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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746 |
This is a subject that comes up at least once or twice a season and the general feeling is that we only ever have one or two world class players. How many do we have now and how many does any team need to be able to challenge for PL and CL?
I think we need 4 and that we possibly have 3 with 2 others borderline and another 3 with the potential or ability to be World class.
What defines such a player? Is it their transfer value, World Cup performances, length of time at a top level, PL consistency or CL performances?
For example VVD would be described by most as world class yet didn't play at the world cup and his CL appearances are still in single figures. James Milner no longer plays international football but had the most assists in the CL last season.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
This is a subject that comes up at least once or twice a season and the general feeling is that we only ever have one or two world class players. How many do we have now and how many does any team need to be able to challenge for PL and CL?
I think we need 4 and that we possibly have 3 with 2 others borderline and another 3 with the potential or ability to be World class.
What defines such a player? Is it their transfer value, World Cup performances, length of time at a top level, PL consistency or CL performances?
For example VVD would be described by most as world class yet didn't play at the world cup and his CL appearances are still in single figures. James Milner no longer plays international football but had the most assists in the CL last season.
Highly subjective but for me, a player is world class if he is selected in the FIFA team of the year consistently for a few years.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595 |
"What are they?" Really good football players. "Who are they?" Few and far between, but they're mostly subjective figments of fertile imaginations, withe the exception of a very few.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542 |
Subjective it is, but any player that would get into most of the world's top teams.
I think this side is still developing players and we'll see a number fit the bill if they can continue that, maybe add some silverware.
Allison, VvD, Keita, Bobby, Mane, Mo. Nice spine to the team now and much less reliant on 1 or 2 stars.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 22,394
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 22,394 |
Oh this is a thread that our dearly departed (and no doubt soon to be back friend) would be lapping up!
For me it's a purely subjective thing as is based on ability. If you have the ability to play in and at the top level then you're world class. But not all world class players do that.
I'd say that based on talent alone someone like Le Tissier was world class but stayed with his club rather than leave. Same could be said to a lesser extent of Gerrard. He'd have got into pretty much any midfield in world football in his prime but chose to stay with his boy hood club so didn't achieve as much as he could in regards to silverware.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
Oh this is a thread that our dearly departed (and no doubt soon to be back friend) would be lapping up!
For me it's a purely subjective thing as is based on ability. If you have the ability to play in and at the top level then you're world class. But not all world class players do that.
I'd say that based on talent alone someone like Le Tissier was world class but stayed with his club rather than leave. Same could be said to a lesser extent of Gerrard. He'd have got into pretty much any midfield in world football in his prime but chose to stay with his boy hood club so didn't achieve as much as he could in regards to silverware. Indeed and it will never be exact. However, I think to get selected in the team/squad of the year comes very close to reality if not real. Gerrard for example was selected quite a few times despite not winning a lot of silverware.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 22,394
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 22,394 |
Yep that's a good indication for sure. It's just so subjective though. The papers seem to deem anyone who has two good games as world class at times which really gets on my nerves!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
Yep that's a good indication for sure. It's just so subjective though. The papers seem to deem anyone who has two good games as world class at times which really gets on my nerves! Yes it is subjective but FIFA team of the year done by managers and players all over major leagues/countries, the same that vote for the best player of the year award.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564 |
If they are the best or among the best in their position, competing at the highest level. Most would say it requires a period to prove it.
Salah, KDB, Harry Kane, De Gea Kante would all probably be considered thus from our league. VVD, Kompany, Aguero, Firmino, and Mane might fit that bracket, but they have been either less consistent, only in a top team for a short time, or out with injuries, so it's probably harder to tell.
Busquets, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Kroos, Modric, Varannne, Coutinho, Ter Stegan, and Courtois are examples from La Liga.
Boetang, Thiago, James, Neur, Hummels, Reus, and perhaps still Robben in Germany.
It's subjective, but these are players that would fit in almost anywhere.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564 |
Well if its getting into the FIFA team makes you world class then you have to include the best players in our league at the time. Roque Santa Cruz was best striker in the league over one season and Scott Parker won player of the year so he must be in it oh and Jamie Vardy when he won the league, all would of been in FIFA team that season so all must of been world class then, Mahrez too. Mahrez probably is.
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