If you were a manager, which one player would you sign...

[MPTutd]

This is all hyperthetical, but think about this.

If you were a football maanger, and there was one player in the world that you could sign who would it be. For this, assume all players are the same age and have never had a injury. Also do not relate your answer to your team, i.e. don't pick a striker cos you believe United need a striker.

Personally I would pick Roy Keane.

My reasons are that he typifies everything I like in a player. He shows desire, a will to win and he leads but inspiration. Also, he hardly ever has a bad or quite game. He is a player you can rely on. He reads the game superbly, always shows for the ball and does the job he is asked to do. Also, he can play a number of positions. Defensive midfielder the obvious one, but he can also operate attacking wise, as a CB, as a RB (he was magnificent there in 1994 whilst playing with a Hernia - the best RB I have ever seen), he could problem also play wide right I reckon. He scores a few goals (although the way United play him he scores far less than he could).

I thought about the likes of Zidane, Raul and Rivaldo, but although they are fine skillful players, they do not excel in nearly every game, unlike Roy.

Who would everyone else pick?.

 

[michael owen's mum]

zidane.

best player on the planet.

 

[Davo]

Zidane

Best player in the world..

Keane is mad, your choice is biased..

 

[Lynott]

Keane
RVN (same attitude as Keane)
Henry - should be european and world player of the year imo.

 

[MPTutd]

Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>Zidane

Best player in the world..

Keane is mad, your choice is biased..</strong><hr></blockquote>

My choice is possibly biased, but he still typifies what I like in a player.

Zidane, when on form, is undoubtedly the best player on the planet. However, when not on top form, he is not effective.

Look at RM at the beginning of last season. He was off form and offered little to their game. I remember him being like that at Juve as well.

I also think Zidane plays for himself more than he does for the team. I don't like that in a player. Also he tend to play well in only the big games.

 

[MPTutd]

Originally posted by Lynott:
<strong>Keane
RVN (same attitude as Keane)
Henry - should be european and world player of the year imo.</strong><hr></blockquote>

that'll be 3 players then?.....

come on pick the one you would want more than any other.

 

[Neil Thomson]

Schmeichel, still playing, so I'd take him at his best. Vital player.

 

[Lynott]

Originally posted by MPTutd:
<strong>

that'll be 3 players then?.....

come on pick the one you would want more than any other.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Jesus, you are very feckin strict!

It's a bit like asking someone what's your fav song

I'll go for my fellow Corkman out of the above group.

 

[becks75]

quote: "I thought about the likes of Zidane, Raul and Rivaldo, but although they are fine skillful players, they do not excel in nearly every game, unlike Roy."

100 % right, but that is because they are fine skillful players! They score goals, create things etc. It is impossible to do these things consistent week in week out. The greatest players ( most skillfull) players in history Pele,Maradona,Cruyf,Best etc. always had their up and downs and were never as consistent as Keane.
For that reason Giggs, Veron, Beckham will never be as consistent as Keane or Butt for example. But that doesn´t mean they are worse players, they are just another type of players.
Which type of player you prefer is a matter of taste.
I´ve got the impression that in britain most people love players like keane, not very talented but always gives 100% running, tackling etc.
while in south europe or south america most people love the likes of zidane etc. always able to produce something magic, but much more inconsistent.

I think a football team is perfect if it has both types of players.
We have. <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />

 

[Sambora]

Okay i'll b different and chose Michael Ballack.

 

[MPTutd]

Originally posted by becks75:
<strong>quote: "I thought about the likes of Zidane, Raul and Rivaldo, but although they are fine skillful players, they do not excel in nearly every game, unlike Roy."

100 % right, but that is because they are fine skillful players! They score goals, create things etc. It is impossible to do these things consistent week in week out. The greatest players ( most skillfull) players in history Pele,Maradona,Cruyf,Best etc. always had their up and downs and were never as consistent as Keane.
For that reason Giggs, Veron, Beckham will never be as consistent as Keane or Butt for example. But that doesn´t mean they are worse players, they are just another type of players.
Which type of player you prefer is a matter of taste.
I´ve got the impression that in britain most people love players like keane, not very talented but always gives 100% running, tackling etc.
while in south europe or south america most people love the likes of zidane etc. always able to produce something magic, but much more inconsistent.

I think a football team is perfect if it has both types of players.
We have. <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree, but I still prefer the man who performs week-in, week-out. Plus I think that Keano brings the best out in others.

 

[Ever hopefull]

I'll be different as well and go for
Mark Van Bommel

Cracking player, same attitude as Keane and got a hell of a shot on him

 

[benny]

Roy Keane is not mad,however he is the best footballer in the world.The perfect midfield combination would be Keane and Zidane,but if it were a choice,it would be Roy Keane.He would win you more games pure and simple,he is a more complete player than Zidane.

 

[Ever hopefull]

Originally posted by benny:
<strong>Roy Keane is not mad,however he is the best footballer in the world.The perfect midfield combination would be Keane and Zidane,but if it were a choice,it would be Roy Keane.He would win you more games pure and simple,he is a more complete player than Zidane.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thats a bold statement. Its hard to compare Zidane and Keane. Although they both play in midfield Zidane plays much more advanced. Zidane is tachnically superior but Keane works harder.

 

[benny]

Zidane is technically superior to anybody in the world ie he has individual skills ( the way he traps a ball,his peerless balance ,his economical genius in making space,to pass or run with the ball)However he is only an attacking player.If he could defend and tackle well he would be the best player in the world.Roy Keane however can do everything to a world class standard,he is a world class defender and a world class attacker,he is also the most tactically superb player since Beckenbaur.Nobody in world football can dictate,read,or control the pace of a game like Keane.It will only be properly recognised when he has retired

 

[Rams]

Raffael van der Vaart

 

[MancFanFromManc]

my son

 

[Canadian Dee]

We all know Keano is fecking top notch, his tackling, reading of game etc, but it his ability to drive the team on and inspire them that maybe elevates him above the other players being bandied about. Remember his performance against Juve in the semi, his goal and his sheer determination perhaps make this his finest performance in a red shirt. I think the only other game I have seen Keano play in were perhaps he may have been even more influential in was his performance against Holland for Ireland (the game that sealed their qualification for the last world cup)

 

[Cal?]

okay, I'd be different and go with Becks...

he'll sell more shirts and increase merchandise sales which, in turn, will generate more money for further player signings.

besides, he's one of the best footballers on the planet...

 

[darko]

Originally posted by MPTutd:
<strong>

My choice is possibly biased, but he still typifies what I like in a player.

Zidane, when on form, is undoubtedly the best player on the planet. However, when not on top form, he is not effective.

Look at RM at the beginning of last season. He was off form and offered little to their game. I remember him being like that at Juve as well.

I also think Zidane plays for himself more than he does for the team. I don't like that in a player. Also he tend to play well in only the big games.</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> What more could you expect of him? Note Frances early exit from Japan/Korea 2002. Any coincidence that Zidane missed two matches and was still affect by his injury in the third match. While a 'Roy' Keaneless Ireland did quite well. How important to Ireland do think Keane was in retrospect?

 

[Cal?]

Originally posted by darko:
<strong>

<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> What more could you expect of him? Note Frances early exit from Japan/Korea 2002. Any coincidence that Zidane missed two matches and was still affect by his injury in the third match. While a 'Roy' Keaneless Ireland did quite well. How important to Ireland do think Keane was in retrospect?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmm... first of all, Ireland DID NOT do well in the World Cup, in a shocker of a World Cup where the likes of Korea and Turkey made the semis, Ireland did NOT do that well...

As for France, could it be Pires who is the missing guy?? Zidane played (albeit injured) against Denmark and they still lost.

 

[Lynott]

Originally posted by darko:
<strong>

<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> What more could you expect of him? Note Frances early exit from Japan/Korea 2002. Any coincidence that Zidane missed two matches and was still affect by his injury in the third match. While a 'Roy' Keaneless Ireland did quite well. How important to Ireland do think Keane was in retrospect?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You may think that Ireland did well, but alot of people here don't agree. We felt that we had progressed in standards and should have been making the QF's at least. Believe me Roy Keane was more important to the Irish National team than Zidane was to the French, simply because he was our only world class player and he made those around him raise the level of their game. France has more game winners and world class players than Zidane, although he is the best.

 

[Murt]

Originally posted by Lynott:
<strong>You may think that Ireland did well, but alot of people here don't agree. We felt that we had progressed in standards and should have been making the QF's at least. Believe me Roy Keane was more important to the Irish National team than Zidane was to the French, simply because he was our only world class player and he made those around him raise the level of their game. France has more game winners and world class players than Zidane, although he is the best.</strong><hr></blockquote>

agreed, with keane in the team Ireland would have had a "chance" of winning the tournament. Well probably never have as good a chance again.

 

[Ever hopefull]

Ireland were in a no lose situation.
If they'd failed everyone would have blamed Roy Keane for upsetting the camp etc..
And if they did well everyone would say the Keane incident had pulled them together.

McCarthy was like the teflon man as far as the media were concerned

 

[reelworld]

Originally posted by benny:
<strong>Zidane is technically superior to anybody in the world ie he has individual skills ( the way he traps a ball,his peerless balance ,his economical genius in making space,to pass or run with the ball)However he is only an attacking player.If he could defend and tackle well he would be the best player in the world.
</strong>
<hr></blockquote>

benny, I agree with this..

<strong>
Roy Keane however can do everything to a world class standard,he is a world class defender and a world class attacker,he is also the most tactically superb player since Beckenbaur.Nobody in world football can dictate,read,or control the pace of a game like Keane.It will only be properly recognised when he has retired</strong><hr></blockquote>
However, I don't agree with this.
I like Keane, he's one hell of a player, and like what others have said, Keane biggest attribute is his drive and desire to win. He's a world class defensive midfield player but there are few players that can dictate, read, or control the pace of game like Keane.
For example, Stefan Effenberg in his prime, as much as I hate to said this, is capable of doing all that things you said above equally as Keane. So is Zidane.
And for the attacking issue, he's good but not world class.
Zidane and Keane are different kind of players, Zidane is more eyecatching than Keane because all the through passes and goals that he scored. Keane on the other hand is the one that do all the dirty works, breaking up opponents attacks.
If you want to compare Keane, you should compare him with the one that play in the same position like Viera or Helguera.
For this topic, I also choose Keane . For the reason that I always like defensive midfielders better than the attacking ones.

 

[Veedey]

I’d sign myself for a record-breaking fee. Could I be a playing manager?

 

[Canadian Dee]

Originally posted by darko:
<strong>

<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> What more could you expect of him? Note Frances early exit from Japan/Korea 2002. Any coincidence that Zidane missed two matches and was still affect by his injury in the third match. While a 'Roy' Keaneless Ireland did quite well. How important to Ireland do think Keane was in retrospect?</strong><hr></blockquote>

For Keanos value to Ireland watch a rerun of two games he played at Landsdowne Rd during qualifying, the two games being Holland and Portugal where he raised his performance to a higher level than he even normally does to compensate for the shite players on his team i.e Matt Holland, Kilbane etc. He almost single handedly pulled Ireland through these 2 games, surpassing top class players such as Figo, Davids etc

 

[darko]

The fact is no one will pay as much for Keane as they would for Zidane because it's alot harder to find a player of Zidane's capabilities. Sure Keane is a great player but Ireland did out play Spain and should have progressed past the round of 16. I also realize that Keane played an important role in getting Ireland to the WC. As for the comparison between Davids and Keane, Keane is worlds better than Davids.

Is it any coincidence that Bayern has struggled in the CL without Effenburg?

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Ronaldo. Injury free and at 100 percent even Zidane couldn't match him

 

[ryansgirl]

And of course michaelowensmum and davo are never biased, are they? They bring such an objective stance to this forum.
Can anyone tell me where the ugly mug of Stefan Effenberg has gone? Which team is he playing for now?

 

[curt]

Zidane. He is a genius, and irreplaceable. One of the worst things of the World Cup was that he wasnt on form.

 

[Johnso]

Keane is simply the best all round player in the world. You could put him in any outfield position and know you would be guaranteed an excellent performance.

I live in the Sunderland area, and there was an interesting comment from Niall Quinn in the local paper. He said that if football was an individual sport – Keane would be unbeatable, he would win everything all the time. That says it all I think.

Zidane is an excellent player in one position, and can certainly produce the goods when it matters, but I saw a lot of him at Juventus on TV, - and in a lot of bread and butter league games, he was completely anonymous. Keane is never anonymous!!
Keane over Zidane every single time.

If I had to pick someone outside the United team, then it would be Juan Roman Riquelme. When he reaches his peak, he will be like Zidane, Rivaldo, and Figo – all in one player. He’s the most talented player I've seen.

 

[CremboMan]

Originally posted by Johnso:
<strong>Keane is simply the best all round player in the world. You could put him in any outfield position and know you would be guaranteed an excellent performance.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

"If I was putting Roy Keane out there to represent Manchester United on a one against one, we'd win the Derby, the National, the Boat Race and anything else. It's an incredible thing he's got" Sir Alex Ferguson

<img src="graemlins/keano.gif" border="0" alt="[Keano]" />

 

[Amir]

I think Van Nistelrooy is more likely to win the grand national.

 

[benny]

hargh hargh Amir <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[veg]

Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>

agreed, with keane in the team Ireland would have had a "chance" of winning the tournament. Well probably never have as good a chance again.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Spot on!

 

[veg]

If I had to pick someone outside the United team, then it would be Juan Roman Riquelme. When he reaches his peak, he will be like Zidane, Rivaldo, and Figo – all in one player. He’s the most talented player I've seen.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Iv never heard of him please tell me more about him???

 

[Johnso]

Originally posted by veg:
<strong>If I had to pick someone outside the United team, then it would be Juan Roman Riquelme. When he reaches his peak, he will be like Zidane, Rivaldo, and Figo – all in one player. He’s the most talented player I've seen.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Iv never heard of him please tell me more about him???[/QB]

Riquelme is a young Argentinean lad, in his early twenties. He’s currently at Barcelona, but I’ve seen him on TV about a dozen times for his former club Boca Juniors. He’s a very attack minded central midfielder, very strong and fast, with great ability on either foot.

He completely ran the show in every game I’ve seen him play, including a performance against Real Madrid a few years ago (European Champions v South American Champions) – which was just about the best performance I’ve ever seen on a football field, probably alongside Keano’s against Juve in Turin.

He’s unlike anyone in the Premier League, but take Veron’s passing ability, Joe Cole’s ball skills, Juninho’s running and dribbling – and then add it to Steven Gerrard – and you’re somewhere close.

I’ve read a lot of articles by South American journalists, and most rate him as the finest South American player in the world at present, and that’s including Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Veron etc.

I’d love to see him playing in our red shirt.

 

[veg]

Originally posted by Johnso:
<strong>


Riquelme is a young Argentinean lad, in his early twenties. He’s currently at Barcelona, but I’ve seen him on TV about a dozen times for his former club Boca Juniors. He’s a very attack minded central midfielder, very strong and fast, with great ability on either foot.

He completely ran the show in every game I’ve seen him play, including a performance against Real Madrid a few years ago (European Champions v South American Champions) – which was just about the best performance I’ve ever seen on a football field, probably alongside Keano’s against Juve in Turin.

He’s unlike anyone in the Premier League, but take Veron’s passing ability, Joe Cole’s ball skills, Juninho’s running and dribbling – and then add it to Steven Gerrard – and you’re somewhere close.

I’ve read a lot of articles by South American journalists, and most rate him as the finest South American player in the world at present, and that’s including Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Veron etc.

I’d love to see him playing in our red shirt.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Sounds good, Thanks

 

[Raoul]

Ronaldo.