Best Central midfielders in the world

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

True you were referring to his positioning but in fairness, what guarantees are there that had he been played as a striker in Juve he would have gottent the same results as Arsenal?

Nothing

[schafer]

True you were referring to his positioning but in fairness, what guarantees are there that had he been played as a striker in Juve he would have gottent the same results as Arsenal?

Oh yeah, maybe 'blaming' Ancellotti as I did isn't really fair, as the pressure on Juve to perform at that time was more than at Arsenal, where perhaps Wenger/Henry were given more leeway in terms of him 'coming good' as a striker.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Wasn't Henry predominantly used on the wing by Wenger at Monaco as well? If that was the case (and there are conflicting reports) then I don't think anyone at Juventus deserves any blame at all for Henry struggling in Serie A.

[DaPrince84]

so only one mention of Van de Vaart... gotcha...

[KumarsS]

I think it comes down to Bundesliga stars getting less credit than players of equal or lesser quality in more publicized leagues. Van der Vaart is fantastic, and I'd take him over Sneijder any day of the week.

[canadianscout]

Van der Vaart is a great choice. Nigel de Jong, Jonathan De Guzman, Diego, and Mascherano are all up there for me. To each his own style, and therefore the players must fit that style.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

To each his own style, and therefore the players must fit that style.

That's very true.

[KumarsS]

And believe me, I know how it feels to have your favorite players underrated. Torsten Frings is a top 5 CM and the best DM in the world to me, but he rarely gets his props. Even if you don't think he's the best, he's definitely up there, and he deserves a mention alongside the very best.

[Wolfbeatseagle]

What kind of central mids are we talking about? CMs that dictate pace, CMs that are the biggest threat to score, or CMs hold their position and start attacks?

Pirlo and Cesc run the show better than anyone today, Kaka and Riquelme are the most dangerous, and Scholes, De Rossi, and Makelele hold the midfield better than anyone.

[KumarsS]

What kind of central mids are we talking about? CMs that dictate pace, CMs that are the biggest threat to score, or CMs hold their position and start attacks?

Pirlo and Cesc run the show better than anyone today, Kaka and Riquelme are the most dangerous, and Scholes, De Rossi, and Makelele hold the midfield better than anyone.

Agree except I think Frings is a better choice than the three you mentioned for holding/defensive midfielders.

[TKORL]

mASC

[Wolfbeatseagle]

Agree except I think Frings is a better choice than the three you mentioned for holding/defensive midfielders.

True, he is pretty good, there's a reason so many clubs have pursued him. He's probably a little better than De Rossi who is on the rise. I just mentioned Makelele because he practically invented that holding role, he's not worth much anymore.

[TKORL]

makelele invented the holding role?

[Wolfbeatseagle]

Practically invented it. It being the role in which one is a glorified defender that plays higher up the pitch and has nothing to contribute to the attack. People call it the 'Makelele role' for a reason. Redondo played from that position, but he was a way different player and actually made contributions to the attack.

[TKORL]

So he invented the role because he's incapable of attacking?

[drahnier]

We should mention Keita.

[Wolfbeatseagle]

So he invented the role because he's incapable of attacking?

Yes, actually, but it's an effective position with the right players complementing him or vice versa. When he played a Real Madrid, Zidane didn't have to defend at all because of the work Makelele did, and it made Zidane a better player.

[xXGERXFUSSBALLXx]

OMG Y no one's talking about MICKEAL BALLACK he was out of the season from april and he comes back from the injury and becomes captain i think that is skillz i say history repeats itself
GERmany
1966: runner up
1970: third place
1974: WINNER!!!
2002:runner up
2006:third place
GERmANY WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP THANKZ TO MICHAEL BALLACK!!!!!

[harkes6]

OMG Y no one's talking about MICKEAL BALLACK he was out of the season from april and he comes back from the injury and becomes captain i think that is skillz i say history repeats itself
GERmany
1966: runner up
1970: third place
1974: WINNER!!!
2002:runner up
2006:third place
GERmANY WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP THANKZ TO MICHAEL BALLACK!!!!!

hmmm...if german history repeats itself...eep.

someone mentioned appiah before and i have to agree. the scant times i've seen him play in the WC and with fenerbache i have always been impressed. i feel like he doesn't get the credit he's due.
but another great african central mid is diarra of madrid/mali fame. also top class.

[Perú FC]

but another great african central mid is diarra of madrid/mali fame. also top class.
I really like Diarra in Olympique Lyon, was an incredible central midfielder, but I think his performance in Real Madrid is only regular.