World Class

[Antilokhos]

The term world class gets branded around to cheaply. Lampard is a great premier league player, no where near world class for me. Surely world class means among the best players in the history of football?

This quote from another thread got me thinking, I'm just a bit curious as to what everybody here considers a World Class player to be.

For me, I don't think it means you have to be an all time great. To be world class, I think a player would have to be able to be included in an all world team and where fans would be able to say, yeah, I could see that. For example, if we were discussing the best starting eleven in the world, I could say Buffon and somebody else could say Casillas and a third party wouldn't have a problem with either choice. I know that's not the most eloquent way of putting it, but hopefully it makes sense.

We can save whether or not Lampard is World Class for the other thread. :wink:

[Gino Ginelli]

This comes up a fair bit, and it always tends to be subjective.

I personally tend to use very strict criteria on it. Only a player who has consistently proven himself at the highest international levels against other highly recognised players can be considered world class by me.

So in the last world cup, players like Mesut Ozil and Andres Iniesta emerged as being truly world class, players like Xavi and Diego Forlan confirmed it. However based on the world cup Wayne Rooney is approximately a sunday league player, but we can use his exploits in the Champions League to prove his world class credentials.

It also means I cannot regard Luka Modric as world class yet, because he hasn't shown what he can do against the European or International elite.

And Frank Lampard is bobbins.

[TURKISH]

Imo world class players perform year out, year in both domestic and internationaly and performs regardless of the teams he play for. Players who are the best in there position across the globe, who are international legend, club legend and who can win big games on there own. Players who always turn up for the big game and show there class.

Is Thierry Henry world class? No, great player but not world class. Zidane won the CL for Real, he won the WC for France, won the Euro for France and
single handedly guided a poor France side to another WC final.

Look what Maradona did during his career, thats world class for me. Iniesta and Xaxi have been playing like this for years, they are so good they make the hardest things look easy which is why they have been ignored for years.

I think people are too quick to brand players world class, there's nothing wrong with being a great player but world class should mean among the best ever.

[mjbmedia]

should World class also include the way you conduct yourself on/ off pitch
IMO Maradonna's a **** , can play football for sure, but he's a **** so Id never call him world class cos he has no class .

Lineker was he world class, certainly scored goals for fun , while he played he was a prime example of sportsmanship etc , now hes gone a bit cheeky and eats too many crisps. Nowhere near the inidivdual skill of Donna but 1000% better person

Like said before on here, if theyd be considered for a World XI and gain agreement by many on their consideration then they are world class, but then John Terry was considered and he fails on both counts .
Theres more to being a footballer than playing football , interesting topic and I dont pretend to know the answer

[Antilokhos]

Imo world class players perform year out, year in both domestic and internationaly and performs regardless of the teams he play for. Players who are the best in there position across the globe, who are international legend, club legend and who can win big games on there own. Players who always turn up for the big game and show there class.

Is Thierry Henry world class? No, great player but not world class. Zidane won the CL for Real, he won the WC for France, won the Euro for France and
single handedly guided a poor France side to another WC final.

Look what Maradona did during his career, thats world class for me. Iniesta and Xaxi have been playing like this for years, they are so good they make the hardest things look easy which is why they have been ignored for years.

I think people are too quick to brand players world class, there's nothing wrong with being a great player but world class should mean among the best ever.
But when Henry was at Arsenal, could anybody convincingly make a case that Henry was one of the best strikers in the world? I think that's where I disagree with you. I would say there is a class above World Class, called all time great or some such. This is where Zidane, Maradona and the like sit. No, I would not put Henry or Rooney there, but I think something has to be said that Henry (earlier in the decade obviously) and Rooney would be welcomed with open arms into any squad in the world. To me that's world class.

I guess I see it as their being a couple different levels. You've got your squad players (Jenas), your top players (Modric), your world class players (Rooney), and then the all time greats (maybe Ronaldo in a few more years?).

[TURKISH]

But when Henry was at Arsenal, could anybody convincingly make a case that Henry was one of the best strikers in the world? I think that's where I disagree with you. I would say there is a class above World Class, called all time great or some such. This is where Zidane, Maradona and the like sit. No, I would not put Henry or Rooney there, but I think something has to be said that Henry (earlier in the decade obviously) and Rooney would be welcomed with open arms into any squad in the world. To me that's world class.

I guess I see it as their being a couple different levels. You've got your squad players (Jenas), your top players (Modric), your world class players (Rooney), and then the all time greats (maybe Ronaldo in a few more years?).

:laugh: We aint really disagreeing, I agree with what your saying but in my thinking world class is the top of the food chain. If it isn't, then I would happily place Henry in that bracket but never amongst the best players in the world. Who perform at the top level their whole career.

I agree with your post.

[Indianspur]

World class for me:
messi
drogba
xavi
iniesta
ozil
sneijder
buffon
ashley cole
ronaldo
essien
fabregas
maicon, lucio
rooney was there last season and will be again.paul scholes should be considered world class too for what he's achieved.
ledley king would be the closest we have but injuries hampered his claims
bale/modric still have a lot to prove.

[TURKISH]

I wouldn't put Ozil among world class, did any of us know him before the WC? Lets judge him in a couple years time.

[Antilokhos]

Yeah, I think you have to be a top player for 3-4 years before you earn that recognition. Also I think Ozil kind of disappeared for the Germans in the semi-final, and frankly I was more impressed with Muller throughout the tournament. Any word on how Ozil is doing at Madrid? Such an odd club.

[TURKISH]

Yeah, I think you have to be a top player for 3-4 years before you earn that recognition. Also I think Ozil kind of disappeared for the Germans in the semi-final, and frankly I was more impressed with Muller throughout the tournament. Any word on how Ozil is doing at Madrid? Such an odd club.

Agree, Muller looked a top, top player. Is the lad at Bayern Munich? If so they are assembling a cracking side.

[Elthamspur]

I've always thought of a World Class player as being a player that can change a match by themselves at any level. That's just me though, agree that World class is prob one way to describe players of a certain calibre and then there is a class above that!

[berbzy 'G']

Players are only World class if they put on performances that basically get everyones attention and have almost everything a footballer can do.

[TURKISH]

Players are only World class if they put on performances that basically get everyones attention and have almost everything a footballer can do.

:001_rolleyes:

[Gino Ginelli]

Lee Trundle.

[irishspur]

Jon Macken

[Rojoknapp]

Toda :ahhhhh:

[irishspur]

I can do this all day! Marlon Harewood

[WelshSpur82]

Jason Lee !!!!

[TURKISH]

Robbie Keane!!!!!!

[Gino Ginelli]

Robbie Keane!!!!!!

In all seriousness, he was just about there until 2 seasons ago. 3 goals in 4 games at a World Cup finals says he was able to mix it with the best.

Anyway...

Carlton Palmer

[TURKISH]

In all seriousness, he was just about there until 2 seasons ago. 3 goals in 4 games at a World Cup finals says he was able to mix it with the best.

Anyway...

Carlton Palmer

:001_rolleyes:

[Shuggie13]

Bardsen

Fenwick Nethercott Doherty Edinburgh

Fox Dozell Clemence Jnr Ethrington

Armstrong Radziak

Subs: Tramezzani, Vega, Austin, Rory (floppy haired mid-90s striker can't remember his surname), Toda.


World Class bitches, world class!

[Gino Ginelli]

Bardsen

Fenwick Nethercott Doherty Edinburgh

Fox Dozell Clemence Jnr Ethrington

Armstrong Radziak

Subs: Tramezzani, Vega, Austin, Rory (floppy haired mid-90s striker can't remember his surname), Toda.


World Class bitches, world class!

Rory Allen?

[Shuggie13]

Rory Allen?

Thank you.

[irishspur]

Jay Bothroyd

[Baleinho]

Andy Townsend.

In all seriousness, I would define a World Class player and a professional on the field and in the dressing room. A player who can influence a team and a game at the drop of a hat. A player who is loved and adored by the fans. Sounded like the poem 'If' there. I apologise.

Something said on MOTD which really seems to sum it up for me, is 'A player who can play football without running' (describing Berbatov) where a player oozes class and sheer ability. In that group you could class:

Zidane
Cruff
Socrates
A few more who I cant remember

They are untouchable.

There could be a level below, for the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Fat Ronaldo, Maicon, Rooney etc who are players of this generation, great players, world class even, but not close to the standard shown above.

I agree that the closest we have is King. VDV probably isn't that far off the World Class list, maybe after this season we can call him World Class.