LB - Left Back - Leighton Baines the best/world class?

[evilwebby]

Until he's played champions league and gone up against robben, messi etc he can never be classed as "world class".

He's an exceptional fullback in his domestic league.

>> This <<

He's by and large untested against the very best in the biggest matches, and until he has, you can't honestly say that he's better or even as good as the others who do it week in week out.

 

[Brennan]

Until he's played champions league and gone up against robben, messi etc he can never be classed as "world class".

He's an exceptional fullback in his domestic league.

Don't buy this argument either. He's playing in the Premier League, which has the highest proportion of international stars of any other domestic league. I don't see how playing against Robben would be any different to playing against any of the other top class players in the Premier League. He's never looked out of place when playing teams like United and City who are chock full of international players.

And Messi can make any player look stupid, so i wouldn't be using that as a measurement of his ability.

 

[Brennan]

>> This <<

He's by and large untested against the very best in the biggest matches, and until he has, you can't honestly say that he's better or even as good as the others who do it week in week out.

So Neville Southall wasn't world class either then.

Or George Best.

 

[Allezfan]

Didn't Baines play against Robben when he was at Wigan, anyway?

 

[Cena]

Erm, he was boss against Ronaldo in his last season at United

 

[Brennan]

Erm, he was boss against Ronaldo in his last season at United

He hasn't played against Messi lad. It's only the little old Premier League.

 

[bluejock]

THE QUESTION IS LADS, CAN HE DO IT ON A COLD NOVEMBER NIGHT AT THE BRITTANIA LADS?

KNOWARRIMEAN LADS?

 

[Allezfan]

Or George Best.

Best made his name playing against the milans and the benficas though.

I do think Baines has yet to be tested at the top levels. There are players who are excellent domestically but find europe and international football just a step too far, Cantona being the first that comes to mind.

 

[kenada_blue]

Don't buy this argument either. He's playing in the Premier League, which has the highest proportion of international stars of any other domestic league. I don't see how playing against Robben would be any different to playing against any of the other top class players in the Premier League. He's never looked out of place when playing teams like United and City who are chock full of international players.

And Messi can make any player look stupid, so i wouldn't be using that as a measurement of his ability.

But the argument of why Cole is rated higher than him when the stats tell a different story, proves it.

Cole has played at the highest level and been tested by the best in European football and come out on top.

Baines does it in his domestic league. He's never been away at the Nou Camp in a semi final/San Siro etc so you can't say he's world class in my eyes.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

>> This <<

He's by and large untested against the very best in the biggest matches, and until he has, you can't honestly say that he's better or even as good as the others who do it week in week out.

He plays in the EPL, one of, if not THE, strongest league in the world. Just because he hasn't faced Messi in the Nou Camp doesn't preclude him from being an exceptional left back. If you knew what you were looking at, you'd realise that, anyone who sees him week in, week out would say the same. Do you go the game mate?

 

[bluejock]

[video=youtube;AjO5JWLh_H8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AjO5JWLh_H8[/video]

 

[Brennan]

But the argument of why Cole is rated higher than him when the stats tell a different story, proves it.

Cole has played at the highest level and been tested by the best in European football and come out on top.

Baines does it in his domestic league. He's never been away at the Nou Camp in a semi final/San Siro etc so you can't say he's world class in my eyes.

Which just so happens to be the league with some of the best players in world football, where he has never looked out of place. Chelsea, City, United, Arsenal. All Champions League regulars now and all teams he has played against and been boss against for years.

 

[kenada_blue]

Erm, he was boss against Ronaldo in his last season at United

Didn't Lescott play left back then?

 

[tsdoddy]

Until he's played champions league and gone up against robben, messi etc he can never be classed as "world class".

He's an exceptional fullback in his domestic league.

He's played against Robben for England he's also played against Ronaldo/Rooney/Valencia/NZogbia/Walcott/Kyle Walker/Gary Neville/Gareth Bale/Sagna/M Richards/Fabio/Glen Johnson/Bosingwa/Ivanovic/Ben Arfa not to mention scoring past world class keepers Joe Hart/Petr Cech.... and many many more consistently for years as well as steam rolling wigan to save that point bringing the best out of Cahill Fellaini Pienaar Jelavic all the midfield link up play dead ball specialist/shooting/passing/defending/crossing.... scoring high pressured 35 yard free kicks in the 119th minute against Chelsea Petr Cech.... and aslo had a big part in the England game the other day

 

[Brennan]

Didn't Lescott play left back then?

Baines made 37 league appearances in 2009-10.