The English Football Thread

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Pires by far. He was a much better footballer. Pires on is worst day was better than Giggs on an average day. I truly mean this when I say Pires was the best winger in Premier League - and probably English Football - history.

Gerrard was a fine player, don't get me wrong, but Vieira was hugely superior. The question should be "Who partners Vieira".

Giggs is the quintessential winger. Pires wasn't better, Giggs was faster, better at dribbling and better at crossing, surely that ends the debate? Pires wasn't better than Ronaldo either.

And the opinion that Vieira is the best midfielder of all time is more than a slight exaggeration mate, come on, Zidane? If Arsenal had all these players that were superior to Man. United's, why have they only won three PL league titles whereas United have won 12?

Bergkamp was better than Cantona I agree on that, what I meant was as strikers there have been better than both but you already commented on that so, cool.

[Goofle]

Side-stepping your incorrect assessment that Giggs was a better crosser and dribbler than Pires, I meant to say he was the best left winger. Ronaldo is the best if you include both sides (although both switched occasionally).

I also said Vieira was the best CM in PL history and probably the most complete CM ever (not best, just more complete). Not sure how you misunderstood that.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Side-stepping your incorrect assessment that Giggs was a better crosser and dribbler than Pires, I meant to say he was the best left winger. Ronaldo is the best if you include both sides (although both switched occasionally).

Giggs was definitely a better dribbler, Giggs wasn't renowned for his crossing but it is/was good.

I also said Vieira was the best CM in PL history and probably the most complete CM ever (not best, just more complete). Not sure how you misunderstood that.

He's not though is he? He's not even better than Yaya Toure.

[Goofle]

His dribbling was much better than Giggs, come on.

Vieira had a better engine than Yaya (top drawer CM), was better defensively and a better dribbler. Yaya probably edges him on passing and is more of a goal scorer.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

His dribbling was much better than Giggs, come on.

Vieira had a better engine than Yaya (top drawer CM), was better defensively and a better dribbler. Yaya probably edges him on passing and is more of a goal scorer.

Toure is definitely a better dribbler, you see him do it all the time. Gerrard was more complete than Vieira as well.

[Goofle]

Gerrard certainly isn't anywhere near either.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Not at all. Every Arsenal player mentioned is the best ever in the PL in their position.



For an all-time PL team your defence and GK is rotten. The midfield is also nowhere near good enough but can't really argue with the strikers.

Seriously? Adams, one of THE finest Arsenal defenders of all time, and Paul McGrath, who was pretty untouchable in his day? Carragher I still rate, and sure there are probably better defenders but I couldn't think of that many and didn't want to just copy the teams others were putting together.

As for Seaman, once voted "the safest hands in football" --- you don't rate him? And you're an Arsenal fan? I readily admit I don't have the footballing knowledge the rest of you have, and came to it late (about 1990 or thereabouts) but even so, I thought it was an okay team, no?

Anyone else agree?

[Goofle]

Wasn't it obvious that I was saying it was a poor "All-Time PL XI" not a poor team.

[Trollheart]

The difference? We were asked to pick an all-time best team, so what you pick is your team then, no? Or are you saying it's an okay team but nowhere near the all-time best?

Mind you, I totally agree with everyone else: you have Viera glasses on. He was nowhere near as great as you say and there are a bunch of players (some retired) who could run rings around him. I've never seen him mentioned anywhere as being the best midfielder in England or anything?

[Goofle]

It's a great team, just doesn't have many of the players I would consider to be the best ever in their positions in the PL.

Many people consider Vieira to be the best.