Is Bastian the best midfielder in the world?

I'm going to get a lot of hate I can already see it coming so might as well get out of the way that although I don't think Bundesliga is a "world class league" it is still IMO the second best run league after barclays PL, with some of the best support in Europe.

Donkey league is just well marketed thats it..

If Bundesliga's TV money improved ,it would be on par with the donkey league

The youth devlopment programme which started in 2002 is certainly paying the dividends for them and they're just reaping the rewards atm.

Bayern Munich is how a football club should be run in my opinion.(talking about the big teams)

Sorry for going off-topic.

Albiceleste wrote:I'm going to get a lot of hate I can already see it coming so might as well get out of the way that although I don't think Bundesliga is a "world class league" it is still IMO the second best run league after barclays PL, with some of the best support in Europe.

What is "elite" anyway? If you say no BL team won the CL the last years - sure. But that's past. Let's see how things will develop this year. We live in the present after all, and if you look at the high quality players that are developed in the BL right now, you can't seriously claim that the BL is not top notch. ^^

McLewis wrote:Such a deceptive and open-ended OP.

There is no "best".

Piggy's a better tackler than both Iniesta and Xavi. They both are more technically gifted. Piggy's a better long range shooter, Xavi the better dead-ball player and Iniesta the better player on the ball and in tight spaces.

It's a mismatch of midfield attributes. Basti's better in some areas, Xaviesta in others....but none of the 3 are better than the other 2 overall.

Their technical quality trumps his allround ability imo. So you can say that they are better, although dont know what you mean by overall. If you mean none of them are better than the other two at EVERYTHING, then of course, but thats not significant at all

rwo power wrote:

Albiceleste wrote:I'm going to get a lot of hate I can already see it coming so might as well get out of the way that although I don't think Bundesliga is a "world class league" it is still IMO the second best run league after barclays PL, with some of the best support in Europe.

What is "elite" anyway? If you say no BL team won the CL the last years - sure. But that's past. Let's see how things will develop this year. We live in the present after all, and if you look at the high quality players that are developed in the BL right now, you can't seriously claim that the BL is not top notch. ^^

I know plenty about the loads of talent the bundesliga is and has been producing, overall it's just not on the same level as the EPL, serie a, or la liga IMO.

EarlyPrototype wrote:

jibers wrote:

EarlyPrototype wrote:Xabi doesn't hoof, he levitates.

Btw Sushi you shouldn't have taken the not proven seriously.

Alonso is a hoofer, he looks out of his depth when he plays for Spain ffs

Pirlo is a hoofer. That is why Milan got rid of him.

EarlyPrototype wrote:

jibers wrote:

EarlyPrototype wrote:Xabi doesn't hoof, he levitates.

Btw Sushi you shouldn't have taken the not proven seriously.

Alonso is a hoofer, he looks out of his depth when he plays for Spain ffs

Pirlo is a hoofer. That is why Milan got rid of him.

ROFL. Alonso will be frogeotten once he stops playing football. Pirlois one of the best CMs of all time. FFs Rafa was trying to use Alonso to get Garteh Barry. Noone thought Alonso was one of the best Cms when he was at pool, but as usual he goes to RM and all of a sudden he becomes better than Xavi and has better passing than Pirlo

iniesta>xavi>bastian imo
i consider iniesta to be the best because without him we play like shit but when we dont play with xavi we dont look as good but we can let thiago play instead of him...if xavi had iniesta's agility and dribbling and bastian's defensive abilities and longshots he would be the perfect midfielder

oh and Iniesta is my favourite player

Actually Jibers no one (including Real Madrid fans) have said that Alonso is better than Xavi.

Oh and Alonso always had the best passing in the world in my eyes. It's not like anyone has said Lass has Pirlo's passing range ffs.

Pirlo is the better player, but Alonso long passing >>> Pirlo's

There is no such thing as best CM in the world tbh. Xavi couldnt do what he does and he couldnt do what Xavi does. So saying X is the best MF in the world is laughable.

EarlyPrototype wrote:Actually Jibers no one (including Real Madrid fans) have said that Alonso is better than Xavi.

Oh and Alonso always had the best passing in the world in my eyes. It's not like anyone has said Lass has Pirlo's passing range ffs.

Pirlo is the better player, but Alonso long passing >>> Pirlo's

Well let's agree to disagree. Fair enough?

to answer your argument:
Alonso:176 accurate from 228 long ball attempts
pirlo:183 accurate from 217 long pass attempts

jibers wrote:

EarlyPrototype wrote:Actually Jibers no one (including Real Madrid fans) have said that Alonso is better than Xavi.

Oh and Alonso always had the best passing in the world in my eyes. It's not like anyone has said Lass has Pirlo's passing range ffs.

Pirlo is the better player, but Alonso long passing >>> Pirlo's

Well let's agree to disagree. Fair enough?

Fine with me.

Albiceleste wrote:I know plenty about the loads of talent the bundesliga is and has been producing, overall it's just not on the same level as the EPL, serie a, or la liga IMO.

The question is - how do you define "same level"? If you go for the UEFA coefficient, BL has overtaken Serie A. If you look at the success of the NT, then Germany with mainly BL-located players (bar 3 atm) is ranked 3rd. If the players that are produced are so talented, how can the BL then be worse than EPL or Serie A?

rwo power wrote:

Albiceleste wrote:I know plenty about the loads of talent the bundesliga is and has been producing, overall it's just not on the same level as the EPL, serie a, or la liga IMO.

The question is - how do you define "same level"? If you go for the UEFA coefficient, BL has overtaken Serie A. If you look at the success of the NT, then Germany with mainly BL-located players (bar 3 atm) is ranked 3rd. If the players that are produced are so talented, how can the BL then be worse than EPL or Serie A?

The overall quality of the teams is not on the same level of the BPL, Serie A or la liga imo. For Schweini to be the best he has to play with the best teams in the world, for me the Bundesliga doesn't provide that

Give it up, RWO. As long as your team doesn't have a German in it, BL is never rated.

Look at Madrid fans before Özil/Khedira/Sahin.

That there is a triple, almost quadruple tie for a 1st place which includes Bayern obviously shows how weak the league is :lucas:

Should've just taken it to the unpopular opinion thread

Nah you have a point. It's just that this year the top teams have all been made stronger, while the weaker ones shittier.

The title race is completely blown open. It might not be a Bayern year especially with most teams not in the CL, as most people predicted starting the season.

So if most people judge BL quality by Bayern quality, then you have to see that there are other teams playing just as well.

This is what I meant when I said I really rate the guy, but not nearly as high as nearly everyone else.

Xavi outplayed him for Spain, Nuri Sahin outplayed him twice...and when I say outplay, I dont mean had more possession. I mean, they really outplayed him.

Again, I rate him highly, but I dont see any reasonable arguement you can make to suggest he is better than Xavi. I really dont.

They are different players, probably shouldnt even be compared, but if you want to tag him the best midfielder you got to go through Xavi to get there.

For me, his biggest strengths are his determination, his workrate, his defensive ability and his technical skills while very good are secondary. For me, he needs a number 10 front of him so the team can create in the final 3rd, you dont need that with Xavi as proven with his Ronaldinho and 1st Pep seasons.

The best all-rounder for sure. He can do everything in the middle.

IMO Xavi, Iniesta and Ozil are all better. I may have forgotten somebody else but he's almost definitely top 5.

aford92 wrote:IMO Xavi, Iniesta and Ozil are all better. I may have forgotten somebody else but he's almost definitely top 5.

Ozil is the best based on current form .

Schweinstiger is the most complete midfielder in the world

and among the top 3 best midfielder in the world, enough said.

Idrisozet wrote:Schweinstiger is the most complete midfielder in the world

and among the top 3 best midfielder in the world, enough said.

One of the few times I agree with you.

jibers wrote:

EarlyPrototype wrote:Xabi doesn't hoof, he levitates.

Btw Sushi you shouldn't have taken the not proven seriously.

Alonso is a hoofer, he looks out of his depth when he plays for Spain ffs

I'm assuming you're speaking of friendlies.