That awkward moment when you’re not actually the best player in the world… By Gregg Halsey
That awkward moment when you’re not actually the best player in the world…
By Gregg Halsey
Now calm down, before you all start giving me grief about disliking Lionel Messi; this is not the case. I am in fact a great admirer of the young man from Argentina.
But I do not believe he is the greatest player in the world today; nor is he of the last decade. I’m sorry but this is my opinion and I am allowed it.
I do believe however that he is a very talented player with an EXTREMELY talented team around him. With such players as Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano, Fabregas and Dani Alves to name a few, how could you NOT score so many goals, especially sticking in one league where the defenders back off you and allow you the space you need to think!
I probably sound like I am just going to sit here and have digs (I apologise) but Lionel Messi has played in one league and to be honest the defences in Spain aren’t all that good for the lesser teams in ‘La Liga’, whereas if he came to a league where the defenders in every team within the top flight and most of the second tier were decent and closed you down the second you had a foot on the ball would you be classed so highly?
Personally I think not; as much as I’d hate to say it I honestly feel Cristiano Ronaldo has more to back him in the quest for being the ‘best in the world’ as he has played in both ‘La Liga’ & ‘Premier League’ and proved himself in each of the respected leagues.
But wait there is more…
Two players currently in the Premier League are close to following the footsteps of one of the greatest players to ever grace a football field (Ryan Giggs) I am of course referring to Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.
Both of these lads have been trained by the academy of Southampton and both went to North London clubs and both for £5 million. Now I was discussing these two players with colleagues of mine and I suggested both leave their respected clubs (sorry Spurs and Arsenal fans) and went to Spain to prove to the world that they’re both as good as Mr Messi & Mr Ronaldo.
Both can score goals, both create goals, Bale scores thunderous set pieces, both have pace and the ability to take players on with minimal space to work in. So in a nutshell, they both do in weaker teams in the English League what the two ‘best in the world’ do in a weaker Spanish league for better teams and without the winter break.
Now back to my point of why Ronaldo IS better than Messi… He has conquered both leagues showing he can terrorise a league where you get little space and can tackle hard and can destroy a league where they stand off you and let you have time to think!
But what makes the ‘best in the world’ ? Why, more often than not is it an attacking player? What makes Messi better than say Brad Friedel ? Strange choice I know, I’m just trying to put across a point so extreme it makes you all think (for yourselves).
The goalkeepers prevent goals, make ridiculous saves, get hit hard, sometimes create goals, sometimes score goals and play on a lot longer than a lot of outfield players, but I feel they don’t get a lot of recognition for what they do.
What about the full backs of the world? Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole are both fabulous left backs getting in on the attacking game as well as still tracking back to prevent goals, usually on the post on set pieces, both played for major teams in Europe…
You could go on and on, or you could just do as you are told by the press and the governing bodies and like whom they tell you to like… But then these are the people who named a European XI purely with Spanish league players!
Ramble on or so I shall, until next time…
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