Best World XI

[petrov]

GK - Akinfeev

LB - Lahm
CB - Kompany
CB - Vidic
RB - Alves

DM - De Jong
M - Iniesta
M - Xavi

AML - Modric
S -Tevez
AMR - Messi

Modric, because I think he's a class player, if not him, I'd put Bale there. I think both players are better than Ronaldo. As for LB, I picked Lahm. I think he's a great player. Vargas from Fiorentina is pretty good too there. I placed Tevez as the striker, as I rate him better than Shrek and placed Xavi in the squad. Ozil is good, but not better than Xavi. Without Xavi, Messi wouldn't get his killer passes. One player I really wanted to place in the squad was Kuyt. I think he's a marvellous player and very underrated

3 City players in the best xi in the world. Really?

[bluej]

Gareth Bale is nowhere near as good as Ronaldo.

[Avalon]

GK - Akinfeev

LB - Lahm
CB - Kompany
CB - Vidic
RB - Alves

DM - De Jong
M - Iniesta
M - Xavi

AML - Modric
S -Tevez
AMR - Messi

Modric, because I think he's a class player, if not him, I'd put Bale there. I think both players are better than Ronaldo. As for LB, I picked Lahm. I think he's a great player. Vargas from Fiorentina is pretty good too there. I placed Tevez as the striker, as I rate him better than Shrek and placed Xavi in the squad. Ozil is good, but not better than Xavi. Without Xavi, Messi wouldn't get his killer passes. One player I really wanted to place in the squad was Kuyt. I think he's a marvellous player and very underrated

3 City players in the best xi in the world. Really?

Yeah, individually, I think these players are class. If these players would play in any other team, I'd reckon they'd be just as good, hence I placed them in there. I didn't place them there because they are City players, but because I think they're excellent at their role, that they play at City is merely our luck. However, I had other players in mind, such as Pique, Sneijder, van der Vaart, Kuyt, Nasri, Nani, van der Sar, Silva, Villa and various others. In my opinion, Kompany, de Jong and Tevez edged it for me.

Gareth Bale is nowhere near as good as Ronaldo.

I think he is. Ronaldo might have fancy feet, but along with his failure of producing in big games, his selfish attitude for a winger and his terrible attitude in general, as well as the fact he is more of a model than a player, I think there's better players out there.

[1950]

Gareth Bale: 40 games / 11 goals / 11 assists
Cristiano Ronaldo: 49 games / 42 goals / 14 assists

Failure of producing in big games? He scored the winning goals against Barca in the Cup Final! What has Bale done in so-called big games?
I don't like the guy either, but let's get real here. Gareth Bale ffs! Haha.

[Avalon]

He scored a goal in the Cup Final. What has he done in any other game against Barca? It sure is difficult to score goals against Hercules, Malaga, Almeria, Osasuna and any other club with the name Real.

However, more importantly, are you seriously defending Ronaldo?

[1950]

What has Bale done against Utd, Chelsea, Milan, Real et al?

I'm not defendig Ronaldo, I'm defending common sense.

[Avalon]

From Wiki:

With the departure of Raúl during the summer of 2010, Ronaldo handed the #7 jersey.[75] On 23 October 2010, Ronaldo scored four goals against Racing de Santander,[76] the most goals he has ever scored in a single match.[77] This completed a goalscoring run of six consecutive matches (three in La Liga, one in the Champions League, and two for Portugal) in which Ronaldo scored in each match, totalling 11 goals, which is the most Ronaldo has scored in a single month. Before Real Madrid's 5-0 defeat by Barcelona at the Camp Nou, Ronaldo scored his second La Liga hat-trick of the season in a 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.[78] His final match of the calendar year saw him score a hat-trick in a 8-0 trashing of Levante in the Copa del Rey.[79]

Ronaldo began the 2011 with a very promising outlook, esspecially after Real Madrid acknowledged him to have broken numerous goalscoring records, previously settled and held by classic players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Hugo Sánchez or Manuel Alday.[80][81] His year took-off by scoring two vital goals on a tight 3-2 victory over Getafe.[82] He then consolidated his massive performance by scoring a hat-trick and assisting Kaká to score his first league goal after his return from injury, in a 4-2 victory over Villareal on 9 January. One game away from the middle of the season, Ronaldo held very clear perspectives of breaking Telmo Zarra and Hugo Sánchez's record of 38 League goals in a single season, since he was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, above Lionel Messi.[83][84] Shortly after, Ronaldo experienced the biggest goal drought in his entire career, scoring only 2 goals in more than a month. During this period, Real Madrid acknowledged to have hit the crossbar more than 12 times in the season, most of the shots belonging to Ronaldo and almost all having happened on crucial moments during though draws.[85] Ronaldo then made a massive comeback by scoring a hat-trick on a 7-0 trashing of Málaga on March 3, 2011, but became affected by a muscle injury at the end of the match, which forced him to be 10 days on the sidelines.

On April he made just another massive comeback from injury, sustaining a 3 game scoring streak (including 2 goals in UCL quarter-finals against Tottenham Hotspur), thus arriving to the first of a historical series of 4 El Clásico encounters 2 goals short of breaking his personal record of 42 goals in all competitions in a single season, achieved at United 3 years before. During this particular El Clásico edition, Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot and took his tally to 41 goals (42 according to Marca),[86] just as he now had a 4 game scoring streak. He scored his first goal on El Clásico on a 1-1 tie at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[87] On 20 April, Ronaldo scored the winning goal against FC Barcelona in the 103rd minute of the Copa del Rey final.[88]

Big hurrah for all those hattricks against the clearly awesome sides of the lower half of the table in the La Liga. Only 2 clubs matter in that league. Valencia and Villareal are a distant second. Anybody else, nobody cares. There's usually 3-4, maybe 5 players that scores 20+ goals a season in that league and let's not count those that score 15+ a season. Bringing up stats really doesn't tell a story, don't let the numbers fool you.

I, personally, rather pick Modric, or Bale over Ronaldo and to be frank, make a mockery out of it all you want, but that's just how it is.

[1950]

Big hurrah for all those hattricks against the clearly awesome sides of the lower half of the table in the La Liga. Only 2 clubs matter in that league. Valencia and Villareal are a distant second. Anybody else, nobody cares. There's usually 3-4, maybe 5 players that scores 20+ goals a season in that league and let's not count those that score 15+ a season. Bringing up stats really doesn't tell a story, don't let the numbers fool you.

How many score 30+ though? 3 against Villareal, aren't they half-decent? And even if you left the stats out, I guess I just don't get the Bale licking.

As for Modric, I'd have him in the centre, no problem. But I don't think he's in the top 3 wingers in the world.

[Avalon]

http://www.free-elements.com/Spain/Eseasonsindex.html

Not many

As I said, Ronaldo gets most of his goals from weaker teams and in big matches he often doesn't show, which is something that has been said about him for quite a while. Please note that I am not ignoring Ronaldo, however, I judge a player on the whole, including personality on the pitch, as I think that is equally important. This also why I am not a big fan of Iniesta and Xavi who like to wave imaginary cards and I could easily place Sneijder and Ozil there, or even van der vaart. However, in Xavi's case, he's really THAT important to Messi.

Anyway, I'd rather put Modric or Bale in the World XI, though I am pretty sure that I'm forgetting a few names that could possible take up that position as well.

[twosips]

Gotta love how people can seriously not put CR7 in a world XI. It's an absolute given. He's ridiculously effective and the second best, if not best, behind Messi, finisher in the world.

My team

GK - Pepe Reina
RB - Maicon
LB - Cole
CB - Kompany
CB -Vidic

DM - Nigel De Jong
CM - Iniesta
CM - Xavi

RW - Messi
CF - Higuain
LW - Ronaldo

As much as I love Carlos, this team isn't gonna need someone running around like a mental patient. Needs someone prolific as chances will come. The front three are probably the three most prolific players in the world in my opinion.

Busquets is possibly better than De Jong as he's a better passer of the ball, but it's debatable, and De Jong is a better tackler, and he isn't a little pussy'ole. Essien would normally be up there, but he's not been that great this season. I'm sure he'll be back next year though.

Gareth Bale really isn't that good. He's had about five top games all season. Phil Neville and others have marked him out of games this season. Phil Neville ffs. He's great and has loads of potential, but he's not even been Spurs' best player this year - that's Modric.

Reina I feel is the most consistent keeper in the world. He's better than Casillas, but he's never gonna be dropped - he's a national hero. Joe Hart could be the number one one day, as could Neuer, but they both have to prove themselves.

As much as he's a dick, I really can't see past Ashley Cole for LB. Lahm just isn't as good defensively. Despite Bale giving him a hard time, I really can't see past Maicon. There aren't many great RB's in the world at the moment, and i'd personally have Maicon over Alves for his all round game. Alves is nothing more than a winger. Great player, but not really a defender. Ramos was my option, but I decided to stick with Maicon.

At centre back Vinnie is a must - even if he isn't quite the best CB in the world just yet, i'm ridiculously confident he will be in the near future. He has everything to do his game. Controversially, sorry City fans, I can't see past Vidic either. He's been United's player of the season, and there are not many players who would put themselves on the line as well as he does. I think he'd work exceptionally well with VK too, hence pairing them.

Iniesta and Xavi pick themselves as do Messi and Ronaldo.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Slim:
his passing may have improved but its still not good enough for a world XI. Look how fluidly Barca move the ball, he just wouldnot be capable of that.

[Wonderwall]

GK - Akinfeev

LB - Lahm
CB - Kompany
CB - Vidic
RB - Alves

DM - De Jong
M - Iniesta
M - Xavi

AML - Modric
S -Tevez
AMR - Messi

Modric, because I think he's a class player, if not him, I'd put Bale there. I think both players are better than Ronaldo. As for LB, I picked Lahm. I think he's a great player. Vargas from Fiorentina is pretty good too there. I placed Tevez as the striker, as I rate him better than Shrek and placed Xavi in the squad. Ozil is good, but not better than Xavi. Without Xavi, Messi wouldn't get his killer passes. One player I really wanted to place in the squad was Kuyt. I think he's a marvellous player and very underrated

3 City players in the best xi in the world. Really?

you have 758 posts on this CITY site! why are you surprised ;0)

[Wonderwall]

As good as Dejong is, his passing is not good enough for a world XI, numerous times yesterday he misplaced 4/5 yard passes. Brilliant player but not the same level as Essien. Well not yet anyway.

But he is a goal scoring machine now as well.

I like :)
he's brilliant I love him. But look at Barca, every player is so comfortable on the ball and can control and pass it. Dejong's passing and creativity to spot things opening up aren't quite good enough for a world xI.

But no one on Barca can tackle and break up play like De Jong (the role of a DM). Hes a key reason of why Holland beat Brazil and made it to the finls

Considering Barca are the best team on the planet it doesn't really matter. Also Barca don't need anyone to break up the play because the other team rarely has the ball!

has someone erased Mascherano from your memory?

NDJ > Mascherano IMO, which would you have? NDJ all day long :-)

[Avalon]

Gotta love how people can seriously not put CR7 in a world XI.

I can and so I will. It is quite easy, really. Just don't write his name down :).

Edit: There's also Vargas, Guardado, Mata, di Maria, Jovetic, Ozil, Srna, Obasi whom I think can equally fill that spot.

[brijs]

I think Barcelona is The World's Best XI

[Arjan Van Schotte]

I think Barcelona is The World's Best XI

retro.

[phips]

------------Neuer-------------
D. Alves---Vidic---Pique----Lahm
--------X. Alonso----Schweinsteigger---
----Xavi---------------------Iniesta---
------------------Messi-------
------------Ronaldo---------


Subs:
Casillas
Ozil
Tevez
Robben
Sneijder
Kompany
A. Cole

[mcfc1632]

this thread makes me think about the importance of sorting out Nige's contract

[Arjan Van Schotte]

this thread makes me think about the importance of sorting out Nige's contract

me too mate. and funny how aguero wasn't mentioned at all :)

[Nigels Tackle]

no welbeck??!! ****amazed****