MOT forum best holding midfielders poll round 2
Duncan Edwards
Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews, Don Revie, they all either said Duncan Edwards was the most complete or best player they ever saw. The fact they all drew these conclusions from a player who died at 21 in the Munich Air tragedy says a lot about the player he was and what he could have become. Had he lived its basically universally accepted he not Bobby Moore would have Captained the 66 team. He was a tank of a man, big, strong, able to shoot with both feet and dominate a midfield by himself. He made his debut at just 16, 2 league titles and 2 Charity Shields. He was 3rd in the 1957 Ballon d'Or list. A truly exceptional talent by all accounts.
Roy Keane
One of the greatest and most successful Captains of the Premier League era, a controversial statement on a Leeds forum but no doubting the abilities of the fierce Irishman. Keane was a fierce, aggressive competitor who always lead by example and was famously unafraid to hold teammates to account. He was known for his tough tackling, intelligence, consistency and stamina and for being the glue that held the famous Manchester United midfield of the late 90s and early 2000s together. He is the most successful Captain in Manchester United history with 9 trophies and won over 20 in his career. PFA Player of the Year, FWA Player of the Year, PFA Players player of the Year, English football Hall of fame and Premier league hall of fame.
Sergio Busquets
The man whose arrival from Barcelona B as a teenager eventually lead to Yaya Toure being ousted from the Barcelona team and Argentina icon Javier Mascherano being used as a centre back, Busquets is perhaps the greatest individual success of the career of Pep Guardiola. He was the silent conductor of the great Barcelona and Spain sides for over 15 years. 32 trophies later he is one of the most decorated players in history with multiple League titles, Champions League medals, European Championships and World Cups, Busquets has won everything. He is known for his calmness on the ball, reading of the game, positioning, tackling and consistency. One of the greatest of the modern era.
N'golo Kante
So much stamina you would swear he had 2 or 3 clones on the pitch running about as well. Kante famously cost Leicester only £5mill from Caen in 2015. In his very first season he helped Leicester achieve the miracle of a Premier League title, so appreciated and vital was he to the success he was named Leicester Players player of the Year and the PFA Team of the Year. He moved to Chelsea and again in his first season won another Premier league title. Was again in the PFA Team of the Year and swept the board such were his exceptional performances. PFA Players player of the Year, Premier League player of the season, FWA Footballer of the year and Chelsea player player of the year. Kante was now regarded not just as one of the best midfielders in England, but the world. Kante is known for his diminutive stature, energy, strength, tenacious nature and ball winning skills. He was also a key player Internationaly, helpingFrance to the World Cup in 2018.
Frank Rijkaard
Before he was a title winning manager with Barcelona Frank Rijkaard was one of the best midfielders in the world. The 6ft3 Dutch icon could actually play any positions in the centre of midfield, but he was best by his own admission in the holding role. Here his size and strength and tackling ability was best put to use breaking up attacks, and his vision and passing range and powerful running were best put to use in starting them. Rijkaard was basically the complete midfielder. 21 trophies to his name for AC Milan and Ajax including 2 European Cups and a Champions League. He was also a key member of the 1988 European Championship winning Dutch squad. His trophies didn't end with group awards. Double 3rd place finish in the Ballon d'Or, Serie A Footballer of the Year, Onze d'Or winner five times and a European Championship team of the tournament. He is also a member of the AC Milan Hall of Fame.
Marco Tardelli
Another member of the dominant Juventus side of the 1970s to 1980s and of that legendary World Cup winning Italy side of 1982. Tardelli was regarded as one of the most well rounded and complete midfielders during an era when Italy was known more for its defensive prowess than skill and offensive talent. Tardelli was am ahead of his time elegant midfielder capable of the usual tough tackling you'd expect but also supremely calm on the ball, great vision and touch. He was a two footed versatile player who played in multiple positions including on the wing and centre back such was his wide range of attributes. One of the few players to win the Uefa treble (Cup winners Cup, Super Cup and Uefa Cup) Tardelli also won multiple League titles with Juventus and European Cups. He is also a member of the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
Patrick Vieira
6ft5 French hard man was one of the most imposing and complete midfielders of all time. Phenomenally strong and powerful he was tough tackling, tough to knock off the ball and tough in attitude. He was a leader of men and a ferocious competitor whose size made his fantastic on the ball skills even more surprising. Fantastic touch, close control, passing range and dribbling skills Vieira was the full package. The leader of the title winning Arsenal side of the early 2000s, he was also a multiple time FA Cup winner, a Serie A winner and World Cup and European Championship winner.
Individually Vieira was a multiple time PFA Team of the season member, a Premier League player of the season winner, a France player of the year and a member of the English Football Hall of Fame. One of the best midfielders and Captains in history.
Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews, Don Revie, they all either said Duncan Edwards was the most complete or best player they ever saw. The fact they all drew these conclusions from a player who died at 21 in the Munich Air tragedy says a lot about the player he was and what he could have become. Had he lived its basically universally accepted he not Bobby Moore would have Captained the 66 team. He was a tank of a man, big, strong, able to shoot with both feet and dominate a midfield by himself. He made his debut at just 16, 2 league titles and 2 Charity Shields. He was 3rd in the 1957 Ballon d'Or list. A truly exceptional talent by all accounts.
Roy Keane
One of the greatest and most successful Captains of the Premier League era, a controversial statement on a Leeds forum but no doubting the abilities of the fierce Irishman. Keane was a fierce, aggressive competitor who always lead by example and was famously unafraid to hold teammates to account. He was known for his tough tackling, intelligence, consistency and stamina and for being the glue that held the famous Manchester United midfield of the late 90s and early 2000s together. He is the most successful Captain in Manchester United history with 9 trophies and won over 20 in his career. PFA Player of the Year, FWA Player of the Year, PFA Players player of the Year, English football Hall of fame and Premier league hall of fame.
Sergio Busquets
The man whose arrival from Barcelona B as a teenager eventually lead to Yaya Toure being ousted from the Barcelona team and Argentina icon Javier Mascherano being used as a centre back, Busquets is perhaps the greatest individual success of the career of Pep Guardiola. He was the silent conductor of the great Barcelona and Spain sides for over 15 years. 32 trophies later he is one of the most decorated players in history with multiple League titles, Champions League medals, European Championships and World Cups, Busquets has won everything. He is known for his calmness on the ball, reading of the game, positioning, tackling and consistency. One of the greatest of the modern era.
N'golo Kante
So much stamina you would swear he had 2 or 3 clones on the pitch running about as well. Kante famously cost Leicester only £5mill from Caen in 2015. In his very first season he helped Leicester achieve the miracle of a Premier League title, so appreciated and vital was he to the success he was named Leicester Players player of the Year and the PFA Team of the Year. He moved to Chelsea and again in his first season won another Premier league title. Was again in the PFA Team of the Year and swept the board such were his exceptional performances. PFA Players player of the Year, Premier League player of the season, FWA Footballer of the year and Chelsea player player of the year. Kante was now regarded not just as one of the best midfielders in England, but the world. Kante is known for his diminutive stature, energy, strength, tenacious nature and ball winning skills. He was also a key player Internationaly, helpingFrance to the World Cup in 2018.
Frank Rijkaard
Before he was a title winning manager with Barcelona Frank Rijkaard was one of the best midfielders in the world. The 6ft3 Dutch icon could actually play any positions in the centre of midfield, but he was best by his own admission in the holding role. Here his size and strength and tackling ability was best put to use breaking up attacks, and his vision and passing range and powerful running were best put to use in starting them. Rijkaard was basically the complete midfielder. 21 trophies to his name for AC Milan and Ajax including 2 European Cups and a Champions League. He was also a key member of the 1988 European Championship winning Dutch squad. His trophies didn't end with group awards. Double 3rd place finish in the Ballon d'Or, Serie A Footballer of the Year, Onze d'Or winner five times and a European Championship team of the tournament. He is also a member of the AC Milan Hall of Fame.
Marco Tardelli
Another member of the dominant Juventus side of the 1970s to 1980s and of that legendary World Cup winning Italy side of 1982. Tardelli was regarded as one of the most well rounded and complete midfielders during an era when Italy was known more for its defensive prowess than skill and offensive talent. Tardelli was am ahead of his time elegant midfielder capable of the usual tough tackling you'd expect but also supremely calm on the ball, great vision and touch. He was a two footed versatile player who played in multiple positions including on the wing and centre back such was his wide range of attributes. One of the few players to win the Uefa treble (Cup winners Cup, Super Cup and Uefa Cup) Tardelli also won multiple League titles with Juventus and European Cups. He is also a member of the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
Patrick Vieira
6ft5 French hard man was one of the most imposing and complete midfielders of all time. Phenomenally strong and powerful he was tough tackling, tough to knock off the ball and tough in attitude. He was a leader of men and a ferocious competitor whose size made his fantastic on the ball skills even more surprising. Fantastic touch, close control, passing range and dribbling skills Vieira was the full package. The leader of the title winning Arsenal side of the early 2000s, he was also a multiple time FA Cup winner, a Serie A winner and World Cup and European Championship winner.
Individually Vieira was a multiple time PFA Team of the season member, a Premier League player of the season winner, a France player of the year and a member of the English Football Hall of Fame. One of the best midfielders and Captains in history.