Football : Season 2012/2013

[denphone]

Michu will move from Swansea for right price, says Chris Coleman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20938565

Indeed he will leave in the summer one suspects.

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by Damien

Ronaldo is unlucky to have his career coincide with Messi's. Messi was the deserving winner but I did think Ronaldo would win it, Ronaldo got closer last year and Messi carried on as usual. However Messi got more goals and assists and he does do more for the team.

For me Messi is the best player ever, but i thought Ronaldo had a better year than Messi regardless of the number of goals he scored. He pretty much won La Liga by himself and performed in all the big games. He also scored the majority of his goals from playing in a wide position with Higuain or Benzema up front. I disagree Messi does more for the team compared to Ronaldo, i think they are even in that respect. Obviously this is all opinion and its about probably the best two players to ever play the game, its a joy to watch both of them play at the moment.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

For me Messi is the best player ever, but i thought Ronaldo had a better year than Messi regardless of the number of goals he scored. He pretty much won La Liga by himself and performed in all the big games. He also scored the majority of his goals from playing in a wide position with Higuain or Benzema up front. I disagree Messi does more for the team compared to Ronaldo, i think they are even in that respect. Obviously this is all opinion and its about probably the best two players to ever play the game, its a joy to watch both of them play at the moment.

l think you will find the best player ever has to be Pele as he won World cups as well and that is something Messi or Ronaldo have never done despite their sublime talents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by denphone

l think you will find the best player ever has to be Pele as he won World cups as well and that is something Messi or Ronaldo have never done despite their sublime talents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9

I think you'll find several people disagree:

http://footballcommentblog.wordpress...t-player-ever/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...nt-you-to-know

To be honest, this is a joke!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16661825

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

Ronaldo should have won the ballon d'Or and RVP should have been in the team of the year in my opinion.

Team of the years a bit of a joke imo, thenry put more effort in his f'ellon the floor gag than they did in picking that team, it's not even as if Barcelona or real got to the champions league final either.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

I think you'll find several people disagree:

http://footballcommentblog.wordpress...t-player-ever/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...nt-you-to-know

To be honest, this is a joke!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16661825

Well Cobby as l say its all about opinions and everybody is entitled to what they think.

Originally Posted by denphone

l think you will find the best player ever has to be Pele as he won World cups as well and that is something Messi or Ronaldo have never done despite their sublime talents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9

The World Cup isn't what it was anymore. The Champions League is the premier football competition now and besides it's largely a function of the team you're in. You can move club but you can't change country.

[sherer]

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

For me Messi is the best player ever, but i thought Ronaldo had a better year than Messi regardless of the number of goals he scored. He pretty much won La Liga by himself and performed in all the big games. He also scored the majority of his goals from playing in a wide position with Higuain or Benzema up front. I disagree Messi does more for the team compared to Ronaldo, i think they are even in that respect. Obviously this is all opinion and its about probably the best two players to ever play the game, its a joy to watch both of them play at the moment.

To say Messi is the best player ever is a disservice to players like Charlton, Puskas, Di Stefano, Hidaguti, Garrincha, Matthews and a host of others who have graced the game over the years.

Originally Posted by sherer

To say Messi is the best player ever is a disservice to players like Charlton, Puskas, Di Stefano, Hidaguti, Garrincha, Matthews and a host of others who have graced the game over the years.

I think Messi is better. I think modern players are better than their former counterparts role for role. The best player ever in this generation will be better than the best player ever in the last generation because the standards are higher. Players are fitter, faster, and have better coaching from a younger age. The game is a lot faster now as well and players have to act quicker with the ball moving faster.

[sherer]

Originally Posted by Damien

I think Messi is better. I think modern players are better than their former counterparts role for role. The best player ever in this generation will be better than the best player ever in the last generation because the standards are higher. Players are fitter, faster, and have better coaching from a younger age. The game is a lot faster now as well and players have to act quicker with the ball moving faster.

the players back there were as fast as they needed to be. I've seen Puskas do a drag back like Ronaldo in 1953, wonder if the top players could do that with old ball and old styles shoes.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by sherer

the players back there were as fast as they needed to be. I've seen Puskas do a drag back like Ronaldo in 1953, wonder if the top players could do that with old ball and old styles shoes.

And hatchet men kicking the crap out of them, players like messi and Ronaldo don't know they're born playing in this era

Originally Posted by sherer

the players back there were as fast as they needed to be. I've seen Puskas do a drag back like Ronaldo in 1953, wonder if the top players could do that with old ball and old styles shoes.

Which is not as fast. The players were as good as they needed to be for everything but the need was lesser in a time when the overall skill set was lower. That was a time when players can have a drink the night before a game, many drinks, and have a big breakfast as well. The level of fitness was a lot lower because the fitness of the other players was equally poor. They were coached a lot later in life than current players are and the coaching had less history and experience in draw upon. The competition wasn't as strong for places as it is now when global scouting networks mean you don't have to simply be the best in your area to get regular playing time in a professional team, you have to be amongst the best in the world.

---------- Post added at 08:24 ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 ----------

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

And hatchet men kicking the crap out of them, players like messi and Ronaldo don't know they're born playing in this era

Yes but they play for the era they are in. They may not be able to take as many assaults as former players did but they're footballers, not American football players. Would former footballers be able to complete with the speed of today's game? It's a lot easier to do something imaginative when you have more time on the ball than Messi who has a spilt second to react.

Wenger said something a while back about how, in his time at Arsenal, he has watched as footballers have less and less time to make decisions. He compared it to being on the motorway, all the cars are moving as the same speed and they don't seem to be going fast until you stop and see everyone zip past you.

It's not fair that these former players didn't have all the opportunities the current ones do. The extra coaching, the better pitches, the protection to actually play football free to violent fouls, and the higher calibre opponents. Maybe if they played today they would be at Messi's level. They were not however.

[denphone]

Pep Guardiola: Former Barcelona boss ready to return to coaching

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20943089

Off to Chelsea one suspects in the summer.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Personally I think Ronaldo's reputation works against him. I think he should have won it!