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Robben was a more direct and in general goalscoring winger. Ribery was a Figo style wide playmaker who created and did a lot of build up play. Obviously both could do the other too, but that was the general theme. And why Bayern had so much balance across both sides. They also had full-backs...

I just meant if one was dropped there would be outrage due to their profiles and reputations off the pitch. If Carlo dropped Mbappe for a big game and they got hammered you know the aftermath would be 'why didn't Kylian start?' How do they work together in a team? Can Mbappe play up front or...

He means they were inverted, playmaking or goalscoring (Robben) wingers these days, playing on their 'wrong' side, rather than chalk on the boots old style Jimmy Johnstone or Willie Henderson types who got down the line and crossed. The way the game has gone in recent decades. You probably know...

I honestly think that they should just choose between Vini and Mbappe and use the other as a bench player. But obviously with their fame that can never happen. Ideally would never have bought Mbappe in the first place and play Bellingham in the number 10 position or as a false 9. Vini Bellboy...

Anyway, I get the feeling we are arguing over nothing, really. Nobody denies that Lewa is a world-class striker, or one of the best forwards of the last 30 years. But you want people to say he is categorically better than guys like Suarez and Benzema, and even L Ronaldo, and a line must be...

Yeah in Barca's case it is true, and I agree. I am just saying you are changing from exagerated assists to now saying Suarez scored more for Barca than Liverpool (which is true). Obviously playing with Messi helps a lot in that sense, you are right. I don't think it's fair to level the same at...

Fair point, but it was you who implied Suarez has more assists because of how good finishers Neymar and Messi were. That's football though - all three were great finishers and great creatively and they were a plexus that set each other up, accounting for all their brilliance. Same with Ronaldo...

Plus (and Tempt will say I don't rate Bundesliga now, but I do) there were several good teams in Germany at that time, but Bayern were by far the strongest and had a monopoly on the league. Now, part of that is because of how good a striker Lewa was and is, but still the point must be made...

Good post, especially considering I thought you would abuse me for saying Silva over Gerrard. I agree with the vast majority, other than Gerrard being the most complete - too poor positionally, couldn't control games particularly well, defensively too rash, too many Hollywood balls, low football...

Ultimately, Tempt, it all comes down to me thinking Benzema and Suarez are simply better at playing football than Lewa. It isn't a slight on Lewa, as he's an excellent footballer himself, miles better than someone like Haaland, for example. All the other stuff - career stats, BDs, trophies, is...

Also, you say Lewa never played with Ronaldo or Messi - can look at that another way as I suggested earlier - means he was always the focal point of goalscoring, unlike Benz or Suarez. Look at how much they scored when they were the focal point ie Liverpool or post Ronaldo RM. We can spin...

Indeed. I raised my eyes at that too By far the most impressive thing he did at Dortmund was all those goals in that game against Real Madrid. But he has never come even close to replicating something like that ever again in the CL.

Fair enough, I can reach a consensus with you on some of that there. Gerrard's biggest weaknesses have always been positioning and being a Hollywood ball merchant, as well as his 100mph stupid Roy of the Rovers style of play. I never rated him close to as highly as guys like you do. I would...

Fair enough on first three paragraphs: Only things to say Paragraph 4: that's pretty funny because Ronaldo, as I said, missed a ton of chances. If you go back and look he had the lowest shot conversion rate in Europe most seasons. He was a volume shooter. It's also ironic because what you are...

First paragraph isn't true in my opinion. He often got laughed at for not scoring against teams like Man City and Chelsea, but if you actually watched plenty of those games (and don't just go by stats) he was Liverpool's best player quite often and made things happen. It's a lazy opinion that...

He likely won't. he hasn't got the skillset Messi and to a lesser extent Ronaldo had. He is also very reliant on physical gifts so will likely decline quicker.

Well, firstly, I thought you might talk about Suarez and Benzema as people. As you know, I fully agree - from my limited knowledge of the three, Lewa seems like by far the best person and the one I would much rather hang out with than the other three. But I am rating them as footballers, not...

Haaland needs to significantly improve his technique, stats and/or performances in big games.

Which red marks against Suarez and Benzema? Lewa has red marks too if that is the case. And this is the difference - you rate by trophies, stats and achievements- I rate by ability and attributes. Lewa is a very good footballer, but to me Benzema and Suarez were simply better footballers. You...

Exactly, it's more about the different context across the eras. Goalscoring has exploded in this era, for various reasons. Tempt knows that and his comparing Lewa's goal tally to Ronaldo's is disingenuous. The CL and BD also seem much more important (to players' legacy) than they did in...