Best Central midfielders in the world

[TKORL]

true.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Iniesta, Kaka; and if given a few years- Arteta, L. Diarra

Kaka is not a central midfielder.

[phil80]

Kaka is not a central midfielder.
With Milan, when Sheva and Gila were forwards, Kaka was the attacking central mid

[TKORL]

CAM = CM just like DM = CM for this discussion. Especially considering not all teams play a true CM.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Kaka has not been a CAM, as he has been predominantly used further forward for Milan last season. If you wish to include players like Kaka then you must also include players like Rooney (etc). That is why it is best to stick with central midfield players, i.e. players who are expected to operate in central midfield and not mainly the final third. Even players like Riquelme are borderline.

[TKORL]

Kaka has been played as the CAM, because they play one striker in the 4-3-2-1, he gets a lot of freedom of movement which makes him look like the SS, but both him and Seedorf are midfielders.

Oh and Rooney is increasingly ineffective the further he drops back.

EDIT: Riquelme is usually not in the final third.

[jpick]

yeah, i guess the term central midfielder is a bit ambiguous, as it does seem that kaka is classed as one in this thread, but considering he is the second player furthest up on the pitch, it does seem odd to call him a central midfielder. if you include him then you have to include all midfielders pretty much, except maybe wingers who don't stray towards the middle, which are very few anyways. so then the thread would just be "best midfielders."

[phil80]

Kaka has not been a CAM, as he has been predominantly used further forward for Milan last season. If you wish to include players like Kaka then you must also include players like Rooney (etc). That is why it is best to stick with central midfield players, i.e. players who are expected to operate in central midfield and not mainly the final third. Even players like Riquelme are borderline.
Kaka himself doesnt view his position as forward and he's definately not a defensive/outside mid, and when sheva was with milan kaka played mostly a CAM role, right behind the forwards (so he can play that role), and in 2005 he was voted best MIDFIELDER of the champions league

[jpick]

I don't doubt that kaka can be classed as a midfielder, it's the central part that is up for debate, when someone says center mid, normally i throw out attacking mids, wingers, and some d-mids.

[TKORL]

well this debate has become who's the best midfielder who plays somwhere near the middle haha

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Kaka has been played as the CAM, because they play one striker in the 4-3-2-1, he gets a lot of freedom of movement which makes him look like the SS, but both him and Seedorf are midfielders.

Oh and Rooney is increasingly ineffective the further he drops back.

EDIT: Riquelme is usually not in the final third.

I disagree with all of that, except for the Riquelme part but as I said he was borderline. ;)

yeah, i guess the term central midfielder is a bit ambiguous, as it does seem that kaka is classed as one in this thread, but considering he is the second player furthest up on the pitch, it does seem odd to call him a central midfielder. if you include him then you have to include all midfielders pretty much, except maybe wingers who don't stray towards the middle, which are very few anyways. so then the thread would just be "best midfielders."

Exactly.

Kaka himself doesnt view his position as forward and he's definately not a defensive/outside mid, and when sheva was with milan kaka played mostly a CAM role, right behind the forwards (so he can play that role), and in 2005 he was voted best MIDFIELDER of the champions league

Try reading newbie.

I don't doubt that kaka can be classed as a midfielder, it's the central part that is up for debate, when someone says center mid, normally i throw out attacking mids, wingers, and some d-mids.

Exactly.

well this debate has become who's the best midfielder who plays somwhere near the middle haha

Indeed.

[TKORL]

There are not really that many "Central Midfielders" in the game if we were to take that term exactly.

[jpick]

well, we know one group that wouldn't classify kaka as a center mid, and that is the uefa committee as he ust won the award for best attacker. :)

[phil80]

There are not really that many "Central Midfielders" in the game if we were to take that term exactly.
More and more teams are playing a defensive mid and offensive mid, so each player knows their role (so you dont get a gerrard-lampard combo that doesnt work out too well)

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Kaka himself doesnt view his position as forward and he's definately not a defensive/outside mid, and when sheva was with milan kaka played mostly a CAM role, right behind the forwards (so he can play that role), and in 2005 he was voted best MIDFIELDER of the champions league

well, we know one group that wouldn't classify kaka as a center mid, and that is the uefa committee as he ust won the award for best attacker. :)

Poor newbie, defeated yet again. :D

[phil80]

Poor newbie, defeated yet again. :D
hey try to keep up, goofball. I said kaka played a more CAM role with sheva on the team (so he can play that CAM role). Since then he has pushed up in a more attacking role playing right behind the lone striker. As usual, your inane posts provide nothing to the discussion

[Teso Dos Bichos]

More and more teams are playing a defensive mid and offensive mid, so each player knows their role (so you dont get a gerrard-lampard combo that doesnt work out too well)

It has more to do with the lack of quality all-round central midfielders these days than simply so players 'know their role'. Specialisation forces you to field complementary players to make the unit work.

hey try to keep up, goofball. I said kaka played a more CAM role with sheva on the team (so he can play that CAM role). Since then he has pushed up in a more attacking role playing right behind the lone striker. As usual, your inane posts provide nothing to the discussion

We are talking about the present day, not the past. All I did was use your 'proof' and 'explanation' by simply using an award. I see you are continuing with your personal attacks, vendetta and lack of contributing. Way to go newbie!

[phil80]

No, you have mastered that, and are not to be taken seriously...Now back to the discussion, Andres Iniesta has to be the most versatile as he can play both attacking or defensive as well as either wing, and play all those positions effectively

[TKORL]

Kaka does play CAM. He's no more a forward than Seedor...

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Kaka does play further forward than Seedorf.

No, you have mastered that, and are not to be taken seriously...Now back to the discussion, Andres Iniesta has to be the most versatile as he can play both attacking or defensive as well as either wing, and play all those positions effectively

There are numerous players who are vesatile and Iniesta does not stand out over other options in that regard or when comparing central midfielders. Care to reply to my previous point?