Messi walks the Ballon d'Or

[lcfc_jme]

In all honesty, Steven Gerrard, as good as he is, would struggle to get into Barcelona's first XI and definitely wouldn't be a first-team regular, nor the standout man like he is at Liverpool. My opinion on the matter anyway, even though I love the way Gerrard plays.

As for following Barca, it's not so much like I read about them, profess to have them as "my" team or anything, I just prefer them to Real and I absolute cream over their style of play. The way they and Arsenal knock the ball around, find space and give teams the runaround is a joy to behold at times and definitely how football should be played imo.

[lildave3]

Only Stoke play football the way it should be played.

[purpleronnie]

Well Yaya has to play in the best league in the world...

He does.

[Uncle Albert]

I'm not just saying this but honestly I think Gerrard would get in any team in the world, he is that damn good, if he went to Barca then Toure would be straight out and you would slot Xavi into a more deeper position or Iniesta, its abit like saying Ronaldo possibly wouldnt get in either, you would make room for players like Ronaldo and Gerrard.

[AjcW]

I'm not just saying this but honestly I think Gerrard would get in any team in the world, he is that damn good, if he went to Barca then Toure would be straight out and you would slot Xavi into a more deeper position or Iniesta, its abit like saying Ronaldo possibly wouldnt get in either, you would make room for players like Ronaldo and Gerrard.

This would be criminal.

[The Doctor]

Only Stoke play football the way it should be played.

too true. proper football isn't your fancy pass and move its smashing into everyone getting the ball from them and giving them a minor crippling in return.

[Uncle Albert]

This would be criminal.

No it wouldnt Iniesta used to play there for Barca until Toure came in, absolute moron you are.

[purpleronnie]

I'm not just saying this but honestly I think Gerrard would get in any team in the world, he is that damn good, if he went to Barca then Toure would be straight out and you would slot Xavi into a more deeper position or Iniesta, its abit like saying Ronaldo possibly wouldnt get in either, you would make room for players like Ronaldo and Gerrard.

Gerrard would get into any team no question, even if he played out of position. On form gerrard is the best English player. I do feel however Alonso leaving this year has affected gerrard a lot, but great players still need great players around them.

[BlueSi13]

He does.

You mean the league of Barcelona & Real Madrid? the league that if you took those two teams out of the equation the league is littered with mediocre clubs with duff attendances and crap atmospheres, the league that nobody, not even those in Spain would give a flying fook who won if the Catalans and the Spanish institution weren't fighting for it. The rivalry between those two is all that matters there. Though it isn't really that surprising taking the countries history into account.

Because of that La Liga is just a larger version of the SPL (Celtic & Rangers) in my opinion. Both the Premier League and the Bundesliga beat it for me, simply down to the amount of passion, attendances and atmospheres that characterise the game from the very top to the very bottom. Both of those countries have massive clubs right down to the third tier and excellent media and sports coverage right through the pyramid. The Premier League would also make a case that also has by far the largest revenue and global viewing figures. It is also at this moment in time the top of UEFA's league coefficient.

Thankfully neither country's game is summed up by the rivalry of just two giants

[AjcW]

No it wouldnt Iniesta used to play there for Barca until Toure came in, absolute moron you are.

Yea and didn't play anywere near aswell hence why it would be criminal... You moron

[Sly]

Opinions are running wild in this thread!!

Look at it this way, who'd win this match:

TEAM 1: Buffon, Cole, Ramos, Vidic, K Toure, Gerrard, Fabregas, Kaka, Messi, Eto, Drogba

TEAM 2: Casillas, Zhirkov, Maicon, Y Toure, Terry, Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Torres, Ibrahomovic, Rooney

It's impossible to say! They could play each other over a 100 and you still wouldn't have an answer.

Even if you take the best 11 Premiership players and play them against the best 11 Liga players, still impossible to tell.

Football is a funny old game and in any given day, any team can beat any other team. That's why we all love the FA cup so much.

[Darkzzz_]

You mean the league of Barcelona & Real Madrid? the league that if you took those two teams out of the equation the league is littered with mediocre clubs with duff attendances and crap atmospheres, the league that nobody, not even those in Spain would give a flying fook who won if the Catalans and the Spanish institution weren't fighting for it. The rivalry between those two is all that matters there. Though it isn't really that surprising taking the countries history into account.

Because of that La Liga is just a larger version of the SPL (Celtic & Rangers) in my opinion. Both the Premier League and the Bundesliga beat it for me, simply down to the amount of passion, attendances and atmospheres that characterise the game from the very top to the very bottom. Both of those countries have massive clubs right down to the third tier and excellent media and sports coverage right through the pyramid. The Premier League would also make a case that also has by far the largest revenue and global viewing figures. It is also at this moment in time the top of UEFA's league coefficient.

Thankfully neither country's game is summed up by the rivalry of just two giants

One thing you've got spot on is the atmosphere in La Liga, but then again I guess I could say the same when comparing the Milan or the Napoli fans to anything I have seen here. The atmosphere in Italy is certainly the best I have personally been amongst, violence aside, they really do create an atmosphere. I'd love to experience Germany because many have said it's amazing.

Again, the age old debate about the best league in the world, every league has its positives and negatives at the end of the day. La Liga is more than two teams though, if you start saying that then you could argue the Premier League consists of four teams, this year it looks as if it's only one. You could then say the same about Inter Milan walking Serie A although the last two seasons I have enjoyed that league more than any other because the other sides around them are getting stronger and the unpredictability of who will finish in the Champions League positions.

Every league has its top boys, its pretenders and then the plain awful. You would only have to look as far as the Uefa Cup to see how badly the 'other' Premier League teams have done. If you put it in that context you could say they are average football teams, where as the average pretenders from the other top leagues have actually gone on to win that tournament.

[AjcW]

Opinions are running wild in this thread!!

Look at it this way, who'd win this match:

TEAM 1: Buffon, Cole, Ramos, Vidic, K Toure, Gerrard, Fabregas, Kaka, Messi, Eto, Drogba

TEAM 2: Casillas, Zhirkov, Maicon, Y Toure, Terry, Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Torres, Ibrahomovic, Rooney

It's impossible to say! They could play each other over a 100 and you still wouldn't have an answer.

Even if you take the best 11 Premiership players and play them against the best 11 Liga players, still impossible to tell.

Football is a funny old game and in any given day, any team can beat any other team. That's why we all love the FA cup so much.

Zhirkov

But apart from that yes I totally see your point.

[Uncle Albert]

Yea and didn't play anywere near aswell hence why it would be criminal... You moron

So you would rather Iniesta than Gerrard?

Oh dear.

[AjcW]

So you would rather Iniesta than Gerrard?

Oh dear.

Yes, Iniesta just edges it on technical ability.

But gerrard is a fantastic player, im happy to admit that unlike your refusal of other players.

Learn to be more open minded.

[Guest Bilo]

I am willing to bet now that the 1,500,000th post will involve a vicious personal attack, possibly with violent and/or homophobic undertones. It's what FT is about.

[Finnegan]

I'd take Iniesta and Xavi as a package over a combination of Gerrard and one of the two. That's not to say they're both better players than Gerrard or that one is and the other isn't. When you're talking about players of that calibre then, firstly, it's impossible to judge definitively and secondly who gives a toss?

But Iniesta and Xavi are a partnership and a very good one, you have to look at their merits as a combination as well as their individual merits.

Besides, Gerrard does very well in the Liverpool system but you've no assurances he'd just walk into Barcelona and pick up the way they play or the way La Liga plays. Styles of play are different at different clubs and in different countries thus why these arguments rage on for ever, things can't really be proven.

PS: Katy Perry's tits are seriously distracting.

[AjcW]

PS: Katy Perry's tits are seriously distracting.

yes but not distracting enough to be considered to big for a sig on this forum

[Hugo Sanchez]

I hate Gerrard, but even i rate him higher then any Barca centre midfielder. Still i rate Lampard higher then Gerrard.

[Finnegan]

I hate Gerrard, but even i rate him higher then any Barca centre midfielder. Still i rate Lampard higher then Gerrard.

[AjcW]

I hate Gerrard, but even i rate him higher then any Barca centre midfielder. Still i rate Lampard higher then Gerrard.

this made my day.

[Hugo Sanchez]

this made my day.

Well i'm happy i could help.

I'm sorry my opinion got in the way of this thread.

[Uncle Albert]

Yes, Iniesta just edges it on technical ability.

But gerrard is a fantastic player, im happy to admit that unlike your refusal of other players.

Learn to be more open minded.

Ok because I'm not one of the Barca following I should learn to be more open minded. Good one.

Some of the drivel you have said is nothing more than embarresing, Toure, Iniesta or Xavi are not as good as Gerrard, sorry but they arent and I'm not saying it because of Liverpool either. Them three work well together no denying that but individually they are not as good as Gerrard.

[Darkzzz_]

Ok because I'm not one of the Barca following I should learn to be more open minded. Good one.

Some of the drivel you have said is nothing more than embarresing, Toure, Iniesta or Xavi are not as good as Gerrard, sorry but they arent and I'm not saying it because of Liverpool either. Them three work well together no denying that but individually they are not as good as Gerrard.

No you're quite right to have your opinion, so why be sorry. You really believe this as much as I believe you're wrong but like I say, it's all about opinion.

If you look at it the way the Barca fans are saying it, flip it on its head and come at this from your point of view then of course you will say Gerrard is better just like the Barca bum boys will say Xavi and Iniesta are, it's natural, you fill your knickers over Liverpool and Gerrard just as much as I/we do over Barca. Let it be. It's all good fun!

[Samilktray]

Id take an on form Cesc Fabregas over all of them.