Having cast an eye over the Defenders yesterday, we roll out the second in a three-part members series with a look at midfielders. Assessing the key attacking statistics, we analyse the chief creators and major goal threats over the first three Gameweeks of the season.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Here we go into the business end of the Tournament...this is going to be so harsh
SEMI-FINALS
Zidane vs Bergkamp
Messi vs Best
Tough luck to Maradona and Pele, both of whom lost out in extra time!Open Controls
Zidane
MessiOpen ControlsGonna be a tough final.
Open Controls
Bergkamp
MessiOpen Controls
Boo, my vote are on the other page.
Open Controls
Head Butt
Pele, protest vote (a bit like two head butts)Open Controls😆
Open Controls
What a pile of crock. Only one of those is top four material.
Open Controlstruly, people currently playing shouldn't be a "legend" yet
bugs me like the phrase "instant classic"Open ControlsI can see where your coming from. But Zidane and Best would both be in with a shout of at least the top 5
Open ControlsOnly Zidane. Best barely played in any big games.
Open Controls
If you don't rate Bergkamp, Zidane and Best then I'm not really sure who you can rate.
Open Controls
Had only 1 nomination! Didn't make it to the Round of 16.
Open Controls
Omg...maybe not the best player,but those 2 years in Barca,I dont think anyone played better this game ever..
Open Controls
Totally agree with this. The level he reached in those two years was, for me, the highest level of my lifetime.
Messi, due to his constant domination in probably the most competitive time for superstardom, is the greatest player of all time though. You cannot dispute his achievements.Open Controls
Never won a World Cup by himself though!
Open ControlsSignificant Individual Awards:
World Records
Most FIFA Ballon d'Or awards: 4
Guinness World Records title for the most goals in a year: 91 goals
Most goals scored in FIFA Club World Cup: 4 goals (shared with Denilson and Mohamed Aboutrika)
Most consecutive league matches scored in: 21 matches (33 goals)
First footballer ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league
Europe
Most European Golden Shoe awards: 3
Most goals scored in a season (club): 73 goals
Most goals scored in a year (club): 79 goals
Most goals scored in a European Cup season: 14 goals (shared with José Altafini)
Most European Cup top scorer awards: 4 (shared with Gerd Müller)
Most consecutive European Cup top scorer awards: 4
Highest scorer in a European Cup game: 5 goals (shared with ten other players)
Argentina
Most goals scored in a year (national team): 12 goals (shared with Gabriel Batistuta)
He won an Olympic Gold Medal and the U20 World Cup.
He's also won a few bits of note with his teammates at Barca...
La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13
Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012
UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011Open Controls
I really like PL and sometimes cant wait for those 4pm Saturday games,no matter what game is on TV..just like that atmosphere...but in those 2 years it was all about him,couldnt wait for Barca games,and I just watched him 90 minutes,I almost didnt care about result,just wanted ball to come to him and watch what will he do...every touch something new,something different,magic..Zidane was maestro,Henry my favorite player,Messi will be the best player ever played football,looking at the results,statistics...but the way Ronaldihno played,no one will ever play like him
Open Controls
I'm constantly shocked at how he isn't in the pantheon of the greats.
A wonderful 2 years quickly forgotten.Open Controls
for those 2 years he was basically unplayable
and to think Fergie nearly got himOpen Controls
Bergkamp
MessiOpen Controls
Zidane
MessiOpen Controls
Zizou (although should've been Maradona)
MessiOpen Controls
Zidane on tie breaker
messiOpen ControlsSecond half is underway!
Open Controls
Z
BOpen ControlsZidane and Messi
Can I wildcard and bing in Paul McGrath?Open Controls
The fact that the two greatest players of all time went out aet makes this tournament null and void.
And what the feck is Bergkamp doing in the semis??
Best to win. And this is why
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o8wGN5uDaVg&hl=en-GB&guid=&gl=GB&client=mv-googleOpen Controls
Bergkamp
MessiOpen Controls
Berk... Messi
Open Controls
Zidane, best.
The best ever.Open ControlsFULL TIME
Open Controls
Shameless repost ... 😀
OK - A VERY IMPORTANT HEADS-UP.
I am calling on all of you - particularly our betting fraternity - to donate a few pounds to Kettering Town FC. For our punters, all I am suggesting is that you donate the same amount of just one of your average bets. No pain!
For our non-punters - well, you will have more money! Let your conscience be your guide ...
Every now and then, these things happen. There, but for the grace of God, goes our club.
https://www.justgiving.com/local/project/savekettering
Please give generously - but more importantly - give. A pound will do.
Thank you all for your consideration ...Open Controls
You think Southend don't have their problems? 😉
I wish you and Kettering all the best.Open Controls£58,000. But this appeal is for £20,000.
Open Controls
😆
Tickled me, that one.Open Controls
Colts win at home to the Raiders.
Season off to a good start 😀
Anybody else follow the NFL?
If so, who do you follow?Open Controls
Who is the most underrated superstar?
there are a lot, bobby charlton, jimmy greaves, eusabio, lothar matteus
I want to shout out for kevin keegan. he held the ball up better than any player that's ever livedOpen Controlsi was thinking hagi too 🙂
Open Controls
+1
Open Controls
Hero
Open Controls
if McGrath wasn't a boozer he'd have been the very best, better than Beckanbauer and Baresi and the rest.
He played in the English top flight when he was still pissed and was invariably still the best player on the pitchOpen ControlsLol
Open ControlsRead his autobiography recently. It's easy to see how he turned out the way he did.
One of footballs greatest failures in that the game never rehabilitated him at a young age - he was the greatest Villan of all time but he could have been talked of in line with Baresi and Maldini.Open Controls
I once met puskas, reports are he was brilliant
Open ControlsFor all the stick he got, Gilles Grimandi was an absolutely fantastic player.
Open Controls
Gerd Muller...I'm sure it's not so in Germany but his name is almost always missed off the "top table" discussions...even though he fully deserves to be on it...
Open ControlsMuller was possibly the greatest goalscorer ever, but outside the box he was f'n useless.
I'd like to put a vote in for Raymond Kopa, France's original superstar.
Often overshadowed at Real by Puskas, Di Stefano, Rial and Gento, and at International level by the exploits of Juste Fontaine, Kopa was a supremly gifted player
Him and Enzo Francescoli, the man Zinedine Zidane's son is named afterOpen Controls
I think Van Persie at the moment.. shame that he's not mentioned as one of the worlds best at the moment by many.. even Falcao mentioned ahead of him
Won the title for United last year, not single handedly of course, but damn near close to itOpen Controls
Do the benefits of lower prices outweigh the injury risks of making transfers now, ahead of Tuesday's Internationals? I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks. (Loads of transfers going through...)
Open ControlsDepends on whether catching a rise or selling a fall is crucial to plans. I tend to take risks early in the season to build tv ad then get safer after the Jan tranny window. It usually works out.
Open ControlsInteresting, thanks, 4VETS.
Open Controls
I'd wait this week. In general, early normally works.
Open Controls
Used my WC to get RVP but what about this draft that doesn't include him?
Migs 4.0
Mert Vidic Walker Coleman Chester
Wally Lamela HBA Hernandez Brady
Benteke Soldado Studge (if fit)
Or stick with the plan and go with this
Boruc Davis
Sakho Coleman Mert Turner Chester
Lamela Wally Barfa Hernandez JWP
Benteke RVP GiroudOpen Controls
a mixture of the 2?
Open Controls
How are people voting for bergkamp over Zidane???!!
Open Controls
I guess they prefer him. I could be wrong though.
Open ControlsZidane haters.
Open Controls
Bergkamp is a PL legend and he's not French ? But why put Zidane over Maradona is what I want to know. Diego, Diego, Diego 😉
Open ControlsBergkamp's my favourite player of all time, just such an intelligent footballer.. Done so many mind blowing things.
Zidane's probably my favourite non Arsenal player for a lot of the same reasons but didn't have the pleasure of watching him in the flesh week in week out like I did Bergkamp..
So I voted Bergkamp!Open Controls
GJ out for 10 weeks?
Who is his back-up?Open Controls
It's the last minute of the second leg of the Brazilian Serie D play-off between Tupí and Aparecidense. The game is level at 2-2, but Aparecidense are winning on away goals.
There's a last chance for Tupí and the ball is heading towards the net but there's a brilliant double goal-line save - by Aparecidense's masseur who has run onto the pitch. He then shows an impressive turn of pace in escaping the enraged Tupí players.
The referee manages to eventually restart the game and the masseur's team Aparecidense qualify for the quarter finals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2fv5vELlIYOpen Controls😆
shirley they need to replay that game?Open Controls
LOL 🙂
Open ControlsAMAZING!
The best bit about this is that he used his feet only, and wasn't prepared to handle the ball - because that would be cheating of course.Open Controls😆
Open Controls
:))))))))))))))))))
Open Controls
Who are the differentials who've been left out of the CL of Legends you reckon?
Open Controls
Ronaldo, nedved, van Bastet, gullit, eusebio, beckham, Matthaus, beckenbauer, figo, Roberto Carlos, garrincha, Carlos Alberto, yashin, zoff, puskas, distefano,butragueno, raul
Open ControlsTo name but a few 😉 and valderrama as EF rightly points out, and Moore, charlton
Open Controls
😯
Open Controls
Hurst, Stiles, Moore
Open Controls
Francescoli
Open ControlsRui Costa
Roberto Baggio
Gerd MullerOpen Controls
Edgar Davids
Open Controls
Good Evening all!
A simple A) or B) 😀
A) Zabaleta & Pablo
B) Mert/Coleman & Barfa
Cheers!Open ControlsB IMO
Open ControlsFWIW I hope to have all 3 of the options in B, just need Mert to drop
Open Controlsif Mert doesn't drop just get Kosc instead?
Open ControlsGood call to be honest... Just a bit afraid of him since the red when I had him... 🙂
Open Controlsyeah he does seem prone to the odd brain freeze, but should be good value and now has added set-piece threat with Ozil's delivery. I'd rather Mert as well tbh since he's more nailed but if he doesn't drop it'll be Kos
Open Controls
I see a lot of people giving up on RvP.
well,I suppose the main reason is the price but I can see him scoring in abundance starting with GW4 which is the only viable factor in FPL game.
he failed to score last two GWs,even lost to LFC.imo the game V Palace will going to be the consolation one and should be high scoring.
the only thing I dislike about him atm is high percentage of owners.Open ControlsIn some ways that could be key
His ownership and captaincy rate will be so high this GW that if he does go nuts all those that don't have him could lose out heavily as they're relying on the cheaper options to match him.Open Controls
There are two kinds of FPL players in the world - those who have RVP in their squads and those who don't - and each GW one group will gain relative to the other and the other will lose. Not having RVP could be a decisive differential one way or the other.
Open Controls
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Grand Finale
Lionel Messi
vs
Zinedine ZidaneOpen Controls
Zidane. Messi the better player but Zidane had class
Open ControlsWhat a way to sign off
Open Controls
Zidane
Open ControlsMessi
Open ControlsSecond half!
Open ControlsZidane
He looked like he had no right being a footballer, but dang he was a magicianOpen Controls
Not close
MessiOpen ControlsMessi
Open Controls
Don't get me wrong, you can make a pretty good case for Zidane being the best player of all time.
However...
I think a lot of people on here are likely to be the same generation as me (I'm 22) - the right age for him to have mesmerised us as youngsters when he was at his peak, and for that reason there is a certain nostalgia element to him that we don't have with Messi. With Zizou, we probably just remember the great bits and have him permanently ingrained in our minds as the best we've seen, never to be surpassed.
If we're honest with ourselves, as good as he was...Messi is better, and he gets my voteOpen ControlsMessi does things that Pele did
Pele did things that no one ever did beforeOpen ControlsLike this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzRsvCsC4c
forget the miss and admire the audacity of the dummyOpen ControlsAdmire the shambolic ball-watching in defence.
Doesn't happen at that level nowadays.Open Controlsoh it does, and forget the defenders, that does a dis-service to the quality of the pass from Tostao.
And come on, no one expected Pele to do that, all the defenders went the way they thought he would take the ball.Open Controls
Zidane = Nostalgia.
As they say, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.Open Controls
Pele > Head Butt
Open Controls
Zidane
for THAT goal in the final in Glasgow and two headers in a WC Final. And because watching him was like orchestrated poetry
And not to mention that Messi used to practice as a kid by watching Zidane for hours and then trying to copy him....(which he's done a fairly good job of in fairness!)Open Controls
Zidane
Open ControlsMessi
Open Controls
----------------------Migs------------------------
---Koscielny...Coleman...Walker-------
---Walcott...Coutinho...Ben Arfa....Brady---
---Benteke...Van Persie...Giroud------
Subs: Given, Turner, Ward-Prowse
Please rip this WC team to shreds. Anything wrong here?Open Controls
Very nice. Not sure about HBA though but I'm being picky.
Open ControlsYou reckon Hernandez would be a better choice? Would free up a million too
Open Controls
agree - this looks just like your last RVP team, but with HBA instead of Hernandez, and I liked it better before. Prefer this slightly altered defence line tho - if you're still around, will you rate my version?
Open ControlsMigs - 4.0
Vidic Mert Coleman Chester Burner
Walcott Coutinho Hernandez Brady Redmond
Benteke RVP Giroud
Waya think?Open ControlsLooks good to go to me. Are you definitely going for an RVP team then? I change my mind every 5 minutes about it!
Open Controlsyeah, I'm losing interest in Sturridge with him being injury prone again - that and not knowing how Suarez will affect things. Will be easy transfer to swap back or get Suarez later, not so easy to find the cash for RVP afterwards. There are other considerations, but that's the swinger for me. Your team is the closest draft to mine I've seen
Open ControlsI'm thinking of going with a forward line of Benteke, Soldado, Van Persie now. For some reason I'm just not fully convinced by Giroud and I think Lamela and Eriksen will supply Soldado. Would be the same team as above but Hernandez instead of Barfa and Soldado instead of Giroud. What you think?
Open ControlsI've had Soldado from GW1, and I can see your reasons - but I'm betting Ozil will settle in quicker to the premier league than the new Spurs lads, feeding Giroud with top class area passes that even a donkey like him can't miss...then there's always Walcott. I guess it all comes down to gut feeling - go with yours 🙂
Open Controls
I've noticed that most of the latest WC teams have Persie.
Open ControlsI'll ask again since the only reply I got was a rather unhelpful one from TM 😛
If GJ is out for 10 weeks who is likely to come in?
Kelly?
Wisdom?
or could Kolo shift out there?Open Controls
Best 3 to bring in for sun dream team window 1
A or B
A - sakho ben arfa lamela
B - vertonghen ageuro bradyOpen ControlsWhen is Rafael coming back? Anyone know? I'm thinking of picking him over Vidic. Wise?
Open ControlsIt must be a full moon tonight ... 😉
Open Controlsam wondering the same. FPL have him back for this GW. Best to wait for Moyes' presser to see
I think he'll go straight back in, Jones is not a rb.Open ControlsI don't think anyone in our defence is 'nailed' bar Evra
But Rafa is our only natural rb and he did the Community Shield which suggests Moyes views him as first choice.
Vidic is still appealing but Rafa could do well.Open Controls
If he's fit, he's playing every game. Grew up last season. Eventually.
Open ControlsBut the bps tend to favour the cbs now, it's tough as Rafa is so damn attacking
Open ControlsI think people are writing off the likes of zaba, enrique etc at their peril. Its only because there have been clean sheets aplenty that the bps have gone centre backs way
Open Controlsthis is also true
but in games that are tight BPs will go the way of CBs as they get far more blocks and tackles
You will be relying on attacking returns with Rafa more than you will with Vidic. They're also the same price which changes they dynamicOpen ControlsYeah fully take your point, I'd like to see the analysis after 10 games of the CBs bonus returns compared to the wide players
Open Controlsyup indeed
for now Vidic is safer, but Rafa is VERY tempting
he was great to own last seasonOpen Controls
True. Still close between him and Vidic though and I already have a marauding RB in Zabaleta.
Open Controlsno harm in having 2.
Plus if the form of our wingers doesn't pick up, Rafa could be crucial in getting service to RvP.
I don't think people have appreciated how much we have missed him, Jones tries, but like Smalling, he's a natural cb who has been played there out of necessity.Open Controls
is michael dawson nailed on?
Open ControlsGreat grav. 😉 Yes - he should be.
Open Controlsnot so sure anymore
Kaboul continues his comeback and they have bought this new cb.Open Controls
Even now with Chiriches?
What if they go
Walker Chiriches Vertonghen RoseOpen ControlsAVB? Not so sure about that. 🙂
Open Controls
The only thing good about the grav is the colours. 😉
Open Controls😀 Shadduppayouface! 😉
Open Controls
cheers doos, nice to hear as youre somewhat of a celebrity round these parts of the internet 😉 have the extra available for walker but will trust dawson for now
rat tipped to start, maybe he'll start coming good now at lastOpen Controls
Nope.
Open Controls
---------------------Krul------------------------
---Sakho..Chester...Dawson-------
---Silva...Hazard...Lamela....Nani---
---Benteke...Sturridge...Giroud------
Subs: Bouc, Clyne, Ward-Prowse
On a wildcard and already fallen behind in my private leagues so I thought I would take a few risks. Any suggestions?Open Controls
Benching two liverpool defensive players this gameweek.. madness? Going to be having some selection nightmares due to wildcard >.
Open Controls
Surely Lambert wont be rested for the West Ham game, he will have four days rest (?)
Open ControlsHe does have a good engine for his age but he can look very tired after a few games in a week. Depending on score I wouldnt be surprised if he played 60 or even came on for last 30.
Open ControlsI think he'll be rotated soon, Southampton have a few options up top now.
Open ControlsBut hes their talisman surely it will be others rotated around him.
Open Controls
Any truth in Jonhson out for 10weeks? Wisdom would be tasty if true
Open ControlsReally tempted by Coutinho -> Michu for -4 before the weekend.. Bad transfer?
Open Controlshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgoOihBb78w
Best thing I have seen all day. 😀Open Controls
Lads how's this?
Mignolet | Davis
Zabaleta | | Coleman | Walker | Vidic | Chambers
Lampard | Walcott | Ward-Prowse | Brady | Hernandez
Soldado | Sturridge | Benteke
On WC £2.2m in the bank
Any changes?Open ControlsToo light in midfield. Use that £2.2m. Can't see Chambers being in the team much longer either, get Chester/B Turner/Ward etc for the same price.
Open Controls
I've had a good start and want to keep the momentum going
Mignolet Given
Zaba Merta M turner Chester Brayford
Silva Walcott Nolan Barfa Jedinak
Soldado Sturridge Lambert
I have 3.4 in the bank and a FT
Obviously the defence is weak and Brayford isn't even playing so I'm considering Brayford to Vidic.
However I'm considering taking a hit for RVP, possibly Nolan to brady sturridge to RVP. Would it be madness to transfer out an in form striker?! Any advice please?Open Controls
