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Xavi on Barca, the Champions League and rejecting United

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,731 ✭✭✭el rabitos


    In England, if you do a couple of things right, people talk about you being a legend

    he's not wrong there


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,046 ✭✭✭eZe^


    Mr Alan wrote: »
    and neither are half the player alonso is!

    ;)

    Hahaha, pretty hilarious.


    This was clearly quite a bit of pre match mind games. Relaxxx.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 650 ✭✭✭spiderdan


    I just cant see why people consider Xavi to be up there with the best midfielders, watched him closely last night, Scholes far superior, Inniesta who I don't particularly rate either was better, Alonso better again, Fabergas no comparison I'd even say Arteta at a better club would be a better player, all Spanish midfielders. Xavi talks about beautiful football- slow, predictable, easy to defend against, that’s all I saw from him and his teammates, well apart from Messi of course!

    I do agree with him though I reckon they'll score at Old Trafford, Utd were brutal, what was he thinking with Park?? All he contributed was a few tackles!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,235 ✭✭✭iregk


    I take it good football to you spiderdan is kick and rush?

    Xavi was the best player on the park last night, he controlled the game, dictated how it went and how his side moved. Football isn't always moving at 100mph, good football is about knowing when and where to do that. Slow the game down when you need to and speed up when you need to. If you keep the ball the opposition can't score. Last night he kept it and I personally don't think I saw him mis place one pass all night.

    Now if you think scholes, inniesta, alonso, fiberglas and arteta are better players then you need to watch more football and become educated in the game. Inniesta and fiberglass are teh two closest to him for sure but still not on the same level as him.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,658 ✭✭✭✭Peyton Manning


    iregk wrote: »
    I take it good football to you spiderdan is kick and rush?

    Xavi was the best player on the park last night, he controlled the game, dictated how it went and how his side moved. Football isn't always moving at 100mph, good football is about knowing when and where to do that. Slow the game down when you need to and speed up when you need to. If you keep the ball the opposition can't score. Last night he kept it and I personally don't think I saw him mis place one pass all night.

    Now if you think scholes, inniesta, alonso, fiberglas and arteta are better players then you need to watch more football and become educated in the game. Inniesta and fiberglass are teh two closest to him for sure but still not on the same level as him.

    Im sorry but I thought Iniesta was far better last night. He's the real heartbeat to the Barcelona team and has been all season. He's a wonderful little player, and while I am a big Xavi fan, I would take Iniesta over him any day of the week. He's one of the top 3 players in the world imo.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    spiderdan wrote: »
    I just cant see why people consider Xavi to be up there with the best midfielders, watched him closely last night, Scholes far superior, Inniesta who I don't particularly rate either was better, Alonso better again, Fabergas no comparison I'd even say Arteta at a better club would be a better player, all Spanish midfielders. Xavi talks about beautiful football- slow, predictable, easy to defend against, that’s all I saw from him and his teammates, well apart from Messi of course!

    Scholes far superior? Ha, tell him to close his legs next week.

    Alonso is well below him in the pecking order for Spain

    Arteta can't even make the squad.

    Fabregas and Iniesta are great players but to say Xavi isn't up there with them is laughable. Just because he doesn't try beat five players ever time he gets the ball or ping 60 yard balls doesn't mean he isn't affective. He rarely, if ever, gives the ball away and is a calming influence on the team.

    He's not captain of the club (in Puyol's absence) and a mainstay in the international team for nothing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,235 ✭✭✭iregk


    Archimedes wrote: »
    Im sorry but I thought Iniesta was far better last night. He's the real heartbeat to the Barcelona team and has been all season. He's a wonderful little player, and while I am a big Xavi fan, I would take Iniesta over him any day of the week. He's one of the top 3 players in the world imo.

    Oh I agree with you in teh context that Inniesta is a fabulous player no doubt. For me the two best midfielders in the world are Xavi and Inniesta. As for who was better last night I suppose its agree to disagree. Half would say Xavi half would probably say Andy!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 650 ✭✭✭spiderdan


    I agree that he's a good player, all I'm saying is that he's overrated- as for the bulls**t statement about getting an education on football etc, I watched the game, where was the penatration?? none he may be fantastic at controlling the pace of a game but grab it by the balls and create chances- not last night, I also think there's a question make over his shooting ability, and his size 5'7, couldn't see him adapting well in the prem league- All I'm saying is I'd have Scholes, Gerard, Lampard, Alonoso, Fabergas all ahead of him- and for my money most of the top Euro clubs would too! we'll see all the speculation this summer surrounding those players!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,449 ✭✭✭Call Me Jimmy


    Xavi6 wrote: »
    Look at Ajax. The kids in the academy play in a different position every week up until a certain age so they get used to every aspect of the game. Yet the emphasis on passing the ball all the time is still there.

    That's really interesting. I've always been really curious about ajax's academy because it has to be the best in the world. I wish there was a book I could read about it :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Scholes imo was better than Xavi, not anymore though. But they aren't the same sort of player, Scholes was always a goal threat. Xavi is more like a 50 times better version of Carrick. Amazing player.

    Still, Xavi is better than Fabregas currently, way way better than Alonso, and its a joke to even mention him with Arteta. Have one of those players put in a performance like that against Uniteds midfield and then I'll take notice.

    Also, I'd take Iniesta in a second over Gerrard Lampard and Alonso. I think he's an amazing player, by far Barcas best player this year. For me, he is Anderson but 4 years ahead, I just hope Anderson can catch up with him :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,046 ✭✭✭eZe^


    Xavi when it comes to internationals, is by far Spain's most important midfielder, he has put Iniesta and Fabregas to shame on a number of occasions. Watch him in Euro 08, he will be their most influential midfielder. To call him overrated is pretty hilarious, seeing as he's behind Iniesta, Messi, Etoo, Deco, Ronaldinho and Henry hype wise. Alonso has been a piece of faeces embodied in a person this year tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    spiderdan wrote: »
    I agree that he's a good player, all I'm saying is that he's overrated- as for the bulls**t statement about getting an education on football etc, I watched the game, where was the penatration?? none he may be fantastic at controlling the pace of a game but grab it by the balls and create chances- not last night, I also think there's a question make over his shooting ability, and his size 5'7, couldn't see him adapting well in the prem league- All I'm saying is I'd have Scholes, Gerard, Lampard, Alonoso, Fabergas all ahead of him- and for my money most of the top Euro clubs would too! we'll see all the speculation this summer surrounding those players!

    Yes cause Xavi could never possibly be linked with any of the big Euroepan clubs.......oh wait now, wasn't he linked with both United and Chelsea last summer? Doesn't he say United phoned him last summer in that interview?

    And to quote his agent -
    "In the last few seasons I have had a few indirect enquiries about the player but that is normal in the world of football.

    So yes teams are interested in him. How could they not be?


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