- Joined
- Dec 5, 2018
- Messages
- 701
Scholes
Pirlo
Xavi
Iniesta
Gerrard
Lampard
Modric
Kroos
Pirlo
Xavi
Iniesta
Gerrard
Lampard
Modric
Kroos
Source?The Scholes quotes will inevitably be rolled out at some point, so interesting to remember on the other side that Scholes himself said he modelled his game on Kroos at the end of his career, don't think you can pay a much higher compliment than that.
Same here.I can't rank them all, but Iniesta is probably the best in that group players.
I'm a bit biased though, as he might be my favorite non-United player.
Lampard, Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo, Modric, Kroos, Scholes.
Based on their ability, performances, peak, influences, achievement and overall.
7a and 7b. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard: trickiest assessments of the lot. Both of them were very good, no doubt about that; but neither could consistently regulate the flow of the game for their teams. Rate the former at a slightly higher level because he was more fundamentally sound, consistent over the years, simpler to integrate into the whole and more disciplined in possession or off the ball. Gerrard's propensity for turning in one-man-army performances obviously led to a lot of highlight moments, but also made him a liability at the worst of times — Liverpool just didn't care for the most part because he was their knight in shining armor and the difference-maker-in-chief for some less than stellar outfits.I love watching Toni Kroos. I think he’s brilliant. I love the way he controls the ball and controls games. He can really play a pass and has superb vision. Kroos is capable of scoring goals too, from outside the box on either foot. I just wish Man United had signed him.
Can’t argue with that too much. I feel Scholes ought to be higher up the list but can’t quite make the argument for it.Iniesta
Pirlo
Xavi
Modric
Scholes
Kroos
Gerrard
Lampard
A lot of overrating of Modric in here, as great as he is.
It's not everything but it's also a pretty big thing still, he's the only guy who has won a Ballon d'or from that group and is the only non Ronaldo or Messi player to win it since Kaka in 2007. And all the trophies he's won and how he drags Croatia up during International tournaments. He's not Xavi or Iniesta but he's ahead of the rest for me.A lot of overrating of Modric in here, as great as he is.
Xavi
Iniesta
Modric
Pirlo
Scholes
Kroos
Gerrard
Lampard
This is the problem with England as well, too many people focus on those things and not the core important things.
It's not everything but it's also a pretty big thing still, he's the only guy who has won a Ballon d'or from that group and is the only non Ronaldo or Messi player to win it since Kaka in 2007. And all the trophies he's won and how he drags Croatia up during International tournaments. He's not Xavi or Iniesta but he's ahead of the rest for me.
Xavi or Iniesta would have won the Ballon D'or if it wasn't for prime Messi and Ronaldo. Modric came at a time when both had slightly declined and also when everyone was a bit tired of Messi and Ronaldo dominating the awards for over a decade and wanted a change. Modric was definitely not the best player that year, and was also not as good that year as when Xavi and Iniesta finished 3rd and 2nd, they were both definitely better that year than Modric when he won it.
Yep I don't disagree (though I think he fully deserved the Ballon d'Or in 2018, was phenomenal when it mattered most, carried Croatia to a WC final, and won the CL. Xavi and Iniesta are a step above the rest but Modric is right below them and ahead of the rest who never showed the top level that he did.Xavi or Iniesta would have won the Ballon D'or if it wasn't for prime Messi and Ronaldo. Modric came at a time when both had slightly declined and also when everyone was a bit tired of Messi and Ronaldo dominating the awards for over a decade and wanted a change. Modric was definitely not the best player that year, and was also not as good that year as when Xavi and Iniesta finished 3rd and 2nd, they were both definitely better that year than Modric when he won it.
There doesn’t seem to be anything in his post that contradicts what you said….?
I'm not saying he wasn't good at it, but compared to some of the others on this list he didn't dictate play on their level.Which are? Tell me what core important things Scholes didn't master? Tackling only weakness that springs to mind. Not that Xavi had to tackle a lot in a tiki taka team with Busquets behind him neither
Objectively speaking what is the argument for Scholes being better than Modric. Scholes was absolutely incredible but he hasn't had close to the influence Modric has in Europe and international football.I almost agree except you think Modric better than Scholes?
Yeah true but using the Ballon D'or as evidence of a better player is not always so clean cut.
Yep I don't disagree (though I think he fully deserved the Ballon d'Or in 2018, was phenomenal when it mattered most, carried Croatia to a WC final, and won the CL. Xavi and Iniesta are a step above the rest but Modric is right below them and ahead of the rest who never showed the top level that he did.
Don't think he ever reached the top level that Modric did so he's behind Modric for me.Pirlo?
Yeah pretty much. You can't ignore a Ballon d'Or and you can't ignore 4 CL titles or reaching a World Cup final with Croatia. Those are all absolutely massive achievements. All of those players played for great and dominant teams and all but Modric played in very talented international teams too, but overall career impact I'd have Modric above all but Xavi and Iniesta.I don’t think he was doing that but I don’t want to speak for him. I think he was merely pointing out that Modric has one and it is significant, that’s what I got from it. He’s pretty clear that it doesn’t make him as good as Xavi or Iniesta necessarily.
I think this is fair.Ineista
Xavi
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Modric
Pirlo
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Scholes
Kroos
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Lampard
Gerrard
Yeah pretty much. You can't ignore a Ballon d'Or and you can't ignore 4 CL titles or reaching a World Cup final with Croatia. Those are all absolutely massive achievements. All of those players played for great and dominant teams and all but Modric played in very talented international teams too, but overall career impact I'd have Modric above all but Xavi and Iniesta.
Don't think he ever reached the top level that Modric did so he's behind Modric for me.
Great post. Again.Xavi
Iniesta
Scholes
Modrić
Pirlo
Kroos
Lampard
Gerrard
Most of those are quite close — there’s not much between Xavi & Iniesta (I prefer the latter personally but you can’t argue with Xavi’s influence), then there’s a group of three players of roughly similar ability (went with Scholes first due to my obvious bias), then I put Kroos — wonderful player, but for me he is slightly below the above-mentioned players — it may be weird to say that about a player who had won everything bar the Euros, but I always felt like he could’ve pushed himself more and achieved even better individual level of performances...
At the bottom there are Lampard & Gerrard who look out of place in that list not based on their ability (they’re not far off the rest of the players aside from the top 2), but because they’ve played in completely different roles. Neither were true playmakers, even though both were very good passers. Lampard ahead of Gerrard as I feel like it today — I’d take his adaptability & consistency over Gerrard’s Roy of the Rovers style, even though the latter was more talented out of the two.