Rank the English talent

[Revan]

Xavi is completely misplaced on that list. No way he belongs in that company. Those players are thrill a minute, and he was not. Gosh, how is he higher than Dinho? Didn't you see them in the same team? I also feel there's too many separations in your classing system. You have Batistuta two divisions below Henry and Ibra which doesn't make sense. Won't even get started on the players missing.

Yeah, Bati should have been a level higher.

I think that I read Xavi higher than most. Of course that Ronaldinho was better during his peak there (with Xavi not being on the peak). However, in 2008-2013, Xavi was immense.

Obviously, many players are missing, I made that clear. You can have dozens of world-class players at the same time, so for the last 25 years, the number of players who might have been considered world-class might be 100 or so. I didn't want to spend a day to compile such a list.

 

[Class of 63]

Anybody that doesn't have Greenwood, Laird and Garner in the top tier isn't playing properly. Mummy!!!!

 

[Ekeke]

 

[elnorte]

Who's the Liverpool player?

 

[RooneyLegend]

Who's the Liverpool player?

I think it's Trent. Crazy where people are placing him given he's mediocre defensively.

 

[spaceboyRSA]

Who's the Liverpool player?

TAA

Am I the only person who thinks he is a very good footballer, but rather overrated in this thread. He is not a so called "generational" talent

 

[Zlatan 7]

In each position, perhaps? A generational winger - Sancho and a generational right back - Trent.

Alexander Arnold is a once in a generation talent full back?

 

[Revan]

TAA

Am I the only person who thinks he is a very good footballer, but rather overrated in this thread. He is not a so called "generational" talent

I think he is widely considered the best full back in the world. Next to Koulibaly and De Ligt, was the only defender to make the Ballon D'Or shortlist (and has improved since then).

 

[Classical Mechanic]

At 21 TAA has played in two CL finals winning one and won the PL. He has 30 assists and 6 goals in those comps in 3 seasons. Probably not many 21 full backs past or present that could match that. I’d prefer AWB in the England team though.

 

[ThatsGreat]

The generational talent below the age of 22 is only Mbappe.

 

[spaceboyRSA]

I think he is widely considered the best full back in the world. Next to Koulibaly and De Ligt, was the only defender to make the Ballon D'Or shortlist (and has improved since then).

All and largely agreed. But for me, generational talent is Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo etc. Using the ranking here, TAA is one or two levels below that. And that's not an insult or criticism

 

[paulscholes18]

No Wan-Bissaka?

 

[elnorte]

I think it's Trent. Crazy where people are placing him given he's mediocre defensively.

TAA

Am I the only person who thinks he is a very good footballer, but rather overrated in this thread. He is not a so called "generational" talent

Haha. Yes, that's the only person I could think of but then I thought surely note. Odd.

 

[Solius]

No Wan-Bissaka?

He’s on there as an option. Not sure why Ekeke didn’t pick him.

 

[paulscholes18]

He’s on there as an option. Not sure why Ekeke didn’t pick him.

He’s not on mine as an option for some reason. I just saw see you have him though

He is on quadrant view but not tier list

 

[Revan]

All and largely agreed. But for me, generational talent is Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo etc. Using the ranking here, TAA is one or two levels below that. And that's not an insult or criticism

Agree. I think it is very hard for defenders to be considered generational talents. The likes of Baresi, Beckenbauer, maybe Maldini and Cafu. No way TAA is there.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

This is mine from having a quick go. The three in Poor doesn't necessarily mean I think they'll be crap but it's in relation to the rest of them.

Sancho in tier 2 below TAA and Foden. Lolz.

 

[Scarecrow]

How many of you think TAA is a bigger talent than Beckham was? How many would claim Beckham was a generational talent or however you want to call the highest tier of football players?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Good list. But a RB never makes top tier for me.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

How many of you think TAA is a bigger talent than Beckham was? How many would claim Beckham was a generational talent or however you want to call the highest tier of football players?

I think people use the term generational talent very loosely these days. Going by that, we're going to have 10-15 generational talents in this era. I mean, isn't that the point of the phrase that you get either 1 or 2 players of that level?

 

[Globule]

People really take their definitions seriously.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

People really take their definitions seriously.

I mean, they should make some sense. Otherwise let's just start calling Bruno the GOAT.

Wouldn't be wrong either to be fair.

 

[Scarecrow]

I think people use the term generational talent very loosely these days. Going by that, we're going to have 10-15 generational talents in this era. I mean, isn't that the point of the phrase that you get either 1 or 2 players of that level?

I don't really care about the nomenclature to be honest, there's enough people discussing that already. Let's pretend it's "Tier 1". How far do you need to stretch it to get both Messi and TAA in it?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I don't really care about the nomenclature to be honest, there's enough people discussing that already. Let's pretend it's "Tier 1". How far do you need to stretch it to get both Messi and TAA in it?

That said, I have no issue projecting him to be (one of) the best fullback of his generation, if that's what people are doing.

I mean if there's a Messi tier then TAA is several tiers down but Tier 1 need not be of a level none of the sample players are.

 

[altodevil]

Best one so far

 

[fps]

I'm seeing this "generational" talent all over these days. Almost out of nowhere, everyone knows and can identify this. Boggles my mind really.
But hey, seems lots of people are able to see it. Would like to know, when did people realize what Ronaldo and Messi were one of a kind and generational talents for their time? When they were teenagers? Or more as they shared the top accolades year after year.

It’s even better because the term is so poorly defined as to be virtually meaningless!

 

[Yagami]

Greenwood is the only "generational talent" out of those players for me. Rashford, Foden and Sancho behind as world class. Then Saka in the "excellent" category .

Haven't really seen enough of the rest. Well, I've seen the other United players, but I'd want to see how they handle first team football before forming an opinion.

 

[Ødegaard]

Haven't watched many of them a lot, so obviously I'll be way off. But I'll join in with my current view all the same.

Tier 1: Already are important players for top clubs and are young enough to develop further.
Sancho, TAA & Rashford

Tier 1.5: Can become key-players for their top club.
Foden, CHO & Greenwood

Tier 2: I think they'll become a first 11 player quality at top clubs, without being super important.
Aarons, Abraham, AWB, Tomori, Mount, Nelson, Nketiah

Tier 3: I doubt they'll be prefered first choice by fans at top clubs in the long run, but might make it as rotation players.
Sean Longstaff, Rice, Sessegnon, Solanke, Angel Gomes, Brandon Williams & Tuanzebe

 

[TheScriptwriter]

I thought that Iniesta and especially Xavi were near that. In the list of all-time great midfielders, Xavi happens to be quite often. Some might even say that he is the best registra of all time, and the most dominating midfielder ever.

I would say that Pirlo and Ibra (also Henry) were 'almost' generational talents (clearly better than the usual World Class players, but probably not as good as all time greats). Agree about RVN and Scholes, they were world-class players but nowhere near all-time greats.

So, my ranking for the last 25 years would be:

Generational talents: Messi, C. Ronaldo, Zidane, L. Ronaldo, Xavi
Top-tier world-class: Ronaldinho, Maldini, Henry, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Pirlo
Middle-tier world-class: Shevchenko, Nedved, Modric*, Buffon, Figo, Schmeichel, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Ramos, Nesta
Bottom-tier world-class: Scholes, Giggs, Busquets, Deco, Ballack, Neuer, De Gea, VDS, Casillas, Terry, Rio, Vidic, Cole, Evra, Eto'o, Neymar, Bale, Rooney, Robben, Ribery, Schweinsteiger, Totti, Del Piero, RVN, RVP, Owen**, Suarez, Torres, Forlan, Sneijder, Pique, Puyol, Alves, Maicon, Batistuta, Lampard, Gerrard, Aguero, D. Silva, Hazard, Beckham

* Primarily based on his Ballon D'Or, but also considering longevity and UCL wins + WC2018.
** Because of his short longevity, he barely makes the list despite being a Ballon D'Or winner.

Of course, I might be missing many, and many players might be one tier higher/lower depending on the person who does the list.

I'm surprised how often goalkeepers are underrated. Surely one of Schmeichel, Buffon, Casillas or Neuer should be in generational talents. Those are GOAT candidates in their positions for one reason or another.

 

[paulscholes18]

Had a lovely comment from someone saying retarded. Probably a Burnley fan

 

[Revan]

I'm surprised how often goalkeepers are underrated. Surely one of Schmeichel, Buffon, Casillas or Neuer should be in generational talents. Those are GOAT candidates in their positions for one reason or another.

Generational talent for me is one of the two-three best players of that generation. I don't think that any keeper is close to that. Heck, it is very hard to put a keeper in top 10 players of his generation.

So, not underrating, just that a keeper is not as good as a striker. Take the best keeper of all time (whatever you think it is Yashin, Buffon, Zoff etc). I could give you 10 better players than him from that generation.

 

[Ekeke]

He’s on there as an option. Not sure why Ekeke didn’t pick him.

Wasnt one of the options that I had on my screen. I'd have him in the world class category (potential)

 

[Ekeke]

Greenwood is the only "generational talent" out of those players for me. Rashford, Foden and Sancho behind as world class. Then Saka in the "excellent" category .

Haven't really seen enough of the rest. Well, I've seen the other United players, but I'd want to see how they handle first team football before forming an opinion.

So you believe that Greenwood will have more productivity than Sancho? Thats a lot of pressure. What do you expect to see from him?

 

[2 man midfield]

I only recognise about 5 of them

 

[Icemav]

I called Messi being as good as Maradona (or in that type of company) in 2007.

Think it's safe to say him and CR7 are a further level up from generational, think Mbappe may end up there aswell.

So you are admitting to being wrong then?

heehee

 

[Revan]

Just for perspective on how wrong this is, the last English generational talent is Sir Bobby Charlton. That was more than half a century ago.

While here we are predicting that there are multiple generational talent players in England's young players. Which has no chance of happening.

Would anyone take a 10-1 odds that Greenwood, Sancho or Foden would be top 2 - top 3 players of this decade (which would probably put them in GOAT-tier)? What about a more established player like Mbappe which looks like a dead-cert choice? Would you take a bet at even odds that he'll be top 2 or so player of his generation?

In all likelihood, there might be a couple of players who will be the best in this decade. Maybe Mbappe. Probably another one. It is very unlikely that it is someone we know. And pretty much impossible to predict 2-3 generational talents and to be right on the predictions.

 

[Icemav]

None of them are generational talents. Maybe 2 or 3 of them can be defined as world class talent.

To me only players like Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, L.Ronaldo can be defined as generational talent. Those only happen once or twice in a decade.

Yep.

Greenwood seems to have the talent to be a leading player at United. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Right now we are aiming for title winning and CL calibre players. None on that list look like being the next Ronaldo/Messi but several look like they could be leading players for big clubs and good internationals..... maybe.

Edit: should not forget Zidane also. Xavi a great player too. These are the creme de la creme.

 

[TheScriptwriter]

Generational talent for me is one of the two-three best players of that generation. I don't think that any keeper is close to that. Heck, it is very hard to put a keeper in top 10 players of his generation.

So, not underrating, just that a keeper is not as good as a striker. Take the best keeper of all time (whatever you think it is Yashin, Buffon, Zoff etc). I could give you 10 better players than him from that generation.

I'm more curious on what metrics you compare a goalkeeper and a striker?

 

[Icemav]

Yep.

Greenwood seems to have the talent to be a leading player at United. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Right now we are aiming for title winning and CL calibre players. None on that list look like being the next Ronaldo/Messi but several look like they could be leading players for big clubs and good internationals..... maybe.

Just for perspective on how wrong this is, the last English generational talent is Sir Bobby Charlton. That was more than half a century ago.

While here we are predicting that there are multiple generational talent players in England's young players. Which has no chance of happening.

Would anyone take a 10-1 odds that Greenwood, Sancho or Foden would be top 2 - top 3 players of this decade (which would probably put them in GOAT-tier)? What about a more established player like Mbappe which looks like a dead-cert choice? Would you take a bet at even odds that he'll be top 2 or so player of his generation?

In all likelihood, there might be a couple of players who will be the best in this decade. Maybe Mbappe. Probably another one. It is very unlikely that it is someone we know. And pretty much impossible to predict 2-3 generational talents and to be right on the predictions.

Maybe VVD. But presently I agree we don't know who the successors to these two will be. Its assumed to be Mbappe but he is only 21 and injuries and form play a part. Watch this space.

 

[Solius]

Sancho in tier 2 below TAA and Foden. Lolz.

I’ve not watched enough of Sancho tbf so couldn’t go top tier.