[ENG] Premiership 2007/2008 (40 Viewers)

[denco]

Come January and the African cup of nations, Portsmouth would be in dire staits as their strike force is basically from Africa apart from David Nugent who is an Englishman in New York, judging by his premiership performance so far.

Add Muntari and Boupa Papa Diop and you can see why they might struggle.

I have to say Reading were a disgrace against Arsenal as they showed no fight whatsoever and the score could quite easily have been 8 or more

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Juve per sempre]

Come January and the African cup of nations, Portsmouth would be in dire staits as their strike force is basically from Africa apart from David Nugent who is an Englishman in New York, judging by his premiership performance so far.

Add Muntari and Boupa Papa Diop and you can see why they might struggle.

I have to say Reading were a disgrace against Arsenal as they showed no fight whatsoever and the score could quite easily have been 8 or more

Benjany wont leave coz his country didnt qualify for the cup & I dont think Kanu will play with Nigeria in the cup(I think he retired or smthing).
They will suffer like hell in midfield with their main force(Muntari & Diop) leaving for the cup.

 

[denco]

Benjany wont leave coz his country didnt qualify for the cup & I dont think Kanu will play with Nigeria in the cup(I think he retired or smthing).
They will suffer like hell in midfield with their main force(Muntari & Diop) leaving for the cup.

Speaking of which, what countries did qualify as I need to refine my fantasy team in January

 

[Fabregas23]

Okay, maybe I went bit overboard with Maradona, but Hleb is definately more skillful than Ronaldo at Man United. Has anyone ever seen Ronaldo play well against a good team, in England or in Europe? I havent.

Yeah, it's quite funny to see the all the Arsenal fans jumping on the Hleb bandwagon this season. Most Arsenal fans and english fans in general are footballing illiterates who need the media to praise a player before they recognise it themselves. In truth Hleb has probably improved by 5-10 % this year but no where near enough for people- who previously thought he was crap- to say he is different player without Henry and more liberated. It's mostly due to the fact Arsenal are playing him in free role this year more often.

Tomas Rosicky at his best isn't too bad either. In fact Arsenal have got two freakishly talented playmakers at their disposal.

 

[Azzurri7]

Okay, maybe I went bit overboard with Maradona, but Hleb is definately more skillful than Ronaldo at Man United. Has anyone ever seen Ronaldo play well against a good team, in England or in Europe? I havent.

Yeah, it's quite funny to see the all the Arsenal fans jumping on the Hleb bandwagon this season. Most Arsenal fans and english fans in general are footballing illiterates who need the media to praise a player before they recognise it themselves. In truth Hleb has probably improved by 5-10 % this year but no where near enough for people- who previously thought he was crap- to say he is different player without Henry and more liberated. It's mostly due to the fact Arsenal are playing him in free role this year more often.

Tomas Rosicky at his best isn't too bad either. In fact Arsenal have got two freakishly talented playmakers at their disposal.

Hleb's vision on the field is much better than Ronaldo. His passes, crosses defending skills are better. Ronaldo is a faster player and better in dribbling. Over-all I'd say Hleb is the better player IMO. Incredible tech he got.

I don't know why some Arsenal fans are always on Hleb's back, but as a Juve fan I can only pray to have such a player.

 

[Fabregas23]

They don't understand football Azzuri. Because English football is played at such a fast pace, the fans want everything done here and now. They often think Hleb dwells on the ball and slows play up when in fact he was processing all the options and analysing the right option to use. Just look at his set-up for Fabregas against Liverpool. All the fans were shouting pass, pass, and annoyed with him. Then Fabregas scores and they say what a great player is Hleb. They're idiots.

What will hold Hleb back is his mentality. He is not arrogant enough.

 

[Alltagsheld]

They don't understand football Azzuri. Because English football is played at such a fast pace, the fans want everything done here and now. They often think Hleb dwells on the ball and slows play up when in fact he was processing all the options and analysing the right option to use. Just look at his set-up for Fabregas against Liverpool. All the fans were shouting pass, pass, and annoyed with him. Then Fabregas scores and they say what a great player is Hleb. They're idiots.

What will hold Hleb back is his mentality. He is not arrogant enough.

But he seems like making it atm though, doesn't he? I've always considered him very promising in his Bundesliga days and I am glad he's made his way in the EPL too now. I think I should try to catch a bit of this season's Arsenal. All I hear sounds splendid but I don't care much about the Premier League normally.

 

[Fred]

I think u r kinda underrating the guy.
Of course he is not one of the best strikers in the world but he could be.
I agree on the part that he wouldnt be a starter in Barca,Madrid,ManUtd or even Juve but that the brilliance of Arsene,look what he did with Henry,he was a bench warmer at Juve & in 2 years with Arsenal,he became the best striker in the world.
Adebayor is improving everyday,he is doing stuff that he never used to do.
Arsene is getting the best out of him & his skills is improving & he is not only scoring but helping his teammates with great movements & assists.
He is still young & have a lot of time to improve but I am feelin a great player in the making.

He definitely improved..hence my saying..he turned from an average player to a decent one...making of a great player??thats too much..Henry is a different case..Henry was obviously talented before his Arsenal days and before his Juve days..Wenger just gave him a chance and converted him into a striker.


@Azzurri,Fabregas23..Hleb has always been talented which was very obvious from his very first touch in an Arsenal shirt..it was mental fragility and inconsistency that were standing in his way..He is playing to his full potential now..he's a great player and he's integral to the way Arsenal play..But i have disagree in him being more talented than Ronaldo..I think a lot of people who hate Ronaldo tend to underrate him and his technique..i dont agree with people who say he's just fancy tricks..the way he runs with the ball at full speed while controlling it so easily is breathtaking...i believe technique is more than just being creative..Ronaldo can cross the ball better than hleb, he's got a better shot, he can run with it better and he can dribble better...Hleb's close ball control is amazing and so is his ability to pick out a pass..But Ronaldo just edges it for me in terms of technical ability.

NOTE: I am by no means a fan of C.Ronaldo..he is definitely #1 on my hatelist of footballers.

 

[Red]

Hlebs passing and vision are great, but Ronaldo is still the better player.

 

[Azzurri7]

Hlebs passing and vision are great, but Ronaldo is still the better player.

Not to me.... Many people would see Ronaldo the better player because they enjoy watching the "pony show" he makes on the field.

I myself, enjoy the hard-work, passes good vision and etc...the likes of Hleb, Rosicky, Pirlo, Diego etc are much more fun to watch than the likes of C. Ronaldo, Robinho and Messi.

 

[Red]

Not to me.... Many people would see Ronaldo the better player because they enjoy watching the "pony show" he makes on the field.

I myself, enjoy the hard-work, passes good vision and etc...the likes of Hleb, Rosicky, Pirlo, Diego etc are much more fun to watch than the likes of C. Ronaldo, Robinho and Messi.

I know what you mean, but the ability to run with the ball at pace and beat men is a rarer quality than great passing ability, so I would go for your 2nd bunch.

Or I could just watch Milan or Barca to get Pirlo/Kaka or Xavi/Messi.

 

[Fred]

Not to me.... Many people would see Ronaldo the better player because they enjoy watching the "pony show" he makes on the field.

I myself, enjoy the hard-work, passes good vision and etc...the likes of Hleb, Rosicky, Pirlo, Diego etc are much more fun to watch than the likes of C. Ronaldo, Robinho and Messi.

i too enjoy the good vision and passes more than fancy tricks and dribbling..which is why i enjoy Hleb more than i enjoy Ronaldo...but Ronaldo has a wider skillset than Hleb..it doesnt mean i like his "type" more..no far from that..i enjoy Nasri,Zidane,Riquelme,Pirlo,Fabregas and Hleb much more.

 

[Azzurri7]

i too enjoy the good vision and passes more than fancy tricks and dribbling..which is why i enjoy Hleb more than i enjoy Ronaldo...but Ronaldo has a wider skillset than Hleb..it doesnt mean i like his "type" more..no far from that..i enjoy Nasri,Zidane,Riquelme,Pirlo,Fabregas and Hleb much more.

True that.

 

[Fred]

i'm glad we reached an agreement..we hardly ever agree,do we??

 

[Fred]

Very Interesting article on Wenger,Arsenal and the English player debate.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=480546

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

i hate ronaldo too, but the dude's technique is undeniable. also, i used to criticise him for being a show pony, he still is, but he is less of one now, and has added goals and assists to his game. i'm still not sold on hleb though.

 

[Fabregas23]

Ronaldo is a fine player. Scores lots and lots more goals than Hleb. But for me Hleb dictates a game better, and often does his best work deeper than Ronaldo. I always call Hleb the assistor to the assistor. He always does the groundwork earlier on in a move and gets no credit for it- until this season of course where pundits and journalists would have to be legally blind to keep ignoring him.

In terms of dribbling, Ronaldo is better at running into space; while Hleb is better at going past people using feints and turns. Hleb plays better with three people on him. He needs to be forced to use his skill whereas Ronaldo does it all the time.

I still say though, Ronaldo does not turn up against the big teams. He may score, but he doesn't influence the game in general play as much as he should to justify his "best player in the world" tag he oftens gets.

 

[Fred]

Ronaldo is a fine player. Scores lots and lots more goals than Hleb. But for me Hleb dictates a game better, and often does his best work deeper than Ronaldo. I always call Hleb the assistor to the assistor. He always does the groundwork earlier on in a move and gets no credit for it- until this season of course where pundits and journalists would have to be legally blind to keep ignoring him.

In terms of dribbling, Ronaldo is better at running into space; while Hleb is better at going past people using feints and turns. Hleb plays better with three people on him. He needs to be forced to use his skill whereas Ronaldo does it all the time.

I still say though, Ronaldo does not turn up against the big teams. He may score, but he doesn't influence the game in general play as much as he should to justify his "best player in the world" tag he oftens gets.

Assistor to the assistor??good one thats about the best way to describe him


he is by no means the best player in the world..and i'd agree..he rarely turns up against the "big" teams...especially against us..where he's always in Clichys pocket

But IMO..Clichy hasnt been getting enough credit this season..the guy has been immense this season..and along with Cesc and Gilberto one of the only players who shined last season..IMO he is currently the best left back in the league..better than Evra.,he needs to work on his final ball though.

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

i agree that c.ronaldo doesn't show up against big teams, just like zlatan and riquelme, the word for them is chokers.

 

[Fred]

Zlatan always shows up against Milan though..but i agree..he is kind of like Riquelme and Ronaldo in that he normally doesnt show up in the big occasions.