Truly world class.........?

[larbert toffee]

...yep, he’s treated as a legend by many, sadly I just thought he was a circus player. I was spoiled by seeing so many greats.

You're right Eggs but he was one of my favourite players at the time, I was young and it seemed to be a bit of his magic always lit up what could be a dreary Goodison on a bad day, and unfortunately we had many of those to contend with.

 

[Cameron Manning]

The point is Cam, some players have that simple but elegant efficienct capacity that functions at the same personal level what ever level they end up at.
Your Collins, McGoverns, Reids, Kantes at lower levels while not obviously standout world class do, if they are lucky and get in the right team, have within them that capacity to do 'just what they do' no matter how high they go with good players around them.
They (would) fit in a world class teams so seamlessly that they aquire world class and that world class team is often the poorer when they are absent...and if a world class team is poorer without them???

Yes Degsy I get your drift, they wouldn’t look out of place in a world class team, fair enough.

 

[APN_EFC]

Regarding Ginola, Gascoigne, Lukaku, and others, I would say world-class is defined as a) regularly in the national team b) outstanding performer for their club and country c) has performed really well at a World Cup, European Championships or European club football

I think in recent years that means only Kanchelskis, Lineker make it, but (again from my narrow view of 35 years) Southall, Arteta, Cahill, Stevens & Steven, Lukaku sort of make it but don't fit my definition of what I've said above. The top team of the 80s was more of a team than any world-class individuals apart from big nev.

 

[Steve Wigan]

The point is Cam, some players have that simple but elegant efficienct capacity that functions at the same personal level what ever level they end up at.
Your Collins, McGoverns, Reids, Kantes at lower levels while not obviously standout world class do, if they are lucky and get in the right team, have within them that capacity to do 'just what they do' no matter how high they go with good players around them.
They (would) fit in a world class teams so seamlessly that they aquire world class and that world class team is often the poorer when they are absent...and if a world class team is poorer without them???

Its fair comment about most of them, but Collins did it consistently well over 9 years at two clubs. The type of player youre talking about usually only turned it on a one club. I know REidy and Kante were good before being signed by Everton and Chelsea respectively, but they came into their own after being transferred(although Kante had driven Leicester to the title). I've just read what I've written, and while Kante has done it at a couple of clubs, its only over a couple of years,

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Lucky you Dario !

I cant say I saw a world class Everton player live I had rotten luck , went to see the 69/70 side with Dad and Uncle Frank but was too young to appreciate from the pen , Dad emigrated us in 72 , I came back again 77 to 82 , emigrated again 82 so missed two great teams

It will come again Mikey mate!!

 

[street end]

Scoring in world cups doesn’t make you world class mate.

Do you really think Tim Cahill would’ve got into Real Madrid or Barcelona’s team?

All opinion based, relax. It’s footballs biggest stage so.....

 

[street end]

He never played for a team in the CL so has never played that level and he wouldn’t get into any of the title winning teams in Europes big leagues or the prem.

Does that mean someone like Jordan Henderson for example is world class?

 

[rochdaleblue]

Lineker without doubt. He played at the same time as some of the greatest strikers ever (worldwide) and still could have fitted in at any club.

Won the golden boot at the World Cup in 86. World class player no doubt.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

Wowzers. I adore Tim Cahill but no he was not world class.

I have never seen another player of his height and stature do what he did.

He was unique and would have brought something to any side in World football at his peak.

All about opinions though. Which is good

 

[MikeH72]

All opinion based, relax. It’s footballs biggest stage so.....

Does that mean the fella that scored for Iran at the last World Cup is world class then?

 

[MikeH72]

I have never seen another player of his height and stature do what he did.

He was unique and would have brought something to any side in World football at his peak.

All about opinions though. Which is good

You’ve never seen another short player who’s good in the air? Here’s one - Gary Speed.

Yeah it’s all about opinions, my opinion is it’s strange and more than a little blue-tinted spectacles to call Tim Cahill world class.

 

[street end]

Does that mean the fella that scored for Iran at the last World Cup is world class then?

Yes

 

[arminisgod]

Baines was an excellent player but at no point was he ever one of the best LB's in the world.

 

[rochdaleblue]

Baines was an excellent player but at no point was he ever one of the best LB's in the world.

Cole and lahm were ahead of him but I can’t think of many others. If you are considered amongst the top 5 in the world (which I happy to believe Baines was in his prime) then surely he needs to be considered world class.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

After a chat about this with my arl fella he reckons Bobby Collins was world class - the complete midfielder who did it at Celtic, then us and then again with Leeds