What constitutes a world class football player? He is someone who can change the game in a split second whether it’s through a defence splitting pass, scoring goal from nothing, making a defensive stop to prevent a goal, all of which should be executed on a consistent basis. Basically a world class player can spin on a dime and light up a stadium with one phenomenal movement, creating one breathtaking moment never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. He is a match winner; a game changer.
For example, Gordon Banks’ spellbinding save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup, or one of Jimmy Greaves’ goals from a scissor kick, maybe a tantalizing run through the opposition’s defense by George Best or Ryan Giggs leading to a sublime goal, or the proficiency of a goal scoring machine like Ian Rush.
I maybe a couch potato, but I have seen many Premiership matches over the past few years, and rarely does any player in the Premiership have me jumping out of my seat in excitement. Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Luis Suarez (Liverpool) had that effect on me, but they were unfortunately sold to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Gareth Bale had a hint of greatness in his time at Tottenham Hotspur, but sadly he was also sold to Real Madrid.
There are twenty clubs in the English Premiership and in my opinion less than a dozen world class players. Manchester City have spent millions of pounds on players, but I would only describe Silva, de Bruyne, and Aguerro as world class assets. Chelsea possess one in Eden Hazard, and potentially their new striker Morata. Liverpool have two: Coutinho and Mane. Harry Kane at Tottenham is quickly developing into a world class striker, capable of scoring goals with either foot or his head, and inside or outside the penalty box. His colleague, Dele Ali has the potential to reach world class, but can be a little head strong and a tendency to drift out of games.
Alexis Sanchez wasted too much time in the summer attempting to engineer a move away from Arsenal which affected his game considerably. However, on his day he can touch the considerable heights of a world class player. One could argue that one player cannot make a team, but his absence can undoubtedly affect its performance. A case in point is Gylfi Sigurdsson who was transferred from my club, Swansea City to Everton. Gylfi Sigurdsson has the ability to create and score goals and is arguably the most effective dead ball specialist in the league.
The Swans bought two or three fairly capable players in the summer transfer window, but with the loss of Sigurdsson the Club is playing like a ship without a rudder. Notwithstanding the dearth of world class players in the Premiership, I believe that not one of the Swans 25 man squad would earn a place in any of the top ten teams in the league. Indeed, Swansea are continuing to select three or four players (Naughton, Fer, Carroll, and Olsson) who are not of Premiership standard.
The transfer fees that are paid for mediocre players is outrageous. Liverpool paid 40 million for Oxlaide-Chamberlain who is an athlete masquerading as a football player. Manchester City paid 50 million each for Raheem Sterling and John Stones. Is that the price you pay for potential these days?
