World Cup 2010

[smog]

Still hanging in there with a tenner flutter on Uruguay to win at 20-1, put on after the first two group matches.

In terms of the actual game though i would love to see a Germany v Holland final!

[Cardboard Box City]

You really should deeper than a few stats...

[ralph250]

First of all I never called him a chancer, he is a very good player...

BUT he has been VERY inconsistent against top teams at the European and International level...

You really should deeper than a few stats...

The only really impressive display I saw from him was against Arsenal... He went missing against Inter three times, Chelsea twice, and against United he was quite but he did manage to get a goal at the second attempt....

His international record is naff... He has only scored against Spain / France who are of any note... 1 in 5 record...

He is alright but best player in the world ? Not for me...

[pink_triangle]

First of all I never called him a chancer, he is a very good player...

BUT he has been VERY inconsistent against top teams at the European and International level...

[oafc0000]

Who would be in your opinion?

United kept him out twice in 2008 aswell The guys still an incredible player though. Only really Xavi, Ronaldo, and arguably Villa and Iniesta are close (though the latter's had injury problems this year). Sneijder and Robben had great seasons but overall aren't as consistent as Messi.

International record is a tricky one, as above, a lot depends on the team and how they're set up just as much as the player.

Edited July 5, 2010 by oafc0000

[oafc0000]

Top goalscorer in the biggest club competition in the world twice, European Player of the Year, World Player of the Year, FIFA Team of the Year twice, last seasons European Golden Shoe...

Not exactly just a few stats.

Was that the one where he was voted man of the match in a European final?

Its 1 in 3.75, and he plays on the wing for Argentina.

[oafc0000]

Agreed, but also look at rooney the most hyped british player since I started following football. He has now flopped in 2 champions league finals, and 2 world cups. Actually thinking about it you could add henry, ronaldo, ibrahimovic to the list of players inconsistent when it comes to big games.

[ralph250]

Best player in the world... It is a tricky one... You are always better talking about actual positions...

For me it has to be someone who rarely puts a foot wrong it all levels of the game... Genius level is part of it but isn't the judge alone...

Xavi and Villa would have to be considered.... How many bad games do they have ? or games where they go missing ?

Ronaldo and Messi are too inconsistent... Yeah, they have moments where you just have to say, wow what the f**k just happened... but if you do it one in five games so what... You impression on a tournament is going to be minimal,...

I don't think we have a crop of players at the moment who you would point to one player as a stand out player... Like you would of done in the past... World Football is going through a funny transitional phase at the moment... The era of the stand out player is faltering a little... Surely this WC proves that much...

[oafc0000]

So we agree...

Xavi is king

[ralph250]

Rooney is a very good club player... He has looked questionable in the Champions League despite one good performance... and his WC record is pants...

Yet most people think he is World Class... All I can derive is that most people know f**k all about the realities of the world we live in

Edited July 5, 2010 by ralph250

[oafc0000]

Got 5 goals this year in the CL from 6 starts (1 sub).

[ralph250]

Scored against Byner, Milan and nothing against CSK, Wolfburgh and Besiktas...

So what I am saying is he did it in two games out of five... and he did look crap in every other Champ League game he has played in until Byner and Milan games...

Looking at scoring records dosen't tell you a lot... Four of Messi goals came in one game for example...

Edited July 5, 2010 by ralph250

[pink_triangle]

Got 5 goals this year in the CL from 6 starts (1 sub). All in knockout stages. 4 against Milan, 1 against Bayern. Came off injured 2nd leg just after half time. Pretty decent return. To be fair to him aswell, was put out left wing in CL fair few occasions in the prior two seasons which isn't exactly his natural role.

[oafc0000]

Besiktas (h) 0-1 wasn't in 18

Besiktas (a) 1-0 started, played 64 mins

Wolsburg (h) 2-1 started, played all game

Wolsburg (a) 3-1 wasn't in 18

CSKA (h) 3-3 came on as 58th min sub, assisted Valencia's 90th min equalizer to make it 3-3.

CSKA (a) 1-0 wasn't in 18

[ralph250]

To me what rooney is missing is a big performance in a massive game. If you look at the biggest 5 games of his career. 2 champions league finals, germany 10, portugal 06 and which other match you chose, he has performed poorly in at least 4 out of the 5 games. To me what makes a world class player is their performances in the really big games, so he defintely has a lot to do to deserve his reputation,

[oafc0000]

To me what rooney is missing is a big performance in a massive game. If you look at the biggest 5 games of his career. 2 champions league finals, germany 10, portugal 06 and which other match you chose, he has performed poorly in at least 4 out of the 5 games. To me what makes a world class player is their performances in the really big games, so he defintely has a lot to do to deserve his reputation,

[pink_triangle]

I probably agree, but as I said, CL he was poor but not playing natural position as wasn't as effective at lead the line at the time, so Ronaldo looked a better bet. England at times comes down to service/support, no good if he's deciding he needs to come deep looking for the ball all the time.

[ralph250]

So your point is I am right ?

Edited July 5, 2010 by ralph250

[Cardboard Box City]

How many times did Pele, Maradonna and Cruff play crap ?

[oafc0000]

The 1990 World Cup.

Edited July 5, 2010 by oafc0000

[Cardboard Box City]

He was injured... He was carrying a ankle injury through the whole tournament... Maybe you forget his run against the Brazil Magic

[ralph250]

He was injured... He was carrying a ankle injury through the whole tournament...

Edited July 5, 2010 by ralph250

[oafc0000]

Not to make excuses for him again , and know Fergies dismissed it but fair chance that so was Rooney to a degree this World Cup.

He had ankle, knee and groin problems at the end of the domestic season, and missed training after the USA game after a kick to the ankle, was taken off against Slovenia for an aggravated ankle problem aswell.

Edited July 5, 2010 by oafc0000

[oafc0000]

He still had a poor tournament.

[ralph250]

Now we all might disagree on certain things but i think CBC is officially clutching at straws if he doesn't want to accept Maradona rarely played poorly Even if the entire produce of columbia flowing through his veins....