Edgar Allan Pillow
Ero-Sennin
In the past 10 years, which forwards would you consider as better than Zlatan?
Muller? Suarez? Lewandowski? Anyone else?
Muller? Suarez? Lewandowski? Anyone else?
Zlatan was absolutely incredible. He is hurt for being around at the same time as Messi and Ronaldo, frankly, because as a centre forward he was unique, but of the same level as, Batistuta, Shearer and any other top number 9 you can think of. No CL is an incredible stat, but he won wherever he went. Shame he went to PSG, that was the time to go to the PL.
He is one of the best players ever for me, because he could score goals like no other individual can on a regular basis.
All the above. Wish we'd got him even 3 years earlier as he was just a little below the physical level to compete in the PL.Can't compare lions with humans. He is one of a kind.
In terms of entertainment, he is probably the best. His taekwando skills make him distinct in a good way.
Rooney was never a pure striker in style so it's very unfair to compare him to the others you mentioned based on stats. His contribution in assists is just as massive as his goals, not to mention the work he had to put in the build-up play and his absolutely insane defensive workrate for most of his career at our club.The most talented striker of his generation, but, in the end, not the best one. I hate Suarez with all my heart, but I think it’s fair to say that he is the standout, who had performed magnificently in multiple leagues, CL and international football and was a proper big-game player.
Zlatan’s peak came surprisingly late, when he embraced his playmaking side while still scoring at the insane rate. But PSG failed to achieve anything of note in Europe and all he got was a bunch of French league titles.
He was incredibly unlucky that his move to Barca didn’t work out - he had performed at a great level for them but when Messi was moved centrally, there was simply no place for him (and then there was the mentality clash, but maybe he would’ve been less angry if he had a starting spot).
I’d put him in a huge second tier that includes van Persie, Rooney, Lewandowski, Agüero, all of whom had different issues that stopped them from becoming the best.
Robben?I don't think he's in the top 5 of his generation. Would have Messi, Cristiano, Robben, Iniesta, Xavi definitely ahead of him. Not so sure about Ribery, Pirlo, Rooney and the likes.
Ronaldo never won the cl and he was one of thr best strikers of all time. He did win the world cup to be fair.Zlatan was amazing but his lack of CL success hurts his reputation IMO. For a career as long as his, to not have 1 CL win is a bit damning.
He was a monster in domestic leagues but a bit underwhelming in the CL. What's even his defining CL performance? Lewa has that game against Real in 2013 for example.
It is until you factor in playing for a state-funded PSG for a large chunk of his career.The fact that he scored more goals after turning 30 than before that is one of the weirdest and most incredible football stats that I’ve heard.
Interesting, Just to push this a bit further, How would your rate between these 4?players like Van Nistelrooy, Henry and Van Persie
Honestly I rate him above Suarez. It was just positionally Suarez was easier to fit into most team than Zlatan. As you say, Messi/Barca ruined it for him and PSG was a feck-all club to spend your career in.The most talented striker of his generation, but, in the end, not the best one. I hate Suarez with all my heart, but I think it’s fair to say that he is the standout, who had performed magnificently in multiple leagues, CL and international football and was a proper big-game player.
Why is that funny?Robben?
I know it's subjective but ....
When Kane reaches his stats, I'll agree with you.In the big games in the CL he doesn't deliver because, even if he is good technically, his football-brain is not very good IMO. He doesnt have the football-brain of the greatest 9s like Aguero, Suarez or Kane.
Prime Robben was the closest thing to Messi and Cristiano that generation has produced. Downright unplayable between 2010 and 2014. Zlatan was never on that level, IMO.Robben?
I know it's subjective but ....
The others tended to be one club players so could establish a lasting legacy and an immortality if you like. The fact that he moved around so much seems to be a factor is precluding him among the greatest of his generation
Indeed. His goal output halved from his last season in France to playing for United in the Premier League. He had one season with Inter and one with Milan where he really had a top level scoring record in a top league.It is until you factor in playing for a state-funded PSG for a large chunk of his career.
I sort of agree with this. Especially with the Aguero comparison. I mean he [Aguero] has a good CL record; and even his record for Argentina isn't too shabby, but you just feel like something is missing... Like, he's never taken those competitions by storm?It is until you factor in playing for a state-funded PSG for a large chunk of his career.
Zlatan was a brilliant striker, but he never truly dominated at a top club in Europe. There’s a feeling, for me, of what if? Why didn’t he win Champions League titles up top for a Madrid, a Barcelona, a Bayern or a Juventus? Bad timing, perhaps, but maybe he just wasn’t that good. I’m not sure myself, really.
There’s something a little empty about Zlatan that I can’t put my finger on. Aguero, in spite of his obvious brilliance, gives me the same feeling (even though he will always be a City legend...). Could they have been something more? Won more?
Now, bring on the criticism, as I’m not expecting this viewpoint to be popular.
Zlatan could have been a great. He had everything but maturity. I think his ego held him back tremendously in the peak of his career between Juve and Barcelona. Going to PSG was another misstep for me. At United under Jose you saw what he could do, but it was definitely a harder shift than what he was putting in over in France. Shame he couldn't take that challenge earlier.Nothing great in my opinion. Prior to united I saw only highlights and games against united where he seemed ok. When he came to United, i was more frustrated to see the amount of chances he missed and how slow he was.
Based on the small screen time I have seen of him, I would want rvn, Henry, shearer ahead of him even in his peak years.
I agree with you to a certain extent. In his prime he was never a player that I wanted us to sign.Nothing great in my opinion. Prior to united I saw only highlights and games against united where he seemed ok. When he came to United, i was more frustrated to see the amount of chances he missed and how slow he was.
Based on the small screen time I have seen of him, I would want rvn, Henry, shearer ahead of him even in his peak years.
That's pretty much it. Ibrahimovic was more popular than Neymar obviously but in the end his time at PSG is equally meaningless. He was probably at his best when he was still at Inter. That was the time he looked closest to becoming a Ballon d'Or winner. There was also a time when he tore everything apart at Milan but the league already seemed like a retirement home back then and he was playing in a team filled with former top stars the absolute elite didn't want anymore (Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Robinho, Gattuso, Pirlo, ...). Zlatan effectively seemed semi-retired ever since he left Barca.It is until you factor in playing for a state-funded PSG for a large chunk of his career.
Zlatan was a brilliant striker, but he never truly dominated at a top club in Europe. There’s a feeling, for me, of what if? Why didn’t he win Champions League titles up top for a Madrid, a Barcelona, a Bayern or a Juventus? Bad timing, perhaps, but maybe he just wasn’t that good. I’m not sure myself, really.
There’s something a little empty about Zlatan that I can’t put my finger on. Aguero, in spite of his obvious brilliance, gives me the same feeling (even though he will always be a City legend...). Could they have been something more? Won more?
Now, bring on the criticism, as I’m not expecting this viewpoint to be popular.