'World Class'

How do you determine if a player is world class or not?

It's thrown around far too cheaply.

I'd say that world class is someone who could perform at the highest level against anyone.

But then isn't it easier for, say, a full back to perform solidly than a striker to perform well? It's a less glamorous role. The duties of the position are less eye catching.

How many of our players do you think are world class and how would you determine such a tag.

VDS - Used to be. Probably not now.
Nev - on the surface, probably not. But I don't think I can name 5 right backs in world football who are better and not a single premiership player who is.
Rio - World Class
Vidic - Not yet, may soon be though
Evra - See Vidic
Heinze - Arguably. But probably not. Too flawed.

Giggs - Tough one. Probably not now, but surely during his peak?
Scholes - World Class but will only edge away from it the older he gets
Carrick - No. Maybe soon, but some way off yet.
Ronaldo - World Class
Hargreaves - probably not, but like Neville, who is better at the job he's asked to do (except Jagielka, ofcourse)
Anderson - not yet
Nani - not yet

Rooney - World Class
Saha - No. But maybe if he wasn't so £#%&!ing injured.....
Ole - No. and never was. World class finisher, perhaps.
Smith - World Class......just kidding folks.


For me, there's only really the 4 mentioned above. And you could argue the case that they're not.

It's difficult because no one really knows what the phrase means.

World Class = anyone who's played in a World Cup

VDS - Used to be. Probably not now. - Agree
Nev - World Class
Rio - World Class
Vidic - Good
Evra - Good
Heinze - Good

Giggs - Never been world class. Always been very good.
Scholes - World Class
Carrick - Never will be world class. Only good.
Ronaldo - World Class
Hargreaves - £#%&! off
Anderson - Possibilities
Nani - See Anderson

Rooney - World Class
Saha - Never in a £#%&!ing million years.
Ole - World Class
Smith - World Class......just kidding folks.

For instance, Cantona was not world class, whereas Schmeichel was.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

World Class = anyone who's played in a World Cup

All those numpties from the lower leagues who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the last world cup?

Rooney isn't world class yet.


I think world class means that most people would pick them in a world 11. Sounds like a shit way to work it out (it is) but I don't think there is a better way to figure it.

Most people would put Zidane in a world class 11

I'm not sure if most people would put Rooney is a world class 11

Most people would put Ronaldo in a world class 11

It kinda works...

rooney isnt world class imo.

world class = top 3 in your position in the world.


only world class players in our squad are :-

ronaldo
rio
scholes
and maybe giggs.

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

It's difficult because no one really knows what the phrase means.

It pisses me off when it's thrown about, no idea why, I know it's just Sky or the red tops hyping some useless English clogger like Carragher who has a degree of defensive ability but is, in real terms, a shit footballer. Think of the World Class centre backs that have gone before him - Baresi or Sammer for example, there's a monumental difference between them & Carragher.

Rio's not world class - he's a superb player, much like the rest of the starting XI.

Originally Posted by Mr_Ed

All those numpties from the lower leagues who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the last world cup?

I know, I know...just kidding.

Originally Posted by Baron_van_Marlon

It pisses me off when it's thrown about, no idea why, I know it's just Sky or the red tops hyping some useless English clogger like Carragher who has a degree of defensive ability but is, in real terms, a shit footballer. Think of the World Class centre backs that have gone before him - Baresi or Sammer for example, there's a monumental difference between them & Carragher.

Rio's not world class - he's a superb player, much like the rest of the starting XI.

possibly the best on of one of atleast the top 3 defenders in the world isnt world class

so who is gallas and toure?

Originally Posted by Harri Jaffa

Rooney isn't world class yet.


I think world class means that most people would pick them in a world 11. Sounds like a shit way to work it out (it is) but I don't think there is a better way to figure it.

Most people would put Zidane in a world class 11

I'm not sure if most people would put Rooney is a world class 11

Most people would put Ronaldo in a world class 11

It kinda works...

But is that not fickle in terms of one position having more candidates than others.
You could rattle off name after name of potential strikers, but could you do the same with full backs?

Oh, and Ole is not world class. I love him, but in ten years he's never even been first choice striker for us. He's world class finisher, one of the best I've seen, but the other elements of his game are nowhere near a world class level.

Originally Posted by violater

rooney isnt world class imo.

world class = top 3 in your position in the world.


only world class players in our squad are :-

ronaldo
rio
scholes
and maybe giggs.

Giggs WAS world class.

Originally Posted by koppas

Giggs WAS world class.

i agree and his intelligence at times is world class but the overall 15 good games a season package you get now isnt world class.

Originally Posted by koppas

Giggs WAS world class.

Yes. He was. 96-00 or about then he was always such an outlet for us in Europe. Around 97 teams against us in the CL always identified him and Scholes as the main threat.

Originally Posted by violater

i agree and his intelligence at times is world class but the overall 15 good games a season package you get now isnt world class.

So, do you mean he was but isn't now?

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

So, do you mean he was but isn't now?

yes.

he still has aspects of his game which are world class like his intelligence, positioning and his execution.

Giggs has been a great Unted player but I would really have doubts about calling him World Class.

world class is subjective.

None of you are right. None of you are wrong.

Give it up.

Originally Posted by violater

possibly the best on of one of atleast the top 3 defenders in the world isnt world class

so who is gallas and toure?

None of them are - do you think Rio's on a level with Baresi, Sammer, Moore etc?

£#%&! off is he. He's a top, top player, nothing more.

Like I said, the term World Class is banded about far, far too much.

Example

Eto'o, Kaka, Ronaldinho are the best 3 players in the world.

Nesta is world class, Essien is world class, imo.

imo, utd don't have any world class players although we have a lot of players who could be in time. nft.