Iniesta - Is there another? | Announces retirement
- Thread starter SAred
- Start date
Plus he faded in the big games. Nowhere to be found against Bayern. Was he on the pitch against PSG before Messi came on?
Can't comment on Bayern game but he was the best Barca player vs PSG before Messi came on. I know that's not saying much but I've rarely ever seen him not turn up.
This thread title always reminds of that scene between Obi-Wan and Yoda in Empire Strikes Back.
Right now there are players in his mould but there is still no one as good as him, Mata is probably the closest in my view, he doesn't have Iniesta's dribbling skills but he makes up for that with a greater goal return.
Right now there are players in his mould but there is still no one as good as him, Mata is probably the closest in my view, he doesn't have Iniesta's dribbling skills but he makes up for that with a greater goal return.
Every time I watch him I get an irresistible urge to play. What an absolute joy to watch.
there's no other like "El Cerebro" in world football... brilliant player.
I would love to see him play in a different team, in a team without messi. He deserves to be the star on his own. here would be nice heheh...
I don't think they are similar at all, apart that they both have good number of assists, and they play in similar position.
Just watched him against Nigeria, is there a better player in International games on the planet? never seen him have a bad game for Spain, some of the things he was pulling off was outrageous.
I think he's the best midfielder I've seen. His close control and ability in tight spaces is second to none. And I've not seen another midfielder carry the ball so effortlessly from midfield into attack.
I wish Barca would stop farting around and playing him on the left from time to time. Such a waste of truly excellent player.
And he's a nice down to earth bloke to boot.
I wish Barca would stop farting around and playing him on the left from time to time. Such a waste of truly excellent player.
And he's a nice down to earth bloke to boot.
Watching him today, I've decided he's definitely better than Xavi. People talk about Fabregas or Thiago eventually taking the "Xavi role" at Barcelona, but I think Iniesta would be better at it than either of them, he's just so damn good. I genuinely think we might see him playing deeper as he gets older, he seems like he'd be well able to adapt to a new role. My favourite non-United player of all time.
I've thought this for a long time - that he will drop deeper as he gets older and loses his pace. Some countered (I think Brwned) saying that he doesn't have the discipline for the Xavi role. But I don't believe that - once his legs go he isn't going to be carrying the ball as much as he does now. And he is a very smart player tactically so I think he should be able to pull it off.
He's just such a magical player.
Everytime I watch him, I cant help but think he's right up there with Messi and Ronaldo. Not in goal/assist output but in terms of pure ability and skill, he's surely in that bracket?
Everytime I watch him, I cant help but think he's right up there with Messi and Ronaldo. Not in goal/assist output but in terms of pure ability and skill, he's surely in that bracket?
He is now better than Xavi, but Xavi at his best (2008-2011) was better than Iniesta at his best IMO. A great player anyway, definitely up there with the best midfielders of this century and probably only slightly below Xavi, Pirlo and Zidane. Also, not arrogant on the pitch, doesn't cheat, great at interviews and unlike Xavi/Messi/Barca players never makes pressure to the ref for a booking or sending off.
About Xavi role, I dunno, he operates differently but he has both the technical ability and football intelligence to succeed in every role.
It outrageous that Barcelona had Iniesta, Xavi, AND Messi pop up at the same time. Good lord.
I think it's fair enough to make an argument for any of Xavi, Zidane or Iniesta being better than the other two, they're of very similar ability. I don't think Pirlo is quite at that level though, he's closer to the level Scholes was at IMO.
As I said in the post above, it was only when watching him play today that I decided that Iniesta is better than Xavi. He was playing with such intelligence that it occurred to me that he could probably adapt to play the "Xavi role" to a ridiculously high level, whereas Xavi wouldn't be able to adapt to Iniesta's role in the same way. Before now I've thought that Xavi's ridiculous footballing intelligence made up for Iniesta's extra pace/dribbling ability/ touch. Now I'm much less sure that the gap in intelligence between Xavi and Iniesta is quite that big. I guess it'll be easier to judge when both their careers are finished, then we'll know if Iniesta was quite as adaptable as I think he is.
To be fair, I might be slightly biased in that Iniesta is my favourite non-United player ever. I know players like Messi and Ronaldo are clearly better, but I'd sooner spend 90 minutes watching Iniesta than either of them. His style is so elegantly beautiful that I might be slightly overrating his overall quality when compared to the other greats.
Yep, both Xavi and Iniesta would've been competing with Zidane to be the best in the world if the'd been born 10 years earlier. Even having the two of them in the same team is ridiculously lucky. Add arguably the greatest of all time onto that and it starts to seem a bit unfair on everyone else. Hell, even their second tier players like Fabregas and Busquets would probably walk into any other team.
The Don is an easy player to become seduced by, his play is hypnotic. The Laudrup influence is palpable. I hope more talents will come through in football that can leave you mesmerized by their play and their professionalism
My fave player of all time
I'd love to have an Iniesta kit but I don't even feel worthy enough to wear it
Such a brilliant player, I'm surprised a few of you are only now saying he's better then Xavi. He's been better for me since 2010, when he showed how good he was in that World Cup. One of the best midfielders ever, along with zidane. Don't think he could take Xavi's role because his play is much more adventurous, and takes much more risks, but he is better at that than any other player. Xavi couldn't do his role as good as him either, but that is no slight on him.
Another thing with iniesta though is his ability to step up another level in big games. He is zidane-esque in that regard, almost always the best player on the pitch in the big games, regardless of if messi is there, or Ronaldo.
Another thing with iniesta though is his ability to step up another level in big games. He is zidane-esque in that regard, almost always the best player on the pitch in the big games, regardless of if messi is there, or Ronaldo.
In a way it's a shame that Iniesta and Xavi are so closely associated with each other, I think they'll tend to be remembered as a partnership rather than as the outstanding individual talents they are.
He's been my favorite non-United player since 2010, and is definitely gonna go down as one of my all-time favorites, alongside Ronaldinho and Henry.
It really really is. There aren't many more players I enjoy watching their vids on youtube than Laudrup and Iniesta gets really close.
Is there a video of his performance?
The other thing about him is he is not a prick.
Do not remember him ever feigning injury, or diving. He keeps his beak out the press and just gets on with life - much like our Scholesy.
Top class player and legend of the game.
Do not remember him ever feigning injury, or diving. He keeps his beak out the press and just gets on with life - much like our Scholesy.
Top class player and legend of the game.
He dived to get Heitinga sent off in the WC final in 2010.
He was a bit of a diving cnut the whole finals. So, yeah, a diving cnut but not so much as most of his teammates.
Absolutely orgasmic footballer though. Just a shame he like so many other Barca and Madrid-players feel the need to stoop so low in terms of cheating.
Not going to have THAT debate though.
Well perhaps, but a 1 off game does not prove to me he is a constant diver IMO. Anyway the Dutch were performing a hatchet job in that game, i'm not surprised he hit the deck a few times.
Yeah, true that.
Doesn't take away from the fact he's one of the best players I've ever watched. So graceful.
Doesn't take away from the fact he's one of the best players I've ever watched. So graceful.
The Iniesta is better than Zidane debate is plausible, honestly.
I was a big fan of Zidane but I think I've now officially decided that Iniesta>Zidane. In my eyes anyway.
My view, too. Iniesta is more consistent.
I agree I wanted to debate it on the Champions League draft thread but I was told last time it derailed him. He is the most elegant player since Zidane that balance they both possess and just the way they move with the ball.
Iniesta is the superior passer while Zidane is the better goalscorer (quick lazy analysis) with Laudrup the best 3 attacking midfielders of the last 20-25 imo.
Iniesta is the superior passer while Zidane is the better goalscorer (quick lazy analysis) with Laudrup the best 3 attacking midfielders of the last 20-25 imo.
Iniesta is easily my favourite player to watch(once Thiago comes here though that'll change
), and my favourite non-United player in the world, and possibly of all time. I just love him.
), and my favourite non-United player in the world, and possibly of all time. I just love him.Better than Zidane for me.
Isco will be better than both
He's great to watch at times, but Zidane and Xavi still surpass Iniesta for now.
If he played for us we'd have a ridiculous amount of GIF requests after every game! His little changes of direction whilst dribbling are so subtle, but yet devastating. Who needs a step over when you're blessed with such skill.
Great player. Shoud score more.
Watching him in action is sheer pleasure. So smooth, so effortless. Great player.
Yup, his productivity doesn't come close to matching his talent.