Il Prete Rosso
Prete, the Italian Pete
Bergkamp and Zidane.
I have always rated Silva as the best touch in the league personally.Even though he's a little behind the very best, Mata's first touch is excellent. Probably the best in the league.
...will always be him. No one (except maybe Bergkamp) comes close to him.It's still Zidane.
Really can't agree with this. He always made himself available yesterday and mostly did something well with the ball after that. He added so much to Monaco's general play, thanks to him they kept more of the ball and he helped relieving them of some of Arsenal's pressure. Only risk with this is that you'd want your #9 to be in the box to be on the end of an attack. But since he scored it's fair game to him, very well played.Blimey. I find the outpouring of man love in this thread very strange. I think he got a lot of unfair stick during his time at United but was watching last night thinking he was showcasing all the more frustrating aspects of what we saw at United. Taking too many touches, slowing play down, pointless show-boating and a lack of physical strength. Was not an impressive performance at all IMO. Then he scored. After that he seemed to enjoy himself and the pattern of the game suited him a lot better. He's a joy to watch when he's on his game but he's proven himself to be a tier below the very best and his United career will also go down as disappointing.
Very true. I always felt he was a incredibly difficult player to dispossess.And talking about his lack of physical strength is laughable, you clearly missed the part where Mertesacker wanted to outmuscle him, yet Dimitar still won the header? He's no Zlatan or Drogba, but I always felt he used his body or strength very well, even though he plays mostly on technique.
He'd have completely wrecked them. There's no way he'd have fit into Guardiola's pressing, and having him there takes Messi out of what was a brilliant role for him at the time.Would have been interesting to see him in 2011 Barca:
Valdes
Alves Pique Puyol Abidal
Iniesta Busquets Xavi
Messi Berbatov Villa
100%. He could stop a bullet between his toes.I have always rated Silva as the best touch in the league personally.
I see what you mean, because he's so laid back everything looks "too easy" or like he's not that fussed. I think that might also be why people accused him of being lazy, despite him tracking back plenty of times.His languid style makes it come out more, there are a load of other players with a better first touch.
Yeah, that's exactly what am talking about.I see what you mean, because he's so laid back everything looks "too easy" or like he's not that fussed. I think that might also be why people accused him of being lazy, despite him tracking back plenty of times.
Aside from his first touch, one thing I used to love about Berbatov when he was here was how strong he was. Very rarely saw him muscled off the ball by a defender.
Yep, while that Barca team was obviously incredible on the ball, people often forget how good they were at pressing while off it. He wouldn't have fit in at all.He'd have completely wrecked them. There's no way he'd have fit into Guardiola's pressing, and having him there takes Messi out of what was a brilliant role for him at the time.
Football's not just about being the best though. I love Berbatov, but it's obviously a matter of taste and highly subjective, yet I reckon it's quite easy to see his appeal. I don't see how the love he gets is strange. (I too thought he looked a bit slow and lazy yesterday, but I'm more than happy with a goal at Emirates and some classic Berba stuff. He's 34 btw.)Blimey. I find the outpouring of man love in this thread very strange. I think he got a lot of unfair stick during his time at United but was watching last night thinking he was showcasing all the more frustrating aspects of what we saw at United. Taking too many touches, slowing play down, pointless show-boating and a lack of physical strength. Was not an impressive performance at all IMO. Then he scored. After that he seemed to enjoy himself and the pattern of the game suited him a lot better. He's a joy to watch when he's on his game but he's proven himself to be a tier below the very best and his United career will also go down as disappointing.
I've a reputation on these boards as being a massive Berbafan, rightly or wrongly. I just love the way he plays the game. I'd always prefer to watch him pluck a ball out of the air with a gossamer touch then watch Tevez tackling people with his face.Football's not just about being the best though. I love Berbatov, but it's obviously a matter of taste and highly subjective, yet I reckon it's quite easy to see his appeal. I don't see how the love he gets is strange. (I too thought he looked a bit slow and lazy yesterday, but I'm more than happy with a goal at Emirates and some classic Berba stuff. He's 34 btw.)
The Bulgarian looked like the same old Berbatov here, although this was perhaps unsurprising given he has resembled a hugely skilful slow motion 34-year-old for most of his career.
Ah, right. I'd agree with all of that.I've a reputation on these boards as being a massive Berbafan, rightly or wrongly. I just love the way he plays the game. I'd always prefer to watch him pluck a ball out of the air with a gossamer touch then watch Tevez tackling people with his face.
I did occasionally find him a frustrating presence though. And was reminded of that last night. In the first half anyway.
Well, with a username like mine you can probably predict my outpouringBlimey. I find the outpouring of man love in this thread very strange. I think he got a lot of unfair stick during his time at United but was watching last night thinking he was showcasing all the more frustrating aspects of what we saw at United. Taking too many touches, slowing play down, pointless show-boating and a lack of physical strength. Was not an impressive performance at all IMO. Then he scored. After that he seemed to enjoy himself and the pattern of the game suited him a lot better. He's a joy to watch when he's on his game but he's proven himself to be a tier below the very best and his United career will also go down as disappointing.
As a plan B, NOT a starter, he would've fit much better than Ibra. Not that big an ego and no selfishness- he would be happy to defer to Messi. And against deep defences he could hold up the ball and lay off for Messi, which probably would mean a goal. Also his vision to spot a through-ball is a little underrated - he nowadays exclusively takes the safe option but he's capable of incision too.He'd have completely wrecked them. There's no way he'd have fit into Guardiola's pressing, and having him there takes Messi out of what was a brilliant role for him at the time.
Nani's ability to control a high ball (as in when it's like 4ft off the gound when it gets to him) is particularly impressive.
Bumped because after 4 years We finally realized this is a trick question.The feck is with this bump