18 Feb 2020 08:33:22
Hi Ed01

Do you think Trent is as close of a player England have had since Beckham?

{Ed001's Note - close of a player to what? If you are talking about world class, Beckham, I am not convinced he ever was. Excellent player and had a wonderful work ethic, but he was not world class. He didn't have the footballing intelligence, he was too busy running around to actually position himself correctly, especially in an England shirt. That game against Greece that he is considered a hero for scoring in, well the Greek goals came about because he was out of position trying to be a hero. Greece would never have scored if he had been anywhere near the right flank. They made use of the acres of empty space he left.

However, to compare Trent to him, yet, is wrong. Trent is a fantastic player and has been playing at a level that puts him just above Beckham level this season, but Beckham played at the level pretty much throughout his entire career. Trent is just starting out and has to do it season in and season out. Beckham's dedication was admirable, that was why his deadballs got better and better as his career went on. Trent needs to do the same and work on setpiece delivery, as he is not yet on Beckham's level there.}

18 Feb 2020 10:38:51
Cracking reply Ed
I personally myself never saw beckham as world class just a very good player but world class no
Just like for me Keane was not world class or Fabregas or ince
World class seedorf iniesta xavi zidane figo all truly world class players.

{Ed001's Note - unfortunately, anyone English gets ridiculously overhyped.}

18 Feb 2020 10:48:05
Which English players in the past 20 years would you say are World Class, Ed?

{Ed001's Note - off the top of my head I can only think of Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard that I could make a case for.}

18 Feb 2020 11:52:18
As much as i think the guy is an twit. Rooney was incredible at club level between 2005-2010.

{Ed001's Note - never world class though. When you look at who played in his position, so that is who he has to be compared to, Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo etc, there is no way you can say he is that level.}

18 Feb 2020 12:19:07
Ashley Cole in with a shout to be considered world class surely? One of the best left backs of his generation.

{Ed001's Note - good shout. I would agree on him, I just never thought of him.}

18 Feb 2020 12:22:43
Other than the trio ed001 named, I'd argue Ashley Cole was a top class fullback, arguably one of the best during that period of time.

{Ed001's Note - can't argue with that at all.}

18 Feb 2020 12:47:40
Joe cole was on par with messi when we signed him so he has to be considered would class.

18 Feb 2020 12:52:29
Roy Keane was absolutely world class, definitely for United and 100% for Ireland. You don't have to have the touch of Zidane to be World class.

18 Feb 2020 12:59:22
Very close Wolverine_Red, on par with Messis sister I think you ment to say.

18 Feb 2020 13:19:16
Hate to say it but Rooney was world class. Gazza of course but not in last 20 years. Terry was a world class cb.

18 Feb 2020 13:28:27
Agree johnzandt. Phenomenal player.

18 Feb 2020 13:35:18
I’d argue Ferdinand and Terry were very close to world class, though not for England. Both had weakness that meant they were never the level of the likes of Puyol, Stam and Nesta, but they were without doubt in the conversation.

18 Feb 2020 13:55:15
how about rio ferdinand? world class CB?

{Ed001's Note - good shout, him and Terry who someone else mentioned. If Terry had pace he would have been defo world class. As it was it is arguable but he deserves to be in the discussion at least.}

18 Feb 2020 14:41:21
Never really got the 'Gazza' was world class argument. He had one good season in 1991, but he didn't run the game for any length of time.

18 Feb 2020 14:44:25
Sorry but I’m not having Roy Keane was world class no way at all.

18 Feb 2020 16:35:46
Shearer, or am I showing my age🤔.

18 Feb 2020 17:23:36
John Barnes was world class.

18 Feb 2020 18:13:00
Personally I think the word world class gets thrown about too much. For example if say Pele, Maradona, Messi and Ronaldo x 2 were world class then all the other players we mention as world class would technically be the same level as them. For me I look at a lot of players who are extremely good footballers and say they have world class attributes. Ie Beckham wasn’t world class but was a world class crosser of the ball. Shearer and Kane weren’t and aren’t world class footballers but both could be argued as world class finishers. Same as our very own Rushy. Does that make sense. That’s just my 2 pence worth though.

18 Feb 2020 18:58:28
Ledley King would have been world class, absolute travesty his injuries.

18 Feb 2020 23:46:05
Johnzant, you don't think Paul Gascoigne was world class?!?! Good god, he's the best player this country has produced for a very long time. Was the best player in the world at one point. Ergo World class. I understand people debating Terry or Beckham but not gazza. He was undoubtedly world class.

19 Feb 2020 01:59:12
For me I'd label a player as world class if sustained a level of performance for numerous years where he was regarded as being in the top 3 or 4 in his position and being capable of walking into every clubs starting 11. For me Terry, cole, Gerrard, lampard, scholes and Rooney could have done that for many years. Others like Ferdinand, Beckham and Owen I felt could have only been capable of this for a couple of seasons in their prime.
Then the likes of Gascoigne, Fowler, ledley king I think all had the capabilities but never could sustain a regular level of performance for long enough to warrant that tag.

In this current group of English players you could argue that Kane, sterling possibly sancho might go on to prove that they can be good enough to start for any club in the world but right now Trent is the one Englishman who is best in his position I think or at least definately in top 3 while Maguire, sancho, rashford, alli for examples of highest regarded starting English talent currently haven't shown they can perform at the levels as many others in their positions over a period. Sterling and Kane the closest yet I would rank lewandowski, mbappe, aguero, Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, mane, son as superior attackers.