Let's avoid the 'what is technique,' question because, unless you're being obtuse, you know what it encompasses (really!). Anyway, once in a while, an absolute gem of player with silken touch, control and what have you comes along. Some are specialists, as in, superfluous in their forte, but may come up short in other areas, whilst you then have those whose every action is pretty much sublime from a technical aspect.
I guess we can break it down into technical mastery for a: defender; a midfielder and forwards as you're obviously not going to see the same kind of roundedness in a defender or forward as you might expect from a midfielder, but at the same time, there's a difference between a Ferdinand, Buchan or Blind and a Smalling, Bruce or May.
Perhaps we haven't had enough ridiculously technical defenders to make a discussion out of, but what about midfield?
Midfielders (in order)
Bobby Charlton: For me, the best player England have ever produced, outright. Arguably United's greatest ever, and if not, always in the conversation, also the first name on the teamsheet for midfield in an all-time United or England xi. He wasn't a flambouyant, show-offy player, but everything he did do was immaculate, so much so, I don't think it is given the credit warranted rather than being taken for granted or reduced to the power of his shots. Ambidextrous - able to pass and shoot with both feet; superfluous with his first touch into his second action; tight dribbling at pace and one of the best shooters there has ever been.
David Beckham: Difficult to separate he and Scholes - could probably turn them around on another day. Beckham, hard-pressed not to call him the best crosser of a football there has even been, but outside of that, his passing, first touch, control, shooting and execution were always absolutely top notch. He - like all our midfielders - isn't going to be compared to the footballing magicians from other nations, but that's besides the point - Beckham was still exceptional from a technical standpoint.
It's annoyingly difficult to find a technical video of Beckham as Youtubers focus all attention only on his goals, passes or crosses. If anyone has a better vid of his technical ability, please post it.
Paul Scholes: Another outstanding technician, who I'm guessing would be #1 for midfielders for a fair amount of posters. Scholes was the barometer from which all our midfielders were judged once he went deeper and became the focal point of the team. As I said for Beckham, it's difficult to say one is better than the other in terms of technique as their areas of expertise have a mild overlap (interesting enough, they both played deep in the latter stages of their career, but were obviously complementary at the time they were both at United), but generally, you're probably going to have a preference for a particular aspect. Scholes, no thrills, really, just an expert in, and with, his usage of the ball from the first touch, to the second, and any others he opted for.
Paul Pogba: "Boo! Hiss! Should be shot out of a cannon with his brothers and agent!" Still, could very arguably be top of this list for midfielders!
Arnold Muhren: Who? Yeah, Youtube thought so, too. Difficult to find footage of him, which is annoying.
Forwards (in order)
How do you differentiate the technical levels of Best, Law, Berbatov, Van Persie, Zlatan, Yorke, C.Ronaldo, Cantona and an on-form Rooney? Initially, 'technique' associated with a United forward instantly draws up association with Berbatov and Best, for me, and then the rest filter in for different aspects. Hardly a scientific approach... but I'll stick to my guns and go with.
George Best: When your close control and manipulation of a ball is drawn up comfortably in conversation alongside the likes of Maradona and Messi, nothing more needs to be said.
Dimitar Berbatov: Of the rest, I can't help but be drawn to Berbatov, which perhaps displays some bias, because his shooting technique - for example - wasn't a patch on the likes of Law's or Van Persie's. In terms of close control and first touch, however, he's not out of place being compared to Zidane and the like.
Zlatan Ibrahimovitch: Perhaps he shouldn't be in this list? A single season at full fitness not being enough of a body of work, but obviously expanded to a career, he's one of the technical marvels of modern football.
Robin van Persie: If you're a purist, he could well be top of this list given his array of actual striking techniques and acumen is on another level to all those who precede. As a fondly remembered modern era player, he doesn't need an introduction.
Denis Law: Many of Law's goals came by way of his instantaneous touch into sudden strikes that offset defenders. His technique is the great understated, but if you watch enough footage of him, it becomes apparent he was not just a great goal scorer, but a special player.
As I did 5 midfielders, I'll draw a line with 5 forwards, too. Yorke, C.Ronaldo, Cantona, Giggs and Rooney would round out a top 10 for me, which is weird as it leaves Ruud out. Not that it really matters as I don't think any of them make the top 5 cut when all is said and done.
Back to the initial question: Taking 5 players from whichever shortlist is in your head, who round out your own list? Additionally, should there be one list or would you separate midfielders from forwards?
I guess we can break it down into technical mastery for a: defender; a midfielder and forwards as you're obviously not going to see the same kind of roundedness in a defender or forward as you might expect from a midfielder, but at the same time, there's a difference between a Ferdinand, Buchan or Blind and a Smalling, Bruce or May.
Perhaps we haven't had enough ridiculously technical defenders to make a discussion out of, but what about midfield?
Midfielders (in order)
Bobby Charlton: For me, the best player England have ever produced, outright. Arguably United's greatest ever, and if not, always in the conversation, also the first name on the teamsheet for midfield in an all-time United or England xi. He wasn't a flambouyant, show-offy player, but everything he did do was immaculate, so much so, I don't think it is given the credit warranted rather than being taken for granted or reduced to the power of his shots. Ambidextrous - able to pass and shoot with both feet; superfluous with his first touch into his second action; tight dribbling at pace and one of the best shooters there has ever been.
David Beckham: Difficult to separate he and Scholes - could probably turn them around on another day. Beckham, hard-pressed not to call him the best crosser of a football there has even been, but outside of that, his passing, first touch, control, shooting and execution were always absolutely top notch. He - like all our midfielders - isn't going to be compared to the footballing magicians from other nations, but that's besides the point - Beckham was still exceptional from a technical standpoint.
It's annoyingly difficult to find a technical video of Beckham as Youtubers focus all attention only on his goals, passes or crosses. If anyone has a better vid of his technical ability, please post it.
Paul Scholes: Another outstanding technician, who I'm guessing would be #1 for midfielders for a fair amount of posters. Scholes was the barometer from which all our midfielders were judged once he went deeper and became the focal point of the team. As I said for Beckham, it's difficult to say one is better than the other in terms of technique as their areas of expertise have a mild overlap (interesting enough, they both played deep in the latter stages of their career, but were obviously complementary at the time they were both at United), but generally, you're probably going to have a preference for a particular aspect. Scholes, no thrills, really, just an expert in, and with, his usage of the ball from the first touch, to the second, and any others he opted for.
Paul Pogba: "Boo! Hiss! Should be shot out of a cannon with his brothers and agent!" Still, could very arguably be top of this list for midfielders!
Arnold Muhren: Who? Yeah, Youtube thought so, too. Difficult to find footage of him, which is annoying.
Forwards (in order)
How do you differentiate the technical levels of Best, Law, Berbatov, Van Persie, Zlatan, Yorke, C.Ronaldo, Cantona and an on-form Rooney? Initially, 'technique' associated with a United forward instantly draws up association with Berbatov and Best, for me, and then the rest filter in for different aspects. Hardly a scientific approach... but I'll stick to my guns and go with.
George Best: When your close control and manipulation of a ball is drawn up comfortably in conversation alongside the likes of Maradona and Messi, nothing more needs to be said.
Dimitar Berbatov: Of the rest, I can't help but be drawn to Berbatov, which perhaps displays some bias, because his shooting technique - for example - wasn't a patch on the likes of Law's or Van Persie's. In terms of close control and first touch, however, he's not out of place being compared to Zidane and the like.
Zlatan Ibrahimovitch: Perhaps he shouldn't be in this list? A single season at full fitness not being enough of a body of work, but obviously expanded to a career, he's one of the technical marvels of modern football.
Robin van Persie: If you're a purist, he could well be top of this list given his array of actual striking techniques and acumen is on another level to all those who precede. As a fondly remembered modern era player, he doesn't need an introduction.
Denis Law: Many of Law's goals came by way of his instantaneous touch into sudden strikes that offset defenders. His technique is the great understated, but if you watch enough footage of him, it becomes apparent he was not just a great goal scorer, but a special player.
As I did 5 midfielders, I'll draw a line with 5 forwards, too. Yorke, C.Ronaldo, Cantona, Giggs and Rooney would round out a top 10 for me, which is weird as it leaves Ruud out. Not that it really matters as I don't think any of them make the top 5 cut when all is said and done.
Back to the initial question: Taking 5 players from whichever shortlist is in your head, who round out your own list? Additionally, should there be one list or would you separate midfielders from forwards?