Here's your answer, Sharms
Every Christmas Kristian Jack assembles his Top 100 Premier League players list. Now, remember this assortment of brilliance is not full of world class talent, at least not in the warped sense of the term that KJ has bastardized over recent times. Regardless, it is a list screaming out to be debated, and debate we do. I still don’t quite understand how he managed to select Darren Bent at number one last year, but I digress. I also lie.
This year, as he announced on Tuesday’s Footy First, KJ will be assembling a Top 100 All World players list, with the help of some the brightest most intuitive minds in the game… and me.
Hence, the process has started. It is incredibly hard. Each of us must submit a Top 35 list. Seems easy doesn’t it? And to be honest, as much as there are some great arguments to be made, I would judge that at least half my list are gimmes.
However, the challenging part is ranking these players.
One and two are formalities of course, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leap to the top of the page on I would hope everyone’s list, except of course KJ who I am told has serious ambitions for Gabby Agbonlahor this year. But who is next?
Who is number three? Essentially the third best player in world football?
I am going to slot in some defenders into my list, maybe even a goalkeeper or two, but with all due respect, attacking players will dominate because, well they are just more fun to watch, and generally speaking are the game changers in any given match.
So then. Number three?
Xavi seems like a likely selection, but then is he really clearly the better player between himself and Andres Iniesta? What about Zlatan Ibrahimovic? A polarizing figure no doubt, but when motivated is there anyone outside of the top two able to dominate a match like him? Should Wayne Rooney receive consideration? What of Mezut Ozil? David Silva has seen his profile explode this season, while his some-time teammate Carlos Tevez has seen his stock plummet.
A cacophony of offensive magic up for consideration. Perhaps it will be easier to dip into the defensive pool at number three; Nemanja Vidic, Gerard Pique, Thiago Silva, even Vincent Kompany come to mind.
But then, how much fun would that be?
I am torn. I’m only at number three of thirty five and I am troubled. It is going to be a big job this; any help at number three will be much appreciated.
I would put Vidic at number three. It’s no coincidence that United’s defensive problems occurred when he was injured (or suspended yesterday). He is the United’s captain for a reason, and is more instrumental to their success than Rooney. United don’t keep winning 1-0 if he’s not in the lineup.
What about Mertesacker??
David Luiz and Johnny Evans should go on the list before Per Mertesacker.
Iniesta for sure
iniesta is hands down 3rd best
Emile Heskey is a given
Don’t forget Torres and Carroll. World class players right there ( I hope KJ doesn’t read this).
torres & carroll arent worth the money that their clubs payed
I just wanna comment on the picture on this post. Xavi, I feel is a great player but when you got Ronaldo and Messi on either side its hillarious to think he has a chance of winning the award.
KJ, first 10 are a given:
1. Ronaldo
2. Messi
3. Rooney
4. Iniesta
5. Xavi
6. Otzel
7. Eto’o
8. Aguero
9. Higuain
10. Ibrahimovic
you have ibrahimovic in there but you forgot to put RVP. woops.
Eto’o? You do know this is a list of the best players in 2011 right? (Emphasis on the “2011″ part).
top 10
messi
ronaldo
xavi
rvp
iniesta
arguero
nani
ozil
robben
sneijder
sorry david silva to replace nani
Messi – 21 goals in all competitions
Ronaldo – 17 goals
Robin Van Persie – 15
Nuff said.
James,
You’ve definitely got some tough choices to make! If you went with a defender, for me it would definitely have to be Pique. Yes I’ve watched lots of games involving Silva, Vidic and others but Pique is the complete package. Backheel assists, dominating in the air, incredible pace (not even ronaldo could out run him at full stride) and as much as fullbacks get applauded for their attacking game, Pique is the best attacking centerback. He picks the best moments to go forward and never hesitates to run full tilt back in case things go awry. His positional and tactical sense is immense both defensively and offensively and lastly, for me, he is the best passer of the ball when it comes to centerbacks.
In comparing Iniesta, Xavi, and Ibrahimovic I would go: Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Xavi. Iniesta as 3rd best because he is consistently a danger in the final third for the majority of every single game he plays. If he isn’t scoring crucial game tying/winning goals, his passes often find those who will (and his passes are unplayable at times). Ibrahimovic is 4th because as you said, when he’s motivated, he can dominate a game. This and the fact that he’s been successful on every team he has been on means that he is what he is. Immensely talented. However, he doesn’t control an entirety of a game like Iniesta that’s why I picked him 4th. I really like Xavi, but the thing with Xavi is is that you definitely need other players who have a perfect first touch, mentality and positional sense as you do. If you put Xavi in almost any other team, I think he’d get frustrated right away because he wouldn’t be getting the ball enough or his team wouldn’t be keeping the ball enough for his liking. With Iniesta and Ibra, they only need the ball a certain number of times to hurt you. Although I have to say, Xavi’s passing is amongst the best in the world next to Busquets first touch passing. All in all, it’s tough to differentiate between these players…but it’s fun trying =)
Have fun Shunners!
Mr. MVP himself, DeRo.
;)
My world top 10:
1. Messi
2. Ronaldo
3. Iniesta.
4. Rooney.
5. Robin Van Persie
6. Ibrahimovic
7. Pique
8. Xavi
9. Vidic
10. Iker Casillas
I think you spelled Robin Van Persie wrong. You wrote Casillas instead.
But seriously now. Neymar is no where to be found in any top 10?
I’m sorry, but there is no goal scorer more prolific than V. Persie atm! To leave him off would be a howler. Arsenal were crap, he’s carried them out of there funk. Even when they were crushed vs Man U, he scored. Without his goals this season, they’re still in the bottom 3.
Also, Luis Suarez must be up there, he’s had a brilliant transition to the EPL, did well in Holland, and has won Copa America for Uruguay (yes, for) as well as scoring 4 goals in his most recent qualification match.
Lastly, leaving out Gareth Bale would be folly as well, he ran rampant in the champions league last season, is more exciting to watch than boring Spanish players, and is leading a resurgent Wales. In terms of your selections: sorry mate, Pique is not a top 3 defender. Probably not even top 5. His team is just so good he doesn’t get exposed as much. He certainly does with Spain though.
R. Van Peirse for sure, but Ibra’s a contender as well
Could you leave 3rd blank to illustrate how far in front the first two are? Then put Xavi at 4.
It’s not an easy task. You have to do your best to leave personal opinions out. Last year Wesley Sneijder would been my automatic number 3. But now I see he’s not even in some top tens. Wonder where Naymar will be next year?
My top 10
Messi
CRon
Iniesta.
RVP
Rooney
Xavi
Vidic
Sneijder
Ozil
Ibrahimovic
no love for my boy schweiny? c’moooooon. i agree with YNWA about suarez being a contender. only if rooney is higher on the list though.
Agreed, Schwein is class, but he’s injured. Rooney needs to be up there, but I’m not convinced he’s #3. He is not a performer for England consistently.
Franck Ribery #3
gonna put up a list on here tonight
my top 35
Good points by everyone, and the suggestions are all good. However, there is one player who has not been mentioned yet that deserves to be in the top 10. This player has been talked about by some of the staff of the footy show. This player is responsible for transforming his club from decent domestic challengers, to a club that is considered The favourite to win their domestic title and the champions league. No I am not talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, or the usual suspects… No, I am writing about a player named Mario Gomez who plays for Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich are numero uno in both the bundesliga and their champions league group (which also happens to contain Man city, Napoli and Villireal). This striker has been in terrific form this season for both club and country. He has scored 21 goals in 21 games. 7 of those goals have come in the champions league. His form reflects that of RVP. In fact, I believe he might be even better than RVP. Anyway the point is, there is no other striker in the world (except maybe RVP) who is in better goal scoring form than Gomez. And for that reason, I believe he deserves a spot in anyone’s top 10 best players of 2011.
1.Messi
2.Ronaldo
3.xavi
4.iniesta
5.villa
6.pedro
7.sergio B
8.Fabrigas
9.Dani Alves
10..Pique
11. pedro
i almost burst out laughing when i read pedro. seriously though… there are other players out there besides barca players. barca fans…
1. messi
2. ronaldo
3. xavi
4. ozil
5. iniesta
6. RVP
7. rooney
8. gotze
9. suarez
10. mario gomez
No question, it’s Tim Tebow
who is more valuable to there squad than rvp atm? messi is world class as is ronaldo difference between them and rvp is they have world class players around them rvp does not
James were both england fans steven gerrard should be in the top 20