Granted, he doesn't dive as much these days. Neymar's dive against Uruguay is one of the worst dives I've ever seen.
In regards to the OP, I think Allan from Napoli would be a brilliant acquisition for Arsenal
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Genuine hard men in modern football
- Thread starter Josep Dowling
- Start date
In regards to the OP, I think Allan from Napoli would be a brilliant acquisition for Arsenal
Skrtel looked ard'
No idea, but if Sakho was walking towards me furious I think I'd shit myself, guy looks possessed
No idea, but if Sakho was walking towards me furious I think I'd shit myself, guy looks possessed
Dave.
Jordan Henderson.
Man should be doing MMA.
Man should be doing MMA.
Is he though...?
Tough leader in modern Football: Ramos.
Historically there are many, but my favourite is Stefan Schwartz. He always stood up for his team and team mates. His philosophy was if you dribble him he would kill you. Most memorable moment of his amazing career was when he tore his achillis and limped off the pitch all by himself.
Historically there are many, but my favourite is Stefan Schwartz. He always stood up for his team and team mates. His philosophy was if you dribble him he would kill you. Most memorable moment of his amazing career was when he tore his achillis and limped off the pitch all by himself.
Yeah he is - physically he's nothing special but he still took on Big Peter Schmeichel on in a fight on our pre season tour and beat him, leaving big Pete battered with a black eye
People going on about boxers etc - they fight in their own weight categories - I'd like to see any other sportsman of Keane's size face a man as big as Schmeichel and come out on top
Kevin Muscat was by far the hardest player I remember seeing.
I would much rather play against Roy Keane or Gattuso than against Muscat.
I genuinly think he became a football player just to hurt people on the football pitch, and make them suffer.
I would much rather play against Roy Keane or Gattuso than against Muscat.
I genuinly think he became a football player just to hurt people on the football pitch, and make them suffer.
It's when I see threads like this, I don't feel bad for an average premier league team being run over Guardiola's tactics. I mean Barcelona proved it for ages, you don't need "hard men" to win football games. And now City is doing it in your own league. What else would you need as proof? Any good footballer is good enough a man.
Wanayama and Casemiro are two who definitely come to mind as more modern hardmen. But I’m not sure about what they’d bring to the table from a leadership standpoint.
A passing mention to players like Van Bommel, Gabi and Thiago Motta who were able to carve out good careers in this role and were in my opinion really good leaders as well.
A passing mention to players like Van Bommel, Gabi and Thiago Motta who were able to carve out good careers in this role and were in my opinion really good leaders as well.
Honestly I just think he looks like a knob here.
Surprised no one one mentioned Diego Godín. Pepe also comes to mind.
In Chile NT we had Gary Medel and Arturo Vidal, you can make a case for both.
In Chile NT we had Gary Medel and Arturo Vidal, you can make a case for both.
Arsene Wenger and you would get along. It's not about not having hard men. It's about pep simply having the greatest players in the world in most of his teams.
Without wishing to go off topic too much, hardest person in sport contender has to be Shun Fujimoto who in the 1976 Olympics had broken his knee and continued to finish his event with a flawless rendition on the rings including dismount (on to his broken) knee. Pain aside just imagine the resilience knowing throughout your time on the rings you will have to dismount under incredible pain...
Toughest sportsman in history?!? He wouldn't last 2 rounds against a professional boxer.
In terms of hard footballers, Jaap Stam
Although he hasn't got the hard man persona, Bailly is a fecking nutter.
Joey Barton was probably the last player to have the hard man leader personality in the prem, he just wasn't that hard 
What is genuine "hard men" kind of players?
Probably, have good strength, good balance, doesn't fall and doesn't play acting too much, could hurt you with their physique traits and someone whom players wouldn't want to mess about.
Past: Gattuso, Roy Keane, Stam...
Still playing: Zlatan, Matic, Ramos...
Alternative definition/category of same title would be a player that insist on playing with pains and injuries, or anything that held him back. eg. Captain Marvel Bryan Robson.
Probably, have good strength, good balance, doesn't fall and doesn't play acting too much, could hurt you with their physique traits and someone whom players wouldn't want to mess about.
Past: Gattuso, Roy Keane, Stam...
Still playing: Zlatan, Matic, Ramos...
Alternative definition/category of same title would be a player that insist on playing with pains and injuries, or anything that held him back. eg. Captain Marvel Bryan Robson.
Pep's tactic does include play-acting/diving as well.
In terms of 'hard men' in football, there's none. In terms of physicality, football has more in common with non-contact sports than it does with genuine contact / collision sports. The limited skirmishes which occur only happen in the knowledge that there's a referee at hand to split them up, and a collection of team mates there to back them up.