I was talking with a friend the other day and we were having a debate about who the better player was between Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, or Edgar Davids? Obviously we were focused on a specific time period. Redondo's name was omitted only because we felt he was more often used as an anchor/deep lying playmaker. So I'm looking for opinions about which of the three you believe was best and why? And how about a best of All-Time while we're at it?
Bozsik, Gerson, Falcao, arguably Rijkaard and Mathauss (used more as DM though) Masopust, Coluna, Arie Han Neeksens ... to lately Yaya Tourre, Xavi , Xabi Alonso , Schweinteige ...
Of course Nedved was fantastic and although Nedved could contribute to the team in a variety of ways he was a different type of player. Surely much more attacking than an all action battler.
different type and different style. Keane was more of a solid DM with very good bossing in midfield. Vieira and Davids were more like the boss of midfield with good skills in DM If my team is a bit weak in defensive (mMF or CB) I need a good dependable CM with good defensive skills in Keane. If my team is good ok in defensive midfield or CB I might need a bit of bites in Vieira or Edgar davids In overall Vieira would edge them slightly .. I think
Of those three Keane was the best IMO. Davids next and then Vieira a long way back. Keane's positioning and reading of the game was the best of the lot, the key attribute for any central midfielder.
I agree Vieiria should not be in the discussion. but your opinion of 1 and 2 is interesting, espeically since you are so knowledgeable. what do you think of David's play (not compared to anyone just overall)?
I thought he was excellent. Technically he was terrific, particularly his short passing which was crisp and precise. He had that tenacity and desire but it was channelled. I also thought he was extremely important to the rejuvenation of Barcelona in his short spell there. He was terrific in that period and ultimately saved the job of Rijkaard, laying the way for the 2006 CL win. Anyway, I've always had a big thing for dreadlocked Dutch midfielders but he was quality I thought.
ironically Vieira was voted as the best midfielder in EPL of last decade , over Roy Keane (#2) that's only EPL, besides, Vieira was featured in WC06 and Euro 2000 ALL star team > Keane in international games
think vieria is more likeable than Keane. kind of like why messi won the GB. cue bada in 3, 2, 1...........
note... in that PFA best XI of decade, Vieira had more votes by professional (then Keane) , not a POP choice (so nothing to do with likeable or love-able) And here is an example of POP votes by Dailymail.uk made 2009 Who is the best Premier League player of the decade? As we leave another decade behind, it seems only right that we remember some of the great players that have brightened our footballing lives in the ten years past. Who has been your favourite - and have we missed anyone out? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/chat/r/t-10081172/index.html?threadIndex=2 THE LIST: Top 50 players of the decade in the Premier League - 1- Henry 2- Ryan Giggs 3- C. Ronaldo 4- Bergkamp 5- Scholes 6- Lampard 7- Vieira 8- Shearer 9- Rooney 10 Gerrard 11- R Keane 12- Nistelrooy 13- S Given 14- Drogba 15- Owen ....
There's only one Carlton Palmer, And he smokes marijuana, He's 6ft tall, and his heads too small, Livin in a Palmer wonderland!!!
Of the three I'd say it's very close between Keane and Davids and Vieira comes after them. But definitely not by a long way as some are saying. Keane had the best positioning and was slightly better as a destroyer than the other two. He was also a decent passer and very aggressive (pushed the team forward). His perfomance vs Juve in 99 was something to behold. Davids had decent dribbling technique and carried the ball well from deep but his passing wasn't all that, his positioning was average as well but he had elite stamina and always got back in position or made those runs from deep at Juve. Also very aggressive (The Pitbull) and he was the reason we could play a 4-4-2 with him and Zidane as the midfield 2. One of the best players at WC 98 and Euro 2000. Vieira was the 'slicker' footballer of the three and comfortably a better passer than the other two. I thought he was a superior attacker too though I'd guess their goal stats dont differ much. I feel his perfomance in WC'06 is really underrated.
Nasty foul against Davids there at 1:30 and arguably escaped a 2nd yellow there. A yellow wouldn't have been out of place. Both Davids and Viera were way more progressive in their play, thus naturally also more often out of position from a defensive point of view. Both Davids and Viera performed best (most flashiest) with a restrictive partner next to them, while Keane played with Scholes. Keane was almost always the most 'restricted' midfielder in the United set-up while the same can't be said about Davids and Viera really. No doubt Keane was important though, he was their best paid player in the 'good' years. In short: Keane was the most defensive of the three, Viera the most offensive (esp. on the break) and Davids something in between. I never liked Davids because of his presentation in the media but he could play yes. [as one of the comments say; the videos has left out a moment where he nutmegs Nedved and wins a free kick close to the penalty area] For Davids at his best, one has to watch him against Real Madrid in 1995 or Dortmund in 1996.