I can't think of any strikers better than Zlatan except Ronaldo (Brazilian one), Henry and Suarez. One of the best #9s in history, no doubt about that. He was unlucky to play in the same era as CR7 and Messi, because those two are the best ever.
How good was Zlatan?
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Not as good as he or his fans think he is. I would take basically any main striker we had in the Fergie era post Hughes at their peak over him.
Scored 28 goals in 46 appearances for us in his first season, age 35, playing in England for the first time in his career. You've got to say that is a very good record, even though I do remember him occasionally being wasteful.
He went to a shit league far too early in his career.
One of the best ever
Agreed, but "very good record" is an understatement in my opinion. Everyone expected him to fail because of his age and huge ego, but he delivered in style. Zlatan, PP and Wan-Bissaka are the only smart post-SAF signings we've made, shame about Zlatan's injury because he could still be valuable rotation player and leader even now.
They played Arsenal two times that season, he played one game and scored two goals. None of which was a penalty.
I'd agree with you if not for his form for us at the age of 35. After that season I feel like he would've dominated the Premier League with almost equal ease at his peak.
Very hard to split apart from Henry being ahead of the rest.
You could add Aguero, Rooney and Lewa for me who I rate below Henry
Jaysus. Some serious overrating of Muller going on. He's nowhere near the level of Suarez who I reckon is out on his own among those from this past generation. Lewandwski and Aguero were probably in the next bracket but don't have that level of extraordinary brilliance that Suarez managed.
Better than any of our players in the last 20 years bar Ronaldo.
If we had signed him when Sir Alex was around we would probably have had at least 1 more CL title.
If we had signed him when Sir Alex was around we would probably have had at least 1 more CL title.
I'd go for
Henry
RVN
Rvp
Zlatan
I do think Zlatan is phenomenal but my personal preference is that I'd take the other three ahead of him.
Him and le Tissier win the ‘what a screamer’ award at a canter.
But to be around at the same time as Ronaldo and Messi messes things up.
But to be around at the same time as Ronaldo and Messi messes things up.
This. Unreal at times. Remember United fans arguing Berbatov was better at the time we bought Berba (whom I love).
Don't think so. I'd take peak Scholes, Keane, RvP, Rio, Vidic, Rooney and De Gea ahead of him.
Ibra was terrific. But his peformances for PSG in France have mislead people to an extent. When he was in the bigger leagues, nobody felt he was better than the one considered the best at the time - Eto'o. I think most would have picked Rooney ahead of him given his incredible performance for us form the age of 18 to 29. Yes, ibra matured really well but one has to consider that it was the French league too.
I rate him, but this is a big claim.
Pele
Van Basten
Gerd Muller
Ferenc Puskas
Eusebio
Kalle Rummenigge
Denis Law
I'm sure I can name some more forwards who are better than Zlatan.
Robben was an incredible footballer. One of the best wingers of his generation just like Ibra is one of the CFs of the same one. Some in this thread are pretending Ibra is out on his own as the next best thing since Messi and Ronaldo and it's far from the truth. Ignore the persona and he's in a very large pool of brilliant footballers this past generation has seen.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
Even though I appreciate the classic players, the only pre-90s player I'd consider among the best is Maradona. You can't compare the overall level of opposition to modern standards, if you watch Pele or Puskas compilation on Youtube the defending against them is almost comical, worse than regional pub league in 2019. Ahead of their time sure, but you can't help but think they'd be average in contemporary football.
Someone like Zlatan would be considered a god back in the 70s or whatever.
Never mind the time he took the piss out of Arsenal as the architect behind Milan's 4-0 win in 2012.
You would take Berbatov over Zlatan?
I didn't mind Berbatov but if you think he's better at that point in time you're having a laugh.
Ronaldo only scored 21 goals in Italian league
I posted this in the 'Zlatan vs Eto'o' thread a few years back
Fernando Torres was better than him when he had that amazing 3 year spell at Liverpool. Dider Drogba is an undoubteldy superior Centre Forward despite being less 'talented'.
I would even take players like Robert Lewandowski and David Villa, both can be a cogs in the system rather than being the whole cog. Zlatan's tactical inflexibility for me is a big mark on his career.
Barcelona won the the Champions League before he came, he was one of the main reasons they lost tot Inter Milan the following year and they won it after he left. He left Inter Milan and they won the treble the season after he left.
Zlatan was a very good player, but at no point in time was he ever the best striker in Europe. The ovverating of Zlatan by the British Media came when Zlatan scored that bicycle kick goal against them in a friendly. That's is what tends to happen. In key moments he falls short. In the past 10 years, Samuel Eto'o, Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and even a Falcao at his peak have been superior. This is considering their individual qualities within a team structure.
Fernando Torres was better than him when he had that amazing 3 year spell at Liverpool. Dider Drogba is an undoubteldy superior Centre Forward despite being less 'talented'.
I would even take players like Robert Lewandowski and David Villa, both can be a cogs in the system rather than being the whole cog. Zlatan's tactical inflexibility for me is a big mark on his career.
Barcelona won the the Champions League before he came, he was one of the main reasons they lost tot Inter Milan the following year and they won it after he left. He left Inter Milan and they won the treble the season after he left.
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Very good post. Agreed with almost everything.
Zlatan was never the key player in a great team, was he?
Also agree with someone above who said Robben is the closest thing to Messi/Ronaldo in the recent past.
Also agree with someone above who said Robben is the closest thing to Messi/Ronaldo in the recent past.
It's not even that Zlatan didn't win the CL - he never came close and overall didn't perform well as an individual despite having opportunities each season for over a decade.
An aging Zlatan has been our best signing post Fergie. Scored plenty of goals and was a character. I think he was pretty special and it’s just a shame we didn’t get his better years.
No, I wouldn't. I totally forgot about him, probably the only mistake Ferguson did regarding this position.
To not even have one CL. A career that long in Europe? Come on, hate to say it because he’s a feckin knob but even Suarez is a tier above him. He’s in the top 20 greatest forwards of the modern game though.
A lethal, tall, strong CF with an excellent technique and power; scored many spectacular goals, but his difficulties to connect with other attackers and even midfielders (Van der Vaart, Xavi-Iniesta, etc) was too damaging.
I think his huge ego and explosive personality made him more famous than his actual quality. Post 2005, I personally rate Rooney, Eto'o, Villa and Suárez above him.
Should have stayed at Inter though, at least until 2011.
I think his huge ego and explosive personality made him more famous than his actual quality. Post 2005, I personally rate Rooney, Eto'o, Villa and Suárez above him.
Should have stayed at Inter though, at least until 2011.
Zlatan is good no doubt but more often than not, he hasn't really done it on the big stage. He's played for the biggest clubs in the world and those clubs have had really strong world class players and wasn't able to deliver a CL. He does score spectacular goals but he needs good service to be consistent throughout the season. I would want Henry, Van Nistelrooy and Suarez in my time in terms of consistency eventhough man for man, Zlatan may be more talented and skilled.
Defiantly one of the best from his generation but I would take prime RVP over prime Ibra.
Pele and the likes would most certainty not be 'average' in modern football. They would benefit from the better pitches, nutrition, sports science and training just as every modern player has. That is without taking into account the kit. The heavy boots and the very heavy football which they had to control and play with.
You can only play in your era and all the players mentioned were absolute quality with Pele still considered one of the best ever. Rightly so.
Sorry to shift off topic but is his bio worth a read?
Zlatan is a little overrated, I mean the second half of his career definitely is.
I'm talking about Zlatan the footballer not just the talent and what he can do with the ball. The things Zlatan could do, footballers better than him could never even dream of doing but he lacked in some areas for me.
In the last part of his career he hasn't been that clinical either. Yes he scores goals that make you think how thats even possible but also misses as much.
Some may have an issue with this but I think Aguero is a far superior striker.
I'm talking about Zlatan the footballer not just the talent and what he can do with the ball. The things Zlatan could do, footballers better than him could never even dream of doing but he lacked in some areas for me.
In the last part of his career he hasn't been that clinical either. Yes he scores goals that make you think how thats even possible but also misses as much.
Some may have an issue with this but I think Aguero is a far superior striker.
Yep. That's another thing which wont allow us to ever criticize or praise him fairly. If he had flopped in Ligue 1 you could say he wasn't that good but he tore it apart so we can't really know
It's not. It's a cup competition
I agree with all of this. I know it may not be popular to rate Eto'o or Rooney higher but these guys did it consistently on a bigger stage. I don't think anyone could question Suarez being better
But he had plenty of campaigns/participations to win it. Most top players have won it, with less longevity than him.
Have him slightly behind the likes of RVP, Suarez, Rooney etc who I consider Tier 2.
A good amount of top players have not won the CL. Ronaldo comes to mind.