₦airaland Forum

elampiro:
He actually invited me here. Everyone knows I hardly come here. So now I quit.

Who invited you here? Stop lying. I was going down memory lane explaining an old incident to Nihilist wnich you came up in. You then proceeded to attack me based on a debate we had 4 phucking years ago. Even when I tried to clear the air, you let the debate drag on. Almost like you had this beef on your mind all these years and were just waiting for the right opportunity.

For the sake of the Chelsea fans here, this is the last time I will be replying to you.

elampiro:
You are a real akara joint man.

1.You keep dacing around after your lies have been found out. You said in your previous post that Kimmich made more interception, and so he is more intelligent. Then I showed you that Alves made more interception. Kimmich made 1 interception per game and Alves makes more than 1.

2.Common sense will also tell you that Alonso, Max are Left Full back. Dani Alves is a Right Full back and he was the best on the right.

3. Dani Alves still beat Kimmich on chances created per minutes played.

4. Wing backs are not new concepts in football. Wing-back position is as old as football positioning. So you think wing back began with Victor Moses, Williams, etc in Chelsea? Even Van Gaal played it in Manchester United, but again it was used as far back in decades as we can research. I did a writing on it last year.

5. KDB is a wing forward and a number 10. He is a utility player. You be olodo.

6. If you want us to compare Alves with wing-backs and wingers, we can do that. You will be shamed.

All these epistles are not really important. What important is that Dani Alves scored 7.4 rating in whoscored which is the highest for any right back I have seen for last season. So the professional footballers were right to vote him the world best Right Back last season.

Is this nigga visually impaired or what? Unlimited22, your services are highly needed here. This was my say on the tackle and interception stats

pkasso:
Alves had the upper hand in tackles which is not so surprising. Kimmich has never been a prolific tackler, even during his stint as a CB under Pep. Not because he can't tackle, but because he prefers to win the ball using less riskier means i.e interceptions. Alves edges it here with 4 to 3

Now show me where I lied that Kimmich made more interceptions. So you see you are the one lying, all in a bid to discredit me.

2. What common sense? I only listed fullbacks with better stats than Alves. What difference does it make if they are right footed or left-footed. It's like saying LCBs and RCBs are different because they play on different sides of pitch. Bottom line is they basically play the same position. Alves wasn't the best. In terms of performance, Kimmich, Walker and even Carvajal were all better.

3. Here you go again with your per minute ratio. Kimmich scored 6 goals and 27 assists this calendar year. That stat alone throws whatever argument you are making for Alves into the bin.

4. I never said wingbacks were new in modern football. I said they replaced the traditional wingers. You clearly have comprehension issues. These days you don't even have to play in a 352 or 343 for you to be classified as a wingback. It's more down to the style of play rather than the actual positioning.

5. Just shut the EFF up. KDB plays in central midfield for City and Belgium. He started out as an attacking midfielder, capable of playing across the line whether right, left or centre. But he was never a wing forward. KDB is a MIDFIELDER but I'm enjoying how you keep embarrassing yourself. So please, continue.

6. Compare Alves with premier wingbacks, playmakers and wingers in Europe's top leagues and let's see.

This is what I keep saying. You can't think for yourself. Why do you watch matches when you can look up the scores and stats on Whoscored and Live scores? Majority of those who debate on this platform are guilty of this. Whoscored this, Livescores that.

The same Whoscored that stated that Hazard had the same level of performance as Salah last season in the EPL. Do you believe that?! Bring out your Whoscored European Team of the Season and let's see if it agrees with the general consensus or opinion.

Whoscored is a valuable resource but it has its many flaws. It has never been a done and dusted measure for analysing football. It's meant to act as a supplementary means on improving on the existing knowledge gleamed from watching games. Like all numerical data, it is subject to interpretation and manipulation. It's people like you that abuse it and use it indiscriminately.

If Whoscored and Sqauwka were so flawless, why do clubs send scouts to watch potential targets in person. They could just look up the player on their Opta database and decide. Nothing beats the eye test. It is the oldest, trusted and most efficient way of analysing football.

elampiro:
1. Stop telling lies. Show us your stats.

Alves has had higher interceptions per game than Kimmich in UCL and League respectively last season. Alves had more tackles per game too in each competition. Alves won more aerial duels, had more dribbles in the UCL. They had same clearance per game.

2017/2018 UCL season Dani Alves > Kimmich in Tackles, Interceptions, Aerial Won and dribbles.

For instance Alves intercepted the ball every 55 minutes played in the UCL, Chimmick every 81 minutes. The tackle stats is even worse for Chimmick. So who uses his brain more?

2. Tell me the right back defender who created 7 Assists and about 50 chances last season (Dani did that from only 23 games).

Now you talk about wing back, wingers and wing forward. I have already compared Alves key passes and Assists with wingers, playmakers, and wingbacks and he is still up there.

When I say wing forward, I mean such wingers like Sterling, Mane, De Bruyne, Hazard who closely flank the center forward and have the tendency to pass or play through ball rather than traditional wingers like Antonio Valencia who have the tendency to cross.

By the above definition, wing forwards are more likely to create chances and provide Assists than wing backs, and normal wingers.

Dani Alves has done better than many top wingerforwards, wingbacks, wingers etc. When I compared Alves, I brought out names of the best creators. Remember Alves is a Right Full Back, in that position or among world defenders who has his creative stats?

3. You said no one takes the league one serious? So from where was Ibrahimovic was being considered the best striker in the world? Neymar is one of the best players in the world. Cavani is one of the best strikers in the world for many years.

I even told you Alves stats in the UCL beats his league one record. From my rough check, he was the best in UCL for number 2 position in terms of stats.

4. I only used stat to back my points because I am not in mama akara joint where you say Sterling is better than Neymar and you expect everyone to believe you.

You just keep diminishing whatever respect I have left for you as a football analyst.

I guess your brain was on sabbatical when I admitted Alves significantly made more tackles per game, citing Kimmich's reluctance to dive into tackles. On the interceptions count, there was only a slight difference of 1. But what about the other stats? Kimmich created more chances, scored more goals and had more assists. Wingbacks these days are valued more for their offensive contributions than their defensive. Or why do you think Marcelo is rated as the best in the world?

Your ignorance is blinding. So Kimmich is an attacking midfielder, abi? Off the top of my head, I can mention other fullbacks with better attacking stats than Alves. Philipp Max of Augsburg had 12 assists in the BuLi last season. Alba had 9. Not forgetting Marcos Alonso with a massive 7 goals and a couple of assists. Whatcha say now?

Which wingbacks and wingers did you compare Alves stats with? The ones playing in Ligue One. LOL. Bring his stats to the forefront of European football and let's see how he matches up.

KDB, a wing forward?! On what planet? Chai, elampiro YOU NO KNOW BALL!!! See person wey I dey follow argue with since

Those players you mentioned are more likely to score than create. I could also counter your claim of them being wing forwards even though you are right to a large extent. They are inside forwards. They operate along the channels or halfspaces. Away from the touchline but not so close to the center. They cut inside and SHOOT with their stronger foot. There is barely enough time and room for them to thread a killer pass in a final third crowded with defending opposition players. Their first instinct as attackers is to shoot. Traditional wingers are a dying breed in the modern game. In their place, we now have the wingbacks. You should be paying me for this bit of football education.

Alves has done nada when compared with the right set of players. KDB, Sane, Silva, Pogba, Eriksen, Mahrez all had more assists and created more chances.

Ibra was already a world-class player before moving to France. Same with Neymar. Cavani despite scoring all those goals has never been truly rated as world class.

I don't know what you are talking about. Kimmich had a higher performance score than Alves. Had more goals and assists and created more chances.

You should learn to apply stats with sense. The premise must be solid enough before resorting to stats. Show me where i said Sterling was better than Neymar, or keep shut.

elampiro:
You have ignored the fact that Alves had more Assists and CC not just more than strikers, but also European top wing forwards.



So is not same same league that Di Maria, Draxler, etc play? To tell you more, Alves Assists per minutes played is better than all the players (wingers, strikers, wing forwards, AMC) in Monaco. To put it simple, Alves is number 7 on the list in the whole League 1 on Assists per minutes rating for players having more than 2000 playing minutes with such players as Neymar, Payet, Mbappe just coming ahead of him.



This is ridiculous. Alves still beats top players who played less number of minutes. So what the talk of sample. 2093 minutes, you are talking about 23 league matches. We are not even talking about UCL where he performed better on stats and even scored against Bayern Munich and Celtic.



Let us the the squawka comparison of the players on Assists and chances created. Then tackles.



You want to compare Kimmich with 1.1 tackle per match with Alves with 3.2 tackle per match. Alves has better defensive stats that those Kimmich and Wlaker you mentioned as well as over all stats. Even in the UcL.



Alves is no longer the beast he used to be, same with Ronaldo. But they have adapted their games to be more efficient. Na beast dey bring result?

Beast Ko Anima ni

You still aren't making any sense. Wing forwards are more likely to cut inside and SHOOT rather than whip in a cross. If you want to compare chances created, do it with wingbacks, playmakers and pure wingers. And let's see if Alves' stats are as amazing as you are trying to make it look.

Wetin concern me with Di Maria and Draxler? Nobody takes the Ligue One seriously in the scheme of things. Neymar scored 19 goals and had 13 assists in 20 games and yet could not make the shortlist of the biggest football awards.

You tried skewing the stats in Alves' favor by using the per minute ratio when the original numbers were not even close enough. Majority of the players you mentioned had more chances created and assists than Alves.

I don't know which Squawka profile you checked because Kimmich had a higher performance score than Alves in both their respective leagues and the CL. He created more chances and had more assists.

Alves had the upper hand in tackles which is not so surprising. Kimmich has never been a prolific tackler, even during his stint as a CB under Pep. Not because he can't tackle, but because he prefers to win the ball using less riskier means i.e interceptions. Alves edges it here with 4 to 3 per game. But all in all, Kimmich trumps Alves.

Your over reliance on stats shows how much you don't trust your brain in making decisions for you. Whatever happened to the good old eye test? That ability to observe and make conclusions based on what you see. Not necessarily depending on machines to generate numbers and figures that are subject to interpretation and can be manipulated to suit whatever purposes.

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elampiro:


1. Dani Alves had 7 Assists in 2063 minutes played last season. That put him on same Assists per minutes played with Mohammed Salah and almost same with Mbappe. Better than most top number 10s of the world top leagues like David Silva.

2. Dani Alves (47 in 2063 minutes) had better chances created (CC) than Mohammed Salah, Sterling, Sane, Aguero, Kane, Mahrez, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Pogba, Firmino, Mane, etc. In his league he is one of the top with Mbappe, Di Maria and about two others above him.

3. Alves featured in whoscored League 1 team of the season.

4. Alves featured in whoscored European (best XI) team of the season.

Do you still think FIFPro is a popularity contest? Do you think now you know more than the professional players?

Sitting down and reading old newspaper at mama akara joint in the morning while chewing stick and reading analysis of Dayokanu which gave you a few knowledge about FIFPro voting does not make you know ball. If no be Dayo and Nihilist wey you dey read their posts here, wetin you for know for Fifapro?

You remain the lightweight you are.

A fullback is more likely to bag an assist than score just as a striker is more likely to score than assist, Captain Obvious. Why not just compute their total goal contributions and compare since you are being so dubiously smart?

That's even ignoring the fact that those stats were in a mid-level league as the Ligue One - a league where a goal has a weighted average of 1.5 as to the 2 obtainable in the biggest leagues in Europe when calculating for the Golden Shoe. Will you be so happy if Alves was subjected to such a balanced and efficient metric in recalculating their true value.

Need I point out your attempt to skew the stats in favour of Alves by using the per minutes ratio when the sample sizes are not even close. Ever heard of regression to the mean? You might want to start taking Statistics classes.

Even at that, his stats still pales in comparison to that of Joshua Kimmich, a player who dropped an incredible 6 goals and 27 assists in 2018 alone. 18 big chances, 10 of which translated to assists in the BuLi. A look at their Squawka profiles for their respective leagues and the CL shows who the better player is. I'm even yet to look up that of Walker, Carvajal and Trippier.

Eruditor, will you be so nice to explain the logic behind the created chances bit for Mr Pace n' Pawa?

The CL is undoubtedly the biggest club competition in the world which provides a level field for comparing players who ply their trade in different leagues. So how does Alves fare against Kimmich? 2 goals and no assists for Alves. 4 GLS and 3 assists for Kimmich, including a goal in each leg against perennial champions Real in the semifinals.

Even putting the stats aside, the eye test shows Alves is no longer the beast he once was. His last world class performances were in his last few months at Juve. I'm talking c. April 2017. He got exposed in both legs against Real Madrid last season, even committing an error that led to a goal. Age has caught up with him, which is acceptable.

But what is not is you coming here spewing rubbish in the hope of defending the indefensible. Kimmich had a fantastic debut season as a fullback. Walker was an integral part of that record breaking Man City team and had a good World Cup even when played out of position. Carvajal made history with Real Madrid winning a third straight CL. Trippier brought back memories of Beckham and was one of the stars of the summer.

Alves had no business making that team.

elampiro:
So you want to equate your akara road side analysis to that of professional footballers?

Ogbeni, go siddon. After been enlightened on how the process works, you still come here dey yarn opata. Elampiro, you no know ball!!

Abeg, give me one reason, just one reason why Alves made your almighty FIFPro XI. I dey wait o.

patrickmuf:
Good to see Raumdeuter mention pkasso, you too should converse more often.
Germany needs to bin the old guard.

Bro, me i don let bygones be bygones. I even followed him and A40 some time ago. No ill feelings from me towards him. We had some heated debates in the past that spun out of control but I hold no grudges against him now.

A revolution is imminent for German football. Football goes in cycles. All of the big European footballing nations, in the last 10 years or so have had to go back to the drawing board and find new ways of doing things. Now is the time for Germany.

The DFB should take a cue from the Spanish national team that has rebranded itself since the World Cup fiasco. A new coach, a slightly different style of play. Nothing lasts forever. You fail to evolve, you get left behind.

The game against France next Tuesday na win-or-bust. Not that I care but i can't imagine the shame if Germany gets relegated to Group B.

Muller has no business starting for either Bayern or Germany. It's time to admit he's finished. Sule should be starting alongside Rudiger at CB. Hummels and Boateng should be rooted to the bench.

RB might just be the best place for JK. Ginter was useless going forward today. Hector has been good over the years but he nows play in BuLi 2 and the lack of high level competition is showing in his game. He shouldn't be a default starter.

Werner has been disappointing but I'm not giving up on him yet. I think he's better off playing off another striker. Sane definitely has to be starting games especially in light of the lack of width on the pitch.

This might sound crazy but I think Ter Stegen should be given a chance as no 1. I think Neuer is starting to grow complacent.

The next step for Germany is straight forward: Clear out the old guard. Give the young boys a chance and start building towards Euro 2020.

There was something I noticed in the build up to Holland's second goal. When Boateng made a sliding interception around the center circle and made the pass to Hector, I think I saw him bend over, holding his knees like he was relaxing or something. It was in that moment that Hector lost the ball and Holland broke on a counter. I'm not necessarily blaming him for the goal but that momentary lapse in concentration might have made him lose a yard or 2 while running back.

airmark:
Boathand is the most useless defender ever, to win ucl and world cup.

Psg owner will be shouting allahu akbar for not buying this mofo.

I never see that third goal. Wetin Boateng do again?

Imagine him struggling to contain Depay. That one just dey ball today like say na Messi.

Na when he dey sprint back for that second goal na im make me laugh pass

Chai!! So it finally ended 3-0. NEPA off light just after Depay struck the crossbar with that sweet shot. I no know say dem chop another one. Chai!

Na our players I pity pass. Back to back 3-nil defeats. They just can't seem to catch a break at the moment. This was supposed to take their mind off the troubles at the club.

Shey we no go go relegation like this?

Low should have just honorably resigned after the World Cup. He's in danger of ruining everything he has built in the last 12 years. His loyalty to a certain group of players who are past it will be the end of him.

There should have a radical overhaul after Russia. A reboot. But no, he decided to stick with them. The result, Germany are in their worst fotballing period since Euro 2004.

Ballack was right after all. But they said maybe he was only after the national team job. This team needs a new direction. A new hand at the helm.

That should be a penalty for Germany. Ginter was fouled there ffs!

Pataki:
See my boy Memphis playing like he has found his mójò.

Meanwhile, no Ozil, clearly this is no german team. See the nonsense I have been watching.

Depay has been quiet in the second half. Holland look like they are back in business.

Sane missing a sitter after a fantastic through ball from JK. He should have buried that!!!

Germany have looked better since the introduction of Sane and Draxler.

Germany are in trouble. 1-nil they trail at HT. It's like watching Bayern all over again. Possession but just finding it to create quality chances. The forward line of Muller, Uth and Werner has looked out of sync. No understanding between those 3, with the final passes being a little off. Muller had a fantastic chance to equalise but he could only hit the side netting.

Enjoying the show my boys are putting on though. JK bossing that midfield like it's nothing. Best player for Germany in the first half by far. De Jong has also impressed. Neat and tidy with the passes..

Great game of football so far.

The Netherlands vs Germany on.

Starting XI for Die Mannschaft: Neuer (c) - Ginter, Boateng, Hummels, Hector - Can, Kimmich, Kroos - Müller, Werner, Uth.

JK starts in midfield again . Frenkie De Jong also gets to play in the middle of the park today for Holland. Looking forward to an interesting midfield battle between 2 of my favorite young players. This should be lit!

airmark:
Which is a lie and there is no need to ask Zidane, who never rated Isco as the third best in the world.

Isco is Hazard-wannabe.

I gave my reasons citing the same factors Nihilist said was the only difference between Messi and Hazard. Mentality and supporting cast. They say Hazard is unserious, Isco is even more unserious. Hazard is the superstar at Chelsea while Isco is/was just another worker bee at the service of Ororo. Not the main man, just another sidekick.

airmark:
Zidane wasn't a huge fan of lsco according to you, not me. But he put Hazard as his third best few years ago and still a huge fan of the Belgian. These are facts you can't change.

You said Real were chasing Neymar, despite having Ororo, did they table any bid? Because that's the usual question you guys asked when Madrid were linked with Hazard.

I don't understand the point you are trying to make. This was never a debate of who the better player was between Isco and Hazard. I only said they were on the same talent level.

LOL. Everyone and their dog knows Madrid were and are still strongly interested in Neymar. It was an open secret. Madrid players even made public overtures, trying to convince him to make the switch. So much that Al-Khelaifi made a public statement telling Real to stay off their star man.

While in Hazard's case, all we hear are unconfirmed reports from shady sources, probably paid by Hazard and his dad to peddle such stories. There has never been a word from Real showing any serious interest.

airmark:
Answering this question is inconsequential as it won't negate the fact that Zizou publicly confirmed his love for Hazard, while you told us he disliked Isco.

We've had cases where a coach would want a certain player but the club would refuse to splash the money for reasons best known to them.

I said Zidane wasn't as big a fan of Isco's talents as Lopetegui. So Zidane disliked him enough to start him in 2 different CL finals, benching 2 of Madrid's most expensive signings (James and Bale) in the process?

Not Real Madrid. Maybe you think say every club na Chelsea. Zidane was in favour with Perez and would have gotten any player he asked for. Hensben even said the reason Real did not go for Hazard was because they already had Ororo and Bale.

Hello?? They had Ororo and Bale and were still actively chasing Neymar. It's no secret that when CR7 left, Neymar was the first choice to replace him. Mbappe was the second choice. It was when it was obvious that PSG were not willing to do business for either player, that Hazard came into the picture. A frantic last-minute choice.

Instead of Real chasing Hazard, it's been the other way round. Hazard and his dad have been giving Real that come-get-me look for over 2 seasons now. Hazard is that babe you don't fancy but who continues to wink and flirt in the hope that you notice her.

Hazard na ashewo, he no get shame

SIRcumalot:

I saw what you did there. . You casually slotted Pogba in among Hazard, Neymar and KDB. Anybody wey no read the first post well go think say na the guy write am. Alakoba

elampiro:
FIFApro is voted by national team coaches and captains, it represents the most objective form of rating players in a given season. Do you want us to listen to your roadside ratings?

Your Vidal kept coming in 3rd, 4th and 5th teams So that is no mistake.

Mr elampiro, I put it to you that YOU NO KNOW BALL. You can't even tell the difference between the FIFA's Best award and the FIFPro XI.

The voting processes are not the same. The FIFPro XI is voted for by every professional footballer who is a member of the FIFPro body. Which means it's pretty much open to anyone and everyone to vote.

I could be plying my trade in the second division in Guatemala and still get to vote for my favorite players, who might not necessarily be the best players that year but based on their reputation or fame, they make the team. Some of these voting players are not as informed or knowledgeable as the average football fan. As long as the player is popular, they vote for him without considering the actual level of his performances. Or how do you explain Alves making the team despite not playing up to 15 games and being out injured for 6 months?

It is a subjective form of rating players, not an objective one. I understand that it's for the players only but that lack of exclusivity reflects in the quality of the voting at times.

airmark:
It's on record that Zidane is a huge Hazard fan, and you confirmed Isco was not in his good books. All what you typed didn't tell us why one of the contestants for the best coach of the decade had such judgement. Maybe Zidane is a lover of hazards type of shakushaku. Isco should spice his, up.

You still haven't told me why Zizou didn't splash out the cash on Hazard. Talk is cheap. Why did Real under Zidane fail to make a single bid for Hazard all these years?

elampiro:
It was you who claimed Vidal was best in the world. However, look below:

Toure
FIFPro World XI 2nd team: 2013, 2014, 2015

Vidal
FIFA FIFPro World XI 3rd team: 2015, 2016
FIFA FIFPro World XI 4th team: 2013, 2017
FIFA FIFPro World XI 5th team: 2014, 2018

And you said Yaya was the worst in the world, abi?

You clearly don't know my stance on the FifPro XI. I've never been a big supporter of the process and my reasons are well known. It's no more than a popularity contest. The latest edition showed how much of a farce it has descended to. Salah, the third best player of the year couldn't even make the first team. The less said about Dani Alves making the team, the better.

And you expect me to hold such as a flawless measure of a player's quality?

Unlimited22:
The very same argument used against Airmark and Grzegorz Krychowiak/Andrea Belotti, against Raumdeuter and Harry Kane/Sergio Aguero.
At that time

Mr man, you had not even found out about Nairaland at that time. So take several seats, when OGs dey talk .

elampiro:
How come the Vidal you claimed was the best in 2014 did not make FIFApro XI in 2014, 2015, etc. Even Pogba made the list in 2015.

Someone like you will tell growing up kids that Vidal was a better midfielder than Xavi during that time up to 2014.

YOU NO KNOW BALL

Baba, you don come again

I was referring to that specific point in time. 2014 was a terrible year for Xavi and Barcelona. I even think the phrase I used at that time was 'the most complete midfielder in the world.' Vidal suffered a serious knee injury before the world cup and he never got back to his very best. Same thing that happened to Falcao.

Your Yaya Toure, which FifPro XI did he enter?

Adisaowalla:
PRICKasso my Geee , GBOLAhan don deactivate him Gustavofrings moniker that year.

He had already started using Nihilist

So you sef remember that Prickasso jab. Nihilist na bascard, walahi!!

I just had one hell of a flashback and everything just came flooding back.

Incredible, I tell you.

That was the very first time our paths crossed. Soon, things got heated between us and I even remember you calling me prickasso at one time You even namechecked Benjamin Button at one point for some reason

The debate raged on and soon it was me vs you and the entire EPL fanbase. I found an unlikely ally in coogar, who was in full support of my argument. The whole thing lasted for several hrs. Na that day I know say Elampiro get stamina for debate

We did go one on one when coogar got the attention of the others. I remember saying Yaya was actually a CAM rather the DM everyone thought he was. There was also a thing about 'theory' which I don't remember very well.

Nihilstjnr, for some reason you archived those posts for future purposes.

Moral of the story, guys is be careful with how you deal with Nihilstjnr. Like the Internet, he never forgets ; D. Whether it's the deactivated JackBauerBalls or GustavoFrings accounts or the several Nihilist monikers, he remembers and a time will come when he will come for you. A debate from over 4 years ago, and one deactivated account, Nihilist mo be ori fun e

Nihilstjnr, you won't believe what just happened. I just had the weirdest flashback ever. It's like I fvcking time-travelled back in time.

Remember when i asked you how you managed to dig up that post about Zlatan, Messi and CR7? A post from over 4 years ago. I swear I now remember it all. Everything. Every fvcking thing.

That day was August 1 2014. Schweinsteiger, who is one of my favorite players clocked 30 that day. It was a Friday like this and there was a light shower that morning. I had dropped a birthday post on the Bayern thread and Pa Ramuzaki followed suit with his, posting a picture of Schweini holding the World Cup.

I swear this shyte is surreal. I don't do drugs or weed so I don't know what could have triggered this. I made way to the Utd thread where some of them were debating whether a move for Vidal was worth it. There was no way I was going to allow them slander one of my fave players. That was how I got into the debate, which took another dimension when I claimed Vidal was the best midfielder in the world. Elampiro disagreed and said it was Yaya Toure and that was how I got locked into a debate with Elampiro and the rest of the United clan.

Things got interesting when I called Yaya a flat-track bully( that was where the Zlatan, Messi and Ororo post came in) and made a comment about EPL fans being fanboys. That was you and Ritchboy stepped in. You were still using your GustavoFring moniker at that time, I think. Believe me I'm shocked.

nihilistjnr:
I know what I said. I didn't say they were equals, but they were in the same bracket talent wise.

I am not hyping Hazard to any other level. Just talking about his talent ONLY.

Like I said before, it takes a lot more than talent to have a phenomenal career and Hazard is an unserious bastard

So, how do we determine how wide that bracket is or the gap in quality between both players

Abeg, is Neymar on the same talent level as Hazard?

nihilistjnr:
CR7 is the only player on the same level as Messi right now, so you're not really saying anything special.

The koko here us that you are also admitting that it's a mentality upgrade that Hazard needs, not talent

Ororo is only on Messi's level because of his exceptional and unmatched drive to be the best. Based on talent alone, he is no match for Messi.

Need I remind you, you said Hazard and Messi are equals when it comes to pure talent. ONLY talent. No hard work, no drive and none of those intangibles involved. JUST talent.