From The Guardian which is picking their greatest team in living memory. Anybody care to discuss?
"When it comes to midfield players, nowhere in football has a job description changed so much. Where there were once wing-halves and inside-forwards there are now central midfielders, right- and left-sided midfielders, midfield anchors and those who play 'in the hole' behind the strikers. In assessing the best of these over a period of five or six decades the task can be made simpler by looking for players who would fit into a team of any generation.
These are relatively few. The best English midfielder of the 50s and early 60s was Johnny Haynes, a master of the telling long pass inside a full-back to be gathered by Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Bryan Douglas or Bobby Charlton. But Haynes would not be found running for the ball any more than Steven Gerrard would now be seen running for a bus. Bobby Robson was Haynes's legs in his later England matches...
...Picking four arbitrarily as the greatest midfielders in living memory simply persuades the mental processes to start arguing the cases of four more, but since one has to begin somewhere here goes ...
David Lacey's selection
Johan Neeskens (Holland), Dave Mackay (Scotland), Lothar Matthäus (West Germany), Marco Tardelli (Italy)"
Have to dig deep but what abut Netzer (Germany), Gascoigne (England) , although NOBODY trumps J. Haynes, Baxter (Scotland), Laudrup (Denmark).
Ryan Giggs
Glenn Hoddle
Ruud Gullit
Pavel Nedved
There should also be a spot for Alfredo DiStefano, Zenedine Zidane, Falcao, and possibly Rivelino
Luis Figo is another one.
Where is Cruyff?
Maradona!
Cruyff and Maradona were both more second strikers than midfielders, at least in my book. I don't think of them as primary midfielders.
Platini is a good shout though. And I agree, he would also be in the top three arrogant plonkers of all time.
it's a good list -- with one exception -- and there's always going to be some gray areas about players. Is a winger a forward or a midfielder? If a winger IS a midfielder, I'd nominate John White, but my exception is another Spud. I don't think Gascoigne belongs on any all-time-great list except for All Time Wasted Career or All Time Talent Wasted Away. I didn't think he was the best midfielder of his time in England even in his best year.
Quote from: finnster01 on October 19, 2010, 03:49:30 PM
Cruyff and Maradona were both more second strikers than midfielders, at least in my book. I don't think of them as primary midfielders.
Platini is a good shout though. And I agree, he would also be in the top three arrogant plonkers of all time.
You are quite correct Mr Finn - inasmuch as in The Guardian article he nominates Maradona, Pele and Cruyff as forwards as opposed to midfielders. If I were nominating just British players I would opt for McIlroy, Eastham, John White and if wingers are midfiielders, then Tom Finney too. But Sir Johnny has to be up there in spite of Bobby Robson having to fetch the ball for him :005:
I would seriously consider Liam Brady as part of that group..