Best Central midfielders in the world

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I would put Deco as the best CM/CAM in the world.

Oh good God. :eek:

[TKORL]

Yes, that is correct.

Not to mention, one of the world's most underrated players as evidenced by that statement.

[zenden]

Oh good God. :eek:

Have you seen Deco this season?

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Oh good God. :eek:

Usually don't see eye to eye with you all the time, but I will echo your sentiments....


Oh good God

[Quaresma]

Oh good God. :eek:

Are you the same man that said Deco wasnt needed by barca and hes not that good.

wow so far this season their fans consider him their second best player behind Messi..

[KumarsS]

1. Kaka
2. Gerrard
3. Ronaldinho
4. Fabregas
5. Frings

[phil80]

Usually don't see eye to eye with you all the time, but I will echo your sentiments....


Oh good God
Deco's not even the best CM on his team. Iniesta has surpassed him. And to place him over Gerrard, Pirlo, Scholes is way off base imo

[TKORL]

deco better than pirlo???????????

[Teso Dos Bichos]

So because Deco has finally decided to show up for a few games he is now the best in his position? I think not. Get some perspective people.

[TKORL]

Deco has been excellent for a while now....

[Quaresma]

Exactly, just shows how underrated he is.

I just hope he stays healthy and doesnt have another incident where an alleged cheating scandel really made thingds rough between him and his wife.

We all know how when your not all ther ein the head 100% it really affects your game, it happened to ronaldo when his father passed away, and we all know how Jardel, one of the best finishers ive ever seen went down the drain after his divorce.

Next summer is his chance to prove his quality, hopefully we'll have a proper striker by that time for him to playmake for, unlike useless pauleta who enver showed up vs half decent opposition.

In no particular order:

Cesc
Cambiasso
Seedorf
Xavi
Vieira
Pirlo
Deco
Kaka
Gattuso
Iniesta
Gerrard
Diego
Essien
Sneijder
De Rossi
Totti( when he played there a few years ago)
Frings possibly, although i havent seen him play recently.

[Quaresma]

I'm going to go on record and say that Pirlo is the closest I've seen to an infallible mid. He brings his A game every single time.

But. I don't think there is one clear best mid in the game.

Riquelme, Scholes, Pirlo, Gerrard, Xavi, Cesc, Iniesta, Deco, Kaka, Mikel, Totti, Sneijder, Essien, Seerdorf, Makelele, Gattuso, (although I think he's just below the level of the rest - He has gotten much better with the ball at his feet though, probably all the time spent with Pirlo), Juninho, and Nakamura (I can't believe nobody's said him yet - true quality he proves it every time Celtic play a big team in the CL)

Kaka has played CM for Brasil, he's very good at it too. And like others have said when he first came to Milan he didn't play nearly as far forward as he does now. And he can still be labelled an attacking midfielder now. Totti's on the list cause prior to two yrs ago he was a mid his whole career and is one of the best in the world in the midfield. I don't think people should be dropped off the list just because their coaches moved them up top.

I think Diego, Frings, and De Rossi are right below.

And it may be early but I think Fernandes, Diaby, Denilson, and Anderson are all going to be world class and in the conversation in about 3 yrs. Fernandes might be already.

BTW does anybody know how Rui Costa is doing these days? I know he's playing in a relatively obscure league playing for Benfica and isn't exactly on the map anymore, but in his prime he could ball with the best of them.

Great post.

Manuel Fernandes or "Manelele" as nicknamed by the special, and Miguel Veloso( United, Arsenal, Juve, Inter Milan chasing him) are pretty much the hopes of our nation in midfield.

Diaby and Denilson have shown superb stuff for Arsenal already. Lassana Diarra is another top prospect as well.

Anderson, Lucas, and Renato Augusto are 3 top top brazilian prospects.

Aqualani was playing very well prior to his recent injury vs United.

But I think Manuel Fernandes is the closest of them all to be world class the soonest, even at benfica and everton some of his exhibitions vs top clubs were simply outstanding. Especially in the CL vs Liverpool, Barca, and Villareal, and vs Arsenal, chelsea, tottenham and Liverpool in the EPL.

Already knocking on the first team door of Valencia, I just hope their average manager doesnt ruin him and Silva..whose a superb prospect as an attacking midfielder.

[JuveFE]

wow so far this season their fans consider him their second best player behind Messi..

I would have thought Abidal or Iniesta would be considered thier 2nd best player. Especially Abidal who has been very impressive right from the start.

[JuveFE]

Deco has been excellent for a while now....

So has Pirlo

[KumarsS]

Mentioning Sneijder and ommitting Van der Vaart is just plain wrong.

[TKORL]

So has Pirlo
Deco has been more excellent than pirlo. I don't think Pirlo has been "excellent", he's certainly been "good" but not "OMGWTFLMAOLOL"

[phil80]

Players like Pirlo, Riquelme, and to some degree Cesc, though extremely talented, need a system based around them to flourish. They need players that will always move for them, in defense and offense. Iniesta, Gerrard-(from 2 seasons ago) dont come with that extra baggage. They are workhorses in defense, and lethal going up for attack (great vision and creativity especially regarding iniesta). That's why I would choose them over others in midfield. (here's a good quote regarding Riquelme's extra baggage http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=60409)

[jpick]

This then gets into the whole debate of who is more well-rounded and can fit in more systems, compared to those who when systems are correct, can be better than any system to those who are well-rounded. pirlo and riquelme do need some help to flourish, but once they get that help, they can play great. Is that really a weakness? only if your management screws up, it is, essentially. i wrote about something similar to this criticism on a past thread about pirlo, and don't feel like totally re-hashing it, though.

[schafer]

This then gets into the whole debate of who is more well-rounded and can fit in more systems, compared to those who when systems are correct, can be better than any system to those who are well-rounded. pirlo and riquelme do need some help to flourish, but once they get that help, they can play great. Is that really a weakness? only if your management screws up, it is, essentially. i wrote about something similar to this criticism on a past thread about pirlo, and don't feel like totally re-hashing it, though.

Not to mention the fact that if a talent demands that teams the calibre of Argentina, Italy and Milan accomodate them so as to get the best out of them (and they perform accordingly), accusing them of 'needing' a system becomes a moot point, IMO.

[jpick]

Not to mention the fact that if a talent demands that teams the calibre of Argentina, Italy and Milan accomodate them so as to get the best out of them (and they perform accordingly), accusing them of 'needing' a system becomes a moot point, IMO.

yeah, good point.