At his peak, Iniesta also had killer acceleration.
Best technical dribblers who weren't/aren't pacy
- Thread starter Joga Bonito
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At his peak, Iniesta also had killer acceleration.
Okocha. Even from a standing position
For a winger, no. He was nowhere in the same league in terms of pace when you compare him to players like Ronaldo, Robben, Walcott, Di Maria, Nani or even Lennon etc who were the pacy wingers at that time, was he faster than the average 36 year old? Yes but not fast enough that you'd consider him a pacy winger. His dribbles were more technical, change of pace, dummies etc..
Watch from 2:16 onwards, that's what he was doing best.
Ah so you're looking for those who aren't explosive type players. Januzaj so far seems that type, though he's got a long way to ho obviously. He's quick, but he more glides by them rather then being explosive.
What's his deal? He seems very technically skilled but never made it to a European club? What's missing from his game?
Yes, it's fair to say he looks quick enough in parts of this. See what he says at the beginning though,
.Yes, it's fair to say he looks quick enough in parts of this. See what he says at the beginning though,
Heh, that is one of my favourite compilations. And yes while he was always interesting in "thinking quicker" he packed a damn good burst of pace when he broke away from the defense.
Exactly. He has good acceleration and a good dribbler nonetheless. There are quite a few examples of players in this thread who have had good acceleration/pace. I understand that Ronaldinho was a brilliant dribbler and didn't use his pace in his later years but I wanted to limit the discussion to players who were never exactly quick throughout their entire careers for a more defined/clearer discussion. I didn't want to encourage posts debating about how certain players are pacy but do not rely on pace for their dribbling. The discussion would become rather tedious. Let me just borrow the RVP gifs so I can better illustrate what kind of dribbling/dribblers we are discussing about to the other posters.
Credit to @Brightonian
Robert Prosinecki quite nimble with the olde footwork.
If you want someone who could come out of a throng with the ball still at his feet I would say Eric Cantona.
That goal is class. I remember watching that match. It was a friendly in 2007, the emirates cup I think.Exactly. He has good acceleration and a good dribbler nonetheless. There are quite a few examples of players in this thread who have had good acceleration/pace. I understand that Ronaldinho was a brilliant dribbler and didn't use his pace in his later years but I wanted to limit the discussion to players who were never exactly quick throughout their entire careers for a more defined/clearer discussion. I didn't want to encourage posts debating about how certain players are pacy but do not rely on pace for their dribbling. The discussion would become rather tedious. Let me just borrow the RVP gifs so I can better illustrate what kind of dribbling/dribblers we are discussing about to the other posters.
Credit to @Brightonian
<cough> McManaman <cough>
Forgot about this one. What a magnificent goal, out of this world technique.
I remember producing a G Nev-style moan when RVP pulled this outrageous skill against RM. We should've gone further in the CL that year; fecking useless ref.
Just to keep adding names, I'll say Deco. Brilliant player at Porto and Barca.
Don't worry, we'll have a memorable campaign in the 15/16-season.
Zidane and Iniesta clearly standout in this category.
Also a lot of the Spaniards are technically skillful without pace. Silva, Isco, Thiago, Cazorla, Mata ect.
Also a lot of the Spaniards are technically skillful without pace. Silva, Isco, Thiago, Cazorla, Mata ect.
These days, the main problem is his fitness. He has been injured for long periods of time in the last years. Maybe he didn't drank his milk when kid...
When he was younger, his problems where always outside the field. Good for drinking, party, women... no discipline.
Went to Europe long time ago, first at Rayo Vallecano, where he failed to impress, mainly because they wanted him on the right flank (ala Shinji with us, or Matias Fernandez in Villarreal)... he is not the running type. He is a creative genius... they wasted him.
At Servette (switzerland) he was doing really good, but the club went into financial crisis... so he came back to south America.
A God only in Brasil.
Cheers. I always wonder why midtable clubs in the PL don't take more punts at players like him. It might be too late now but at an earlier stage in his career he could've been well worth taking a risk on. If no bigger clubs wanted him, the transfer fees wouldn't have been that high.
John Robertson of Nottingham Forest.
I couldnt find a decent video but he was slower than a Skoda with 4 flat tyres but could turn defenders inside out.
I couldnt find a decent video but he was slower than a Skoda with 4 flat tyres but could turn defenders inside out.
Abou Diaby is the best non-pace dribbler in the league, I'm always baffled by how he just walks past players with no ball manipulation or speed. Mystery.
Juan Carlos Valeron.
Simple. There must be so little footage of Diaby actually playing available that opponents must have a hard time scouting and preparing to play against him.
Definitely.
Al-Ain bought him from Palmeiras for 10M euro app, then sold him back to Palmeiras for 16M euros app. Not really cheap, but still... the emirates ffs.
Now he was supposed to move back to the emirates, but in the end, looks he is going to remain at Palmeiras.
Chris Waddle deserves a mention
Toni Kroos is a pretty decent shout I reckon. Technically good but not quick and never has been.
For a long time I think Giggs had the pace in his locker but he learnt to control himself and not run at full pelt to avoid injuries and shortening his career.
He's back (though with a hip niggle), I still don't know how he does it - he just goes past players with no change of pace or tricks on the ball.
Perhaps opponents stand off of him in fear of breaking him into two with a tackle.
Riquelme, Gascoigne, Cantona, O'Shea
Ibrahimovic
RVP hold up play was sensational that day. But these games came when he was in that barren spell. He missed about 2/3 chances that would have won us the tie regardless of the referee decision.
In topic - Thiago Alcantara?
Surprised nobody has mentioned Del Piero here, after his injury when he lost his pace he had to change his game completely and play central. has one of the finest touches i have ever seen from a player.
Gascoigne, Iniesta, Isco, waddle, Cazorla, Silva... these are not slow players. They're just normal paced players and each one of them has that burst to get away from multiple defenders. You can't compare these guys to Berbatov/Zidane or even Ozil/Mata.
Cruyff & Ronaldinho - laughable suggestions, both speed merchants in their prime. Giggs still quick even now and Coutinho is quick enough off the mark too.
Riquelme and zidane, my fave non-pace dribblers.. insanely technical mofos. Redondo was decent too for a deeper lying player..
Cruyff & Ronaldinho - laughable suggestions, both speed merchants in their prime. Giggs still quick even now and Coutinho is quick enough off the mark too.
Riquelme and zidane, my fave non-pace dribblers.. insanely technical mofos. Redondo was decent too for a deeper lying player..
Completely forgot about him. Good shout outs there. Excellent dribbling without relying on pace.
And who can forget this troll goal of the highest order...
I don't know if Ronaldinho shouldn't be on here - he doesn't rely on his pace & he was still one of the best dribblers around once he gained weight, but in his prime he was as fast as lightning & it certainly helped him. If we are talking about right now, though, then yes. He makes Vidic look quick yet he can still leave a 20 year old full-back on his backside every time.
Riquelme, Zidane, Laudrup come to mind. Laudrup was probably the best of the 'slow' dribblers.
Riquelme, Zidane, Laudrup come to mind. Laudrup was probably the best of the 'slow' dribblers.
Fellaini. Or "Fellana" as Van Gaal put it xD
good shout, he is super slow and a great dribbler.
I'd say length is a lot of it, and Diaby is very good at switching speeds while carrying the ball. A real shame he hasn't had the career he should have.