season at just 21 and in his first season out Holland! The likes of Lamela, Kane & Bentaleb are all around Eriksen's age and have shown glimpses of quality but need to do it more if they are to reach that level.

Lloris is a top 5 in the world GK. Of all the keepers out there who get branded top 5 or top 10 he has easily the worst defence in front of him and single handedly kept us in winning or drawing positions over the last 18 months.

 

[jod23]

This is our problem as a team.

Look at Chelsea. Costa, Fabregas, Matic, Hazard, Courtois, then look at City, Aguero, Kompany, Silva, Yaya.

Then we have ... oh none.

I think Sturridge if he could stay fit would be considered world class. Gerrard obviously was but is now nearly 35. The rest is just potential. Maybe Sterling, Coutinho, Markovic, Can etc can one day be world class.

We miss a certain world class Uruguayan.

 

[jod23]

Having said that, age bracket wise. Sterling is world class. Probably the best player in the world 21 and under.

 

[moomba]

Having said that, age bracket wise. Sterling is world class. Probably the best player in the world 21 and under.

Really?

 

[jod23]

Really?

He would be there or thereabouts. He did just win the European Golden Boy.

 

[Magma]

so he's the world class player of his age bracket?

 

[jod23]

so he's the world class player of his age bracket?

Yes he is world class at his age bracket for sure.

 

[WCEbrody]

Having said that, age bracket wise. Sterling is world class. Probably the best player in the world 21 and under.

Probably take Pogba ahead but Raheem has been very impressive thus far.

 

[jod23]

Probably take Pogba ahead but Raheem has been very impressive thus far.

Did forget about Pogba, he would rival Sterling for sure.

 

[moomba]

With Sterling, I just havent been that impressed with him this season. Good talent sure, good potential sure, maybe even world class potential. I think he's got more about him than the Lennons/SWP's that burst onto the scene around the same age.

Perfectly understandable too why his performances havent been great. Too much asked of a kid at the moment but overall I'd say his season has been just ok.

Poor an international level so far despite the wanking over him beating a man and shooting wide against Italy. Poor champions league campaign.

Nothing for anyone to worry about, but I think the he might be one for my over hyped list.

Pogba comes to mind straight away as someone that to date has done a lot more to justify that standing in the game.

 

[ADL9798]

Delusion is still rife on Merseyside i see.
Sturridge is not better than Rooney and Costa has him well covered too. Sturridge is excellent but is in the bracket below world class.

Haha that makes life easy, I'll add you to my list of 'people who haven't watched a game of football in the last 2 years'.

 

[ADL9798]

With Raheem, he's certainly up there with Pogba but I'm not too fussed whether or not he's rated the best u21 talent in the world or the 2nd best or whatever, neither are world class yet but either way we're incredibly lucky to have a young talent in that bracket.

He's not banging in 20 goals a season yet as the hype perhaps ambitiously suggested he might at the start of the season, but the list of players to have shown as much as he has at his age is an extremely short one. Only turned 20 a few weeks ago and I'd say the only players of his type in the Premier League that I'd rather have right now would be Hazard, Sanchez and probably Di Maria. He's not there yet (and won't be until he improves his finishing, the 1 deficiency in his game that is holding him back right now), but the way his development is tracking he could easily go on to be as good as any of them in the coming years.