I thought he did very well when he came on today and changed the game. He's incredibly influential attacking-wise. How many full backs compare to his very good dribbling and close control? And more importantly, which left back is better than him attacking-wise?
He was excellent when he came on tonight. Caused a number of problems for Atletico at the perfect time when they were beginning to tire.
He is great, although I don't think I've ever seen a team just utterly give up like Atletico did for his goal. They all just stood there as he ran towards the goal, it was so weird to watch
Atletico were just out on their feet. They'd worked hard and it was deep into extra time.
I'm not really referring to an isolated incident (his goal) where Atlético Madrid were quite visibly tired and conceded space in the middle. I'm on about his general performance tonight, which, in contrast to Coentrao's display, was much better. There isn't a better left back in the world at manipulating the ball IMO.
Milan in '05.
I think so, yes. He is better on the ball than all of our wingers.
Isn't there already a thread on this.
He's a strange player. His technical ability is immense and that compensates a lot for the other areas which he's lacking in. But he came on at a time when Real were already dominating, he had the license to go forward and do whatever he wants.
He's a strange player. His technical ability is immense and that compensates a lot for the other areas which he's lacking in. But he came on at a time when Real were already dominating, he had the license to go forward and do whatever he wants.
Baines as an attacking left back is just as good when on top form but in a different sense. Not as good a dribbler but his close control is also very good, plus his dead ball threat and crossing ability is of a higher level.
He was superb for them today, really helped keep the pressure on Atletico in the 2nd half.
They were finished physically, they had left players up field and after going 2-1 down I think a lot of their players knew it was over. Hard to keep going after all the defending they had done.
They were finished physically, they had left players up field and after going 2-1 down I think a lot of their players knew it was over. Hard to keep going after all the defending they had done.
It is hard to say if he is the best but I cant think of anyone better than him going forward. The amount of times he has broken through defensive teams to win games for Madrid is unbelievable. He would be one of the top 5 left backs in what I would have to say is a poor time for left backs and he has been for the last few seasons.
It's very close with Alaba. He is great too. I am talking about attack only. And Rodriguez from Wolfsburg emerging it has to be said. Yet of course this guy is on another, much lower level, that Alaba&Marcelo.
Wrong answer, bitches. It's Bale.
No, Buttner is.
I agree. Di Maria was my MotM for his display throughout the game, but Marcello's sub was the turning point. Much more penetration than Coentrao and worked very hard to get in interesting positions. His goal was an easy one to give away (much too free through the center) but he'd been great since his introduction.
Alaba.
Coentrao is more defensive and Marcelo more attacking which playing against teams like Barcelona he is the weak link
Alaba is a better all around LB but, I don't think he is better than Marcelo attacking wise. So yes Marcelo is the best attacking LB.
Baines is nowhere near Marcelo lol wtf
You say 'lol' like it's black and white. Statistically, Baines is one of the best left back's in the world, and created the most chances in Europe last season. Why do you feel Baines is 'nowhere near' Marcelo?
I say lol because i think its funny when you compare Baines against Marcelo. Because I, and pretty much all professional footballers and journalist, think that Marcelo is a class better then Baines. Who couldn't even make it into any professional or national side for the past decade.
Marcelo on the other hand just dominated the CL final, is selected as Europe XI multiple times and has the offensive attributes of a top winger.
Creating chances doesn't mean shit, as a cross into the box is considered a chance. And we all know how English teams in general play. May i also remind you that many of those assists/chances came from corners which he takes and free kicks.
Marcelo creates proper chances. Beating 1-2 defenders, and then scores or through balls/assists at close range. Big difference.
There's no shame in Baines not making it into the national side, as he was competing with the best left back in the world in Ashley Cole.
Ancelotti had identified that Athletico started to tire down the right, and felt putting a fresh legged Marcelo on could exploit that. That's not to say he didn't have a great game when he come on, but I feel it could have been different had he started. Why didn't he start anyway?
As for Europe XI, based on my research, he's only been in the Europe XI once, so i'm not sure where you get 'multiple' from. Cole, on the other hand, has been in it twice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Team_of_the_Year
I don't disagree that he has the offensive attributes of a top winger, but doesn't Baines? He has a great cross, he can dribble, he can shoot, etc. What makes Marcelo so different, except for his name and nationality, or is it his hair?
Creating chances does mean shit. Anyone can cross a ball into the box. It's the accuracy to find a man that makes it a created chance. As for English teams just crossing the ball, Everton are managed by a Spanish manager, and I can assure you that they don't just cross the ball, therefore, I don't quite get your point.
There's no shame in Baines not making it into the national side, as he was competing with the best left back in the world in Ashley Cole.
Ancelotti had identified that Athletico started to tire down the right, and felt putting a fresh legged Marcelo on could exploit that. That's not to say he didn't have a great game when he come on, but I feel it could have been different had he started. Why didn't he start anyway?
As for Europe XI, based on my research, he's only been in the Europe XI once, so i'm not sure where you get 'multiple' from. Cole, on the other hand, has been in it twice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Team_of_the_Year
I don't disagree that he has the offensive attributes of a top winger, but doesn't Baines? He has a great cross, he can dribble, he can shoot, etc. What makes Marcelo so different, except for his name and nationality, or is it his hair?
Creating chances does mean shit. Anyone can cross a ball into the box. It's the accuracy to find a man that makes it a created chance. As for English teams just crossing the ball, Everton are managed by a Spanish manager, and I can assure you that they don't just cross the ball, therefore, I don't quite get your point.
Everton doesn't play "spanish" in the third quarter. And in a corner and free kick situation its stupidly easy for one of your team mates to touch it, bam chance created. Its the same reason why Rooney has such a stupid high amount of chance created while he barely creates real chances.
Baines has indeed a great/better cross. But his dribbling? If you actually mention that as a point, then im sure you don't watch Marcelo a lot. Its like saying hey Tony V van dribble while comparing him to Ronaldo. What makes Marcelo a lot better is that he can break defenses time after time while Baines can't. And the only way for him to create is to draw wide and spray and pray.
And my bad, i thought he got nominated 2 years in a row...
But honestly, do you really think if a club like Bayern, Barca, Real would buy Baines over Marcelo if they had the choice?
Why does that matter? Those clubs have plenty of blemishes on their transfer records.
Marcelo averaged 1.3 successful dribbles a game (35) in 24 league appearances, compared to Baines's who had 1 successful dribbles per game (33) in 32 league appearances. Not exactly miles apart, especially when you compare Baines successful dribbles to other top left backs, such as Alba (0.4), Alaba (1.3) Felipe Luis (0.8), Evra (0.8), Kolorov (0.7), for example. Funnily enough, they only left back that boasts a better successful dribbling rate than Marcelo is Luke Shaw. What do you think of him?
I think if they wanted an allround full back, they'd go to Baines, unless they had problems with him being English and not having a fancy name.
Although this is a thread based on attacking left backs, I think people seem to forget that defending is very much important as attacking when playing as a full back. Baines, in my opinion, is probably the most allrounded left back out there at the moment. Crossing, dribbling, free-kicks, defending - he's got it all, in my opinion.
Shows that with a bunch of statistics, you can actually argue just about anything in football.
Well that's the only thing I can use to back up my argument.
He's had a poor season or two by his own high standards but I'd have him as the best in the world when he's on form. Alaba, Filipe Luís being up there as well.
In your arguments you're stating that Marcelo is a better dribbler than Baines. I also stated this. I did however say that as a crosser of the ball which is the style that Baines uses as a full back he's better than Marcelo, and is probably one of the best if not the best at this style of full back in the world. He creates so many chances from this it's unreal and he can only do so much, if our players aren't finishing them then it's not his fault, but his involvement as an attacking full back has been justified. His close control is also brilliant. He's regularly involved in tight fluid triangles on his flank as everyone in our team knows how much of a threat he is and this also means he's more tightly marked, yet he's still able to wriggle free and work his way into positions with fluid, quick passing.
As good as/better than Marcelo as an attacking full back? Debatable.
Nowhere near him? Ludicrous to suggest.
As good as/better than Marcelo as an attacking full back? Debatable.
Nowhere near him? Ludicrous to suggest.
Great player but to me he just seems like a winger who is playing fullback, play bale there and he's the best attacking fullback in the world. Without the defensive part its a bit of a mute point.
With the greatest respect to Everton it is a real shame he hadnt joined one of the elite teams as his profile as a player and therefore his reputation would be so much high continentally.
I also wonder if he was able to establish himself in top flight football before Cole would it be him who spent so much time as Englands number 1 fullback?
I wouldn't even have Baines as the best attacking left-back in England, I'd give that to Kolarov. Baines is more assured defensively though. But Kolarov is the best crosser in England for me. Marcelo is not comparable to either. Baines and Kolarov are better at crossing but that's about it. Marcelo is incredibly good with the ball at his feet and is an excellent dribbler. If you had to play any LB in the world as a LW it would have to be Marcelo.
It's easy to think that when Kolarov and Marcelo are delivering to people like Benzema, Dzeko, Negredo, Aguero, Ronaldo etc, and Baines is delivering to Lukaku, Naismith, Kone, Jelavic.
Yes, followed very closely by Alaba.
However none of them would get a place over Roberto Carlos who I adored.
However none of them would get a place over Roberto Carlos who I adored.
Marcelo didn't have a good season and he was never good at defending. I'd say Alaba is better.
I would say Alaba and Baines where better personally.
Alaba didn't look very impressive in the CL this season. I would say that Felipe Luis was better.
Azpilcueta had a better PL season than Baines.
I don't disagree but in the same way Sturridge has just had a better season than Van Persie but Van Persie is still the better player.
My bad. Reading your post I thought you were referring to this season. Your use of 'where', which I assumed meant 'were', instead of 'are'.
The way i worded it did make it look like that to be fair.