John O'Shea
Most complete footballer ever?
- Thread starter GatoLoco
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Not an obvious choice as a defensive midfielder but Fernando Redondo was an outstandingly gifted player. When you see players able to dribble without any sort of pace advantage, its beautiful to watch, and he was so good at that.
Bang on
Complete player = player who can play or handle all positions on the pitch.
Ronaldo = yes
Gullit = yes
Zidane ?
Laudrup ?
Rooney ?
Messi = no
Maradona = no
Pele = no
Ronaldo = yes
Gullit = yes
Zidane ?
Laudrup ?
Rooney ?
Messi = no
Maradona = no
Pele = no
How can Ronaldo handle all positions?
Why not?
a) One of the best of all time
b) Ticks of all physical attributes
c) A lot of experience
With some preparation and friendly matches, I think he could play everywhere. Can’t remember anyone else being more complete player.
Rooney and Gullit are also good alternatives, but aren’t in the tier “best players of all time”
It's all speculation though with Ronaldo. Gullit played upfront, on the wing, in midfield and in defence, all at a high level.
It would be fun to see Ronaldo play a game as a defender, he'd probably be good but he's never done it and never will.
Paolo Maldini was pretty special, he played every position at the back and a great crosser of the ball. Although in terms of all round, do anything well players, it's hard to go past Cryuff
Giggs could play anywhere, except central defence. He would have been an outstanding attacking full back, and his defending was very good.
At this moment I rate Shaw as very complete. I really think he could play anywhere on the left or centrally, in attack, midfield or defence. Phenomenal.
Gerrard is definitely in the list he could do it all really and excelled in many positions. Ballack was pretty complete too and could use both feet and his head as good as anyone except Ronaldo probably.
Agree with everything. I think Ronaldo is the most complete footballer ever (technical, physical skills), but his multi-positioning ability is off course not proven.
If we are suppose to only judge players who are proven multiplayers (defence, midfield, attack) the selection will be very narrow. Maybe new (interesting) thread?
Ruud Gullit
Ronny Johnsen
If we are suppose to only judge players who are proven multiplayers (defence, midfield, attack) the selection will be very narrow. Maybe new (interesting) thread?
Ruud Gullit
Ronny Johnsen
I love Shaw but no. Zidane, Gullit, Seedorf, Rooney, Gerrard are the rare all rounders who genuinely could do a job anywhere on the pitch and, in many positions, remain a standout performer. No way can you put Shaw in with them for me.
You're going to have to elaborate on that one. Can you name one thing Pele couldn't do?
Someone like Seedorf comes to mind.
I remember when Wijnaldum was a youngster for PSV he used to play every position on the field bar left back, bu he did seem pretty limited the way Liverpool used him.
I remember when Wijnaldum was a youngster for PSV he used to play every position on the field bar left back, bu he did seem pretty limited the way Liverpool used him.
prime Rooney could have played well in any position on the pitch.
I feel like Ballack could have done a job at centre back & up front.
Pogba played Centre back for us once and looked really good.
I feel like Ballack could have done a job at centre back & up front.
Pogba played Centre back for us once and looked really good.
No way I'm sticking Zidane and Gullit in defence but Seedorf, Rooney and Gerrard are fair enough shouts.
Having a skim of the pages, some that came to mind that I don’t think have been mentioned are the German contingent - Bastian Schweinstiger, Philip Lahm and Joshua Kimmich.
I’d also throw in Zinchenko - seems to be able to play anywhere- and his finishing seems pretty decent too
I’d also throw in Zinchenko - seems to be able to play anywhere- and his finishing seems pretty decent too
Wazza.
Why not Gullit?
Cryuff ultimately would be my choice. Maldini I loved and his father was pretty handy too.
Johnny Evenkeel was a pretty balanced player.
Lahm is too small, he could not play CB. I agree on the others you mention, but they are far from being the best complete player ever.
Admittedly I've only caught the end of his career at Chelsea and I think they tried him in defence for a bit and it didn't work out.
He may have been an awesome defender in his younger years but I wouldn't know. I generally associate him as an attacking midfielder who can probably play anywhere across the front.
Mason Mount if you believe half the rubbish the media are spouting about him
Probably Ramos comes closest to me. He's basically Ronaldo type defender, but gets work done at the other end of the pitch too.
Duncan Edwards... he could do everything and play in any position.
He was great at the back for Chelsea.
So Ronaldo is the most complete player, because you think he would be a world class CB/CM/AM/FB. So basically all comes down to your imagination.
You will disregard players like Gullit, Matthias and so on, who actually played in multiple positions in midfield and defense, and even attack with incredible success, because apparently being the elite tier attacker would even up the clear lack of defensive qualities.
By that logic Messi is the best goal keeper ever, because I imagined it.
The obvious ones; Gullit, Rooney, Matthaus, CR7.
Both of them were big units, rapid, highly technical all rounders. Don’t see why you’d think they couldn’t be effective in defence. Obviously the point isn’t they’d be world class everywhere because no player could but they’d have the raw attributes to be more effective than than Shaw would in attack or CM.
I like how you first establish a logic and then trow it out of the window literally in the next sentence.
Dirk Kuyt played as a striker, winger, left back, right back, midfield. Hell I think he even stood on goal after the odd red card.
The man did it all. I even got an eyelift, so he'd make a good wag as well.
The man did it all. I even got an eyelift, so he'd make a good wag as well.
You'll know a lot better than I will as I was very young at the time (and not a Chelsea supporter!) but I remember hearing some interviews with Gullit and Hoddle and one of the reasons they mentioned moving him, was that while he was excellent there at the sweeper role, the reason they moved him forwards was that he was putting the other players under pressure with the way he played out from the back.
Gullit, Beckenbauer, Gerard, Matthäus, Koeman, Keane
He was playing alongside cloggers like Frank Sinclair in fairness!
I was a season ticket holder back then and Ruud was class in every position he played in, easily the best player for us wherever he played.
Aye that was basically what Glenn implied (or maybe it was Gullit quoting him) but it was very much about how monstrously talented he was and that those around him at the back weren't used to that level, so they moved him forward to protect the defenders (and probably so he could have more influence on the game I imagine?). I was young at the time and only really remember the fallout over his sacking (and the FA cup win)
I suppose the question is: What do you mean by ‘most complete’?
Guessing though- I would say Pele, Gullit or C Ronaldo. I think they could have been world class at just about any outfield position or role on the pitch, after a very short learning curve.
Guessing though- I would say Pele, Gullit or C Ronaldo. I think they could have been world class at just about any outfield position or role on the pitch, after a very short learning curve.
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Bryan Robson