Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:08 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: yes I think he is. I think Casillas is the most overrated player in the world alongside Rooney, however surreal that may seem.

I'll see your Casillas and Rooney and raise you with Gerrard and Torres, when did either of them last play well for Liverpool?

Shocking result for Utd, two away games which we lost last season Fulham/Everton should have both been wins, to be 4 points behind at this stage when we should have a 100% record is poor.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:39 am  

PAUL M wrote:

I'll see your Casillas and Rooney and raise you with Gerrard and Torres, when did either of them last play well for Liverpool?

Shocking result for Utd, two away games which we lost last season Fulham/Everton should have both been wins, to be 4 points behind at this stage when we should have a 100% record is poor.

Torres was good when fit last year, he scored quite a bit considering the situation. Gerrard's been pretty similar, only his problem has been playing a position where he's been completely reliant upon teammates for him to play well.

I think everybody knows that a fit Torres is one of the top 3 strikers in the world alongside Villa and Drogba, nobody else really comes close. Gerrard is still a class player, just struggling to get into games due to an inept midfield playing behind him. It seems I'm forever banging on about somebody to come in, but once people realize how inept Lucas/Poulsen are, they will realize why Gerrard has struggled so much over the past year. I felt that once Aquilani returned, Gerrard would improve, he did towards the end of the year when Aquilani came in, although Gerrard was forced to play deeper, something I didn't agree with. Now we have another midfielder, Meireles, who will hopefully work better with Gerrard. I just hope Gerrard stays in the hole and Meireles plays deeper.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:45 am  

Mark wrote:

Amzing how these overrated players keep winning things isn't it? Whilst these best in the world types win jack.

Casillas is good, probably the best shot stopper in the world, but I feel there are better 'keepers out there. People make Casillas out to be the undisputed greatest in the world, when, I feel, he's a top 'keeper, overrated due to the team he plays for and the age in which his career started.

As for Rooney, again, a good player in a very good team, but give me Torres, Villa, Drogba, Eto'o, Higuain, Aguero (massively overrated), Pato and probably Forlan over the past few years over him. He may well have won loads of trophies piggy backing off CR7, but I don't think he's near as great as he's made out, whilst I don't think he'll ever have a better season than last year.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:12 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Torres was good when fit last year, he scored quite a bit considering the situation. Gerrard's been pretty similar, only his problem has been playing a position where he's been completely reliant upon teammates for him to play well.

I think everybody knows that a fit Torres is one of the top 3 strikers in the world alongside Villa and Drogba, nobody else really comes close. Gerrard is still a class player, just struggling to get into games due to an inept midfield playing behind him. It seems I'm forever banging on about somebody to come in, but once people realize how inept Lucas/Poulsen are, they will realize why Gerrard has struggled so much over the past year. I felt that once Aquilani returned, Gerrard would improve, he did towards the end of the year when Aquilani came in, although Gerrard was forced to play deeper, something I didn't agree with. Now we have another midfielder, Meireles, who will hopefully work better with Gerrard. I just hope Gerrard stays in the hole and Meireles plays deeper.

No one else comes close to Drogba, Torres and Villa, well imo Rooney is easily in the league but we won't agree.

I think Liverpool should play a second striker and let Gerrard play centre midfield and allow him to play box to box, easily his best position. Just needs the right partner, he showed playing for England in that position that he is far more and his runs forward are dangerous and his working back is also vital.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:21 pm  

Went to Sevilla/Deportivo last night, blimey it was boring - I've never seen a La Liga game where both sides gave up the ball so easily, and there was no hustle and bustle which means that can be overcome when watching a game in say England or Germany, then again after sweltering all day at 40 degrees plus I wouldn't be too up for playing a game of football with much tempo either.

The most interesting thing I can remember was Palop setting up 2 dangerous Sevilla counter attacks by directing punches to Jesus Navas, rather than catching the ball and slowing things down, something I'd not really looked at before but I remember someone on here pointing it out as a tactic a couple of weeks ago, then being derided for that opinion.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:41 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I thought Scholes was fantastic for United, but they can't have that midfield against the likes of Chelsea as they would get mullered.

Scholes has been our best player all season.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:42 pm  

AvA wrote:

The most interesting thing I can remember was Palop setting up 2 dangerous Sevilla counter attacks by directing punches to Jesus Navas, rather than catching the ball and slowing things down, something I'd not really looked at before but I remember someone on here pointing it out as a tactic a couple of weeks ago, then being derided for that opinion.

T'was me! It's a tactic that can be very effective on the continent, less so than over here as the ability punch is often harder here due to the dumb refereeing and the emphasis to clear is often put on the defenders' shoulders. You often see Almunia trying to do it for Arsenal, as Wenger knows it's an effective tactic, but Almunia is far too poor to do it regularly.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:49 pm  

Tony Pulis what a legend!

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:52 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Aguero (massively overrated).

Problem was, as soon as he started scoring a few goals in Argentina he received the hype that any youngster that has a few good games does.

Plus the fact that Argentina had lost some of their more established strikers, he was dubbed the new Maradona to spearhead the next wave of Argie talent with Tevez and Higuain.

Re: Football Chat : Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:06 pm  

andym1988 wrote:

Problem was, as soon as he started scoring a few goals in Argentina he received the hype that any youngster that has a few good games does.

Plus the fact that Argentina had lost some of their more established strikers, he was dubbed the new Maradona to spearhead the next wave of Argie talent with Tevez and Higuain.

He had the potential though; Atletico turned him into the wrong player. Maybe it was Aguero himself, I can't quite explain it, but they turned him into the bulky 'lead' striker, when I felt he could have become the all-round playmaker striker, you know, the second striker with all the creative ability, but stupendous speed/agility/finishing ability. I think he was too good technically to be a lead striker, whilst his lack of height would always make him 'easier' to play against than other '9s'. I think Atletico turned him from a South American to a European, he's still a top player, but the hype that surrounds him now really is stupendous.

If you look across to Italy, it seems Milan are sort of doing the opposite with Pato. He looked to be the next great striker, the top '9' with all the Brazilian flair, but it seems Milan moved him into a right forward/winger style player, his all-round game continues to get better, whilst his pace, strength and finishing is a natural gift he'll never lose (unless he gets Hargreaves-esque knees). I think he could become one of the world's best, but seeing him, Ibra and Robinho fit in the same team will be interesting, especially if Ronaldinho and Pirlo are thrown in there as well.