Best central midfielder in the world at this moment?

Blatter

Having this argument with some friends. I think it's almost certainly Arturo Vidal but I'm just interested in what the mainstream opinion is?

Skylinehead

Blatter wrote: »

Having this argument with some friends. I think it's almost certainly Arturo Vidal but I'm just interested in what the mainstream opinion is?

At this very moment, Vidal, but only because Bastien Schweinsteiger is injured.

brevity

Yaya Toure maybe?

Kerrydude1981

Without doubt it has to be Tom Cleverley

Yaya for me as well,once he gets going he is very hard to stop.

Lord TSC

Tom Cleverly.

smileyj1987

I would have to say pirlo is up there right now . To me he is a joy to watch .

billymitchell

Yeah, has to be Cleverly.

Seaneh

smileyj1987 wrote: »

I would have to say pirlo is up there right now .

He's not.

But his team mate is the best centre mid in Europe over the last 12-18 months.

callaway92

It has to be Yaya Toure. Probably would have said the same for the last 3 or 4 years at least.

Or Glenn Whelan. Actually ya I'll go for Glenn Whelan.

Celly Smunt

Glenn whealen for me.

The_Kew_Tour

Vidal
YAYA

Seaneh

Skylinehead wrote: »

At this very moment, Vidal, but only because Bastien Schweinsteiger is injured.

I love Bastien, but I think Vidal is in better form. Those two are the standouts though.

yomtea98

Vidal

Agueroooo

Yaya
Vidal
Silva
Fab

Liam O

callaway92 wrote: »

It has to be Yaya Toure. Probably would have said the same for the last 3 or 4 years at least

Did you see much of him last season?

Knex*

Seaneh wrote: »

I love Bastien, but I think Vidal is in better form. Those two are the standouts though.

+ 1 on this.

Corholio

Vidal IMO. Yaya is a superb player and unstoppable at times, however I think the criticism in him negating defensive duties is warranted some of the time.

Knex*

Toure farted his way through many games last year. He wasn't at all as effective as he has been so far this season.

Vidal far more standout, both in the league and Europe.

Schweinsteiger's injuries stop him from taking the mantle, in my eyes. Only just, too.

Skylinehead

Seaneh wrote: »

I love Bastien, but I think Vidal is in better form. Those two are the standouts though.

Well to be fair Schweinsteiger has been injured pretty much all season. Last season it was him, this season it's Vidal.

Vurnon San Benito

Jay Spearing.

patmac

Aidan O'Shea, oh sorry wrong forum. (he'd still be better than Cleverley though)

~Rebel~

Is it just me, or is centre mid worldwide a weaker category than it used to be? So many great centre mids retired in the recent past, and a glut are on their last legs too, but I just don't see their places being filled.

There are still plenty of top quality players there of course, but it just feels like it's still far fewer than it used to be, even only 5 years ago.

CSF

Vidal.

brevity

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Is it just me, or is centre mid worldwide a weaker category than it used to be? So many great centre mids retired in the recent past, and a glut are on their last legs too, but I just don't see their places being filled.

There are still plenty of top quality players there of course, but it just feels like it's still far fewer than it used to be, even only 5 years ago.

I think the centre mid role has been split somewhat into a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder.

Years ago those roles wouldn't necessarily exist, or would they?

~Rebel~

brevity wrote: »

I think the centre mid role has been split somewhat into a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder.

Years ago those roles wouldn't necessarily exist, or would they?

I think this is part of it alright, but I think CM's used to be more rounded - you'd have a tough bastard as effective as a DM, but who could also play, get involved in attacking play - the likes of Vieira, pre-injury Essien, Davids, Keane etc.

I just feel like there used to be a "bite" to nearly every centre midfielder in the past, almost as a pre-requisite, which is lacking these days.

astonaidan

Id go with Vidal aswell, although a certain french man will surely challenge that in the next few years

CSF

astonaidan wrote: »

Id go with Vidal aswell, although a certain french man will surely challenge that in the next few years

Pogba?

The_Kew_Tour

Who is the most underrated midfielder then seems like Vidal and Yaya are main too by most posts?

GTR63

Vidal and i'm a Milan fan saying that. Himself, Pogba & Pirlo made De Rossi & Strootman (who are no mugs) look like boys last weekend. Big fan of Schweinsteiger too as long as he stays injury free. As a fan I wish Xavi & Pirlo were younger its like they are the last of their kind, I like Pogba & a few guys now but those two I mentioned could dictate a game to the point a novice would notice it.

Andersonisgod

Xavi Hernandez. Some lovely quotes from the Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, on the metronome. "If you look at the numbers, there's no doubt that Xavi is the best Spanish player in history. It'll only be years from now that we'll see what Xavi has meant. He's the architect of this team."

No, he doesn't play each game anymore, he is pushing on in years now. However on Saturday in the white hot atmosphere of the Vicente Calderon, against the brutish but brilliantly efficient Atletico Madrid, Xavi Hernandez will line up, adding to his record number of appearances for the club he has been at since the age of 11. Billed as the biggest game of the season, it will probably go a long way to deciding the destination of the Primera División, at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, pulling the strings, dictating the play as only he can will be the 33 year old. It's another massive game, another in a long list for the Catalan who has played, and dominated, Clasico's, Champions League finals, European Championship finals and a World Cup final. The great man says he feels better now than he has in the last two seasons, in a recent interview with "Paneka" he claims that he is at the height of his game right now in terms of bringing together fitness, ability and experience.

He's the symbol, and one of the fiercest protectors of tiki taka, even at 33, for me, no other midfield in the world still influences a game as much as Barcelona's orchestrator in chief. So that's my case as to why Xavi Hernandez remains the best central midfielder in the world.

yabadabado

Vidal

Seaneh

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Xavi Hernandez.

Maybe 3 years ago, but now, not a ****ing hope.

SweepTheLeg

Fabregas

Gets none of the praise he deserves at Barca cos of Messi, Neymar, Xavi/Iniesta. But if you watch him play you'll see why he's the best.

Crazy how he's still only 26.

Andersonisgod

Seaneh wrote: »

Maybe 3 years ago, but now, not a ****ing hope.

Opinions in football shift so rapidly it makes it seem as though time were moving much quicker than it really is. If Barcelona go on to win the Champions League this season and Spain lift the World Cup then perhaps the Joe McHale gif will be on the other foot. I've put forward the case for the great man, I have no wish to derail this thread but I don't see his selection is ridiculous or gif-worthy, given that he is still the heart of a midfield that tops La Liga, that won La Liga last season and that could well go on to win the Champions League this season and, with Spain, win the World Cup.

Seaneh

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Opinions in football shift so rapidly it makes it seem as though time were moving much quicker than it really is. If Barcelona go on to win the Champions League this season and Spain lift the World Cup then perhaps the Joe McHale gif will be on the other foot. I've put forward the case for the great man, I have no wish to derail this thread but I don't see his selection is ridiculous or gif-worthy, given that he is still the heart of a midfield that tops La Liga, that won La Liga last season and that could well go on to win the Champions League this season and, with Spain, win the World Cup.

You've posted a rambling, pointless, boring monologue, as you are prone to do, and it says exactly nothing, NOTHING, as usual.

Francie Barrett

Cleverly (with only 2 e's) for me as well.

Moneymaker

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Xavi Hernandez. Some lovely quotes from the Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, on the metronome. "If you look at the numbers, there's no doubt that Xavi is the best Spanish player in history. It'll only be years from now that we'll see what Xavi has meant. He's the architect of this team."

No, he doesn't play each game anymore, he is pushing on in years now. However on Saturday in the white hot atmosphere of the Vicente Calderon, against the brutish but brilliantly efficient Atletico Madrid, Xavi Hernandez will line up, adding to his record number of appearances for the club he has been at since the age of 11. Billed as the biggest game of the season, it will probably go a long way to deciding the destination of the Primera División, at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, pulling the strings, dictating the play as only he can will be the 33 year old. It's another massive game, another in a long list for the Catalan who has played, and dominated, Clasico's, Champions League finals, European Championship finals and a World Cup final. The great man says he feels better now than he has in the last two seasons, in a recent interview with "Paneka" he claims that he is at the height of his game right now in terms of bringing together fitness, ability and experience.

He's the symbol, and one of the fiercest protectors of tiki taka, even at 33, for me, no other midfield in the world still influences a game as much as Barcelona's orchestrator in chief. So that's my case as to why Xavi Hernandez remains the best central midfielder in the world.

For gods sake man. I'm as big a Xavi fanboy as anyone but he's not even close right now.

Vidal is head and shoulders above anyone else atm imo. And he DOES play every game, and every game he's the best player on the field.

He is as close to the complete player as you'll find. Stamina, pace, power, technique, he can literally play anywhere and play very ****ing well anywhere.

His penalties have to been to be believed too. More or less impossible to save.

Andersonisgod

Seaneh wrote: »

You've posted a rambling, pointless, boring monologue, as you are prone to do, and it says exactly nothing, NOTHING, as usual.

Read the post again, it definitely says something, infact it says a lot of things, it states a few facts, it puts forward a few hypothetical scenarios, and it contains a few core reasons as to why I believe that the hub of the most successful Barcelona and Spain side in history is still the best midfielder in the world. If you disagree, fine, however I think it is foolish to completely dismiss Xavi Hernandez and not do the same to other, far more dubious names that have been mentioned in this thread (Pirlo being one of those). This will be my last post on this thread because I'd rather the thread not become about me (unless someone wants to stake a claim for me being the best midfielder in the world, in which case I'm flattered but there may be other, more deserving candidates).

The_Kew_Tour

I dont think anyone thinks Xavi is not still a fine midfielder.

They're just a nice bunch ahead of him at moment.

We all agree Xavi will go down as one of the greatest of all time.

He just aint near that now. Still fine fine player just not best. Simple.

Amirani

Vidal for sure I reckon. Has everything in his game.

Seaneh

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Read the post again, it definitely says something, infact it says a lot of things, it states a few facts, it puts forward a few hypothetical scenarios, and it contains a few core reasons as to why I believe that the hub of the most successful Barcelona and Spain side in history is still the best midfielder in the world. If you disagree, fine, however I think it is foolish to completely dismiss Xavi Hernandez and not do the same to other, far more dubious names that have been mentioned in this thread (Pirlo being one of those). This will be my last post on this thread because I'd rather the thread not become about me (unless someone wants to stake a claim for me being the best midfielder in the world, in which case I'm flattered but there may be other, more deserving candidates).

Nobody is "compeletely" dismissing anyone.

We just aren't blinded by ideology enough to believe that a player who is past his best is the "best midfielder in the world".

He's not even close to Vidal or Bastian or even Yaya.


But as usual, you just go on your normal barca fanboy rant.

And for the love of ****ing god, learn how to use paragraphs, he's painful enough to read your sycophantic sh*te, lack of paragraphs just makes it tedious.

Seaneh

Seaneh wrote: »

Nobody is "compeletely" dismissing anyone.

We just aren't blinded by ideology enough to believe that a player who is past his best is the "best midfielder in the world".

He's not even close to Vidal or Bastian or even Yaya.


But as usual, you just go on your normal barca fanboy rant.

And for the love of ****ing god, learn how to use paragraphs, he's painful enough to read your sycophantic sh*te, lack of paragraphs just makes it tedious.

You lost that battle I think, you cracked!

Corholio

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Read the post again, it definitely says something, infact it says a lot of things, it states a few facts, it puts forward a few hypothetical scenarios, and it contains a few core reasons as to why I believe that the hub of the most successful Barcelona and Spain side in history is still the best midfielder in the world. If you disagree, fine, however I think it is foolish to completely dismiss Xavi Hernandez and not do the same to other, far more dubious names that have been mentioned in this thread (Pirlo being one of those). This will be my last post on this thread because I'd rather the thread not become about me (unless someone wants to stake a claim for me being the best midfielder in the world, in which case I'm flattered but there may be other, more deserving candidates).

Mr. Incognito

Ozil for me. Makes the players around him better

LiamoSail

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Xavi Hernandez. Some lovely quotes from the Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, on the metronome. "If you look at the numbers, there's no doubt that Xavi is the best Spanish player in history. It'll only be years from now that we'll see what Xavi has meant. He's the architect of this team."

No, he doesn't play each game anymore, he is pushing on in years now. However on Saturday in the white hot atmosphere of the Vicente Calderon, against the brutish but brilliantly efficient Atletico Madrid, Xavi Hernandez will line up, adding to his record number of appearances for the club he has been at since the age of 11. Billed as the biggest game of the season, it will probably go a long way to deciding the destination of the Primera División, at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, pulling the strings, dictating the play as only he can will be the 33 year old. It's another massive game, another in a long list for the Catalan who has played, and dominated, Clasico's, Champions League finals, European Championship finals and a World Cup final. The great man says he feels better now than he has in the last two seasons, in a recent interview with "Paneka" he claims that he is at the height of his game right now in terms of bringing together fitness, ability and experience.

He's the symbol, and one of the fiercest protectors of tiki taka, even at 33, for me, no other midfield in the world still influences a game as much as Barcelona's orchestrator in chief. So that's my case as to why Xavi Hernandez remains the best central midfielder in the world.

This is just articulate hyperbole. It's as if you've taken a thesaurus to a sky sports premier league ad.

I agree with your sentiments regarding Xavi, in that he was, and to a lesser extent still is a great player, but your constant use of terms more fitting to martyrs and world leaders takes away from what is a valid, if disputable point you're making

Andersonisgod

"Nobody is "compeletely" dismissing anyone." - Seaneh







20 minutes earlier..........

Seaneh wrote: »

Maybe 3 years ago, but now, not a ****ing hope.

Ok this is my last post, I just couldn't resist pointing out such a glaring bit of hypocrisy. I'm gone now.

Alfred Borden

Yaya for me just a total class act, Pogba be up there in a few years. Vidal is a close second just short imo. Ramsey would have been in the discussion for form alone a month ago but wouldnt put him near the top 10.

Seaneh

He's not near the best midfielder in the world, ANYMORE.

That doesn't mean I think he's not a good player anymore, he's just not playing at the level he was 3 years ago.


The gif was in reply to your hyperbolic nonsense monolog of a post, which, as per usual, did littler but abuse cliches and regurgitate the same ****e you always post when textually masturbate over Barcelona in the saddest of fanboy ways.

Paully D

Vidal for me, although I wouldn't have seen near as much of him as many on here. Seems to be the best all-round footballer on the planet though.

Skylinehead

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Ozil for me. Makes the players around him better

I wouldn't call Ozil a central midfielder though, he roams behind the striker.

I'm not even going to bother with the Xavi crap, I'll just get bombarded with monologues about how he's from the academy and epitomises Barcas play blah blah blah.

Lucas Hood

Seaneh wrote: »

He's not.

But his team mate is the best centre mid in Europe over the last 12-18 months.

Has there been someone outside Europe who's better than him?