Cristiano V Lionel

[BodyNovo]

ronaldo is the best ay

[Imyourhero]

Ronaldo has ridiculous athletic ability, a huge amount more then Messi and there is still debate on who is the best. Take away both their athletic ability (speed, agility, strength) and Messi dominates Ronaldo in the actual skills required to play. Weird way to think about it but it helps mixed up the debate considering how hard it is to compare top players.

[Imyourhero]

Also its so hard to compare when we haven't seen Messi play anywhere else at club level.

[joel31]

Ronaldo is the most complete footballer in the world and has been for years.

Of course Messi is also a phenomenon but as premy said he's not looked anywhere near the player we expect for the last 18 months or so. A lot of the praise he gets is purely based on reputation and the fact that he's not Ronaldo.

have you seen Manuel Neuer play?

[parksey]

While a i agree 100% that Ronaldo is the best attacking footballer on the planet right now to call either him or Messi "complete" is something i disagree with. They are both phenomenal attackers but in terms of defending and general play id say there are more 'complete' footballers.

Actually to expand on the original question if you were starting a team and could have one player from anywhere in the world (other than Griff) who would you pick to give you the best chance of winning games?

Id still say Iniesta.

gogogogogogo

yeah i knew someone would say this but i decided not to address it in my post because i thought it was a stupid point.

ronaldo might not be able to tackle as well as john terry but he sure as shit can do pretty much everything else better.

right foot, left foot, headers, pace, power, agility, technique, eye for a pass, can track back when he needs to.

don't really get how you can say iniesta is more "complete" either.

[parksey]

ps: neuer is great

[Premy]

Yeah I would argue given time if Ronnie played in the middle of the park he would do the same if not better than Iniesta. It's just he is better utilized out on the left so that's where his put

[plague]

yeah i knew someone would say this but i decided not to address it in my post because i thought it was a stupid point.

ronaldo might not be able to tackle as well as john terry but he sure as shit can do pretty much everything else better.

right foot, left foot, headers, pace, power, agility, technique, eye for a pass, can track back when he needs to.

don't really get how you can say iniesta is more "complete" either.

Heres why.
if i was picking a 'winger'/'attacker' right now id pick Ronaldo.
If picked a centre mid right now id pick Iniesta.

I personally feel centre mids generally have more of an input over the whole 90 mins than attackers.
For one moment of brilliance, for a freakish piece of skill, its Ronaldo all the way.
For a player to control the game and have a bigger say on the result I'd lean towards Iniesta.
This does not make it a stupid point.
Cheers,
Plague.

[plague]

Yeah I would argue given time if Ronnie played in the middle of the park he would do the same if not better than Iniesta. It's just he is better utilized out on the left so that's where his put

Hes not even the best centre mid in his own club team.
oh and he is not "put" anywhere. Players like Ronaldo, Messi etc tell their coaches exactly where they want to play, not the other way around.
If you dont believe me ask Eto'o, Zlatan etc etc etc.

[parksey]

Heres why.
if i was picking a 'winger'/'attacker' right now id pick Ronaldo.
If picked a centre mid right now id pick Iniesta.

I personally feel centre mids generally have more of an input over the whole 90 mins than attackers.
For one moment of brilliance, for a freakish piece of skill, its Ronaldo all the way.
For a player to control the game and have a bigger say on the result I'd lean towards Iniesta.
This does not make it a stupid point.
Cheers,
Plague.

i don't think preferring a midfielder to an attacker in building a team was stupid, i meant the fact that you brought up defensive capabilities. i should have clarified.

but yeah, inesta is obviously tremendous but ronaldo is on a different planet.

[plague]

i don't think preferring a midfielder to an attacker in building a team was stupid, i meant the fact that you brought up defensive capabilities. i should have clarified.

but yeah, inesta is obviously tremendous but ronaldo is on a different planet.

Noted: and apologies.
You could also say that Barcas 'pressing' defence puts your Messi's/Iniestas/Xavis under more pressure to defend rather than Madrid/Man U's more 'traditional' approach.

We will respectfully disagree on this issue, but join together and laugh once Member comes on here and starts spouting some rubbish.

[joel31]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/...is-impossible/
Messi > Ronaldo

[plague]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/...is-impossible/
Messi > Ronaldo

ruh-roh, here come the stats.

i hate stats in football.

[joel31]

ruh-roh, here come the stats.

i hate stats in football.

because stats don't have bias?

[plague]

because stats don't have bias?

No, but the person collating them can.

cc: global warming activists and deniers.

[Premy]

Stats can easily be manipulated to drive an agenda.

You know 74.63% of stats are made up on the spot, basically all stats except Jeterpools are fiction and irrelevant.

[Jeterpool]

No, but the person collating them can.

cc: global warming activists and deniers.

You're wrong. Simply wrong you coal burning tree hater

[Jeterpool]

Stats can easily be manipulated to drive an agenda.

You know 74.63% of stats are made up on the spot, basically all stats except Jeterpools are fiction and irrelevant.

I try hard to write my previews as impartially as I can but sometimes it's too hard to make us sound anything but crap, like when we travel to perth. Ha ha

[MFKS]

We will respectfully disagree on this issue, but join together and laugh once Member comes on here and starts spouting some rubbish.

Actually was gonna come on here and say I reckon Iniesta is a better player than both CR7 and Lionel Missi and that you are right and every other **** is wrong.

Should I now stay away from the thread or would you rather I spouted some rubbish to back up your stance??

[plague]

Actually was gonna come on here and say I reckon Iniesta is a better player than both CR7 and Lionel Missi and that you are right and every other **** is wrong.

Should I now stay away from the thread or would you rather I spouted some rubbish to back up your stance??

Please don't agree with me, it will devalue my argument.