RooneyLegend
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I know.Euro 2008 was before Pep managed Barca.
I know.Euro 2008 was before Pep managed Barca.
I remember a thread on xtratime forum (I think) back in 2007 where football fans were discussing who the best midfielder in the world is. The general consensus was Pirlo. There were some mentions of Xavi, as there were some mentions of Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard and even Fabregas. However, Pirlo was wildly recognized as the best in the world.Xavi was always being linked with moves away. His passing was always ridiculously highly rated even in video games pre Pep which is a decent indication that he already had some rep as an incredible passer but I genuinely think without Pep he'd never have got close to GOAT status .. he would still be remembered as one of the worlds best but definitely below a Pirlo and not an era defining mid.
Agreed, great link. Love me a bit of Michael Cox.Yeah this old article sums up that whole phenomenon
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/04...-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-passing-midfielder/
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It's pretty simple. Playing Xavi gives a 100% guarantee of controlling the midfield in every game, no matter the opposition. The only player I've ever seen who literally couldn't be forced into making a mistake.Cant speak highly enough about Iniesta but am I the only one who thinks Xavi isnt really all that? Boring to watch and played it far too safe for my liking. Bit like Cleverley
Maybe I have a blind spot with deep lying playmakers as I dont really rate Alonso either. Give me Carrick any day.
Can anyone help me appreciate Xavi?
I have never seen a midfielder impact a match like prime Xavi did.It's pretty simple. Playing Xavi gives a 100% guarantee of controlling the midfield in every game, no matter the opposition. The only player I've ever seen who literally couldn't be forced into making a mistake.
I don't think any player has ever been as reliable as him at every level.
There's probably never been a midfield unit that dominated their opponents as consistently and completely as that Barca and Spain midfield, and Xavi was the kingpin of the entire system. He's also notched 29 assists in a season, so they can't all have been safe passes. I understand that his style of play mightn't be to everyone's tastes aesthetically, but he really was all that. Unfortunately in some regards, as we might be 2 CLs better off otherwiseCant speak highly enough about Iniesta but am I the only one who thinks Xavi isnt really all that? Boring to watch and played it far too safe for my liking. Bit like Cleverley
Maybe I have a blind spot with deep lying playmakers as I dont really rate Alonso either. Give me Carrick any day.
Can anyone help me appreciate Xavi?
Apart from the fact that Cleverley is miles behind Xavi when it comes to passing range, positional sense, off the ball movement, awareness of teammates's position, that ability to almost always pass to the strong foot of the teammates and overall technical perfection whether his cushion first touch or turn the defenders on wrong side or his exquisite ball control and most importantly the overall understanding when to play a risky pass, and when to prioritize ball retention.Cant speak highly enough about Iniesta but am I the only one who thinks Xavi isn't really all that? Boring to watch and played it far too safe for my liking. Bit like Cleverley
Maybe I have a blind spot with deep lying playmakers as I dont really rate Alonso either. Give me Carrick any day.
Can anyone help me appreciate Xavi?
Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.
Xavi was so fecking press-resistant, it was unreal.It's pretty simple. Playing Xavi gives a 100% guarantee of controlling the midfield in every game, no matter the opposition. The only player I've ever seen who literally couldn't be forced into making a mistake.
I don't think any player has ever been as reliable as him at every level.
Pep took over in 2008-2009It's interesting to acknowledge that Iniesta was 24 when Guardiola became coach. By normal standards one should be a relatively established player at that age.
That does put things in perspective for me, I didn't know Iniesta already played that much pre-Guardiola.Pep took over in 2008-2009
2004-2005 Iniesta played 37 out of 38 la liga games and 46 games overall
2005-2006 Iniesta played 33 out of 38 la liga games and 49 games overall
2006-2007 Iniesta played 37 out of 38 la liga games and 56 games overall
2007-2008 Iniesta played 31 out of 38 la liga games and 49 games overall
He already had over 20 caps for spain and a European Championship win with Spain (and yes he started in the final) plus he had 2 la liga medals and a cl medal as well
He may have inproved further under Pep but its pure fiction to pretend he was not relatively established by the time pep took over
PirloI have never seen a midfielder impact a match like prime Xavi did.
Bloody hell, you talk more rubbish than the other trumpCant speak highly enough about Iniesta but am I the only one who thinks Xavi isnt really all that? Boring to watch and played it far too safe for my liking. Bit like Cleverley
Maybe I have a blind spot with deep lying playmakers as I dont really rate Alonso either. Give me Carrick any day.
Can anyone help me appreciate Xavi?
How many of those were starts? He was more of a talented utility player for most of that time. IIRC, he was growing into more of a first teamer in Rijkaards last season, as deco began to wane.Pep took over in 2008-2009
2004-2005 Iniesta played 37 out of 38 la liga games and 46 games overall
2005-2006 Iniesta played 33 out of 38 la liga games and 49 games overall
2006-2007 Iniesta played 37 out of 38 la liga games and 56 games overall
2007-2008 Iniesta played 31 out of 38 la liga games and 49 games overall
He already had over 20 caps for spain and a European Championship win with Spain (and yes he started in the final) plus he had 2 la liga medals and a cl medal as well
He may have inproved further under Pep but its pure fiction to pretend he was not relatively established by the time pep took over
He is not as flashy and skilled as Iniesta, tough still has great awareness of the pitch and how to use the own body to free himself of the defenders and find better space to pass the ball. Xavi was a master of controlling the game and knew when to make the safe pass pass and the risky pass. And Xavi was truly a pass master, he made many fantastic passes, probably the greatest ground passed in football history, I consider Pirlo the best in aerial passes, tough make no mistake, Xavi was still truly great in the aerial, long passes.Cant speak highly enough about Iniesta but am I the only one who thinks Xavi isnt really all that? Boring to watch and played it far too safe for my liking. Bit like Cleverley
Maybe I have a blind spot with deep lying playmakers as I dont really rate Alonso either. Give me Carrick any day.
Can anyone help me appreciate Xavi?
Sergio Ramos is at 161 caps and 415 league games for Madrid.Just hijacking this thread massively but don’t think this is deserving of its own thread.
But for every three league games Pique has played for Barcelona, he has a cap for Spain. Is this absolutely insane to anyone else?
Hmm. Why do I get the Pogba vibe here after reading that...Xavi was good but had a lot of detractors. Many journos in the Catalan press wanted him out in 2008. Guardiola made him untouchable reputation-wise
Xavi did. Iniesta did not. The only difference Pep did for him was hand him a full time unchallenged starting berth in just one position.Did they improve significantly under Guardiola or were they already that good before he became Barca's coach?
That was the main reason for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 disappointments.Iniesta would come off the bench for Deco and have an impact and look like he should be starting. And then he didnt, it was Deco again
Just out of interest, what were those flaws?Iniesta: same as Xavi but his journey started in 2003, Edmilson-Deco kept him in the bench for most of 2006-08. I suspect Rijkaard never fully believed in him, or saw the flaws that were most evident in 2013-2018.
Iniesta wasn't on the bench for most of 2006 - 08. Only Puyol, Ronaldinho and Xavi had more minutes than him in 06/07 and only Xavi had more minutes in 07/08 among outfielders.Iniesta: same as Xavi but his journey started in 2003, Edmilson-Deco kept him in the bench for most of 2006-08. I suspect Rijkaard never fully believed in him, or saw the flaws that were most evident in 2013-2018.