Platini Top Ten All-Time?

[JamesBH11]

before 2000's, Platini was surely among the TOP10's all time.

Lately with the introduction of Zidane (just retired) and soon Ronaldo and they would make Platini's position shaking ... between 7th to 12th I think.

TOP6 untouchables:
1- Pele
2- Maradona
3- Cruyff
4- Di Stefano
5- Beckenbauer
6- Garrincha

Now from 7th onward:
Platini has to fight with Zidane, Ronaldo, Zico, Best, Eusebio, Puskas, Lev Yashin, Boby Charton, Muller as 10 candidates for 4,5 spots left!

Your choice!

[kingkong1]

before 2000's, Platini was surely among the TOP10's all time.

Lately with the introduction of Zidane (just retired) and soon Ronaldo and they would make Platini's position shaking ... between 7th to 12th I think.

TOP6 untouchables:
1- Pele
2- Maradona
3- Cruyff
4- Di Stefano
5- Beckenbauer
6- Garrincha

Now from 7th onward:
Platini has to fight with Zidane, Ronaldo, Zico, Best, Eusebio, Puskas, Lev Yashin, Boby Charton, Muller as 10 candidates for 4,5 spots left!

Your choice!I see you're using the widest criterum to select the top ten All-Time.

I.e., players of any position.

However I see no pure defenders there (unless you consider Beckenbauer & Bobby Charlton as such) besides Lev Yashin.

What we see is mostly playmakers, mids (most of them offensive ones).

I find it an injust criterium.

There were pure defenders as classy in their specialties as Pelé or Cruyjff in theirs (Bobby Moore, Djalma & Nilton Santos, Carlos Alberto, Breitner, Baresi, Maldini, Pasarella, Leandro, Figueroa etc).

Players like Pelé, Garrincha, Didi, Di Stéfano, Maradona, Cruyjff, Di Stéfano, Puskas wouldn't have lived without them.

I think that the ideal All-Time 10, has to be at least an All-Time 22 (starters & subs) - made out of goalies, defenders, mids & forwards.

And if we choose as system the (nowadays) more commonly played 4-3-3 Platini is undoubtedly out of those 22 (even as a sub).

My ideal 3-player midfield would have at least 11 to 12 specialists superior to Platini:

Di Stéfano, Didi, Bobby Charlton, Zizinho, Beckenbauer, Gérson, Rivelino, Pelé, Tostão, Maradona, Zico (in no particular order).

Forwards? Leônidas & Müller, Eusébio & Best, Garrincha &/or Matthews to complete of course etc etc.

But if you choose 6 of those mids (just close your eyes & pick them) Platini will authomatically be out of the first ranks.

Wel, my opinion.:)

[TKORL]

If you had Pele or Maradona you wouldn't be playing them in midfield. You'd deploy them behind the striker. And you wouldn't have a 4-3-3

[kingkong1]

If you had Pele or Maradona you wouldn't be playing them in midfield. You'd deploy them behind the striker. And you wouldn't have a 4-3-3And you'd still have Di Stéfano, Didi, Bobby Charlton, Zizinho, Beckenbauer, Gérson, Rivelino, Falcão, Tostão, Zico.

Which are the 6 you'd take from that group in order to fit Platini at least as a sub??? :) ...

Besides where you'd fit Garrincha, Müller, Matthews, Best, Van Basten, Eusébio, Leônidas, Ronaldo up front? Send them to midfield or defense? :p ...

[babaorum]

And you'd still have Di Stéfano, Didi, Bobby Charlton, Zizinho, Beckenbauer, Gérson, Rivelino, Falcão, Tostão, Zico.

Which are the 6 you'd take from that group in order to fit Platini at least as a sub??? :) ...



6 players ? No, I actually found 7 - ie Didi, Charlton, Zizinho, Gerson, Rivelino, Falcao, Tostao.

Well, my opinion :p

[kingkong1]

6 players ? No, I actually found 7 - ie Didi, Charlton, Zizinho, Gerson, Rivelino, Falcao, Tostao.

Well, my opinion :pMan,

You're courageous!:)

[babaorum]

before 2000's, Platini was surely among the TOP10's all time.

Lately with the introduction of Zidane (just retired) and soon Ronaldo and they would make Platini's position shaking ... between 7th to 12th I think.

TOP6 untouchables:
1- Pele
2- Maradona
3- Cruyff
4- Di Stefano
5- Beckenbauer
6- Garrincha

Now from 7th onward:
Platini has to fight with Zidane, Ronaldo, Zico, Best, Eusebio, Puskas, Lev Yashin, Boby Charton, Muller as 10 candidates for 4,5 spots left!

Your choice!

I don't think Zidane should be considered in that list. Platini was clearly superior.
Best only compares to Platini in terms of individual skills. Platini was superior in every other area (longevity, consistency, achievements).
Platini did as much as Charlton. One could argue he did it slightly better (scoring, playmaking).
Also it's hard to include a GK (Yashin) in such a list IMHO.

Finally I personnally think there are only four untouchables : Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano. The following list is open to discussion for the 5-12 spots in my opinion : Beckenbauer, Garrincha, Puskas, Eusebio, Müller, Zico, Ronaldo, Platini... as ultimately all of them were very close in terms of influence on the field/skills/achievements/consistency.

[phil80]

I don't think Zidane should be considered in that list. Platini was clearly superior.

How was platini clearly superior to zidane?

[babaorum]

How was platini clearly superior to zidane?

Platini was as good as Zidane in the playmaking area. Of course, the key point is that Platini was scoring three times more goals. That made him one of the very few players who could not only completely dominate games but also tournaments (EC84). Zidane could only do that at times and even when he did (EC2000) he didn't reach Platini's level. Of course, the sad thing is that Platini could never do that in WC but as stated in another post he never had the opportunity to play a WC while being completely fit...

[Martininho]

I don't think Zidane should be considered in that list. Platini was clearly superior.
Best only compares to Platini in terms of individual skills. Platini was superior in every other area (longevity, consistency, achievements).
Platini did as much as Charlton. One could argue he did it slightly better (scoring, playmaking).
Also it's hard to include a GK (Yashin) in such a list IMHO.

Finally I personnally think there are only FIVE untouchables : Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Beckenbauer. The following list is open to discussion for the 5-12 spots in my opinion: Garrincha, Puskas, Eusebio, Müller, Zico, Ronaldo, Platini... as ultimately all of them were very close in terms of influence on the field/skills/achievements/consistency.

Your post wanted a bit of repair, here's my contribution.

You're welcome. ;)

[kingkong1]

Your post wanted a bit of repair, here's my contribution.

You're welcome. ;)Garrincha & Puskas are 6th & 7h among those 5 untouchables (in no particular order, please).:)

[TKORL]

And you'd still have Di Stéfano, Didi, Bobby Charlton, Zizinho, Beckenbauer, Gérson, Rivelino, Falcão, Tostão, Zico.

Which are the 6 you'd take from that group in order to fit Platini at least as a sub??? :) ...

Besides where you'd fit Garrincha, Müller, Matthews, Best, Van Basten, Eusébio, Leônidas, Ronaldo up front? Send them to midfield or defense? :p ...
Simple. :)

Di Stefano, Didi, Charlton, Zizinho, Gerson, Rivelino, Falcao, Tostao, Zico, Garrincha, Matthews, Best, Van Basten, Eusebio, Leonidas, and Ronaldo would be on the bench.

[kingkong1]

Simple. :)

Di Stefano, Didi, Charlton, Zizinho, Gerson, Rivelino, Falcao, Tostao, Zico, Garrincha, Matthews, Best, Van Basten, Eusebio, Leonidas, and Ronaldo would be on the bench.Took your temperature today? :eek: ...

[babaorum]

Your post wanted a bit of repair, here's my contribution.

You're welcome. ;)

No problem ;)

However for some reasons I've always considered Beckenbauer being slightly behind the top 4.
In my mind the key questions should be - which player would you pick to carry your team in a big game ? Pound for pound, which player has the most influence on the field ?
In both cases I think Beckenbauer (as well as Garrincha for that matter) would fit better in the Eusebio, Platini, Zico, Ronaldo, Müller category than in the Pele, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Maradona one.
Actually after reflexion if I really had to pick a top 5 the fifth "immortal" would be Puskas. :)

[kingkong1]

You want to avoid a 2nd Brazilian (Garrincha) in that list of 'untouchables' by any means, isn'it? :cool: ...

Besides you 'forgot' about the Top 10 (or Top 11) as a real team, with goalie, left/right/central defenders.

That would ruin the thread.

HOW fit Platini in that midfield - even in a 3-5-2 ? :mad: ...

Among (let's say) Di Stéfano-Beckenbauer-Pelé-Maradona-Cruyjff?...

Poor Plat: no way.:o

[Gregoriak]

No problem ;)

However for some reasons I've always considered Beckenbauer being slightly behind the top 4.
In my mind the key questions should be - which player would you pick to carry your team in a big game ? Pound for pound, which player has the most influence on the field ?
In both cases I think Beckenbauer (as well as Garrincha for that matter) would fit better in the Eusebio, Platini, Zico, Ronaldo, Müller category than in the Pele, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Maradona one.
Actually after reflexion if I really had to pick a top 5 the fifth "immortal" would be Puskas. :)

I am surprised at your reasoning why Beckenbauer would be slightly behind your Top 4. I think Beckenbauer proved that he is at least more capable to carry his team than Cruyff was. Just look at the 1974 World Cup final.

[babaorum]

You want to avoid a 2nd Brazilian (Garrincha) in that list of 'untouchables' by any means, isn'it?

Besides you 'forgot' about the Top 10 (or Top 11) as a real team, with goalie, left/right/central defenders.

That would ruin the thread.

HOW fit Platini in that midfield - even in a 3-5-2 ?

Among (let's say) Di Stéfano-Beckenbauer-Pelé-Maradona-Cruyjff?...

Poor Plat: no way.

Kingkong,

I think you misunderstood me - I got no problem at all with Brazilian players. I would have picked Garrincha among the "untouchables" if I thought he would have deserved it. :)

Besides, contrary to what you apparently think I would not pick Platini in an all-time squad. Not only that but I would pick Garrincha and Beckenbauer in it ;) :

--------------Yashin--------------
--D Santos--Moore--Baresi--Maldini--
------------Beckenbauer------------
-----Garrincha--Maradona--Cruyff---
-----------Pele-----Di Stefano--------

As you see, no Platini but three Brazilians in this team (having three Brazilians is more than enough however :p).

[babaorum]

I am surprised at your reasoning why Beckenbauer would be slightly behind your Top 4. I think Beckenbauer proved that he is at least more capable to carry his team than Cruyff was. Just look at the 1974 World Cup final.

You're right. In other occasions than the WC74 final Cruyff proved he was as capable as Beckenbauer to carry a team however.

I think the greatest players were the ones being able to win games and tournaments (not only WCs) on their own, thanks to their supreme skills. I got the feeling that no one did it better than Pele and then in no particular order Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff and also arguably Puskas.
If I use this criteria then I think Beckenbauer comes immediately behind them alongside the likes of (in no particular order) Eusebio, Platini, Zico, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Müller. Beckenbauer has something more than them however - his superior longevity and consistency as well as his greater achievements. If you use this criteria as well then he should be ranked slightly above them but I don't think it's enough to rank him exactly at the level of the four untouchables as king kong says. :)

[squidward123]

Beckenbauer was the equal of his contemporary (Crujiff) in skill.

[JamesBH11]

I don't think Zidane should be considered in that list. Platini was clearly superior.
Best only compares to Platini in terms of individual skills. Platini was superior in every other area (longevity, consistency, achievements).
Platini did as much as Charlton. One could argue he did it slightly better (scoring, playmaking).
Also it's hard to include a GK (Yashin) in such a list IMHO.

Finally I personnally think there are only four untouchables : Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano. The following list is open to discussion for the 5-12 spots in my opinion : Beckenbauer, Garrincha, Puskas, Eusebio, Müller, Zico, Ronaldo, Platini... as ultimately all of them were very close in terms of influence on the field/skills/achievements/consistency.
Yes I see what you meant and I do not disagree.

This is what I think (combined with the "media" point of view. For example, while I agree that Platini is superior to Zidane, but "media" might have different view based on Zidane's form of the big finals: WC98, CL03 and quarter/semiWC06.

The reason I put Garrincha in top6 "untouchables" for his "pure and rare skills" as very "unique" (just like Maradona and Pele, and Cruiyff).
- Ronaldo is among that group too ... (could have been) if injuries did not rob off his talent.
- Beckenbauer is also a "rare" defender type (very "unique") so he deseved to be in the list.
- Yashin was also another "unique" GK in term of instinct against penalty kick, pure relection in blocking shots ... in the era that defense was like WIDE OPEN and he did it magnificiently.

So in the category of "untouchables" I meant we'll (probably) NEVER be able to see another player with same skillset and effectiveness on pitch like them in many many years to come. (here I really hope I am wrong)

Best, Zidane, Van Basten, Boby Charlton .. were more like "media darlings" type rather than their pure skills + uniqueness that have affected the games!

George best could have been a "unique" player as well but ONLY inside Europe - he was the very first European player (and especially from UK) who could dribble great. However, worldwide, Garrincha, Maradona, Pele, Zico, Zizinho, Ronaldo ... could rival him in such category!