Subject: A Footballing Debate

Following on from the Ronaldo thread, I felt it would be interesting to ask two questions:

1) Who was the best footballer you have seen, past or present but you must have seen them play.

2) Who was / is your favourite player.

I'll start off.

1) The best player I ever saw play was Maradona, he was just a sublime talent even taking away the fact he was a drug taking cheat.....such a waste imo.

2) My favourite player, really difficult one actually but one player who I felt had everything was Zinedine Zidane, the guy had the touch, sublime skill, used both feet, could head, pass and finish brilliantly. He could create chances from nothing as well and always seemed to find space on the pitch. Even when teams man marked him he would often find space, or you would just watch the marker bouncing off him when he tried a tackle.

Now your turn. ;)

1) The best footballer that I have physically seen playing football. That would be Stuart Pearce. A great left back - one of the best we'll ever see from England. A proper defender who tackled hard. Amazing free kicks, good penalty taker (Ok, except in one cup..!) An honest player who played honest, was loyal to the team he played for, and played 100% every game, whether playing rochdale in the cup, or Germany in the Euros.

2) I assume I cannot pick the same player? OK then, I'll have to say..........hmmmm...hrrr. Alan Shearer. Con-tro-ver-sial!!! His ball control is no Gazza, no Ronaldinho, no Platini, no Van Basten, no Gullit, but when he was at his best he was the best striker in the world bar none. If he'd have been foreign we'd have rated him so much higher. I still reckon he would score more for England than some of the goons we have up front!

alan shearer - nooo he was injured so i didnt see him :'( oh yes i did saw his 400th goal or something vs southampton :D
alan shearer - cz he's just a legend :]

1) I would say Wayne Rooney saw him early in his career when he was at Everton and looked amazing.

2) Robbie Fowler one of the greatest finishers ever to play the game and was at his peak while i was at primary school and really first started watching football.

Fowler. One of the most over-rated players i have ever seen, in my opinion.

- keegan. my dad took me to wembley when i was 5 to see Engalnd v Switzerland in a friendly. the game ended in a dismal 0 - 0 draw. for years after i followed my dad as a welsh rugby fan, which i think had been his plan all along. he is truly a legend in english football.

- shearer. as a magpies fan i not only loved his football, but i loved his totall dedication to the toon. he was also the perfect ambassador for the sport. another true english footballing legend.

1. In 1980 my Bar-Mitzva present was to fly to Manchester (from Israel) and watch a derby match between United & City. Gary Bailey, the United keeper threw his warm-up scarf to the crowds which I caught and had until a few years back. He inspired my brief career as a goalkeeper and probably second only to Peter Shilton in his time.

2. Phillip Lahm of the current German squad. Small, agile, clever, a team-player, is everywhere around the pitch and non-tiring,... yet, quiet and modest. A role model for all footballers and athletes.
(edited)

Lahm is ok, but has not enough marking, tackling and anticipation as for a defender, even a side one - I watched the final of German Cup and Blaszczykowski who was just after injury was making a fool of him...I think Lahm should've been made as a winger rather than a def.

The Uefa officials would disagree with you. :)

You have got to be joking fowlers one of the most talented players i have ever seen by 27-28 injuries had taken there toll but before then he was one of the best players in England.

Best player I've seen play live has to be Kenny Dalglish.
Favourite player John Barnes

1) Best football player I've ever seen - definitely Zidane. Great touch of the ball, great play without the ball, great technique, great dribbling skills, great shots, great goals, great playmaking, great charisma, great model for young children[ok, except the very end on his career...but that's understandable]. Simply great.

2) Shearer. One and only :) Lots of power in his foots, always confident, loyal to the end, a real leader and non controversial person[at least from what I know]. The only bad thing is that he played in such a tragic club...

I'd also add nr. 3) - best young player. And I'd go with Sebastian Giovinco from Juventus, this guy is just simply great and I can't actually find any comparison to him...a tough and hard working in defense Messi? Just watch

re: 2) he may not have been controversial off the pitch, but he was far from a saint on it. I reckon he got away with more stray elbows and niggly fouls than any other striker in the Prem - but fair play he was good!

That's the part of the game, football is not for sissies :P And I remember the class he shown when Keane hit him. Pure professional, thinking what's best for his team, not for him.

1. Best player I've ever seen play is Paul Scholes. What impresses me about him is he knows where all his options are on the pitch before he gets the ball and has this great ability to play any pass. He also has a great eye for goal but apart from the goal against Barcelona we don't get to see this part of his game too often as he's getting on a bit now at 33.

2. Favourite player was Zinedine Zidane. Such a skillful and technically gifted midfielder who was the talisman of the French team for 10 years. Just a shame we never got to see him play in the premiership I think.

1. I havent seen many live games of top flight football, being a Kidderminster Harriers fan... but I saw Aston Villa a few times last season, once against Middlesbrough. And the best player I have seen play live is Stewart Downing!
It may sound strange, but you can only really appreciate his talent when you see him play live! He's so quick on the ball, and can turn anyone! He has an instinctive dribbling ability.

2. My favourite player... now that is an incredibly tough choice... I think I'm gonna go with Ronaldo (Brazilian Ronaldo, not Cristiano) when he was in his prime... closely followed by Ronaldinho