[Archived] Lampard Greatest Footballer in the BPL era

[Batman.]

I don't agree, Sir Roger did not have a weakness in his game

I wouldn't bother, arguing with den is like arguing with a piece of paper.

Pointless, and boring.

[yoda]

I wouldn't bother, arguing with den is like arguing with a piece of paper.

Pointless, and boring.

not an argument, just a debate,

why is everything you post turned into an argument

[jim mk2]

I liked Roger Jones but why did no "big" club (of the time) buy him ? He spent alot of his career playing in the old third division, and if he were that good a supposed top-class keeper shouldn't be playing in the third tier.

[Batman.]

not an argument, just a debate,

why is everything you post turned into an argument

Great debating by den.

As for you, I'll just redirect you to my post in the Burnley thread.

[yoda]

Great debating by den.

As for you, I'll just redirect you to my post in the Burnley thread.

and I will direct you to my reply

tit

[den]

Great debating by den.

As for you, I'll just redirect you to my post in the Burnley thread.

No debate to be had Batman. By your own logic Roger Jones couldn't have been any good because he didn't play at the top level.

[yoda]

I liked Roger Jones but why did no "big" club (of the time) buy him ? He spent alot of his career playing in the old third division, and if he were that good a supposed top-class keeper shouldn't be playing in the third tier.

I always thought that at the time, maybe he was really happy at Ewood.

I honestly can't remember a weakness in his game, his debut at Ewood was exceptional and he pulled of one particular save in front of the b'burn end that that would be talked about for weeks in this day and age.

You also have to take into account the players in front of him, brad had better ones

[Batman.]

No debate to be had Batman. By your own logic Roger Jones couldn't have been any good because he didn't play at the top level.

Oh dennis, when will you learn to read?

How many times in this thread have I stated what an amazing player Friedel was? Do you want me to count them for you? My 'logic' is that if you haven't played for one of the very top clubs, especially since the gap has grown bigger between those clubs and the rest of us over the last two decades, then it is very unlikely that you can be deemed as one of the 'best' ever.

What is it exactly that you're struggling with? I find it hard to believe that you're so stupid that when you read my previous paragraph, it's so unbelievably outrageous and unthinkable that you think it just can't be the case?

[den]

The anticipated onslaught Batman. Completely predictable.

[Batman.]

The anticipated onslaught Batman. Completely predictable.

The anticipated lack of response to my points.

Also, where was the 'onslaught?' I've pretty much directly responded to your point, and completely blown it out of the water.

[yoda]

The anticipated lack of response to my points.

Also, where was the 'onslaught?' I've pretty much directly responded to your point, and completely blown it out of the water.

legend in your own mind I think

[den]

Calm down. I only posted the last comment to wind you up. I gave up debating on here with you yesterday. It's like drilling a hole in your own skull.

[yoda]

Calm down. I only posted the last comment to wind you up. I gave up debating on here with you yesterday. It's like drilling a hole in your own skull.

[Batman.]

Calm down. I only posted the last comment to wind you up. I gave up debating on here with you yesterday. It's like drilling a hole in your own skull.

Of course you did.

Also, you didn't really start debating tbh.

And if you want further proof at how far you've fallen, this absolutely pleb is finding amusement in your retorts.

[den]

I bet your house parties are a whole load of fun.

[Batman.]

I bet your house parties are a whole load of fun.

I wouldn't judge somebody by their responses to ridiculous posts.

[yoda]

Of course you did.

Also, you didn't really start debating tbh.

And if you want further proof at how far you've fallen, this absolutely pleb is finding amusement in your retorts.

I bet your house parties are a whole load of fun.

how many people can you get in a padded cell,

that's care in the community for you

I wouldn't judge somebody by their responses to ridiculous posts.

leave him to his own devices den,

he could start an argument in the cooler

[Batman.]

how many people can you get in a padded cell,

that's care in the community for you

leave him to his own devices den,

he could start an argument in the cooler

I tell you what yoda, seeing as I'm the crazy one, how about we have an intellectual debate?

We could all do with a laugh.

[yoda]

I tell you what yoda, seeing as I'm the crazy one, how about we have an intellectual debate?

We could all do with a laugh.

ok

[Batman.]

Then tell me, what parts of my argument are you disagreeing with, and why?

I'm suggesting that in an era where the gap between the biggest clubs and the rest has got bigger than ever, and as a result the revenue that they generate has also, it is pretty much unheard of that a world class player doesn't end up signing for one of these clubs.

Likewise, even if the odd world class player slips under the net, or doesn't sign for one of these clubs, it is pretty much unheard of that any player who could be considered one of the 'best ever' during this modern era doesn't end up at one of these big clubs. To be considered one of the 'best ever,' surely you have to be performing at a world class level over a sustained period of time? And if this were the case, a big club would snap you up, as they would see you as a player who could go on to help them win big trophies. This is what Sir Alex Ferguson did when he signed Van Der Sar.

There is no doubt that if he wanted to, he could have signed Friedel at the drop of a hat. However, he chose van Der Sar, as he obviously saw qualities in him that Friedel didn't possess. Juventus obviously saw something in him as well. Even the old argument of "but at the big clubs it's easier as you have better players in front of you" doesn't apply, as van Der Sar had a great spell at Fulham.

All this considered, I think I present a pretty good set of reasons as to why Friedel is not one of the greatest 20 Premier League players ever, and also, as a side point, why van Der Sar was a better keeper than him.

[yoda]

Then tell me, what parts of my argument are you disagreeing with, and why?

I'm suggesting that in an era where the gap between the biggest clubs and the rest has got bigger than ever, and as a result the revenue that they generate has also, it is pretty much unheard of that a world class player doesn't end up signing for one of these clubs.

Likewise, even if the odd world class player slips under the net, or doesn't sign for one of these clubs, it is pretty much unheard of that any player who could be considered one of the 'best ever' during this modern era doesn't end up at one of these big clubs. To be considered one of the 'best ever,' surely you have to be performing at a world class level over a sustained period of time? And if this were the case, a big club would snap you up, as they would see you as a player who could go on to help them win big trophies. This is what Sir Alex Ferguson did when he signed Van Der Sar.

There is no doubt that if he wanted to, he could have signed Friedel at the drop of a hat. However, he chose van Der Sar, as he obviously saw qualities in him that Friedel didn't possess. Juventus obviously saw something in him as well. Even the old argument of "but at the big clubs it's easier as you have better players in front of you" doesn't apply, as van Der Sar had a great spell at Fulham.

All this considered, I think I present a pretty good set of reasons as to why Friedel is not one of the greatest 20 Premier League players ever, and also, as a side point, why van Der Sar was a better keeper than him.

Well I would point out that I did not enter this particular debate,

I think most people would agree that Brad was not in the top 20 players in the PL history but would get into the top 10 keepers in the PL history.

As to why SAF signed Van Der Sar instead of Brad I think only him and his coaching team know for sure but the assessment I believe would be based on very small differences in terms of ability and attitude, also availability.

[Mike E]

Well I would point out that I did not enter this particular debate,

I think most people would agree that Brad was not in the top 20 players in the PL history but would get into the top 10 keepers in the PL history.

As to why SAF signed Van Der Sar instead of Brad I think only him and his coaching team know for sure but the assessment I believe would be based on very small differences in terms of ability and attitude, also availability.

So you're calling him a tit while agreeing with him?

[yoda]

So you're calling him a tit while agreeing with him?

not exactly if you read it again

would there be a problem with that anyway,

it is his deployment that is in question by me and others

[Mike E]

not exactly if you read it again

would there be a problem with that anyway,

it is his deployment that is in question by me and others

'Not exactly' but 'pretty much'. And there's nothing wrong with what he's said or how he's said it (for a change). It's just that a bunch of people are jumping on him with blue/white specs.

Is Brad one of the best 20 players in the PL? Nope. Top 50? Yeah.

[Sparky Marky]

Christ almighty. He's had a bad spell and you're saying he's worse than Alan Fettis. Were you one of the people calling for Rhodes to be sold as 'he offers nothing'? Kean may fail, or he may recover the form he had most of last season, but he is young enough to learn and improve.

Hmmmm.....definately worse than Fettis