Pablo Aimar

Pablo Aimar - Benfica

Attacking midfielder- Argentina

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12: Unranked 
2011/2012 Mid-season: 260
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 203


End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

Aimar and being new on the list of course doesn't sound right and he was on the good old 200 list somewhere (edit: at 147 actually, you can check his 2009/10 text at the end).

Recently I've been skeptical though mainly when it comes to his physical limitations and how it, depending on how you feel about him, comes into play against top opposition and his effectiveness in those games. In Europe recently, for an example, despite glimpses of his well known brilliance, I really don't think he has been one of Benifca's best players.
Just the other day I watched him get taken off in a high-tempo game against Porto, played at a very high level, because despite all the well known skill, he was seen as more hurting than helping his team. Zonalmarking covered the game comprehensively HERE.

Aimar has excellent ball control and can still change both direction and tempo with the ball at his feet meaning he still has that great gift of being good enough (and creative enough) to make plays in the small spaces under pressure. His beautiful radar for moving the ball to teammates in those small spaces shouldn't go unmentioned either or that his combination of clever movement and stellar technique makes him someone who can receive and control the difficult passes.

All in all then, what remains of him can still perform brilliant, and if I didn't have the impression that's exactly what's been happening mostly during his time in Portugal he wouldn't be on the list, but he is obviously not someone getting younger or better.

2009/2010:

In his heyday Aimar was the important creative spark for the Rafael Benitez Valencia side that won two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup.

Then darker times followed struggling with fitness, but he still had at least one season for Zaragoza where in alliance with compatriots Diego Milito and Andres D'Alessandro under the attacking guidance of Victor Sanchez, where he once again was spellbinding.

Still only 30 a lot of indications suggest that Aimar is having one of those spells or close to it at least once again (but sadly maybe for the last time so this is kinda a reward) at Benfica, this time with players such as Di Maria, Ramirez and Saviola, who currently are showing some of the best attacking football in Europe.

With his great speed and ball control even in the tightest of spaces Aimar is exactly the kind of player who can make such an attack click.

As far as more traditional playmaking ability goes when it comes to passing he is different than Riquelme and Veron, in that he has quicker feet and is such an agile threat moving quickly, that his passing is mostly short and direct in speedy combination attempts with others meant to take advantage of just that.

His obvious weaknesses are everything physical. At similar height Messi for an example is a powerhouse compared to Aimar.

Gabi

Atletico Madrid

Central midfielder - Spain

2010/2011 Mid-season: Unranked
End of 2010/11 - Start of 2011/12:  233
2011/2012 Mid-season: 287
End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13: 271

End of 2011/12 - Start of 2012/13:

Gabi continued to be a very consistent central midfielder for Atletico, doing many of the things talked about in the mid-season 11/12 section below, on his way to winning the Europa League and getting closer, than what seemed likely earlier in the season, to Champions League qualification as well.

One thing that should definitely be noted is that few players foul more than Gabi in Spain.
In fact in the whole league he has been in the top 3 in fouls committed per game for the last two seasons, and that for two different teams mind you, before you blame it all on Diego Simone telling his players to get nasty...

What I'm guessing is that it's a combination of still being somewhat more of an all-rounder than very physical strong, very comfortable in duels (he tactically positions himself in a ton) and maybe not least his defensive smarts and discipline making him very willing to be the spoiler and commit the minor professional fouls, preferably in the opponent half, time and time again if that is what's required.

Other noteworthy stats, besides all the defensive duel activity, Gabi is top 20 (17th) in the league in passes per game and accurate long-balls as well where he is 14th showing his range especially when spreading the play.

He is number 10 in key-passes (which is a pass leading to a shot or header on goal) where his set-piece expertise of course plays heavily in. What is perhaps more impressive is that he is number 7 in accurate crosses per game, that's mostly reserved for wider players and shows that he is a good match with Falcao terrorizing the box. Mind you, set-pieces don't count compiling this particular stat, so Gabi's very good kicking-technique is also a weapon in open play.


2011/2012 Mid-season:

Instantly a leader for his new team Atletico Madrid this season, where he was originally a youth product, but played just 58 games for the first team between 2004 and 2007.

In the last 4 years for Zaragazo though, he has only been getting better and better maturing into a natural leader in midfield, and after the 2010/11 season, his best ever (resulting in his debut on my list) he had become too good to ignore for Atletico who brought him back where it all began.

Gabi is what you can call a solid, very consistent, football-intelligent central midfielder who is disciplined defensively and a good distributor of the ball. Including some good range of passing, without being what you would call a playmaker.

He is also very good on set pieces and will definitely create chances through that.

He is less of stand out on a very talented team compared to being the main man at Zaragoza, but his consistently good contributions from midfield, both offensively and defensively, shouldn't be ignored and he is just one of those central midfielders (even if a level below the best) who is able to become the glue holding everything together. Very valuable.