Redcafe's best players in the world - Voting.

amolbhatia50k said:
The award is pointless if it's not going to the best player. Suarez week in week out over the course of the whole season was clearly the best footballer.
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Ballon D'Or is more like a popularity contest. I am pretty sure at least 60 -70% of the Barca players would vote for Messi next year, unless some dramatic turnaround happens.
Hell, I wont be even shocked, if Suarez does not make top 3 come December.
 
sullydnl said:
Surely what you're describing is current form rather than current ability?
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Well, I'd say ability and form go hand in hand, because ability is such an abstract word in itself. What kind of "ability" should I consider when making a top 10 list of footballers? I went with the interpretion of the "ability to contribute to the team's success" which involves goals and assists as well as succesfull passes, creating chances, defensive contribution etc.
If a player has the theoretical ability but can't utilize it at the moment for whatever reason then it's worth nothing, and Neymar contributed very little over the past 5 months aside from some tap ins as well as 2-3 good games here and there.
So should I evaluate on the theoretical possibility that he'll start contributing again in the upcoming season, or should I go by actual contribution in recent months? Because going by initial talent (evidenced by the 07/08 season) Fernando Torres might make that list then. I could make a case for Hazard as well.
Iniesta or Hazard were amongst the 3 or 5 best players on the planet at one point, so both showed that they got the latent ability but considering their contribution over the last two seasons they should be nowhere near a top 10 list of footballers because both actually played quite some dross for large parts of those seasons with a few brilliant games in between (a few more from Iniesta). The same for Neymar. You can't play one brilliant half of a season, go into hiding at the most crucial time of the season and still be labeled a top 10 footballer on the planet. That would be ridiculous. Still it was a very close decision and I might see things in a different light come tomorrow.

Edit:
Had a hard time deciding if Suarez, Messi or Ronaldo should be first because to me those were the standout players across the top leagues this season. I gave Messi the benefit of the doubt because without his service and contribution in the build up (anyone watching Barcelona should have been able to see that) Suarez's goal tally might have been halved. Despite his grave injury in September which forced him to pause 45 days he still contributed 38 goals and 17 assists over all comps, which I thought was brilliant.
 
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Revan said:
Winning UCL is a bigger achievement than winning the league + the domestic Cup.

Agree with the rest of the post though.

To Ronaldo's defense, he was again injured for the final but yep, he was very poor on it (same as 2 years ago).
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It's not this season, though. The only team of quality Real had to beat were Atletico, and even them they beat via an offside goal and penalty shootouts. The teams they faced before that were Wolfsburg and City. I mean, they'd actually finding it harder to lose to those teams (almost did to one oddly) than win. Compare that to winning the hardest league in the world competing against 2 top class teams, and of course the Copa Del Rey.

Thing is, Suarez has all bases covered. He's been consistently superior to the "big 2", he's been great in big games, he's got the most goals, and he's got two trophies. We'll see how "fair" the Balon Dor is this year. I can't stand Suarez but as things stand, he deserves, and by a fair bit IMO.
 
1. Messi
2. Ronaldo
3. Suarez
4. Bale
5. Neymar
6. Müller
7. Lewandowski
8. Griezmann
9. Aguero
10. De Gea
 
1. Messi
2. Cristiano
3. Suárez
4. Modric
5. Bale
6. Neymar
7. Lewandowski
8. Busquets
9. Iniesta
10. Griezmann
 
On current form more so than ability:

1. De Gea
2. Messi
3. Ronaldo
4. Neymar
5. Modric
6. Bale
7. Suarez
8. Sergio Ramos
9. Griezmann
10. Martial
 
thejtrain said:
On current form more so than ability:

1. De Gea
2. Messi
3. Ronaldo
4. Neymar
5. Modric
6. Bale
7. Suarez
8. Sergio Ramos
9. Griezmann
10. Martial
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Eh perhaps a little biased there with the Martial inclusion? He has shown promise but top 10 in the world? I realise you are going by form but surely Martial isn't even the most in-form striker in the Premiership. The less said about De Gea being the most in-form player in the world the better, bit blinkered aren't we?
 
Revan said:
I think that you haven't seen him play. Neymar has been atrocious for half a season, and Suarez has not only been outscoring Messi, but has been performing fantastically well in all of the big matches. Of course, someone might opt for Messi (considering that Messi offers more) but I think that Suarez has been the better player this season. Neymar doesn't even come close to them.
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When Messi got injured, Neymar was the best player in the world for 2-3 months, then as you said when Messi returned he turned to crap essentially. The second half of the season Neymar just went missing.

I'd say Suarez over the year has been better than Ronaldo as a striker, but Ronaldo has been better in Europe.

Messi is always #1 for the past 9 years or so he has been and statistics back that up, even sites like Squawka (using a tinyurl here to condense a huge query string:
http://tinyurl.com/h5yyx74) the top 5 leagues this year Messi is far beyond Ronaldo even with an injury.

It's an insult this year if Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or but who knows it depends on the summer.

It's weird to see Higuain above Suarez, but Neymars start of the season really did push him up statistically.
 
TheNewEra said:
When Messi got injured, Neymar was the best player in the world for 2-3 months, then as you said when Messi returned he turned to crap essentially. The second half of the season Neymar just went missing.

I'd say Suarez over the year has been better than Ronaldo as a striker, but Ronaldo has been better in Europe.

Messi is always #1 for the past 9 years or so he has been and statistics back that up, even sites like Squawka (using a tinyurl here to condense a huge query string:
http://tinyurl.com/h5yyx74) the top 5 leagues this year Messi is far beyond Ronaldo even with an injury.

It's an insult this year if Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or but who knows it depends on the summer.

It's weird to see Higuain above Suarez, but Neymars start of the season really did push him up statistically.
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Yup. Neymar was their best player for a while and was a lot better than Suarez for almost half the season. Then the tables turned and Suarez hit form while Neymar lost his. I think it is a lot closer between the two than people say right now as Neymar is currently off form and Suarez in top form, it's always like that.
 
JP77 said:
Interested to hear why it's ridiculous to include Pogba in a top 10 list?
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He didn't have a good season overall IMO. He started erratic and picked up but was pretty average compared to what is expected of him.
 
I'll go based on what I saw from last season rather than hypothetic talent for 2016/17. I'll exclude all players which I haven't watched enough which is Bundesliga/Serie A primarily. Will be a terrible list with all the good players I've failed to watch enough to have an opinion on.

1. Ronaldo(CL Winner and top scorer.)
1. Messi(League and Cup.)
3. Suarez(After a weak first couple of months he just hit form and never looked back, incredible record over the course of the season)
3. Ibrahimovic(4 titles, 38 goals and 13 assists in only 29 starts in the league.)
4. Griezmann
5. Neymar
6. DDG
7. Di Maria
8. Godin
9. Silva
10. Mahrez
 
I have to go on two seasons of performances, not just one. If we're looking at current form only players like Mahrez would have to get a shout and that just doesn't seem right. Heck, even if really "current form" one might even think about Rashford. But no, 18 games or 38 games just isn't enough.

  1. Messi
  2. Ronaldo
  3. Suarez
  4. De Gea
  5. Neymar
  6. Muller
  7. Ibrahimovic
  8. Lewandowski
  9. Bale
  10. Greizmann
 
Enigma_87 said:
He didn't have a good season overall IMO. He started erratic and picked up but was pretty average compared to what is expected of him.
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Personally don't agree with that. He picked up after the first quarter or so of the season and was absolutely fantastic for chunks of it. Finished the season in brilliant form.

I can accept some people not including him in their top 10 list but it's way over the top to claim it's ridiculous if somebody includes him in their top 10. He's an absolutely fantastic footballer and one of the best midfielders around at just 23 years of age, he deserves the hype.
 
Revan said:
In what aspect he is better? As in he had a better career? Obviously, yes. But Suarez has been playing better than him for around a year now. In addition, this isn't just form. Suarez has been improving each year for the last few years, even in last season he was extremely good in the big matches (better than Messi IMO), and this season he has outplayed Messi. Messi peaked a few years ago, and despite that he is still a great player and the best on the world in his best day, it has been a slight decrease in his game IMO.

In my opinion, Suarez will be better than Messi next year too, and should win the Ballon D'Or in January. However, likely Ronaldo will win it.
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Messi was the better player than Suárez, is the better player and most likely always will be. His injury means Suárez probably just edges it this season, but on form he's still a few levels above Suárez.
 
Ronaldo's season has been sub-par by his own standards and his stats have been bolstered by a significant amount of penalties. I don't think he's even been the best player on his position, Neymar has had some absolute moments of magic. Madrid's CL victory makes his season look better than it was - they had some incredible luck during their draw.
 
I'm seeing the likes of Muller above Ronaldo on some lists........yeah right.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
It's pretty evident that you haven't been watching Barcelona regularly over the last two seasons. Last season Messi was the king, and Suarez was the second best player of the MSN combination because his more mature and well rounded game compared to Neymar. This season Suarez has been the best player on the planet. I've only gone for Messi because he influences games in many more ways than anyone else. Neymar had a storming start to the season, but has been poor in the second half with Suarez clearly the better player for a year and a half now.

It's funny because had you actually been watching Barca regularly you'd know that Neymar is the one from that trio who on an off day is likely to mess up moves, with Messi and Suarez being their best two players.

And while Iniesta is still a great player when in form, and as he showed recently, still terrific in big cup games, as an overall footballer, he isn't the force he once was. Barca's midfield has over the last two seasons had spells of being poor leading to an over reliance on the front three. If anyone is the true gem of that midfield week in week out, it is busquets. But the best way to put it is that Modric is now the best CM in the world and Iniesta isn't as good as him.
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Neymar was superior to Suarez last year, that's not even debatable. Neymar got third place in the Ballon D'Or behind Messi and Ronaldo for example.

This season, he started on fire - if you recall Messi had a lengthy injury and Barça to step up which he did in tremendous fashion. He scored against Villareal, Atletico, and Real Madrid, and was with Don Andres the most important player in that 4-0 win that doomed Benitez.

Yes, he hit a rough spot in Jan - Feb, but he always contributed.

Suarez has been good, but with Messi playing a more withdrawn role, he is the primary threat. He gets many, many chances a game. He had his own rough patch Feb - Mar when he was missing 2-3 clear goal scoring opportunities per game (Las Palmas, Sevilla, Villareal just jump to mind).

I think Neymar is more talented though. Has better ball control, dribbling ability and fantasy. And Messi is head n shoulders above. But if you're looking at stats alone, then you're missing the point.
 
1. Messi
2. Suarez
3. De Gea
4. Ronaldo
5. Neuer
6. Ibrahimovic
7. Neymar
8. Griezmann
9. Aguero
10. Muller

Think its a good era for forwards, particularly wide forwards, and a good era for keepers. Relatively poor period for center backs and midfielders though.
 
balaks said:
Eh perhaps a little biased there with the Martial inclusion? He has shown promise but top 10 in the world? I realise you are going by form but surely Martial isn't even the most in-form striker in the Premiership. The less said about De Gea being the most in-form player in the world the better, bit blinkered aren't we?
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Martial - maybe, De Gea - no. I genuinely think he's been the best keeper this year.
 
1. Ronaldo
2. Messi
3. Suarez
4. Vardy (I know...but I don't think he deserves a top 3 place yet)
5. Ibrahimovic
6. Griezmann
7. Neymar
8. Muller
9. Lewandowski
10. De Gea
 
  1. Messi
  2. Suarez
  3. Ronaldo
  4. Neymar
  5. Godin
  6. Modric
  7. Biscuits
  8. Lewandowski
  9. Bale
  10. De Gea
Inclusion of Godin and Modric because I believe they are the best in the world in their respective positions. Same with Biscuits.
Ronaldo is worse than Suarez IMO right now, although he is still arguably better than Neymar.
After 4 it isn't really ordered.
De Gea because I am biased.
 
Suedesi said:
Neymar was superior to Suarez last year, that's not even debatable. Neymar got third place in the Ballon D'Or behind Messi and Ronaldo for example.

This season, he started on fire - if you recall Messi had a lengthy injury and Barça to step up which he did in tremendous fashion. He scored against Villareal, Atletico, and Real Madrid, and was with Don Andres the most important player in that 4-0 win that doomed Benitez.

Yes, he hit a rough spot in Jan - Feb, but he always contributed.

Suarez has been good, but with Messi playing a more withdrawn role, he is the primary threat. He gets many, many chances a game. He had his own rough patch Feb - Mar when he was missing 2-3 clear goal scoring opportunities per game (Las Palmas, Sevilla, Villareal just jump to mind).

I think Neymar is more talented though. Has better ball control, dribbling ability and fantasy. And Messi is head n shoulders above. But if you're looking at stats alone, then you're missing the point.
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Except no one is looking merely at statistics and hence noone is missing the point.

Besides, if you'd watched as much of Barcelona as you claim to have, you'd have noticed what the stats don't tell you - that Suarez' all round contribution over the past 1.5 seasons has been much better than Neymars. Of the two of them, it's Suarez who is more likely to influence the game through his hold up play, strength and link up, while Neymar, who is also an excellent player, is more likely to be a complete mess when not in form (most of the second half/third of the season). The only reason Neymar was better last season was because he was at Barcelona beforehand. Once got past his ban and initial difficult couple of months, he's been the superior player.

Neymar always contributed? Well that's bloody obvious. They all contribute when they aren't playing well given they're top players. But of the three, Messi is the most complete, Suarez the second most complete and Neymar, naturally due to being younger, the least. Neymar is the most likely to have a game where nothing goes for him, he gets frustrated, messes up moves etc than the other two.

I agree that Neymar is more talented. His start to the season was frighteningly good. I expect him to be the next multiple Balon 'Dor winner, but the second half of the season shows that he still has some way to go and the third best of the MSN trio as things stand.
 
TitusCrumble said:
  1. Messi
  2. Suarez
  3. Ronaldo
  4. Neymar
  5. Godin
  6. Modric
  7. Biscuits
  8. Lewandowski
  9. Bale
  10. De Gea
Inclusion of Godin and Modric because I believe they are the best in the world in their respective positions. Same with Biscuits.
Ronaldo is worse than Suarez IMO right now, although he is still arguably better than Neymar.
After 4 it isn't really ordered.
De Gea because I am biased.
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This is a well-balanced list imo. I don't even think DDG's inclusion is undeserved. Just imagine how many points he's earned us this season with spectacular displays. Saving a clean sheet might be worth more for a team than having your number one scorer unload 3 or 4 against a bottom of the table team and remain quiet and ineffective in the big games. Based on our performance, we should have never won the FA cup and made it this far up the table if it wasn't for David.
 
1. Messi
2. Ronaldo
3. Suarez
4. Modric
5. Ibrahimovic
6. Neymar
7. Lewandowski
8. Thiago Silva
9. De Gea
10. Bale
 
Not many premiership players in these lists, despite all the riches of our league. Maybe with the new TV deal and top managers congregating here we will see more top players coming here too in the future.
 
1. Messi
2. Ronaldo
3. Neymar
4. Muller
5. Suarez
6. Ibrahimovic
7. De Gea
8. Greizmann
9. Pogba
10. Bale
 
1. Messi
2. Suarez
3. Ronaldo
4. Neymar
5. De Gea
6. Bale
7. Modric
8. Mahrez
9. Mignolet
10. Skrtel
 
Sorry Twigg, I kinda ran out of knowing properly around #8.

Your draconian no nonsense approach is entirely appropriate.
 
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