The best player in the world

[jpick]

how young is carrick??? isn't he in his prime as well? maybe i am mistaken, but i thought he was 26 or 27 by now. this year carrick has looked pretty poor at times, but last year he was a very nice player for sure and important to united's title run. I wouldn't put him at pirlo's level personally, but good player for sure.

[santos6]

Carrick's not fit to lace Pirlo's boots. Thats how much Pirlo is better, not how bad Carrick is, he's just not up to Pirlo's standards.
Carrick does pass the ball well and pulls off some passes with his left foot that are impressive, but Pirlo is much smarter and much more skillfull.

[jerrito]

I don't think Pirlo has that fear factor that can change games. When Messi, for example, picks up the ball the entire defence becomes worried, on edge. Sometimes he doesn't do anything special, but the possiblitity that he could makes the defense vulnerable. This gift is priceless and Pirlo doesn't have it.


Pirlo certainly does have it. Ask any defender how they feel when Pirlo is lining up a direct or indirect free kick anywhere near the area. He is a different type of player than Messi in many ways. But both are extremely dangerous in different ways.

[SterNYork]

Pirlo is arguably not even the best player on his team. Saying "best player in the world" is a bit much...

In the following scenarios here are the players I would want:

"On a Break" - Kaka

"Surrounded by Defenders" - Messi

"Free Kick" - C. Ronaldo or Riquelme

"1 v 1" - C. Ronaldo

[squidward123]

In the following scenarios here are the players I would want:

"On a Break" - Kaka

"Surrounded by Defenders" - Messi

"Free Kick" - C. Ronaldo or Riquelme

"1 v 1" - C. Ronaldo

I would want pirlo in any of those situations because he is the most likely to bring the best result through a dribble or a pass.

[Mojam5]

Pirlo as first pick needs to be coupled with Gattuso/Mascherano/Hargreaves for second pick. I believe I would take Kaka and Buffon as first two picks

[squidward123]

Pirlo as first pick needs to be coupled with Gattuso/Mascherano/Hargreaves for second pick

Where the hell did that come from? He doesn't need babysitters or bodyguards. His brain means he can handle situations better than everyone else.

Kaka would need more "help" than Pirlo. Anyone who thinks Kaka is better than Pirlo doesn't understand football that deeply or holistically.

[SterNYork]

I would want pirlo in any of those situations because he is the most likely to bring the best result through a dribble or a pass.

I understand that we're just talking opinions here but do you really believe that Pirlo is better on the dribble than C. Ronaldo or Messi? Or better at passing than Kaka and Riqueleme?

[sardus_pater]

I understand that we're just talking opinions here but do you really believe that Pirlo is ...

better at passing than Kaka and Riqueleme?

Pirlo is a lot better at passing than Kaka. vs Riquelme it is arguable.

All of them are less good than Totti at passing.

[jerrito]

I understand that we're just talking opinions here but do you really believe that Pirlo is better on the dribble than C. Ronaldo or Messi? Or better at passing than Kaka and Riqueleme?

Pirlo = better passer.

C. Ronaldo, Mess = better dribblers.

Look, I am not arguing that Pirlo is the best player in the world. But good for Squidward:D for bringing up the argument. I can tell from the responses that many of you underrate him. Pirlo is a hugely important player, and deserves this consideration to be mentioned.

[Mojam5]

Where the hell did that come from? He doesn't need babysitters or bodyguards. His brain means he can handle situations better than everyone else.

Kaka would need more "help" than Pirlo. Anyone who thinks Kaka is better than Pirlo doesn't understand football that deeply or holistically.
It came from logic and reasoning, you should try it sometime. My point was many people see Pirlo as a more defensive midfielder that could be paired with a more attacking one like a Lampard type. But Pirlo is more the creative force behind the team that needs a player to do the 'dirty work' (Gattuso), just as someone like Riquelme or Fabregas would need. Another post explained this aspect of Pirlo's game earlier in this thread.

[squidward123]

But Pirlo is more the creative force behind the team that needs a player to do the 'dirty work' (Gattuso)

And my point is that if you understand this thing holistically, you will see that "dirty work" is not needed when someone of pirlo's consistent intelligence is around, because he will hardly ever give the ball away, and even when he does, he knows how to anticipate toe get it back.

Sure, you can have a gattuso, but Pirlo is actually the last player in the world who needs one.

[actusreus13]

Sure, and he doesn't need the other players and he doesn't need legs either. He can telepathically make the ball go wherever he wants.
Dude, let it go--he's a great player, we get it, but not "the Best in the world." Why can't you? Shouldn't you worry more about rugby anyway?

[squidward123]

Sure, and he doesn't need the other players and he doesn't need legs either. He can telepathically make the ball go wherever he wants.

Where did I say this? Don't put words in my mouth. Say what I DID say, not what you wish I said.



Dude, let it go--he's a great player, we get it, but not "the Best in the world."

He is the player IMO who can best figure out the right move in every situation and pull it off with the best success rate.

Even in a situation on the wing, I'd back him to make a pass out of there, or to dribble past 1-2 players (ie. get the results) more often than C Ronaldo.

It's just that he doesn't do it like C Ronaldo. In the same way.

THAT, you are correct on.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

What did you take?

[Kufibear]

yep pirlo is the best
he is by far the most intelligent player active right now
he see's shit that no other player see's
stats dont really mean anything to me,cuz a player like pirlo does a lot of important stuff that u dont see in stats
so pirlo has my vote

[jpick]

he is by far the most intelligent player active right now

I seen jawz debate that alex of fener is at least as intelligent, maybe even more so. He plays in turkey now, so i admit i don't see a whole lot of him of late besides cl action.

[Kufibear]

i have seen alex only a couple of times
of course thats not gonna give me a good view about him
but u can never have seen every player

anyway
imo,pirlo is the best passer in the game,and he has the best freekick
add the intelligence and u got the best right now imo
u saw how horrible we were without pirlo when he was suspended a couple of games ago jpick(dont remember what game it was exactly)
we couldnt do without pirlo,we need him even more than kaka imo

[erick]

to me the best player in the world is c. ronaldo. Look how many goals he has and what position he plays. He is the best shooter and dribbler too

[Pipitinha]

I beleive that if i had to make a team right now, with any player i wanted, Pirlo would be my second pick after Casillas.

I'm with you. Casillas is a #1. You cannot count how many points he has given to Real Madrid.