Other Sports: Soccer/Football Thread Part Six

[Appleyard]

MLS had Rooney and Beckham but Messi is closer to his prime than they were. Obviously neither of them were quite at his level but half his caliber? Yes. Both great players. Back in the day ('70s), the NASL had Pele, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Carlos Alberto, George Best... literal all time legends but they were all well past their primes.

I would say that:

Henry... especially in first 3 seasons at age 33-35.
Ibrahimovic... even at 37.

Were better than Rooney at Beckham both in peak, prime and in the time they played in MLS (age 33-34 for Rooney, 32-37 for Beckham) . Just objectively really... those two were amongst the best ~5 players on earth at their best over several years.

I say that as an Englishman.

Rooney's prime was basically done at 30 years old... after about 2015 he was really just not the player he had been even though still very good.
Beckham? Better than Rooney when he went to the MLS but was obvious he was not the player he had been anymore when came to AC on loan. After 2004 he was still good, but had lost some of his incisiveness going forward even at Real, to the point that was probably a better DM than RM after age 30.


Also, in terms of peak+prime.

Gerrard, Lampard, Villa, Kaka, Pirlo, Drogba, Schweinsteiger were probably all similar/better than Rooney and Beckham over their best ~5 years.

Ballon D'Or placing by guys who have played MLS:

Kaka: 1
Henry: 2, 3
Lampard: 2
Beckham: 2
Gerrard: 3

So I would say Messi takes the Crown from Henry really in terms of "best player who has played MLS"...

and probably from Ibrahimovic in terms of "best player who has played MLS who was still at close to their best"... as I think Ibra was still, even though older, closer to his absolute peak. Henry was still class at age 33-35, but probably only 75% of the player he had been from age 22-32.

Ibra? Even at 37 was still probably ~90% as good as had been over absolute prime age 26-34. Helps that he peaked later too.

 

[Striiker]

@Starat327

You’re like Benzema
I’m like Messi

get rekt

 

[Starat327]

@Starat327

You’re like Benzema
I’m like Messi

get rekt

The difference is Messi has already made a billion. Lol

 

[Appleyard]

Tbf Messi already made probably 1 billion defrauding the Spanish state...

but yeh, I think tbh he seems a decent guy vs, well Benzema and even Ronaldo (who, while has his warts is not Benzema either lmao) too all things considered. Albeit that bar is set pretty low.

But his charity work, paying wages for other players at times, being a proper family man etc.

I hope he goes back to Newell's after the MLS, that would be properly bad-ass.

 

[Striiker]

The difference is Messi has already made a billion. Lol

$150m, $1b, same thing.

Both can buy unlimited chicky tendies.

 

[Starat327]

$150m, $1b, same thing.

Both can buy unlimited chicky tendies.

This Saudi league stuff really is out of control.

 

[trostol]

i see Jude is going to RM...least he won't be in the EPL

 

[Flybynite]

I'm going to guess many MLS teams are going to have a "Messi ticket increase' for when Inter-Miami plays them. Or possibly something where you can only buy a ticket to that game attached to 2 or 3 other games as a package.

 

[Curufinwe]

According to this tweet, only 24% of SRR goes to the MLS players.

 

[Striiker]

Sheeeeesh

 

[Jack Straw]

Sheeeeesh

Nice gig if you can get it.

 

[TCTC]

i see Jude is going to RM...least he won't be in the EPL

Shows again that if Madrid want a player they'll get him. They're just too big to turn down.
Their recruiting has been top notch too. All they need now is a striker and they're cooking again.

 

[BigToe]

Shows again that if Madrid want a player they'll get him. They're just too big to turn down.
Their recruiting has been top notch too. All they need now is a striker and they're cooking again.

Kane would fit in perfectly

 

[gertbfrobe16]

I would say that:

Henry... especially in first 3 seasons at age 33-35.
Ibrahimovic... even at 37.

Were better than Rooney at Beckham both in peak, prime and in the time they played in MLS (age 33-34 for Rooney, 32-37 for Beckham) . Just objectively really... those two were amongst the best ~5 players on earth at their best over several years.

I say that as an Englishman.

Rooney's prime was basically done at 30 years old... after about 2015 he was really just not the player he had been even though still very good.
Beckham? Better than Rooney when he went to the MLS but was obvious he was not the player he had been anymore when came to AC on loan. After 2004 he was still good, but had lost some of his incisiveness going forward even at Real, to the point that was probably a better DM than RM after age 30.


Also, in terms of peak+prime.

Gerrard, Lampard, Villa, Kaka, Pirlo, Drogba, Schweinsteiger were probably all similar/better than Rooney and Beckham over their best ~5 years.

Ballon D'Or placing by guys who have played MLS:

Kaka: 1
Henry: 2, 3
Lampard: 2
Beckham: 2
Gerrard: 3

So I would say Messi takes the Crown from Henry really in terms of "best player who has played MLS"...

and probably from Ibrahimovic in terms of "best player who has played MLS who was still at close to their best"... as I think Ibra was still, even though older, closer to his absolute peak. Henry was still class at age 33-35, but probably only 75% of the player he had been from age 22-32.

Ibra? Even at 37 was still probably ~90% as good as had been over absolute prime age 26-34. Helps that he peaked later too.

they wanted Zatlan, so I gave them Zatlan.

 

[Starat327]

I cant lie, @FLYguy3911 - it's gonna stick having to pull for Italy now because of Casadei.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I cant lie, @FLYguy3911 - it's gonna stick having to pull for Italy now because of Casadei.

This is the way.

Might be some hope on the way. They have a good squad.

 

[ellja3]

Bought the absolute LAST ticket to Latvia - Turkey game next Friday. Ok, I understand it's Friday eve game, Skonto stadium capacity is not big and there's LOTS of history between LV&TUR in football, but WHAT

 

[Starat327]

This is the way.

Might be some hope on the way. They have a good squad.

7g 2a from a mid is obscene. They've had some easy games along the way but he's scored in 6 of 7 or something like that.

We have all these young midfield talents coming (Caadei, Santos, Paez, Chuk) yet wete heavily focused on buying another mid when we already have Enzo, and Poch traditionally only runs 2. A good problem to have but... a problem nonetheless

 

[FLYguy3911]

7g 2a from a mid is obscene. They've had some easy games along the way but he's scored in 6 of 7 or something like that.

We have all these young midfield talents coming (Caadei, Santos, Paez, Chuk) yet wete heavily focused on buying another mid when we already have Enzo, and Poch traditionally only runs 2. A good problem to have but... a problem nonetheless

I was talking about Italy. Nobody cares about Chelsea.

 

[Starat327]

I was talking about Italy. Nobody cares about Chelsea.

I know you were talking about Italy. I pivoted to talking about Chelsea because they're more relevant than a team who can't even qualify for the world cup.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I know you were talking about Italy. I pivoted to talking about Chelsea because they're more relevant than a team who can't even qualify for the world cup.

Defending European Champions.

 

[Starat327]

Defending European Champions.

You think it makes it better, but it only makes it worse.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

Would love to see Dzeko make an impact today, though his first touch was ominous.

 

[ellja3]

Let's go Man City, I guess?

 

[TCTC]

You look at that Inter team and you wonder how the f*** they made it to the Champions League final.

Would be absolutely hilarious if they actually somehow win this. I doubt it though.