View Full Version : Who is the best header of the ball today?
scorpio81
29 Oct 2005, 08:02 PM
yeah, i know there are many very good headers of the ball, but none of them seem to score as consistently in the same manner as ballack does...
who do you guys think are among the best in the world at this?
magath feels similarly (http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2005/06027.php?fcb_sid=fa0b2a721120a9723e3fcae05fa2d0c4)
(scroll down)
lanman
29 Oct 2005, 08:08 PM
Ballack is definately up there with the best of them, but ultimately I feel that it is a skill which is no longer a prime factor in the modern game. That is not to say that there is not a place or a need for it, but more that it is a skill that there are very few outstanding players able to execute to a high degree.
Slightly off-topic, but all-time there is no need for debate - Sandor Kocsis wins this without breaking a sweat. Quite simply the greatest ever with his head.
scorpio81
29 Oct 2005, 08:16 PM
havent seen enough footage of koscis, but a lot of people seem to feel that way...
but this is about todays game, and players in every position...
from defenders, terry, lucio, cannavaro and van buyten spring to mind...
SirManchester
29 Oct 2005, 08:19 PM
Ballack, close the thread.
Forza Badger
29 Oct 2005, 08:42 PM
Ballack, close the thread.
Well, no bias there or anything.
5_EUROPEAN_CUPS
29 Oct 2005, 08:46 PM
Les Ferdinand would have been up there with the best of them.
Kocsis was the man as has been said.
Lets not forget a certain John Toshack either..
Teso Dos Bichos
29 Oct 2005, 08:58 PM
Well, no bias there or anything.
Who do you suggest?
5_EUROPEAN_CUPS
29 Oct 2005, 09:01 PM
I think CBs tend to be the best headers of balls as they get the most practice.
Kings was a good effort today Hyypia can score a few Terry is known to pop up with a goal or two from corners etc etc.
Elninho
29 Oct 2005, 09:05 PM
Do we mean ability to win headers, or ability to place headers? Many players are outstanding at one but not the other. For example: Brian McBride is probably not anywhere near the top at winning headers, but he has to be one of the best few at placing headers when he wins them.
ChaChaFut
29 Oct 2005, 09:07 PM
Do we mean ability to win headers, or ability to place headers? Exactly the right question to ask after the post above yours. ;)
scorpio81
29 Oct 2005, 09:08 PM
actually, thats a good shout! mcbride is a very good header of the ball, full stop!
Dark Savante
29 Oct 2005, 11:08 PM
This was a thread I thought about making a few times, but could not find ten players in the modern game who are superb in the air so I never bothered.
True aeriel ability is being phased out - as are brilliant, pin point crossers of a ball. In both areas things are at the poorest I've ever seen them.
If you think back just 10years ago you had the likes of: Bierhoff, Riedle, Klinsmann, Shearer, Sheringham, Rivaldo, Zamorano and Jardel who were all true expert headers of the ball.
Only a handful of names spring to mind in the current game: Ballack, Klose and Terry.... after that, I think the level is modest at best. There is most definitely not an aeriel technician of the prowess of any I mentioned for the 90's...not one.
Leto
29 Oct 2005, 11:11 PM
I'm not going to make any declarations as I really don't have the knowledge of earlier eras that some here have, but I'm surprised nobody's mentioned John Charles yet (in the all-time debate). Everytime I hear the name it seems to come attached to a claim that he was one of the greatest headers of a ball ever - whether in attack or defence.
In today's game, John Terry must be a strong candidate.
dﮥnny
29 Oct 2005, 11:24 PM
I think Henry is the best header. :D
Panfilo
29 Oct 2005, 11:51 PM
Jared Borgetti
Tell the Brazilians, Germans, Italians, and Americans how well he can head a ball.;)
Dark Savante
29 Oct 2005, 11:57 PM
Jared Borgetti
Tell the Brazilians, Germans, Italians, and Americans how well he can head a ball.;)
That's a good call actally.
Dark Savante
30 Oct 2005, 12:05 AM
Morientes is a decent shout I suppose.
fnsandpwr
30 Oct 2005, 12:09 AM
Adriano is better than decent..
Kaushik
30 Oct 2005, 12:18 AM
Adriano is a great header of the ball. However, Borghetti is probably the best...a specialist in the mold of the players from a decade ago mentioned by DS.
Tomas Skuhravy hasn't been mentioned yet. He was an expert at heading.
The best I have seen though is Jardel.
Dark Savante
30 Oct 2005, 12:21 AM
Adriano is better than decent..
Compared to whom?