Best Player in the World?

[G-R87]

IMO the 'World Player of the Year' only seems to acknowledge the 'flair' and attacking style of player (with the exception of Cannavaro). You often see foward thinking players with skills aknowledged ahead of many other great individuals. Surely the 'Best' player is a player that can combine all abilities with equal measure.

Look at Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi etc. All regarded as the 'Best in the World' because they have exciting skills and dribbling ability; but none of these players have defensive abilities, none are particularly useful at tackling, none are exceptional passers of the ball, etc etc etc.

My point is that players who don't steal the headlines are often overlooked. Sure, these examples can entertain a fan, but are they the best? how do you fairly define the 'best'?

Each position has significant importance. Regardless of attacking ability, without a solid defence a team can be easily beaten. Therefore, the most imortant players are often disregarded as the best IMO. Ronaldo and co. might stand out doing all the pretty stuff, but it's the defence, the midfield, the goalkeeper that doe's the dirtywork.

Also, if a forward makes a mistake it's generally OK. But if a defender makes an error it can be magnified severely. Shouldn't these things be taken into account?

[z187]

Originally Posted by matthew

IMO the 'World Player of the Year' only seems to acknowledge the 'flair' and attacking style of player (with the exception of Cannavaro). You often see foward thinking players with skills aknowledged ahead of many other great individuals. Surely the 'Best' player is a player that can combine all abilities with equal measure.

Look at Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi etc. All regarded as the 'Best in the World' because they have exciting skills and dribbling ability; but none of these players have defensive abilities, none are particularly useful at tackling, none are exceptional passers of the ball, etc etc etc.

My point is that players who don't steal the headlines are often overlooked. Sure, these examples can entertain a fan, but are they the best? how do you fairly define the 'best'?

Each position has significant importance. Regardless of attacking ability, without a solid defence a team can be easily beaten. Therefore, the most imortant players are often disregarded as the best IMO. Ronaldo and co. might stand out doing all the pretty stuff, but it's the defence, the midfield, the goalkeeper that doe's the dirtywork.

Also, if a forward makes a mistake it's generally OK. But if a defender makes an error it can be magnified severely. Shouldn't these things be taken into account?

Of course, but thats how it is in soccer and sports in general..

Franco Baresi for his position as a world class centre back was just as good in his position as Maradona was for forward I guess you could say..

but forwards are the ones who score the spectacular goals, make the killer passes, dribbles and catch most of the attention.

but defenders get their praise too, usually they are the best leaders on the pitch and often make the best team captains.

[unitedfan]

I don't think defenders are overlooked at all, but when deciding the best player in the world, people look to how players can change a game, how they can make a major impact on a game - like Marcotti; when he did his top 50, he did it based on which players you would like to build your team around. Who would a manager worry about? Who do you look to to turn it around as a fan?

As a result, defenders are never going to get as Ballon d'Ors as attacking players, but all around, the importance of defenders gets huge recognition, and there are examples all over the place.

[Jager]

but defenders get their praise too, usually they are the best leaders on the pitch and often make the best team captains.

Very good point here.

The good defenders become the backbone of clubs, they lead through example, and for Italians they get a lot of recognition. You can score all the goals you want, but if you let in too many, you lose.

UEFA or FIFA should make a multitude of awards, so they get the proper recognition they deserve.

But I could be ignorant on this, as they might do this already?

[lionel]

good thread mate

IMO, you can teach someone the defensive work so he will have the mentality for a CB and you can work with him in the gym to make him physical enough. but noone will ever be able to teach how to run with the ball sticking to your foot and not moving a melemeter if you don't want it to...

IMO, a good attacker is a good defender. a good defender is a bad attacker.

IMO, if you place 11 messi's & kaka's & ronaldo's in a 4-3-3 formation and on the other side place 11 terry's & nesta's, then the attackers will win by far.

IMO, if you rank the positions in an order of who can win a match/title, then its:
midfielders, goalkeepers/strikers then defenders. (in a general view).

that sould explain why for ME a defender can't be the best player in the world.

[Garzilla]

Like the said its the nature of the game.... but defenders get there due....

Cannavaro is the first that comes to mind.

But its the position, The lightning play of Ronaldo or a Kaka can change the score in the blink of an eye.

A defender anchors you in for the long haul, just not much glory.

[BlackNess]

Originally Posted by lionel

good thread mate

IMO, you can teach someone the defensive work so he will have the mentality for a CB and you can work with him in the gym to make him physical enough. but noone will ever be able to teach how to run with the ball sticking to your foot and not moving a melemeter if you don't want it to...

IMO, a good attacker is a good defender. a good defender is a bad attacker.

IMO, if you place 11 messi's & kaka's & ronaldo's in a 4-3-3 formation and on the other side place 11 terry's & nesta's, then the attackers will win by far.

IMO, if you rank the positions in an order of who can win a match/title, then its:
midfielders, goalkeepers/strikers then defenders. (in a general view).

that sould explain why for ME a defender can't be the best player in the world.

a Great point .

so i am Better than you i am a good striker and not a bad goalkeeper .

back to topic, Messi and Ribery are the best atm .... you can't know what is going to happen next when one of those two touches the ball.

if you watch Bayern's matches you will see this .

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by lionel

good thread mate

IMO, you can teach someone the defensive work so he will have the mentality for a CB and you can work with him in the gym to make him physical enough. but noone will ever be able to teach how to run with the ball sticking to your foot and not moving a melemeter if you don't want it to...

IMO, a good attacker is a good defender. a good defender is a bad attacker.

IMO, if you place 11 messi's & kaka's & ronaldo's in a 4-3-3 formation and on the other side place 11 terry's & nesta's, then the attackers will win by far.

IMO, if you rank the positions in an order of who can win a match/title, then its:
midfielders, goalkeepers/strikers then defenders. (in a general view).

that sould explain why for ME a defender can't be the best player in the world.

That's a load of crap, defenders are just as important as attackers (if not more important).

What's the point in being able to score four goals if your defence is so shit it conceeds five?

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Joel

What's the point in being able to score four goals if your defence is so shit it conceeds five?

what part of my post made you think of saying that?

anyway, I wrote "IMO" for a reason.

[D-Kin]

I'm making the point that defenders are just as 'good' and 'valuable' as attacking players.

[Jager]

IMO, a good attacker is a good defender. a good defender is a bad attacker.

I think your age is coming through here. This is by far one of the most ignorant comments I have ever heard...no offense, but for discussion.

You think a bum like Adriano(and he is not the worst), but going through a rough time, is in the same league as Cannavaro, Materazzi, Marquez, Samuel etc.....Come on mate, you can't think that way.

IMO, if you place 11 messi's & kaka's & ronaldo's in a 4-3-3 formation and on the other side place 11 terry's & nesta's, then the attackers will win by far.

Ah, I think if you place 11 Cannas and Materazzi's, they would win because Messi and Kaka would be afraid to venture out of their own half.

[D-Kin]

By the way Materazzi scored more league goals than Kaka last season which completely blows his theory out of the water.

Defenders can play football and for the most part they're far more intelligent and read the game better than forwards.

[Jager]

There both equally important, however I feel a team needs good leadership at the back to win. I really believe this.

Inter were lost in the "water", after Bergomi left for a very long time. Now that Matrix and Samuel is there, they lead.

Many teams are like this.

[BlackNess]

Originally Posted by Jager

There both equally important, however I feel a team needs good leadership at the back to win. I really believe this.

Inter were lost in the "water", after Bergomi left for a very long time. Now that Matrix and Samuel is there, they lead.

Many teams are like this.

Good point, Lucio for Bayern, Poyul for Barca, Terry for Chelsea ....

But lionels point is that the requirements of a good Defender are less than the requirements of a good Midfielder ....

[Jager]

Midfielder is the most physically demannding position, and the hardest to learn.

No arguement from me.