Lionel Messi

TNaicker wrote: He'll get even more plaudits when he plays a season in England (pace of game and tackles will wear him down) or Italy (better defences will not give him the space he gets in Spain...also greatly assisted by Iniesta and Xavi)...

davetheflower wrote:

TNaicker wrote: He'll get even more plaudits when he plays a season in England (pace of game and tackles will wear him down) or Italy (better defences will not give him the space he gets in Spain...also greatly assisted by Iniesta and Xavi)...

The champions of England couldn't wear him down last night. :lol:

TNaicker wrote:

davetheflower wrote:

TNaicker wrote: He'll get even more plaudits when he plays a season in England (pace of game and tackles will wear him down) or Italy (better defences will not give him the space he gets in Spain...also greatly assisted by Iniesta and Xavi)...

The champions of England couldn't wear him down last night. :lol:

Week in and week out in England will wear him down...playing the odd match against English opposition is no indication of how he would perform if confronted by it all the time...and he is playing alongside other great players which enable him to have the time and space to perform...there is no doubting his ability...I think it overdone as he has only ever played in one league where the structure and pace of play suits him...greatness is about adaptability and going out of one's comfort zone and still being able to maintain one's standards...he has yet to do that...

davetheflower wrote: Another question for you Tnacker,if Messi isn't a great in your eyes,what do you rate him as?

TNaicker wrote:

davetheflower wrote: Another question for you Tnacker,if Messi isn't a great in your eyes,what do you rate him as?

Very very good !!

I think that Yaya Toure is a better player than Messi or Ronaldo as he is a more versatile player but they get the accolades as they score more goals...to each their own...

Regarding Giggs, Maldini and Totti...all very good players and one team their entire careers...never went out of their comfort zone so we never know how good or otherwise they would have been against different opposition...

Difficult to compare across generations as the pace of the game has changed...

To compare to cricket, I don't think that Bradman was the best of all time...only played in England and Australia and most of his test innings were against England...greatness is about testing yourself in all conditions against all opposition and still being able to maintain an exceptionally high level of performance...

You entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine...neither are right or wrong as there is no way of knowing independently with certainty...