Exactly. And in French 98 team it was even 3 more defensive midfielders in Petit, Deschamps and someone else.
Iniesta vs Zidane
- Thread starter TheNewEra
- Start date
It's not. It's very different. form of 4-3-3 is for example 4-1-4-1, when your wingers is playing a bit closer to defence goal. The key reason here is that 4-3-3 does not allow for classic AM number 10 role. Which is exactly the reason why Zidane never played in team that employs this formation as a main one.
There are a lot of teams who play 4-3-3, not sure what you on about really. PSG, Lyon, half of Eredivisie (if not like almost all) etc. Napoli played similar system it was a mixture of 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1. Out and out forwards is not the main point, the main point is organization of attacks and midfield shape. That's relevant bit.
I said that current Barca if they had Zidane would not play 4-3-3, because there is no place in that set-up for him. They have to use for numver 10 in the middle, France in 98 did. No matter how you classify Djorkaeffs role, the main thing was that Zidane played in the center, he played with a lot of protection behind him, whole 3 players in midfield were tasked with getting the ball back and also he was their organizer controlled their attacks. Same thing in Juve or Real, at least two players in midfield working behind him and he led the play, was playmaker in both these teams.
In current Barcelona that is not possible, but if they had a player like Zidane, it's safe bet, that they would not employ 4-3-3 with 1-2 triangle in the middle and will go find something else, some formation in which AM could fit in.
zizou storms into an early, frankly unsurprising, lead
Zidane because he was the main man. Iniesta has always been the Pippin to Jordan.
Iniesta is more on the Figo, Ribery level than Zidane. Marvellous player, but lacks a little bit of something to be a true all time great.
What's the something he misses that Zidane has?
Votes in this poll.
Swap Iniesta and Zidane's roles for club and country, and I doubt there'd be much (if anything) between them.
In any other generation, Iniesta would have stood out just as much as Zidane did. The former is unlucky that playing in the same era as Ronaldo and Messi makes him seem like second level player.
In fact, overall, Iniesta probably shades it because he was so much more consistent in the league. Zidane would have weekend games in Italy and Spain where he couldn't be arsed.
In any other generation, Iniesta would have stood out just as much as Zidane did. The former is unlucky that playing in the same era as Ronaldo and Messi makes him seem like second level player.
In fact, overall, Iniesta probably shades it because he was so much more consistent in the league. Zidane would have weekend games in Italy and Spain where he couldn't be arsed.
Don't think the poll question really captures what the debate was about (I know you weren't serious but anyway). I took the debate to be the better player over their career, not at their prime.
A level of genius. Zidane would do things that would have everyone in awe.
Plenty of them. Seems like people all of a sudden forgot about those. Zidane for all his aura is probably the least consistent "great" player.
One would think Iniesta offsets that somewhat by playing well more often, playing poorly less often, being even more of a clutch player and being better defensively.
Has Iniesta ever played the conventional number 10 role for club or country? He seems to be the perfect fit for it, and having his defensive responsibilities waived would surely showcase his abilities on the ball even more. Some of his dribbling in his own defensive third is just a joy to behold, would love to have seen more of it in the final third from a central starting point as opposed to coming in from the left or from deep in midfield.
That seems like just something you have made up. It's true watching Zidane had people in awe at times, but it happens with Iniesta too.
@carvajal surprised to see you vote for iniesta.....
I'm with Iniesta on this one. He's just more gracefull on the pitch. When i watch Barca play I look forward to watching Iniesta more than anyone else. Similarly when I watched Juve or RM play back then I was looking forward to watching Luiz Ronaldo and Del Pierro more than Zidane.
All Spaniards love Iniesta, even Madrid and Espanyol fans.
Except for some Bilbao fans. For bizarre reasons.
Yes I know and its unsurprising given he won the world cup for his country, just surprised to see a madridista vote against a club legend and current manager
Just, no.
Ribery as good as Iniesta? Ah ffs. 
Zidane, easily...
Hard decision.I have a friend fan of Celta and deeply antimadridista that studied in Madrid during those years and used to go quite often to Bernabéu.He said that Zidane presence was enough to justify the price of the ticket.The definition of more than one fan used to be "dancing with the ball",however I have followed all the career of Iniesta from the beginning. Years ago in Tv there was a very famous tournament for kids representing regions and first division teams called "Torneo de Brunete"(organized by J.R de la Morena,who has a sport program in SER radio).Iniesta was named the best player.Let's say that I feel more simpathy for him and I know him better but I don't know so much about the Zidane of Girondins and Juve.Iniesta scored the goal in the final and as Vato said every decent spaniard likes Iniesta.
Anyway in my opinion Zidane should be compared with another #10
Regarding the Ballon D'Or in 1998, we have to keep in mind ZZ won the Scudetto in 1998 at a time where the Calcio was clearly the most competitive league. Champions League Runner-up in 1998. 1998 WC winner of course.
But - from an individual perspective - I have to admit Ronaldo deserved to win the Ballon D'Or in 1998 without dispute: a pure phenomenon.
Nice analogy
But - from an individual perspective - I have to admit Ronaldo deserved to win the Ballon D'Or in 1998 without dispute: a pure phenomenon.
Nice analogy
Iniesta getting destroyed in the poll. 
Iniesta getting destroyed in the poll.
Zidane: 2 times WC Runner-up explain the outcome
The poll says who was greater in his prime. If the question was who's the better player overall, I reckon the results would be different.Iniesta getting destroyed in the poll.
Don't think so to be honest
Would be shocked if a Bayern fan ridiculed the comparison. In fact, i'm shocked anyone does.
Frank Ribery isn't fit to lace iniestas boots. We are comparing a guy who shows up in EVERY big game to a guy who has barely showed up in one .
At his best(1999 - 2003) Zidane was consistent, and didn't have all that many poor games. Anyways the consistency of the current Barca and Bayern players is a product of team dominance rather than anything else. Yeah, Iniesta is better than him defensively but Zidane was hardly Berbatov.
Heh, I swear I remember Ribery turning up vs Barca while Iniesta was being bullied into submission by Martinez...
Feel free to create an Iniesta vs Ribery thread though , ask for a poll and watch what happens . Would probably be thread closed in less than a page because of how pointless that argument is.
if Zidane was active now and Iniesta stopped playing 10 years ago the poll would be reversed....
Aye, there's a slight difference that partly accounts for Zidane's majority.
Funny thing, probably you could start a poll with the question "When was Zidane at his prime" and the people wouldn't have an idea where to point it. Some would say "98' WC" but he wasn't even the Ballon d'Or of the world cup. "96 til 98 Juve" but in my memory that was Del Piero's Juve and no one would dare say Del Piero was better than Iniesta at their prime, then "2006 WC" but he was in a epic role, he was nowhere close his better level 10 years before... 98 til 01? Those years there were other players at his level or even better, players that, again, few people would say were better than Iniesta
Dunno, I think this comparison either overrates Zidane or underrates Iniesta, it pisses me off
Start a thread on it.
No chance. Had Iniesta retired 10 years ago there would be Iniesta vs Figo debates.
Voted for Zidane, but I still think the comparison is flawed. Two all time greats, though.