Roland17:


Baba, in comparison to Fab, I will definitely entertain an argument for Silva because of the length of his prime for both country and club like you alluded to but I will still pick Ozil in my opinion but definitely a more respectable comparison that can go either way.

Abeg, can we stop including Mata in this conversation because it is disrespectful to the other cats..There are levels to this thing na!

One of the issues Ozil has struggled with is adapting to the evolution of the game especially with style, formation/ tactics tweaks. We went from AM/CM being the only ball playing players to now ball playing goalkeepers, defenders and even strikers who start attack from the back. That almost diminishes the role of that traditional 10.

He did really well after he joined the EPL, I mean the numbers speak for themselves but the more the game evolved in terms of intensity, especially with the press, the more it became difficult for him to catch up.

That's why I went for Silva cos he's the only one that was able to adapt. The other 3 are relics of a previous era, unable to adapt to changing tactics and formations. Mata was also the least adaptable and does not belong in this conversation.

Fabregas was too fragile defensively, yet too slow to join the attack and keep up with his strikers effectively when we reached the 2010 decade. He neither fit in AM, CM nor DM and posed a tactical weakness in each position that unbalanced the teams he played for.

Mata was too physically weak and slow and disappeared with the obsolescence of the no10 position, also posing a tactical weakness even when in his prime. He was good in small games but disappeared and was overrun in big games, putting much pressure on his midfield partners to cover his gaps.

Ozil held on for longer but was also made obsolete by no10 position disappearing. Silva was able to transition from left-wing to AM to CM effectively and was never a carryalong or tactical hindrance at any point in his career. And I don't particularly think Silva had more physicality to adapt than the others, he just had more intelligence and desire.

Roland17:


You are not even arguing about Ozil making the 1st team, you are talking about Ozil not making the squad!!! That is where you should know your emotions have gotten the better part of you.

The man led the German team with record goal/assist numbers on the way to the biggest stage in football and racked up tons of individual awards. .He was not a passer by during the competition either. So what are we talking about here? No be the same World Cup Spain go too?

The goals and numbers the Madrid front line are boasting of today including CR7 were products of Ozil’s magic..No be the same league Barcelona dey when he won assist records for 3 consecutive seasons? Isn’t it hypocritical that you can excuse Ozil’s numbers at Madrid because they were talented but Fab got shipped out of Barca because he could not make the team?

Critics can argue Fab left the pond at Arsenal for the ocean in Barcelona and almost drowned because he could not hold his own!

Baba there are levels to this thing abeg!

Let me first deal with this false believe, that he couldn't make the team at barca.

Fabregas during his time at Barcelona made more appearances than either xavi and iniesta and had a better goal and assists than both of them .He left because fans were usually frustrated with his direct style of play and long balls as oppose to their usual tiki taka.


Fabregas created the highest goal scoring chances in Europe at his peak from 2006 -2011 at the period were midfield greats likes xavi,iniesta,Alonso,Gerrard,lampard,scholes,pirlo,kaka,deco,seedorf were having their best time but wasn't the highest assist because arsenal had chamack,Eduardo,vela .

There is nothing magical about ozil passes at Madrid.They were just basic that any body can pull off .eg Guti .infact close to 30% of his total assists came from indirect freekicks and corners.

Fabregas made an average arsenal team look good and formidable making the ucl semi finals a couple of times.


Ozil wasn't a passer by for the NT neither was he the most outstanding player either.

Fabregas scored the winning penalty in Euro 2008 quarter finals against italy to send Spain to the semi finals.

Fabregas came off the bench to assist in 2010 world cup finals

Fabregas despite playing out of position in euro 2012 still put in a decent performance.

BlueAngel444:
did you watch Fabregas, who honestly would have been my choice asides Silva but I wouldn't like buying a player who would want to leave and join barca. I considered some times before picking Silva.

Fab was fantastic he could play SS, AM, CM, even DM

Ozil's prime reminds me of Mata's prime. They both won UCl and Mata had some fantastic passes he was even better than David Silva then before united ruined him.

Who dash ozil ucl?

popizaino:


Let me first deal with this false believe, that he couldn't make the team at barca.

Fabregas during his time at Barcelona made more appearances than either xavi and iniesta and had a better goal and assists than both of them .He left because fans were usually frustrated with his direct style of play and long balls as oppose to their usual tiki taka.


Fabregas created the highest goal scoring chances in Europe at his peak from 2006 -2011 at the period were midfield greats likes xavi,iniesta,Alonso,Gerrard,lampard,scholes,pirlo,kaka,deco,seedorf were having their best time but wasn't the highest assist became arsenal had chamack,Eduardo,vela .

There is nothing magical about ozil passes at Madrid.They were just basic that any body can pull off .eg Guti .infact close to 30% of his total assists came from indirect freekicks and corners.

Fabregas made an average arsenal team look good and formidable making the ucl semi finals a couple of times.


Ozil wasn't a passer by for the NT neither was he the most outstanding player either.

Fabregas scored the winning penalty in Euro 2008 quarter finals against italy to send Spain to the semi finals.

Fabregas came off the bench to assist in 2010 world cup finals

Fabregas despite playing out of position in euro 2012 still put in a decent performance.

i think video links will help do more justice to this debate.

Ibime:


Wetin happun

He's injured na

So we'll either play Azpi who will hinder us offensively or the snail.

Unlimited22:

He's injured na

So we'll either play Azpi who will hinder us offensively or the snail.

Emerson is ahead of Alonso in the pecking order. No way Alonso starts that game, especially as Emerson has been in good form for Italy.

Kimbeast:
Found this on Reddit: Which of these players would you buy in their prime? Mata, Ozil, Fabregas or David Silva?

Cesc.

Wetin numbers don do for football sha...

Bunsenbun:
i think video links will help do more justice to this debate.

Yea .....But I think most people won't watch it, gif would have been better but I don't know how to go about it .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGd5toj8sw


This game is always my reference point whenever someone is trying to downplay fabregas. He came in as a sub while we were trailing by two goals to nil and was able to give costa a sublime pass out of nothing,which would have reduced the deficit if Costa had not made a mess of it .

Watch it and tell me how Cronaldo will not score twice from this single pass from fabregas .

popizaino:


Let me first deal with this false believe, that he couldn't make the team at barca.

Fabregas during his time at Barcelona made more appearances than either xavi and iniesta and had a better goal and assists than both of them .He left because fans were usually frustrated with his direct style of play and long balls as oppose to their usual tiki taka.


Fabregas created the highest goal scoring chances in Europe at his peak from 2006 -2011 at the period were midfield greats likes xavi,iniesta,Alonso,Gerrard,lampard,scholes,pirlo,kaka,deco,seedorf were having their best time but wasn't the highest assist became arsenal had chamack,Eduardo,vela .

There is nothing magical about ozil passes at Madrid.They were just basic that any body can pull off .eg Guti .infact close to 30% of his total assists came from indirect freekicks and corners.

Fabregas made an average arsenal team look good and formidable making the ucl semi finals a couple of times.


Ozil wasn't a passer by for the NT neither was he the most outstanding player either.

Fabregas scored the winning penalty in Euro 2008 quarter finals against italy to send Spain to the semi finals.

Fabregas came off the bench to assist in 2010 world cup finals

Fabregas despite playing out of position in euro 2012 still put in a decent performance.

Stop sugar coating it. Fabregas was a failure at Barcelona. Stats might say otherwise but we the Barca fans who watched him knows. His style of play was never compatible with Barca and he was lazy as fucccck. He showed consistent 'inconsistencies' with his play and struggled every 2nd half of the season. He wasn't an orchestrator that everyone hoped he would be; he was not disciplined enough position-wise. He was not good in dribbling out of tight spaces like Iniesta/Silva and generally always half-step behind.

The battle of the Tens. Was Fabregas ever a ten though? Even in Arsenal he was in the central midfield. I would take Silva though, his versatility in attack and midfield is wonderful, not to mention he was able to survive the physicality of the premier league and still drop elite performances. I might be wrong o but Silva did next to nothing in the UCL.
But based on prime - Ozil, Fabregas, Silva, Mata.

There is a question I would like to ask, it has been coming up on Twitter a lot this days. Based on their prime and overall careeer between Kaka and Muller, Ronaldinho and Neymar who is the better player.

Cc Ibime Nihilistjnr Pkasso Roland17 Raumdeuter Unlimited22 Popizaino. And others I didn't mention pls comment.

Kante and barkley might earn chelsea some serious money next year if they can keep this their current form.

pamcode:
There is a question I would like to ask, it has been coming up on Twitter a lot this days. Based on their prime and overall careeer between Kaka and Muller, Ronaldinho and Neymar who is the better player.

ronaldinho.

pamcode:
There is a question I would like to ask, it has been coming up on Twitter a lot this days. Based on their prime and overall careeer between Kaka and Muller, Ronaldinho and Neymar who is the better player..

Sacrilege to put Ronaldinho in the same sentence with the other three when talking of prime.

2004-2006, Ronaldinho was the most dominant generational talent since Maradona in 86-88. No one was competing with him.

Ibime:


Sacrilege to put Ronaldinho in the same sentence with the other three when talking of prime.

2004-2006, Ronaldinho was the most dominant generational talent since Maradona in 86-88. No one was competing with him.

I actually grouped them as a duo. As in who is better between Kaka and Mueller. Also Ronaldinho and Neymar.

pamcode:
I actually grouped them as a duo. As in who is better between Kaka and Mueller. Also Ronaldinho and Neymar.

Muller over Kaka

Ronaldinho over Neymar

pamcode:
There is a question I would like to ask, it has been coming up on Twitter a lot this days. Based on their prime and overall careeer between Kaka and Muller, Ronaldinho and Neymar who is the better player.

Cc Ibime Nihilistjnr Pkasso Roland17 Raumdeuter Unlimited22 Popizaino. And others I didn't mention pls comment.

Which Muller?

E better be Gerd Muller o cos e no fit be Thomas Muller you dey compare with Ronaldinho.

Edit: I have seen your explanation.

Ronaldinho’s peak over Neymar’s. Neymar had the potential to surpass him but combination of playing in the Messi/CR7 era and also going to play in a monkey post league like French league has wrecked his chances.

Kaka is a better footballer than Muller and is more likely to singlehandedly decide a match but injuries wrecked him in his prime. Muller had had the better career overall.

There is nothing generational about Ronaldinho people are just blinded by nostalgic. If Ronaldinho was a generational talent so is Neymar. Henry from 2004 to 2006 even outperformed Ronaldinho.

Melvyn11:
There is nothing generational about Ronaldinho people are just blinded by nostalgic. If Ronaldinho was a generational talent so is Neymar. Henry from 2004 to 2006 even outperformed Ronaldinho.

k

Godx:

Stop sugar coating it. Fabregas was a failure at Barcelona. Stats might say otherwise but we the Barca fans who watched him knows. His style of play was never compatible with Barca and he was lazy as fucccck. He showed consistent 'inconsistencies' with his play and struggled every 2nd half of the season. He wasn't an orchestrator that everyone hoped he would be; he was not disciplined enough position-wise. He was not good in dribbling out of tight spaces like Iniesta/Silva and generally always half-step behind.

Well put,save for were you had to echo in ibime sentiment,that he struggled every 2nd half of the season .it is another myth I would soon have put to shred one of these days........ Then again your ascertion of him at your club is nothing different from what you quoted were I said you barca fans were not comfortable with his direct style and long balls kind of play.

Ibime:


Sacrilege to put Ronaldinho in the same sentence with the other three when talking of prime.

2004-2006, Ronaldinho was the most dominant generational talent since Maradona in 86-88. No one was competing with him.

This is not really indicative of their quality in comparison to other all time greats though. It is all about time and chance.

If Ronaldinho played in the Messi/CR7 era he might not have any ballon d’Or.

BlueMann:


Hopefully the case with Chilwell was just minor and precautionary.

But I don't think Lampard will revert to a 3-man defence against Newcastle, if Chilly is absent. Las las na still 4-3-3.
Emerson go dey OK.

make him sha no underrate newcastle

popizaino:

Then again your ascertion of him at your club is nothing different from what you quoted were I said you barca fans were not comfortable with his direct style and long balls kind of play.

No, you are downplaying it. They were also unhappy with his inability to dominate the ball in midfield and his escorting hence Godx said he was always half a step behind. No one has a problem with throwing good long passes. He just could not do bread-and-butter midfield work. Like a baker that can only put icing on cake but can never consistently bake the cake.

afrodoc2:


This is not really indicative of their quality in comparison to other all time greats though. It is all about time and chance.

If Ronaldinho played in the Messi/CR7 era he might not have any ballon d’Or.

Doc he will not have it.
All those Zidane dem will not have it.
Time and chance are very vital in football; look at lewandowski last season, he might not have the chance to win ever again.

afrodoc2:


This is not really indicative of their quality in comparison to other all time greats though. It is all about time and chance.

If Ronaldinho played in the Messi/CR7 era he might not have any ballon d’Or.

Be that as it may, there were many players around during 2004-2006 that were highly respected but he floored them all like Maradona floored all from 86-88.

Not even R9 was that dominant cos Del Piero was keeping up with R9 on domestic stage while Zidane managed to steal his glory on International stage.

Melvyn11:
There is nothing generational about Ronaldinho people are just blinded by nostalgic. If Ronaldinho was a generational talent so is Neymar. Henry from 2004 to 2006 even outperformed Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho is one of the most overrated player of all time because he does fancy step overs. Neymar has already surpassed him but romanticism won't let people see it.

Melvyn11:
There is nothing generational about Ronaldinho people are just blinded by nostalgic. If Ronaldinho was a generational talent so is Neymar. Henry from 2004 to 2006 even outperformed Ronaldinho.

Only young people still in primary school or junior secondary from 04-06 will subscribe to this. Ronaldinho margin of victory in Ballon d'Or voting will be one of the most dominant margin of victories of all time.

Neymar1095:

Ronaldinho is one of the most overrated player of all time because he does fancy step overs. Neymar has already surpassed him but romanticism won't let people see it.

The man had 2 and half good season in his entire career for fuckkkkk sakes. Neymar has definitely matched his best seasons.

Ibime:


Only young people still in primary school or junior secondary from 04-06 will subscribe to this. Ronaldinho margin of victory in Ballon d'Or voting will be one of the most dominant margin of victories of all time.

All those are nostalgic voters. Stat wise Henry was miles ahead of Ronaldinho.

Ibime:


Be that as it may, there were many players around during 2004-2006 that were highly respected but he floored them all like Maradona floored all from 86-88.

Not even R9 was that dominant cos Del Piero was keeping up with R9 on domestic stage while Zidane managed to steal his glory on International stage.

Nobody considered Del Piero R9’s mate.

96-98. R9 came 1st, 1st, 2nd in WPOTY including a World Cup final and Golden ball.

2004 -2006 Ronaldinho came 1st, 1st, 3rd including a World Cup flop.

R9 was more dominant in my opinion. A true force of nature.