An in form Rooney can do anything.
Best 'all-round' Footballer Ever?
- Thread starter Sigma
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Di Stefano
Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards
Willian.
Who?
All action player. Only problem was his tendency to lose his temper at times.
Ronnie Pickering.
According to Cruyff, the answer is Di Stefano, by a long way at that.
A jack of all traits? These footballers are never considered as greats. Don't know about how good George Best was as an "all-round footballer", but in any sport or any field, people who are good enough for any role are never the best in one particular role.
Most of them are utility players, team members, staff, band members who can do a lot of things decently but maybe nothing perfectly.
In fact, thinking with a reverse perspective, the only reason they're made to perform all kinds of roles is because they don't have an undisputed claim to any single role.
These players are important in a squad but a first team should have specialists in every position. At least at clubs of legendary stature.
Unfortunately, we have become used to a number of utility players within our team ever since the latter half of the Fergie era. The difference was that the utility players also gave their 110% under SAF. No other coach has been able to elicit such a response from our many utility players and I don't think any other coach will be able to do it either.
We need to look at developing a first team, with as many world class players in specialist roles as possible. Until that happens, we'll always occupy Tier 2 among European clubs with Tier 1 belonging to the likes of Barca, Madrid, PSG, Bayern and to an extent to City.
If Mourinho comes in and is given a chance to make his own team, I think he will take us a certain distance in achieving that goal until he does his usual and fecks off after 2.5 years.
Most of them are utility players, team members, staff, band members who can do a lot of things decently but maybe nothing perfectly.
In fact, thinking with a reverse perspective, the only reason they're made to perform all kinds of roles is because they don't have an undisputed claim to any single role.
These players are important in a squad but a first team should have specialists in every position. At least at clubs of legendary stature.
Unfortunately, we have become used to a number of utility players within our team ever since the latter half of the Fergie era. The difference was that the utility players also gave their 110% under SAF. No other coach has been able to elicit such a response from our many utility players and I don't think any other coach will be able to do it either.
We need to look at developing a first team, with as many world class players in specialist roles as possible. Until that happens, we'll always occupy Tier 2 among European clubs with Tier 1 belonging to the likes of Barca, Madrid, PSG, Bayern and to an extent to City.
If Mourinho comes in and is given a chance to make his own team, I think he will take us a certain distance in achieving that goal until he does his usual and fecks off after 2.5 years.
No one's going to mention Gerrard then?
I know he's now a figure of fun around here, but he could do a more than decent job on any position in the pitch.
Except controlling a midfield strangely.
I know he's now a figure of fun around here, but he could do a more than decent job on any position in the pitch.
Except controlling a midfield strangely.
What about Giggs? Good sliding tackle, worked his socks off and even had a couple of spells at left back. Was a good central midfielder as well.
I'm going with Keano as well.
Surprised no one mentioned Alaba. He's one of the most complete footballers in the game today. This guy is only 23 but he can play several positions at a very high level. Don't think anyone combines skill, physicality and intelligence as well as this guy. There's literally nothing that guy can't do. He even takes freekicks for Bayern ffs.
I am waiting for Ian Marshall here 
Yeah right...he is probably awful at doing my taxes.
Gerrard?
Great tackler, very fit a lot of energy, in his prime had a little bit of speed, scored bucketloads of goals and could pass well.
Very rarely mentioned because he's a prick bit what a player.
Great tackler, very fit a lot of energy, in his prime had a little bit of speed, scored bucketloads of goals and could pass well.
Very rarely mentioned because he's a prick bit what a player.
Can't believe I forgot him. Most complete of this generation by far.
Doesn't every sport have a few physical freaks who clearly are allrounders and still sensational players? Lebron James in Basketball for example?
How would you describe Matthäus for example? He was exceptional as an attacking midfielder with a great goalscoring record, played the majority of his career as a box to box midfielder doing everything. Passing, scoring, tackling, reading the game, dribbling. He did a great man-marking job on Maradona, when he was asked to, and was a damn fine libero towards the end of his career organising the defense, spraying the ball as a deep lying playmaker. Isn't he a jack of all traits, just one who happens to be freakishly brilliant at everything?
Absolutely. Sigma is a big fan, surprised he didn't name him.
Lahm
Luis Enrique is a good shout as he shone anywhere on the right flank, was tigerish and influential in the centre of midfield, and was a potent all-round striker.
Apart from that the usual crowd - Gullit, Matthaus, Rijkaard, Zanetti, Davids, Nedved, Gerrard, Lahm, Alaba, Nicol - and if we go back a few years the likes of Di Stefano, Sarosi, Zebec, Hanappi, Facchetti. Gullit is arguably the standout as he excelled and was proven right down the spine from sweeper to centre-forward, but could equally do a full-back-skinning job on the right.
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Am I too late to make the 'Anderson is very round' joke?
my first thought was gerrard, at his peak he could have played well in any position.
Among the active players, three names spring immediately to my mind, Rooney, Alaba (already mentioned) and, one of my personal favorites, Philip Lahm. I mean the guy will be remembered as one of the best full backs of his generation, no matter on which flank you choose to put him. As solid as it gets defensively and a great tackler too but also able to put quality crosses in the box or provide goals and assists. A very composed player who had no problem transitioning from a rather direct to a much more possession based system and whose passing abilities were good enough to earn him to earn him a place in Pep's midfield at Bayern.
Never seen him play, but supposedly John Charles was both the best centre forward and centre back in whichever team he was playing at.
Sergi Roberto has played in about 5 different positions this season too
Sergi Roberto has played in about 5 different positions this season too
Rohan Ricketts
To avoid repeating usual names... I'll limit it to just players to appear in the Premiership... at which point it would be one of Keane or Viera
Ronaldo...
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He died at 21 and played 150 games. He may have looked immense in that time, but most complete ever feels maybe a little generous.
It's a tragedy the world never got to see how good he could go on to be, but surely we have to judge this on players upwards of 500 games!
As a boy I watched George Best at Southampton in 1971.
United won 5-2, Bestie scored a hat trick.
He could have beaten Saints by himself that day.
Totally untouchable.
Before my time but my Uncle reckons Duncan Edwards was outstanding, Busby's golden boy.
I think Beckenbauer, should also figure along with Cryuff and Carlos Alberto
United won 5-2, Bestie scored a hat trick.
He could have beaten Saints by himself that day.
Totally untouchable.
Before my time but my Uncle reckons Duncan Edwards was outstanding, Busby's golden boy.
I think Beckenbauer, should also figure along with Cryuff and Carlos Alberto
Cafu, attack like a beast, defend like a beast, win the ball, score goals, free kicks, the lot. Worth a shout.
Palindrome post 2552
Palindrome post 2552
I'm going to say that by the end of his career Daley Blind could be the best all-round player ever. 
Lahm perhaps? Maybe Alaba from the younger players?
In Championship Manager 97/98 Luis Enrique was a Defender/Midfielder/Forward/Left Right Centre.
Edit - Already been mentioned. Damn.
Edit - Already been mentioned. Damn.
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Aside from the more obvious ones:
Adolfo Pedernera.
Fernando Hierro deserves to be mentioned as one of the most complete modern footballers.
Adolfo Pedernera.
Nils Liedholm - World class in attack, world class in midfield, also played as a sweeper for a while.
Fernando Hierro deserves to be mentioned as one of the most complete modern footballers.
Can see Bayern's Alaba being right up on these lists by the time his career is done. Incredibly flexible player with great strength, pace and positional awareness. He's really under appreciated.
With the greatest of respect, you can't be throwing names like Keano or Bestie into the mix.. its a question of proven ability to play across the spectrum of the pitch and also the player in question needs to have a myriad of footballing attributes.. be a total footballer (aerial ability, dribbling, shooting, defensive positioning, passing ability, ambidextrous etc etc). Both of them were quite rounded footballers of course but compared to some of the all time greats.. I can't imagine Keano on the wing, or up front in the final third. Giggsy could play left back, midfield, wing, up top - so I can see an argument put forward for him.
Marco Delvecchio
On an old Champ Man he was Right/Left/Centre, Defender/Midfield/ Forward
On an old Champ Man he was Right/Left/Centre, Defender/Midfield/ Forward
I used to think Cruyff base on his role in total football during that era, but from everywhere I read they all say Di Stefano is best all round footballer ever.