There are players you go to the stadium to only watch them play and he's easily among them.Is it natural gift to be so calm when you face intense pressure ? He rarely loses his focus
Iniesta - Is there another? | Announces retirement
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I agree...and I think he's beginning to assume that role with the NT...Might see him step out of Xavi's shadow in this Euro
Disagree. Silva is a wing-playmaker who tends to drift centrally and doesn't score much. His overall game is way too similar to Iniesta's and Messi's. The team needs goalscorers on the wings, not even more creators.
Fabregas hasn't fully adapted yet. Granted, 8 years of Premier League didn't help his horizontal game, but once he adapts, he'll be a worthy Xavi replacement in central midfield. Cesc is a long term project. And he's a better player than Silva in general, even when Silva is playing out of his skin right now to make it into the starting lineup at the Euros after the 2010 disappointment.
Ahem.
Disagree. Silva is a wing-playmaker who tends to drift centrally and doesn't score much. His overall game is way too similar to Iniesta's and Messi's. The team needs goalscorers on the wings, not even more creators.
Fabregas hasn't fully adapted yet. Granted, 8 years of Premier League didn't help his horizontal game, but once he adapts, he'll be a worthy Xavi replacement in central midfield. Cesc is a long term project. And he's a better player than Silva in general, even when Silva is playing out of his skin right now to make it into the starting lineup at the Euros after the 2010 disappointment.
Ahem.
I'm inclined to think Messi-Iniesta wins.
Such a good player. Easily my favourite player in the world, just love to watch him. I hate seeing him out wide though, such a waste. Him, Xavi and Busquets in a midfield trio is class to watch, and Spain should ditch Alonso to play that three imo.
That sounds gay but it's the right description!
Fabregas hasn't fully adapted yet. Granted, 8 years of Premier League didn't help his horizontal game, but once he adapts, he'll be a worthy Xavi replacement in central midfield. Cesc is a long term project. And he's a better player than Silva in general, even when Silva is playing out of his skin right now to make it into the starting lineup at the Euros after the 2010 disappointment.
I'd take Silva any day of the week for the Euros. I've seen Fabregas go absolutely blank when against top dogs.
He will overtake him in the long run, though.
Yeah, I am gonna have to continue to disagree...Silva used to play out on the left for Los Che and with the NT and would interplay with Iniesta like they had been together for years...And a winger for Barcelona needs to take their chances & score but their main contribution is to provide width and draw out defenders
As for 1-2s, Leo doesn't count - he's the GOAT
Laudrup strikes me as a bit more artistic and expressive as a player. And probably overall a better player too. Definite similarity in terms of brilliant close control and amazing creative passing though.
How do you rate the two in comparison?
Laudrup > Andres...Certainly in terms of elegant skills and direct lethality...I don't know that Laudrup was necessarily more artistic but I did love the way he just ran at defenses...Both had a passive aspect to their game owing to their natures but the Don is far more so, I think
I've enjoyed interviews where Michael would talk about the comparisons, you can sense he just feels Andres isn't direct enough but recognizes it's a reflection of his disposition...Despite Laudrup being surrounded by world class talent in Romario and Stoichkov, the old 3 player foreign rule for clubs probably worked to the player's advantage as he had to make the most of his appearances or shockingly be dropped....Iniesta hasn't had that problem and so he hasn't had to outplay Messi or Xavi...After the Stamford Bridge and South African goals, I thought he'd start to develop that assassin's edge before age closes that window...He has to an extent, I think, but everyone has to take their game down a notch with Leo, or so they think they have to...Really hoping he bosses the Euro
Currently, there's no one truly like Laudrup, for me, the closest being Iniesta...but Michael was pretty unique, a generational talent
I've enjoyed interviews where Michael would talk about the comparisons, you can sense he just feels Andres isn't direct enough but recognizes it's a reflection of his disposition...Despite Laudrup being surrounded by world class talent in Romario and Stoichkov, the old 3 player foreign rule for clubs probably worked to the player's advantage as he had to make the most of his appearances or shockingly be dropped....Iniesta hasn't had that problem and so he hasn't had to outplay Messi or Xavi...After the Stamford Bridge and South African goals, I thought he'd start to develop that assassin's edge before age closes that window...He has to an extent, I think, but everyone has to take their game down a notch with Leo, or so they think they have to...Really hoping he bosses the Euro
Currently, there's no one truly like Laudrup, for me, the closest being Iniesta...but Michael was pretty unique, a generational talent
Silva doesn't provide width though. He's doing the exact opposite. He tends to drift inside and occupy central positions. Just like Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas, Messi and everyone else. A playmaking traffic jam. Actually the main reason why Silva was dropped immediately after the first World Cup game. Lack of width with Iniesta, Villa and Silva upfront. ZonalMarking has written a good analysis about it in 2010. One had to go: Iniesta or Silva. A no brainer.
You will also notice that Silva has been most effective under Aragones' 4-4-2 / 4-1-4-1 system. Not so much under del Bosque. If Villa was fit, he'd probably be dropped again.
Silva in the Barcelona system would be a desaster and only extend the Messi dependency. Silva has what? 20 goals in 120 games for Valencia and 10 in 70 for Manchester City? Barcelona need Henry, Eto'o, Villa, Pedro type of players on the wings. Goalscorers. Not another passer. You might actually get away with Iniesta and Silva on the wings on international level since a tournament like the Euros will only last over a maximum of 6 games. You can win such a tournament scoring less than 6 goals. Over 60+ games (League, CL, domestic Cups) it's a bit different.
Could you not also argue that its simply not the Spanish way? One of the reasons I have felt Torres has never quite excelled with Spain is simply that they dislike the quick direct ball forward. Laudrup's footballing education didn't come from La Masia it came from Northern Europe where football is played more directly.
Iniesta has all the traits of a La Masia player he values possession of the ball above penetration: he will go sideways when he could go forwards to ensure Barca keep the ball rather than risk losing it. There will be moments when other players are standing in acres of space and neither he or Xavi will hit the long diagonal and play the safer shorter pass. There will be moments where you'd think he'd break through a gap and shoot only to attack the gap and then play a ball backwards in the hope of opening up a more clear cut chance. This is how they've been trained. This is how the Spanish generally play. Its pretty much why they 1-0'd their way to a win at the last World Cup.
You can't expect a Spaniard to play like a Dane any more than you could expect a Dane to play like a Spaniard. Cultural differences.
Eriksen at Ajax is pretty similar in mould no? Hasn't he been touted as 'The next Laudrup'?
That's owing more to his Danish roots...Eriksen is a nice player but no Laudrup...Imagine this, think how good Iniesta is and he's not even Laudrup...There's a country mile separating other players to the Great Dane
I mean stylistically not ability.
I agree Laudrup was phenomenal. One of the closes players to him in terms of style and ability in that time was Dragan Stojkovic - one of my favourite players.
For Spain, everything has been modeled after Barcelona but that's where goalscorers like Villa become so important...Probably why guys like Soldado and Adrian got left out...Although I do agree that they have to figure out how to convert chances without a Messi or Villa...As for Laudrup, one of the biggest criticisms about the Dane was that he was too unselfish
I actually think the reason Torres struggles so much now is that he's more of a counter attacking player now in a NT setup that no longer plays to his strengths really
That's simply a difference in approach to goalscoring chances, they're looking for that crease, that gap in space to exploit with the high percentage pass...Plus, they are a rhythm school of playing as a match goes on and their touches increase, their speed of play & directness increases with it
Again, it's a goalscoring percentage issue along with serving it up on a platter for the goalscorers in the squad...The WC scores were more down to the opponents sitting outside their 18 yard box than some lack of intent to score
His best years were in Spain and you see no one even coming close to that sort of skill in Denmark whereas there is a conveyor belt delivering them in Spain
I understand, Eriksen has an elegance to his game as well...I just find the link too easy to make because he is Danish - although the influence seems pretty clear...Unfair pressure for the kid too...Plus, every now & then, I rewatch clips of Laudrup because I do sometimes become guilty of underrating just how good he was
Don't you have the same feeling about Stoichkov? I'd say he was the main reason why Barca won 4 La Liga titles on the trot. You must remember those games on the final day of seasons 91/92, 92/93 and 93/94. Stoichkov was the main man in them. He was an incredibly aggressive forward, player for the big occasions.
Romario signed season 93/94, started brilliantly and Cruyff had to leave on the bench Laudrup or Stoichkov. He decided to play with Laudrup in the first half of the season. Koeman and Romario were untouchable at the time, the first was key for Barca's defence and the second enjoyed the best time in his career. But Barcelona found themselves 5 points behind La Coruna and Cruyff had to make a change. Thus Stoichkov started to play again and Barca won 14 of the last 16 games of the season and drew the other 2, including a dramatic win vs Sevilla on the final day of the championship. Thus Cruyff decided that Stoichkov was more important to the team than Laudrup and the latter had to leave. Stoichkov was a bit younger than Laudrup as well.
I see footage of Cruyff, Hristo, Romario, Pep, Koeman, Laudrup et al and I think, their teammates simply couldn't play at their speed of thought & skill...Imagine them playing today with their Barcelona teammates, my what a show it could be
When I was living in Chicago, Hristo was with the Chicago Fire and even in his advanced age, he was superlative...Stoichkov is a culé through & through, you get him talking about Clasicos and you can see his body language that he is itching to get out on the pitch...I love that edge
Laudrup's fallout with the team was both about Romario and the foreign player rule but also there were personality conflicts between the Dane & the Dutchman...Shame because Laudrup has gotten a little forgotten at the club, I feel - probably also owing to his stint with the capital club
When I was living in Chicago, Hristo was with the Chicago Fire and even in his advanced age, he was superlative...Stoichkov is a culé through & through, you get him talking about Clasicos and you can see his body language that he is itching to get out on the pitch...I love that edge
Laudrup's fallout with the team was both about Romario and the foreign player rule but also there were personality conflicts between the Dane & the Dutchman...Shame because Laudrup has gotten a little forgotten at the club, I feel - probably also owing to his stint with the capital club
Eriksen is no Laudrup. He's getting hyped because he is our biggest talent and we have few others.
He'll be a terrific player one day but there is no comparison. Laudrup was streets ahead at a similar age.
As a non-barca fan (I only have sympathies), it was a pretty extraordinary feat though. Left the 4 times champions, then won a 5th on the trot, including being the main man in destroying barca 5-0 (bit ironic, after he was the main man in the opposite scoreline the year before). Zamorano became topscorer only because of him. 80% of his goals were assisted by Laudrup. Raul barely played with him and he still thinks he is the best player he has ever played with.
It was a shame about that 3 foreigner rule. Romario was amazing, but it was such a brief stint for Barca it makes me wonder if it was worth it.
Jordan Henderson is a bit like Iniesta.
Yes! Only without the technique, dribbling, creativity, vision, pace and outstanding through balls.
I love how seriously people take my comparison. How good do you think Iniesta would be without any of those?
Not true by the way. He only came from the bench in the second half. Ironically though Guardiola was one of the outstanding performers that day if I remember correctly, creating 2 or 3 goals.
Not true by the way. He only came from the bench in the second half. Ironically though Guardiola was one of the outstanding performers that day if I remember correctly, creating 2 or 3 goals.
I am getting a few games mixed up, aren't I? That game was the one Romario tore them a new one. One thing I felt was really underrated about Romario was his holdup play. You could just bang it at him, he'd kill the ball and keep it to bring others into play.
Well Laudrup's performance in Real Madrid's 5-0 was sensational, created most if not all of the goals. That's what differentiates him from Iniesta - his ability to stretch defences and score goals, albeit he often played more advanced, drifting behind a lead striker.
That's the one. Although I must say that I wasn't really impressed with Romario's overall performance in that game. Despite scoring a hattrick, 2 goals were proper tap-ins. I rewatched that Clasico not that long ago and I remember Guardiola and Koeman being the standout performers. Stoichkov stood out as well if I remember correctly. At least I can't forget the huge grin on his face after he got substituted for Laudrup and Romario scored the 4th.
I loved Hristo's passion. Proper nutter at times.
Laudrup doesn't get the recognition he deserves, IMO...I am an enormous fan
That is a fair point, it is pretty easy to link the two based on nationality. It's a lot of pressure (huge amount) to be compared to a legend like Laudrup but that also shows the potential Eriksen has.
I've done that with Stojkovic many times.The good is that Eriksen is at the right club to develop his skills but he's going to be ready for a bigger club within 2-3 years...I'm definitely a fan but he has a ways to go still, for me
He has leagues to go, don't get me wrong I don't think he has shown anything near what Laudrup showed. He is a big talent though, and from Denmark so the pressure is always going to be on him
The best midfielder in the world was sexual last night..on Zizou's level and has enough in the tank to surpass it imo.
Why are you talking about Glenn Whelan in this thread you eejit?
Best midfielder in the world, yes. Not at zidane's level and will always be lower.
"Iniesta!!!Iniesta!!!Iniesta!!"
Dunno about that, he's a lot more consistent at club level than Zizou ever was.
He's not been bad in big matches either..
Better than Zizou. No doubt.
Exactly. I find it a bit mad to say he's never going to reach his level. Zizou is awfully overrated at times.