27 Sep 2017 11:56:50
Had a conversation this morning about last nights game and the conversation came to Sturridge but an interesting question arose, now its a game of what if, so hers the question.

If Sturridge never had an injury would we be calling him a world class striker today ( now i know in the premise of reality we wouldn't have got him from chelsea for 12m if he hadnt been a risk but leave that aside)

so Eds and fellow posters what's the opinion.

{Ed002's Note - He left Chelsea because he wanted to play as a centre forward and Chelsea had Drogba playing there (and he had suffered some injuries) - although no one denies that on form he is a good player. This (not being at CF) made him sulk and he was sold. Liverpool fans are obsessed with terms like "world class" without really thinking what it sensibly means. If you take it as being a squad of 25 players and one coach picked from around the world to play in the Intergalactic Super Cup, then I doubt anyone but his mother would include him in this "world class squad".}


1.) 27 Sep 2017
27 Sep 2017 12:38:55
Ed who would make your 25 player squad for the Intergalactic super cup?

{Ed002's Note - I will tell you what, given that there is little transfer news right now, we can have a thread a day where we can gradually build the 25 man squad and a couple of coaches that we can get folks agreeing would be the best. We can use the Banter page for this and it will be one thread per day - I will dictate the formation of GK, RB, CB, CB, LB, DM, DM, RW, CM/AM, LW, CF and Coach. The squad will be buit around 3 GK, 2 RB, 4 CB, 2 LB, 3 DM, 2 RW, 3 CM, 1 AM, 2 LW, 3 CF and 2 Coaches.

I will start the first thread today - allowing people to sensibly discuss and agree three goalkeepers. Posts which are trying to mess up the thread will be deleted, as will anything mentioning any of the Liverpool goalkeepers.}


2.) 27 Sep 2017
27 Sep 2017 13:12:56
Out of interest Ed002, which coach would be the one you would go for in such an Intergalactic Super Squad?

I won't bore you by asking which 25 players would go in! Just the one manager who you see as the world's best will do!

{Ed002's Note - I will tell you when we get to coaches.}


3.) 27 Sep 2017
27 Sep 2017 18:11:54
I think to say there are only 25 world class players on the whole planet is a bit too elitist. Not knocking you ed02 my mate its your opinion. I called Hendo an lallana near to world class when I was getting carried away a few weeks ago so you can see our definitions are miles apart!

People talk about world class but the term "Form" is rarely mentioned. Even the very best players, like Bale, have bad games. Or even bad seasons. Ronaldo, he has poor matches, where his pass are yards off, his runs are too early.

So your undoubtedly world class player can play poorly. And on the same evening you could have Bournemouth's josh king scoring two absolute worldies and getting the most beautiful assist. In the paper king got a 9 and Ronaldo got a 6. It's not like fifa where you have a set skill level. Like the eds say, football is a transient thing and in a way form is too.

Between August and December in 2016 Adam Lallana was really really good. It felt like something was going to happen every time he got the ball and it quite often did. The only thing I would like to see more of from Ads is a more clinical finish. I think there are plenty of potential world class players.

We have one, nearly two and maybe a third but that remains to be seen, he has started very well, if he continues and ends up with 30 goals then he has to become a candidate for the elusive world class label.


4.) 27 Sep 2017
27 Sep 2017 18:57:13
It is a good point about world class being a long term not short term thing. Without the injuries I think Sturridge would have been one of the best forwards in the world. World class is questionable. The 25 player squad idea doesn't work for me because it is possible for the 25 world class players to all play in just 2 or 3 positions. Personally I think world class should be judged against the past players and your true ability against them and your peers plus how they consistently impact the game. Ronaldo and Messi are world class, Rooney never was (and I've never understood why anyone thought he was) and I don't think Sturridge would have been.