The Premiership's Best EVER Player

[all_funkt_up]

So, much has been made of young Mr Ronaldo over the last week or so - some have said he's the Premiership's best ever player. I was mulling this over with the Jock this morning and we were running through some names that would make a top 5 / top 10 all time Prem players.

Here's a few names we came up with:

Bergkamp
Zola
Sheringham
Fowler
Le Tissier
Henry
Ronaldo
Cadamarteri


We mulled over some more and agreed that Klinsmann was ace, but a one season wonder. I can think of defenders that would make the list, but defensive players never really get a snff do they? If you're looking for the best ever, you're after glitz, goals and defenders are good but in a different way.

Shearer was alright, but a bit "traditional number 9" for me - ie: he wasnt a genius, he was a consistant goal scorer. Same with Andy Cole as well for me, good player but he's no superstar.

Now, as for the most gifted of that lot, I'm fucked if I can tell you...

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Cadamarteri

[Napoleon Solo]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

Cadamarteri

Taking the piss surely? Bags of potential when he first appeared but ended up doing fuck all with it!

Couldn't argue with any of the others, although I do have reservations about Fowler. Brilliant player, but not really in the same class as Bergkamp, Zola, Ronaldo, etc...

I'd personally probably stick one other name on there, Eric Cantona. I'm not a red but I grew up watching a great deal of Premiership football and I'd always enjoy watching United just waiting to see what Cantona would do next!

[all_funkt_up]

I wont mention the "C" word, if someone else wants to throw it into the mix (and Napoleon just has) then fair enough.

I was considering Giggs & Scholes to be honest but dont really consider them to be superstars and magical players like the others mentioned.

[ONEDUNME]

Good players as they were, it's difficult to mention players like Sherrngham and Fowler in the same breath as Berkamp, Zola and Henry if you're talking about flare players (which you seem to be doing).

The top four for me would be Henry, Zola, Bergkamp and Ronaldo.

Henry would be my number one. The others would be pretty much on the same level.

[mrmuzeman]

'Shearer was alright' lol. Fowler and no Shearer, ridiculous. Was WAY more than a consistent goalscorer, scored nearly a goal a game for Blackburn in his time there! Only 6 times has a player scored 30+ league goals in a premiership season, Shearer did it 3 times, 3 seasons in a row (31, 34, 31). If thats not a bit special I dont know what is. (The others are Henry 30, Andy Cole 34, Phillips 30). So hes scored by far more goals than any player in the Premiership (260 to 2nd placed Coles 188) and has 3 of the top 4 highest goal tallies for a season. The games about scoring goals. Hes in the top 3 for me, along with Henry and probably Ronaldo now.

When Owen and Cadamarteri first hit the scene I remember talking with my brother about who was going to be better

[all_funkt_up]

I dont care. Fowler was a genius. Shearer was a 1 man team and penalty taking machine.

[traeth]

not a man u fan but four that stand out for me are
Cantona ,van Nistelroy ,Roy Keane and Henry[being the exception]

[mrmuzeman]

Henrys head and shoulders above anyone else though really for me, really did have it all. The best goals to games ratio of any player in premiership history and as we know brought so much more in general play and assists etc as well as all sorts of goals.

On that note of best league games to league goals ratio the top lot are

Henry 0.69 goals per game
Van Nistelrooy 0.68 goals per game
Shearer 0.59 goals per game
Klinsmann 0.54 goals per game

Im almost certain those are the only strikers whove scored better than a 1 in 2 (0.5) ratio in their premiership career. Michael Owens got a 0.49 rating.

Btw Fowler 0.43 goals per game but 0.51 goals per game in his Liverpool career.

God I love stats

[mrmuzeman]

Ian Wright might have 0.55 not 100% sure tho hes all retired and its hard to get really good season by season stats

I think I saw a prorgamme on Sky One a month or so ago about the top 50 premiership players or something like that. Im pretty sure Schmeichel got in their top 5, maybe even Roy Keane and Cantona as well. Bit of a Man Utd bias you might say

[ONEDUNME]

Yeah, Schmeichel was pretty damned awsome in his time you'd have to say.

Like defenders, keepers never get a look in in these types of lists normally.

[christianu]

How can Scholes not be mentioned as one of the best.

The most consistent player in the most consistentley great team the premiership has ever seen.

Zola being mentioned above him is absolutely ridiculous. Zola was nowhere near as influential as he was, nor Sherringham and jesus christ AFU you put Le Tessier ahead of him.

Henry as muse says is clearly the best though.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by mrmuzeman

I think I saw a prorgamme on Sky One a month or so ago about the top 50 premiership players or something like that. Im pretty sure Schmeichel got in their top 5, maybe even Roy Keane and Cantona as well. Bit of a Man Utd bias you might say

Sky fucking love United, no suprise there.

No suprise also that their studio back-drop for "Sunday Suppliment" program is Old Trafford. Rupert Murdoch is and always has been obsessed with Man U.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by christianu

How can Scholes not be mentioned as one of the best.

The most consistent player in the most consistentley great team the premiership has ever seen.

Zola being mentioned above him is absolutely ridiculous. Zola was nowhere near as influential as he was, nor Sherringham and jesus christ AFU you put Le Tessier ahead of him.

Henry as muse says is clearly the best though.

Depends on what your criteria are really.

Mine would be entertainment value and Zola was a fucking genius and a nice guy off the pitch too. Hence his inclusion when say that arl miserable baldy Geordie messiah come pundit, Shearer, doesnt make it.

[slick]

Pretty much agree with ODM's picks there with Cantona thrown in as he was pivotal in setting United on their way to winning so many Titles, I could name a few more but they come from that dump across the rd and don't want to upset AFU

Allthough i will say Schmeichal is probably the best keeper i've ever seen never mind just in the Prem.