torsdag den 23. december 2010

About the list

Original introduction

Other than 100 more players, the change from that will be that the 300 will be an ongoing list with both rankings and player profiles (accordingly) updated.

2011:

The ambition now is to make this list a twice a season event. One version at the end of (or start of if you will) the season and then follow it up with a mid season update.

onsdag den 22. december 2010

Raul

Striker

Schalke 04 - Spain






Original 200 writeup:

That at 32 years of age there are several much better strikers than Raul, club and country, doesn't make him a bad player.

The previous seasons when he was relative healthy and unlike now actually started games Raul proved that he is still a really good goalscorer netting 20+ in both of those seasons.

This season however he has only started 8 games in La Liga and there are even rumors he'll be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season. On the one hand if he feels he still has something to offer (and my ranking would suggest so!) I can understand if he wants to go somewhere he can get more playing time, but of course on the other hand anything than having this unique (especially post-Bosman) undisputed legend/champion/symbol finish his career at the club where he since the age of 17 earned that status, just seems wrong.

Raul still has that will to win and technique that for years made him one of the best in the world but the pace that is so needed to go along with that is if not lost then definitely diminished.
He'll still work hard off the ball in the attacking midfield area but with the ball these days he doesn't have the pace to be an effective player there and even though his team work is as great as always he's never been what you would call a great creative player when removed from his striker position, which several coaches did over the years.
No these days once and for all his effectiveness has been reduced to the box area and even there with less pace, individually he just can't create like he used to (for an example his own shot so to speak) and is much more dependent of the work of others compared to back when he was at his best.

Now that's not a disaster or anything, it's the reality for most players, strikers too, it just means that Raul at 32 years of age is far removed from the excellent level the likes of Higuain, Torres or David Villa currently are displaying.

Doesn't make him a bad player.

The 300 update:

David Pizarro

Roma

Midfielder - Chile




Original 200 writeup:

One of the more underrated players in the world for many years now.

With great range of passing and intelligent decision making Pizarro brings effective distribution to whatever midfield he is part of.

His diagonal passes especially are impressive and when under pressure in his own half he has the composure and ball control to win himself time for another good pass.

Usually a deep lying playmaker he is capable of both a slower secure short passing game aiming for control and longer more direct passes aiming for transition.

His team work in both the offensive and defensive departments are exemplary and if this starts to sound like a player who could be even higher, well maybe he could(!) but everyone else now are excellent too or offer something really important, and he does have athletic limitations (that very few players still to come will have) manifesting themselves in perhaps not being fast or strong enough to one; be great in the final third where there is less space, and two; defensively be a very good player, despite his good work rate and positioning meaning he can certainly defend when sitting deep. But he isn't a complete defensive player....

Yes it's all very harsh indeed.
I could just turn it around into something positive instead, cause it's still more strengths (just not to the extent that it could mean say jumping 15 places higher) than weaknesses and all part of the excellent midfield package that makes him the highest ranked midfielder so far.

The 300 update:

mandag den 13. december 2010

What's new (SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST)?

January 4. 2011:

The 300 is now up.

June 2011

About the list has been slightly updated

October 2011:

The full "End of 2010/11 start of 2011/12 ranking" is finally posted (though some errors still) and only a few writeups (300-295) have been added with hopefully for more to come in the coming days.

February 2012

A 2011/12 mid season rankings UPDATE has been posted.

It won't be on the top of the page for long, when I start the work on player profiles.

April 2012

Slowly but surely writeups are being transfered and cleaned up from the twoplustwo thread and on to the blog. Check for links appearing in the latest update entries.

JULY 2012

The 2011/12 Mid-Season ranking has been posted.

The end of 2011/12 the start of 2012/13 ranking has also been posted.

Player profiles consisting of various thoughts, stats and analysis are starting to appear on the list. Just click where there is a link!

It's still very much a work in progress though. Something worked at randomly and it's going to take a lot of time filling out all 300 players.

APRIL 2013

The 2012/13 Mid-season ranking has been posted

The positional ranks are also included in that entry. As well as links to context and content on players on the list. Their characteristics and why they are where they are.

SEPTEMBER 2013

End of 2012/13 - Start of 2013/14 Position by Position rundowns have begun. Check the frontpage for where to follow the updates.

After that is done I'll post the new 300 Best players in the World Ranking.

FEBRUARY 2015

The previous unfinished 12/13/13/14 Best Players in the World Ranking was finally posted

JULY 2015

The 2014/15 position-rankings are still in progress. The goal is to have them complete before 15/16 gets going.

100 best central defenders
200 best attacking midfielders and wingers
100 best left and right-backs
200 best Midfielders
125 best Forwards/Strikers


August 2015

The 2014/15 300 Best Players in the World has been completed.