General Football 2014/15: Page 76 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

General Football 2014/15

Klaus

Someone needed to make the team tick while the others focused on scoring and pinging balls to the attack. During Barca's entire modern dynasty, the only player I've seen who's been unquestionably better than Iniesta is Messi.

mdgoonah41

have to agree. his ability to glide around the pitch, ghost in between the lines and play a key pass that sets up a goal sets him apart in that team.

Gunner89

Ricky1985 wrote:
It is astonishing that Iniesta has played all these years with Messi and his 400 or so goals and yet so few are his assists. And now 366 days without an assist? Blimey! You'd think Flamini could play in midfield for Barcelona and find Messi at least a few times a season.

Still an incredible playerto sit down and watch play football though.

Yup poor Iniesta's only got 85 assists

lorddulaarsenal

He's also a big guy and is strong so doesn't get bullied off the ball

lorddulaarsenal

Bosscielny wrote:
Chili Palmer wrote:
You cannot be serious. Offensively it has potential but that's where it ends. England will get mauled as ususal as soon as they come up against half decent opponents.

Yep. The midfield and defense are absolute dogshit. Not one player even close to world class.

Maybe so but it's as good as anyone else's out there. Plus that attack will trouble any team

Sterling is frighteningly good

Claudius

There's a few players like this in the world whose stats are out of line with their actual contribution to the game. Iniesta is amongst them, along with Zidane and Nedved. In their prime, these guys dictated the pace of offense and always seemed to be 1/2 a second ahead of their opponents in terms of finding passes and being able to drift into space without possessing the blistering pace of a Hazard. I agree with Tactics about the 2009 game. I was a bit of an Iniesta skeptic due to his unimpressive stats until I saw that game. One of those guys who was a true privilege to watch in his prime.

Clrnc

Rex wrote:
My problem with Kane, from an England perspective, is that I don't see any top quality traits in him. He has an eye for where to place himself, but that's not enough. He doesn't have pace, no outstanding technical qualities, he isn't an aerial beast, he isn't exceptionally strong, he doesn't have a magnificent shot on him, he isn't great in his inter play with his team mates. He is decent at all of it, but he doesn't look as if he will develop any of those things to a top class level. Personally, I think he is a decent player who is having a fantastic season. The Kevin Phillips of 14-15. I like that narrative better too, since he plays for the scum. 🙂

Kevin Phillips is a great goalscorer every season.

Claudius

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
-----------Kane/Rooney/Sturridge
Sterling/Welbs--------------Chambo/Theo/Ibe
----------Barkley/Lallana/Wilshere
---------Carrick-------Henderson
Gibbs/Shaw--Cahill/Jones-Smalling/Stones-Clyne/Walker
------------------Hart/Forster

Fantastic squad.

That rearguard is shocking. How many of those defenders and midfielders would make it into our starting line-up? S

Clrnc

Just watch Iniesta in the Euro 2012, little goals or assists, but he is what made Spain tick and ultimately won them the competition.

lorddulaarsenal

Probably Carrick, Gibbs, Cahill, Clyne and hart

JazzG

Tactics wrote:
Not shocked to see Iniesta isn't that rated on here, end products players (the Walcotts, Lampards etc of this world) are generally preferred from what I have seen.

I'd agree with that, players with end product get over-rated in this country whereas players who help the team function usually get overlooked.

As for Iniesta, gone off the boil more recently but a superb player. A real big game player as well, the big games for Barca you always felt he would be the first to step up.

Klaus wrote:
Someone needed to make the team tick while the others focused on scoring and pinging balls to the attack. During Barca's entire modern dynasty, the only player I've seen who's been unquestionably better than Iniesta is Messi.

Xavi?

ultimatewarrior

Ricky1985 wrote:
It is astonishing that Iniesta has played all these years with Messi and his 400 or so goals and yet so few are his assists. And now 366 days without an assist? Blimey! You'd think Flamini could play in midfield for Barcelona and find Messi at least a few times a season.

Still an incredible playerto sit down and watch play football though.

I don't know if this is true, as I haven't verified it myself, but Zidane only created a couple of Henry's 50+ International goals.

The parallel's between Iniesta and Zidane are clear as day. Very similar players.

ultimatewarrior

Claudius wrote:
There's a few players like this in the world whose stats are out of line with their actual contribution to the game. Iniesta is amongst them, along with Zidane and Nedved. In their prime, these guys dictated the pace of offense and always seemed to be 1/2 a second ahead of their opponents in terms of finding passes and being able to drift into space without possessing the blistering pace of a Hazard. I agree with Tactics about the 2009 game. I was a bit of an Iniesta skeptic due to his unimpressive stats until I saw that game. One of those guys who was a true privilege to watch in his prime.

It's a good thing you mentioned Nedved because he's another player who adds so much to the team without a clear tangible contribution. I'd say Rosicky at the top of his game is another player of that ilk, who is so dominant from creative midfield without assisting or scoring.

QuincyAbeyie

JazzG wrote:
Tactics wrote:
Not shocked to see Iniesta isn't that rated on here, end products players (the Walcotts, Lampards etc of this world) are generally preferred from what I have seen.

I'd agree with that, players with end product get over-rated in this country whereas players who help the team function usually get overlooked.

As for Iniesta, gone off the boil more recently but a superb player. A real big game player as well, the big games for Barca you always felt he would be the first to step up.

Klaus wrote:
Someone needed to make the team tick while the others focused on scoring and pinging balls to the attack. During Barca's entire modern dynasty, the only player I've seen who's been unquestionably better than Iniesta is Messi.

Xavi?

Xavi was the main assister.

Klaus

JazzG wrote:
Xavi?

I think Iniesta was better.

banduan

Ike 😆 😆

goon

Not sure where the idea has come from that Zidane wasn't productive from a goalscoring/assisting standpoint, he got plenty, probably a combined 20+ each season. Same goes for Nedved.

The best way I can put this is by pointing at Bergkamp. He was great at getting us playing well after 2002 and his value to the side in the following seasons, including for the invincibles can't be disputed despite an average output at best, but you're mental if you think he was just as good then as he was in his first few years here.. once he got going.

Jens

Martin Ødegaard starting for Norway against Croatia.

HomeSteak

Ramsey scores right before the break. An assist from Bale.

goon

An Aaron assist for Bale now, been linking up well all night. Taste of things to come next season I'm sure.

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