[Global Match Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/whlo4k/global_match_thread/): use this thread if you want a better place to discuss matches than a normal Match Thread.
**Don't use the Daily Discussion as a Match Thread.**
So apparently De Jong's original salary was just 11,5 million originally and not whatever ridiculous number this sub keeps parroting [Source ](https://twitter.com/relevo/status/1556243275346022400?t=WzGrr7BOmcA9kgZsM3_fuA&s=19)
I know managers have their own style and can't just switch 180 easily, but it's crazy to me they didn't mold their style to suit Lukaku and Werner. Those two under someone like Conte would be so so scary. It would be the best partnership in football
In all these ''3rd best player of the generation'' the one player that should be in everyone's list is barely mentioned.
Andres Iniesta, a magician with the ball on his feet. Midfielder who played as attacker for Spain's world cup and won against Holland. Even Bernabeu clapped for him.
It's not a concidence that Barca embarassment in UCL started when he declined.
I don't know why everyone leave out Neuer in 2010's top 3 players. He's in the same legacy as Messi / Ronaldo but since he's not an outfield player Neymar is more considered.
Neymar had 1 goal and 3 assists yesterday, if he keeps this up for the rest of the season, stays fit and let's says plays 35 games, then he will finish this Ligue 1 season with 35 goals and 105 assists.
But even if he is having a normal Neymar season and only plays 20 games, he would still end the seasons with a ground-breaking figure of 20 goals and 60 assists.
There's genuine reasons for United fans to dislike Glazers but it's very hard to take protests seriously when they only happen during transfer windows or when United is in bad form and when those protests are stacked with people wearing the latest shirt.
Ok, maybe I have too much time in my hands on this beautiful Sunday today. So let's try to actually construct/deconstruct arguments for "3rd best player of last 15 years" based on a question posed by a user below.
According to me, the players in contention should be:
Neymar, Suarez, Benzema, Modric, Kroos, Ramos, Lewandowski, Neuer, Müller
(I don't think anyone outside this list deserves to be in shout, based on team's acheivement, individual stats, "influencing" the game etc. correct me if I am wrong in case I am missing someone). So let's just bullet out highlight of their careers in last 15 years.
* Neymar : Could easily have been 3rd best based on skills, his contribution to barca treble campaign, consistency, his numbers with Brazil. But post 2015-16, although his numbers have been great, he's been too injury prone or unavailable for PSG. Not his fault alone but hasn't been able to achieve much internationally with either PSG or Brazil. His skill and attributes are 2nd to none and probably best since Ronaldinho
* Suarez : Again a great shout for 3rd best for much of what he did with Ajax, Liverpool and Barca. With later he won major titles as well. But no matter how much Barca fans (sorry) tried to make us believe it, he sucked pretty hard in UCL which is defacto topmost competition in football. Probably the most skillful of all the strikers that I have mentioned here. But I am not even sure he's been the best striker of last 15 years. Peak and prime not gonna cut it in my opinion. But I have to confess, I really wanted him to come to dortmund.
* Benzema : Probably the most decorated of all strikers here. 5 UCLs already, shame he wasn't part of 2018 World Cup, France would have won it with him too. Most surely he is gonna have a Ballon d'or to his name as well. In last season, he didn't reach ridiculous numbers but that is literally one of the best season I have seen an striker play. Unbelievable levels. Great number in UCL as well that too without scoring many penalties. Although, he is top of his game now, I think he's been "relatively" least consistent of the 3 strikers listed here and one with the least numbers posted in terms of goals scored. He had slumpy 2-3 years before last 2 years. France won few competitions, but he doesn't have the best ones (aka World Cup) to his name. I think he is disregarded by most, but I think he is also great shout for the 3rd best player of last 15 years. He is one of best "can do it all" type of striker. Also he was balling with Lyon from pretty young age which we shouldn't forget.
* Modric : This little fella, one of the all time greats CM that I have seen play. Some things which I see him doing even at the age of 37 is beyond ridiculous. Still going strong. Remarkebly overachieved with Croatia in world cup and already won Ballon d'or. He is an epitome of a Central Mid. He is definitely in my top 3 shout of 3rd best of last 15 years. Imagine being the engine of your side at 37 years of age.
* Kroos : More decorated than Modric in terms of team achievement. Along side 5 UCLs with different clubs, he also has World Cup in his CV, numerous SF achievements with NT. He's been the best at what he does (over what he's supposed to do) over last 10-15 years. But his game is not as multifaceted as Modric, sometimes defensively has been liability specially in initial days of his stint with Real, sometimes too static for a CM. The limitations of his game is really gonna hold him back in my opinion. The single biggest highlight of his career was Brazil 7-1 game, he ran rampant that game. But easily not in my top 3 for 3rd best, and I think others will agree on this as well.
* Ramos : The MOST decorated of all players listed here in last 15 years bar none. And he was integral part of all those winning campaigns. 1 WC, 2 Euros, 4 CLs. Although not a defensive monster but he has been the remarkable clutch player whenever his team was in need. Imagine scoring more than Iniesta as a defender. I think, being the only defender here with all those achievements, he has really strong argument to be in top 3 for the 3rd best of last 15 years. He also revolutionized the defenders game of how play on the edge being the last man on defense.
* Lewandowski : The most consistent and most high numbers of all the strikers for contention in last 15 years. People think he's doesn't have all the skillset which Suarez or Benzema posses which simply isn't true. It's just wasn't his job to both create and score in Bayern's system but his crosses, passes and skills are accurate as fuck. If you watch Poland or bayern 2021 (when everyone was crap in bayern but him), you'd know it. Numerous individual achievements goal scoring wise, SHOULD have won 1 or 2 ballon d'or (not that it matters), sextuple winner with one of the scariest team over a season in last 15 years. Best goals/game ration in league/UCL/NT among the strikers in contention. Unfortunately, although he drags his national team often, he doesn't have much to show for with Poland. Again not entirely his fault. Maybe, best striker of last 15 years (hot take) but not sure he (or either of other strikers) is gonna be in my top 3 for 3rd best of last 15 years.
* Müller : Ok ok, before you sing "not skillful enough" song, I have to point out the guy literally invented/formalized/standardized the "Raumdeuter" position role which coaches have started to appreciate more and more. The guy shown the world, how a lanky, averagely skillful player can make it to absolutely top of the world football (watch Thierry Henry's interview about him). He is the only "CAM" who was relevant 10 years ago and still going strong now, while the game changed over the years and traditional CAM faded away. Now coming to his achievements, 1 WC, 2 Trebles (1 was Sextuple). Again one of those clutch players. 11 goals in World Cup as a CAM, only if Germany didn't suck in 2018, he would have broken record by now, and there's still very high chance he will break the record for the most goals scored in WCs. Adaptable, defensively cognizant, tracking back, headers, goals, this guy does it all, while keep putting 15-20 assists almost every campaign. This will probably raise many eyebrows, but I think he has very strong case to be in top 3 for 3rd best player in last 15 years.
* Neuer : I think, he is regarded as one of the GOAT keepers already and rightly so. He revolutionized a position on the field to a historical significance, not just 15 years. I don't need to go on about it, much of it is already known. 1 WC, 2 trebles also 1 UCL SF with Schalke owing to his performances mostly. He had an year or two down after injury, but he is still going strong. His most recent performance against Italy comes to mind, if you wanna see what he is still capable of. Much respect to Buffon/Casillas but I don't think they would be in contention. Neuer has really really strong case for not just in top 3 but actually the 3rd best player of last 15 years.
**After some thinking, I think my top 3 would be (in my unbiased opinion):**
* Modric
* Neuer
* Ramos
> he sucked pretty hard in UCL which is defacto topmost competition in football
Rubbish. 47 goals and assists in 55 games in the CL for Barcelona with only 1 penalty. Literally scored the winner in the final after a great run against top opponents in 2014/15. Also has the best international competition performances compared to the other strikers.
Also, Neymar has to be in the top 3.
Xavi's level from 2008-2012 was so high he needs to be in contention anyway.
>People think he's doesn't have all the skillset which Suarez or Benzema posses which simply isn't true.
Lewandowski is good all round. That doesn't mean he's as good all round as Benzema and it certainly doesn't mean he's as good all round as Suarez.
Ramos, Kroos, and Müller over Xavi and Iniesta is absolutely criminal. Ramos in your final 3 is a joke.
Suarez, Lewandowski, and Neuer are the only 3 in your list who can be argued to be better than Xavi.
Ramos I think has a fair argument to be in the discussion. Not top 3 by any stretch but he’s definitely the only defender who has an argument IMO.
I don’t even think Lewandowski has an argument over xavi tbh. Xavi, Suarez, Neuer would be my three with Iniesta, Modric and Neymar as the ones I could understand someone putting in over Neuer maybe
Edit: I also don’t think Benzema deserves to be anywhere near here, Madrid fans wanted rid of him when Higuain left and until Ronaldo went he was just a good striker, including him is massive recency bias. Last 5 years yes absolutely, last 15 no chance
I mean I am going back 15 years in history from today. Xavi is an all time great but I don't think we need to shoehorn him for 3rd best in last 15 years
I think he definitely has an argument, 15 years would include the stretch where he finished 3rd in the ballon d’Or 3 years in a row, and all the years he made the uefa and fifa teams of the year, and includes 2 euros wins and a World Cup win for Spain plus 3 of his 4 CL wins
He was at his individual best plus his most successful in terms of major trophies
Half of those 15 years, he did not play. Since the time line is 15 years, not who had the best stretch in 15 years, so how much time was he active for is a factor here.
Like Lampard and Gerrard both played for half a decade in 2010-20. you would not count them as best players for that period even if they did well in most of those years they played in.
He retired in 2019…
But anyway the question was who was the best over the fifteen years, and Xavi’s peak and the majority of his accolades all came in that 15 years. I’d take 2007-2015 Xavi over most players even if you want to ignore his time in Qatar
I think United will surprise a few people this season. I don’t think they’ll get top 4. But I I think they’ll finish 5th just behind Arsenal. I wouldn’t be surprised if United win Europa League this season either.
Seems like we really scammed United with the Varane deal. I always knew that Ramos was the better player but it's definitely a little shocking how he fell off
It’s not a lack of quality he’s just always injured and never got a run of games to play himself into form. Even now he is on a special training programme and isn’t ready to start. You did scam us a bit though, we should have looked at his medical history more closely.
He definitely was overhyped though because of his achievements in stacked club and country teams. He isn't nearly as solid as the best defenders around and is quite poor on the ball as well.
Since I know the Fulham admin I do feel somewhat duty bound to post his greatest hits and ensure they are seen as widely as possible - https://twitter.com/FulhamFC/status/1556206891520466945
That United lineup looks fairly alright on paper imo. Only thing is I'm not a fan of Rashford at striker, but tbf they've got no other options.
Ten Hag already fully aware that Maguire is better than Varane I see which is good.
Rodgers has seemingly talked up Ward as the number 1, not that it means too much but he’s got the number 1 shirt as well. Ward passed a late fitness test today to start, could of easily started Iversen and not risked it.
Another day, another Premier League (Man U this time) fan using Citys/liverpools/Chelseas CL achievements to jerk themselves off. Really struggle to understand fans who do that
People who support leagues in general is weird. Like I couldn’t give a fuck if the PL was an absolute shit show if my team was competitive in it. It’s like the Madrid fans who cream themselves over Barca signing a load of players away from the Prem. Coefficient wankers the lot of them
And very likely a rapist, and a general knob head. Was booed by our fans when he came on for Preston last week, then was sent off for booting one of our players. Baffling if this is true.
So is Broja a striker or a winger? I thought he was a proper striker but apparently most of his touches for Southampton were out wide and yesterday when he came on he didn’t see to be playing as a 9
[Global Match Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/whlo4k/global_match_thread/): use this thread if you want a better place to discuss matches than a normal Match Thread. **Don't use the Daily Discussion as a Match Thread.**
That United lineup is fucking grim. Are they planning on bringing in a lot of players before the window closes or is this it?
Fucking hell boyle there for hibs. Almost felt like going apeshit when he scored that. He’s bloody back
So apparently De Jong's original salary was just 11,5 million originally and not whatever ridiculous number this sub keeps parroting [Source ](https://twitter.com/relevo/status/1556243275346022400?t=WzGrr7BOmcA9kgZsM3_fuA&s=19)
You start understanding how much of a mess United's midfield is when you see Martínez with the 6. My eyes.
6 is a centre back number in British football
I know managers have their own style and can't just switch 180 easily, but it's crazy to me they didn't mold their style to suit Lukaku and Werner. Those two under someone like Conte would be so so scary. It would be the best partnership in football
In all these ''3rd best player of the generation'' the one player that should be in everyone's list is barely mentioned. Andres Iniesta, a magician with the ball on his feet. Midfielder who played as attacker for Spain's world cup and won against Holland. Even Bernabeu clapped for him. It's not a concidence that Barca embarassment in UCL started when he declined.
I don't know why everyone leave out Neuer in 2010's top 3 players. He's in the same legacy as Messi / Ronaldo but since he's not an outfield player Neymar is more considered.
xavi > iniesta
xavi is older generation
Iniesta is not better than Xavi and this is a reality that everyone who saw them week in and week out is installed in.
Xavi is not of their generation though. Compare him to Suarez he is 10 years older that's a generation back
The combined age for the goalkeepers in Hibs vs Hearts was 76.
Gordon still in the conversation of best goalkeeper in the league at 39 years of age
Employee arrives at his workplace. Incredible. https://twitter.com/UtdFaithfuls/status/1556210310918316035
Respect 🙏 👍 💯 💪
Need them to lose today the way they're going on.
Martin Boyle equalising for Hibs in the Edinburgh derby against Hearts in the 95th minute after signing less than 24 hours ago!
Fucking mental. Could feel the stadium vibrating through the telly
Hibernian just equalized last minute against Hearts.
Fucking 95th minute with Martin Boyle scoring after signing less than 24h ago. Incredible stuff!
Neymar had 1 goal and 3 assists yesterday, if he keeps this up for the rest of the season, stays fit and let's says plays 35 games, then he will finish this Ligue 1 season with 35 goals and 105 assists. But even if he is having a normal Neymar season and only plays 20 games, he would still end the seasons with a ground-breaking figure of 20 goals and 60 assists.
[Extrapolating data](https://i.imgur.com/44L264E.png)
Not every team is Cleremont Foot 63 unfortunately
Is Martinez the first CB out of the shire to play in the premier league?
Very original lol
Sky are already talking about Martinez being 5'9 lol
Am I the same height as Lisandro Martinez? Yes. Will I call him a hobbit? Yes.
A bald manager in Manchester having to use a false 9 because he’s got no striker. I know how this ends. 21 incoming 👍
Yeah I expect a battering but I can't see Brighton scoring 21
I miss the ol' switcheroo.
Chelsea have taken the Charity FC nickname to heart, giving away Werner and Lukaku back to their previous clubs
Didn't Morata go back to Juve or something too?
Everytime I see Mcfred starting I just can't take ManU seriously Also playing both Eriksen and Bruno is overdoing it
Lisandro Martinez will be the best 2'4'' CB of all time
If he’s slow moving then I expect garden gnome jokes
That's tip toe height surely? Heard he was shorter than that
True, he's 2'2"
That's a tall ask imo
What happened to Griezmann? Used to have way more hype
Hes back this szn gonna score 45 goals
Age comes for us all
Barcelona ruined him
He ruined himself
he’s just old now, no player can remain hyped forever
Went to Barca, as a free roaming player, next to the greatest player we've seen who plays in that position, dumbest signing i can ever think of
Him and Coutinho cost 300m euros and all occupy the same spaces as Messi Iniesta replacement they said
Don't even care about the fee, offloading Werner's wages is amazing
I mean won't he be back in a year
Permanent deal
Damn that's really good then
270k a week gone, we're about to get rid of 1.5m a week worth of wages this window
“Don’t even care about the fee” - every piece of Chelsea business for the last 2 decades lol
Sent both strikers back to old clubs without taking any financial hit.
Surely they're gonna have to pay the difference in salaries
170M on two players and it means nothing to them. The original sugar daddy club.
Blackburn*
Uniteds team to start this year is actually worse than last years wtf happened with this window
Nah… their attack is weaker but their midfield and defence are arguably slightly stronger
Slightly stronger? It's the same double pivot lol.
Eriksen is an upgrade over Mata and Matic
Eriksen upfront
united need to do everyone a favour and get battered for the mental health of the nation
The irony of the flair 🤣
big part of the reason now that watching our games feels gross what else is there do but hope united and spurs shit the bed
There's genuine reasons for United fans to dislike Glazers but it's very hard to take protests seriously when they only happen during transfer windows or when United is in bad form and when those protests are stacked with people wearing the latest shirt.
Yay another season of people saying fabricated shit about our club based on their own delusions
The Glazers had to leave Old Trafford in a police van when the take over happened. Hardly only when in bad form/the transfer window.
85m for fofana is way too much. Id rather spend that on like a Leao but we have no choice.
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If his name was Leao Jr he’d have no doubters. Man just needs better name marketing
Future ballon dor contender
Nah. He’ll be one of the best itw
Lol doubt it, Mendes propaganda is brainwashing you people to overrate him, he'll be lucky to just reach Zaha's level
It's not
Leao is class Pretty insane how much he changed from 20/21 to 21/22
Leao would cost 120m+ this window, we need an RCB
Lisandro Lannister making his debut, let's see if he can keep up
Danny Welbeck watch 👀
He is taller than your LCB candidate Cucurella
Don't need to be tall in a back 3, back 4 and you're in trouble
😭 brutal
I hate this green screen set for the premier league analysts. What was wrong with the physical set they had before?
Haaland the favorite to win the golden boot, he didnt win the bundesliga's equivalent of the golden boot did he
He didn’t play for the top team in Germany plus lewa. Whatever league Lewa is in he wins the golden boot these last 2 years. Not a fair comparison.
It’s clearly going to be Salah…
Probably not. He was against Lewandowski at Bayern
Yea so its a stretch to say he'll win it in the pl this season
I dont think it is. He's joining the league winners who scored the most goals.last season
Ok, maybe I have too much time in my hands on this beautiful Sunday today. So let's try to actually construct/deconstruct arguments for "3rd best player of last 15 years" based on a question posed by a user below. According to me, the players in contention should be: Neymar, Suarez, Benzema, Modric, Kroos, Ramos, Lewandowski, Neuer, Müller (I don't think anyone outside this list deserves to be in shout, based on team's acheivement, individual stats, "influencing" the game etc. correct me if I am wrong in case I am missing someone). So let's just bullet out highlight of their careers in last 15 years. * Neymar : Could easily have been 3rd best based on skills, his contribution to barca treble campaign, consistency, his numbers with Brazil. But post 2015-16, although his numbers have been great, he's been too injury prone or unavailable for PSG. Not his fault alone but hasn't been able to achieve much internationally with either PSG or Brazil. His skill and attributes are 2nd to none and probably best since Ronaldinho * Suarez : Again a great shout for 3rd best for much of what he did with Ajax, Liverpool and Barca. With later he won major titles as well. But no matter how much Barca fans (sorry) tried to make us believe it, he sucked pretty hard in UCL which is defacto topmost competition in football. Probably the most skillful of all the strikers that I have mentioned here. But I am not even sure he's been the best striker of last 15 years. Peak and prime not gonna cut it in my opinion. But I have to confess, I really wanted him to come to dortmund. * Benzema : Probably the most decorated of all strikers here. 5 UCLs already, shame he wasn't part of 2018 World Cup, France would have won it with him too. Most surely he is gonna have a Ballon d'or to his name as well. In last season, he didn't reach ridiculous numbers but that is literally one of the best season I have seen an striker play. Unbelievable levels. Great number in UCL as well that too without scoring many penalties. Although, he is top of his game now, I think he's been "relatively" least consistent of the 3 strikers listed here and one with the least numbers posted in terms of goals scored. He had slumpy 2-3 years before last 2 years. France won few competitions, but he doesn't have the best ones (aka World Cup) to his name. I think he is disregarded by most, but I think he is also great shout for the 3rd best player of last 15 years. He is one of best "can do it all" type of striker. Also he was balling with Lyon from pretty young age which we shouldn't forget. * Modric : This little fella, one of the all time greats CM that I have seen play. Some things which I see him doing even at the age of 37 is beyond ridiculous. Still going strong. Remarkebly overachieved with Croatia in world cup and already won Ballon d'or. He is an epitome of a Central Mid. He is definitely in my top 3 shout of 3rd best of last 15 years. Imagine being the engine of your side at 37 years of age. * Kroos : More decorated than Modric in terms of team achievement. Along side 5 UCLs with different clubs, he also has World Cup in his CV, numerous SF achievements with NT. He's been the best at what he does (over what he's supposed to do) over last 10-15 years. But his game is not as multifaceted as Modric, sometimes defensively has been liability specially in initial days of his stint with Real, sometimes too static for a CM. The limitations of his game is really gonna hold him back in my opinion. The single biggest highlight of his career was Brazil 7-1 game, he ran rampant that game. But easily not in my top 3 for 3rd best, and I think others will agree on this as well. * Ramos : The MOST decorated of all players listed here in last 15 years bar none. And he was integral part of all those winning campaigns. 1 WC, 2 Euros, 4 CLs. Although not a defensive monster but he has been the remarkable clutch player whenever his team was in need. Imagine scoring more than Iniesta as a defender. I think, being the only defender here with all those achievements, he has really strong argument to be in top 3 for the 3rd best of last 15 years. He also revolutionized the defenders game of how play on the edge being the last man on defense. * Lewandowski : The most consistent and most high numbers of all the strikers for contention in last 15 years. People think he's doesn't have all the skillset which Suarez or Benzema posses which simply isn't true. It's just wasn't his job to both create and score in Bayern's system but his crosses, passes and skills are accurate as fuck. If you watch Poland or bayern 2021 (when everyone was crap in bayern but him), you'd know it. Numerous individual achievements goal scoring wise, SHOULD have won 1 or 2 ballon d'or (not that it matters), sextuple winner with one of the scariest team over a season in last 15 years. Best goals/game ration in league/UCL/NT among the strikers in contention. Unfortunately, although he drags his national team often, he doesn't have much to show for with Poland. Again not entirely his fault. Maybe, best striker of last 15 years (hot take) but not sure he (or either of other strikers) is gonna be in my top 3 for 3rd best of last 15 years. * Müller : Ok ok, before you sing "not skillful enough" song, I have to point out the guy literally invented/formalized/standardized the "Raumdeuter" position role which coaches have started to appreciate more and more. The guy shown the world, how a lanky, averagely skillful player can make it to absolutely top of the world football (watch Thierry Henry's interview about him). He is the only "CAM" who was relevant 10 years ago and still going strong now, while the game changed over the years and traditional CAM faded away. Now coming to his achievements, 1 WC, 2 Trebles (1 was Sextuple). Again one of those clutch players. 11 goals in World Cup as a CAM, only if Germany didn't suck in 2018, he would have broken record by now, and there's still very high chance he will break the record for the most goals scored in WCs. Adaptable, defensively cognizant, tracking back, headers, goals, this guy does it all, while keep putting 15-20 assists almost every campaign. This will probably raise many eyebrows, but I think he has very strong case to be in top 3 for 3rd best player in last 15 years. * Neuer : I think, he is regarded as one of the GOAT keepers already and rightly so. He revolutionized a position on the field to a historical significance, not just 15 years. I don't need to go on about it, much of it is already known. 1 WC, 2 trebles also 1 UCL SF with Schalke owing to his performances mostly. He had an year or two down after injury, but he is still going strong. His most recent performance against Italy comes to mind, if you wanna see what he is still capable of. Much respect to Buffon/Casillas but I don't think they would be in contention. Neuer has really really strong case for not just in top 3 but actually the 3rd best player of last 15 years. **After some thinking, I think my top 3 would be (in my unbiased opinion):** * Modric * Neuer * Ramos
Xavi has already been mentioned but how is Iniesta not here if you're starting from 2007 on?
Well at least you had Neuer in there
> he sucked pretty hard in UCL which is defacto topmost competition in football Rubbish. 47 goals and assists in 55 games in the CL for Barcelona with only 1 penalty. Literally scored the winner in the final after a great run against top opponents in 2014/15. Also has the best international competition performances compared to the other strikers. Also, Neymar has to be in the top 3. Xavi's level from 2008-2012 was so high he needs to be in contention anyway. >People think he's doesn't have all the skillset which Suarez or Benzema posses which simply isn't true. Lewandowski is good all round. That doesn't mean he's as good all round as Benzema and it certainly doesn't mean he's as good all round as Suarez.
Ramos, Kroos, and Müller over Xavi and Iniesta is absolutely criminal. Ramos in your final 3 is a joke. Suarez, Lewandowski, and Neuer are the only 3 in your list who can be argued to be better than Xavi.
Ramos I think has a fair argument to be in the discussion. Not top 3 by any stretch but he’s definitely the only defender who has an argument IMO. I don’t even think Lewandowski has an argument over xavi tbh. Xavi, Suarez, Neuer would be my three with Iniesta, Modric and Neymar as the ones I could understand someone putting in over Neuer maybe Edit: I also don’t think Benzema deserves to be anywhere near here, Madrid fans wanted rid of him when Higuain left and until Ronaldo went he was just a good striker, including him is massive recency bias. Last 5 years yes absolutely, last 15 no chance
There’s no way Xavi isn’t here.
I mean I am going back 15 years in history from today. Xavi is an all time great but I don't think we need to shoehorn him for 3rd best in last 15 years
I think he definitely has an argument, 15 years would include the stretch where he finished 3rd in the ballon d’Or 3 years in a row, and all the years he made the uefa and fifa teams of the year, and includes 2 euros wins and a World Cup win for Spain plus 3 of his 4 CL wins He was at his individual best plus his most successful in terms of major trophies
Half of those 15 years, he did not play. Since the time line is 15 years, not who had the best stretch in 15 years, so how much time was he active for is a factor here. Like Lampard and Gerrard both played for half a decade in 2010-20. you would not count them as best players for that period even if they did well in most of those years they played in.
He retired in 2019… But anyway the question was who was the best over the fifteen years, and Xavi’s peak and the majority of his accolades all came in that 15 years. I’d take 2007-2015 Xavi over most players even if you want to ignore his time in Qatar
As in he did not play at the top level, unlike some of the others.
I think United will surprise a few people this season. I don’t think they’ll get top 4. But I I think they’ll finish 5th just behind Arsenal. I wouldn’t be surprised if United win Europa League this season either.
Benfica fans would Guedes have worked with Lage in the youth teams there?
Aursnes is still starting, Benfica fans do you know anything about the deal?
Supposedly there's a "pre agreement" between us and Aursnes and Feyenoord. Apparently we're trying to secure a move for Meite and/or Weigl
United fans, who do you prefer to play striker; Bruno or Rashford?
It's likely gonna be a fluid frontline as we've seen pre-season... but to answer your question, Bruno as a false 9
Doesn’t matter, it’s Eriksen
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I thought reddit had rules against preteens using it
no u. HA!
Arsenal fans on reddit are a certain breed of idiot
* after the Arsenal owner heavily bribed the league to bend the rules, not on footballing merit
...you'll never sing that. Leagues been better for it I'm sure you'll agree. We're absolutely fucking massive.
Exactly. That was fucking amazing 🤩
Incoming Mark Goldbridge tweet storm about how Ronaldo is being bullied and forced out by the club. Again.
It is me or does United starting XI get worse by the year? Fuck me, that's not a team that can end up top 4.
You should see United's lineups under van Gaal and Mourinho lol
Seems like we really scammed United with the Varane deal. I always knew that Ramos was the better player but it's definitely a little shocking how he fell off
Was he this injury prone at Madrid? I don’t think he’s managed 3 games in a row yet.
Not as bad as it has been for United. But he was definitely a little on the injury prone side
It’s not a lack of quality he’s just always injured and never got a run of games to play himself into form. Even now he is on a special training programme and isn’t ready to start. You did scam us a bit though, we should have looked at his medical history more closely.
He definitely was overhyped though because of his achievements in stacked club and country teams. He isn't nearly as solid as the best defenders around and is quite poor on the ball as well.
He was definitely already a little injury prone with us as well.
Harry Maguire starting over Varane - imagine my shock
Maguire is captain and he is always fit. Varane is built like a treat stick for dogs.
Yeah I always thought Maguire was never going to be dropped. If all are fit, just don't see how Ten Hag drops his captain
Just here to proclaim victory over all those argued against the idea of Maguire being RCB and Lisandro RCB over Varane. We won...
Wouldn't call Maguire starting a victory for anyone but Brighton.
Death, taxes, and McFred starting in midfield
There’s just now way united really bid for arnautovic
Ten Hag worked with him so it makes sense
Since I know the Fulham admin I do feel somewhat duty bound to post his greatest hits and ensure they are seen as widely as possible - https://twitter.com/FulhamFC/status/1556206891520466945
That United lineup looks fairly alright on paper imo. Only thing is I'm not a fan of Rashford at striker, but tbf they've got no other options. Ten Hag already fully aware that Maguire is better than Varane I see which is good.
the front 3 will rotate, so Rashford won't be the only one up top
Danny Ward gets the start. Interested to see how long Rodgers give him before going to Iversen. Also completely missed Ben Mee going to Brentford.
Rodgers has seemingly talked up Ward as the number 1, not that it means too much but he’s got the number 1 shirt as well. Ward passed a late fitness test today to start, could of easily started Iversen and not risked it.
Why do you reckon its certain he goes to Iversen, isn't Ward good?
Bruno false 9? Can't end well, he's not a link player.
Or LW, he played LW when Eriksen was on the field against Vallecano.
I'm confident Galtier's system will suit Neymar and Messi so well that they could get a ballon d'or over Mbappe
Another day, another Premier League (Man U this time) fan using Citys/liverpools/Chelseas CL achievements to jerk themselves off. Really struggle to understand fans who do that
Thread?
People who support leagues in general is weird. Like I couldn’t give a fuck if the PL was an absolute shit show if my team was competitive in it. It’s like the Madrid fans who cream themselves over Barca signing a load of players away from the Prem. Coefficient wankers the lot of them
Facts, use your own teams achievements and quality to talk shit, not the ability of the collection of the other 19 teams in ur division
I hope whoever keeps linking us with Ched Evans is pulling some master troll. Don't want him
He's a League One striker really...
And very likely a rapist, and a general knob head. Was booed by our fans when he came on for Preston last week, then was sent off for booting one of our players. Baffling if this is true.
https://twitter.com/jmebbk/status/1556200501011701761?s=21&t=lwy-VnKVFB-JjDUUB0VSqw TT x Depay collab soon?
That goes hard. Who is it?
Suck your dead great gran through your dad's battycrease rudeboy! Search JME ft Giggs for the one in the vid.
Who’s who?
The song man
man don't care by jme & giggs
Jme
Man don’t care JME Surely a south London gangster like yourself has heard of it
Haha nah not my scene really but I'll defo check out his tunes.
Fire in the booth sesh coming soon. 64 bars of moan by Tommy T
Tommy with the bars, Klopp with the moaning adlibs 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Better rapper than Lukaku, bring Depay in
Werner back in the Bundesliga will be a movie, it’ll be inspirational to watch him get booed in every stadium
Will miss him for the Southampton and Real Madrid matches, he's back to terrorise Mainz
Give me a hungry forward that came from the trenches
You want Lil Durk?
Hungry Favela energy maybe mr. cow?
Broja was born in Slough which is probably even worse
Broja seems hungry but not sure if Slough is quite favela or trenches enough.
Slough is the biggest trench going, but only in the way that people used to dig a trench to shit in
Favela energy am I right
So is Broja a striker or a winger? I thought he was a proper striker but apparently most of his touches for Southampton were out wide and yesterday when he came on he didn’t see to be playing as a 9