Got stylé!?

Probably been done before in some context... anyway...

Which style of footballer interests you most?

- the flair/skill type attackers like Ronaldo and Messi
- the strong, simple, powerhouse players like Essien
- the gutsy, determined players like Mascherano, Hargreaves, Gattuso
- the intelligent, controlled, craftsmen like Xavi, Cesc, Scholes
- the big frontmen like Drogba, Adebayor
- the speedy, pitch-covering fullbacks like Evra, Alves etc.
- the nippy, goal poaching, finishers like Villa, Torres

You get the point..

I'll go with the Mascherano-type one.

I for one am a huge fan of defensive players and I think that holding mid-field role is the place for unsung heroes. It's a great spot that doesn't get much recognition because of the lack of goals score, but it takes a hell of a lot of talent to be in that place. It takes great vision and pace to catch up with the speedy midfielders and a lot of power battle it out with strikers for balls. Usually players are put into a set like the ones you've mentioned above. In a way, the holding mid field role is the tiny enforcer on the pitch and games can be won and lost by a player there. They have the best opportunity to change the tide of the game by having a goal-saving tackle on one end followed by a precise assist to set up a goal. I have tons of respect for the guys playing that role because that's one place where you cannot be one-dimensional and only a few are good enough to start in that role.

a very good question actually and for me, its one that does not offer one definitive answer.

i grew up adoring the likes of Van Basten, Klinsmann, Papin, Romario and player of that ilk who were fantastic goalscorers and i would model myself on them as a kid and strive to learn every aspect of their game.

as i grew older for some reason i began playing further down the pitch and begun watching the game of players like Gullit, Savicevic, Baggio etc to learn more about the creativity side of things.

then in my mid teens to the present day i play centre back and have followed the careers of players like Maldini, Ferdinand, Baresi, Matthaus to learn about that role so i do consider myself a bit of an all rounder.

if i had to pick one which i most admire it would be the calm efficient defending from players like Maldini, Ferdinand etc. the composure, skill levels and defensive attributes are what i would strive for as a young footballer and what i still try to achieve now. i have played all over the pitch and would have a huge admiration and respect for each individual role but if i had to champion one of them it would be the defensive side of it. the disrespect and disregard that defenders get only enhances that view.
im not sure if i have actually answered the question to be honest!

That's the trend isn't it? If you play a particular position yourself then you're more than likely going to favour that sort of style.

When I played, I usually played Left Midfield or Centre Forward. I grew up admiring players like Bergkamp and Del Piero, simply because their CF-style interested me most.

Nowadays I don't play and when I'm just watching the game more and learning more about it, I'm starting to appreciate the two central positions more. The CM position in where one is more attacking/creative minded and one is more defensively minded. This season for example, the two players I've watched and admired the most have been Cesc and Mascherano. A bit of bias of course, but I do love to watch how the Spaniard plays his game - so controlled, disciplined and yet classy and creative. Mascherano has been amazing me this season as well; I didn't give him any credit, more so abuse, when he was at West Ham but he has shown his qualities at Liverpool and his game is so disciplined as well.

At the moment I'm more tied between the CAM and DM positions. I think discipline is the key word for me. I like a disciplined style - players with a modest game, in where they are so disciplined and team ethical it makes them great players.

I prefer these type of players to the speedy, flair attacking players like Messi, Ronaldinho or Ronaldo.

I suspect that the more I watch football, the more I'll appreciate the different styles and my favoured one will change. I think it perhaps takes one special player at your most-watched Club/League to grab your attention. Fàbregas and Mascherano have stood out for me this season and I've enjoyed watching them more than anyone.

mmmm interesting.

if i have to choose one, it would be
- the gutsy, determined players like Mascherano, Hargreaves, Gattuso

not a big fan of goalscorers, and like Mrtz, i prefer defensive roles. my fav are centre backs. i've just started playing a bit football and i soon found myself enjoying that position. it takes a lot to be a good centre back. i really admire players like Carragher or Terry. they reads the game well and make good decisions. (was well impressed by Terry the other day when he cleared Owen's shot on the line)

For me its the flair/skill attacking minded like Brian Laudrop/ Andrei Kanchelskis.

when i was younger "in my teens" i always played on the wing either left or right as im both footed. To this day i still play football mainly play on the right wing as i have a fair bit of pace to my game and to watch players who can ruun fast/ have creativity/ run past players and then looking to cross the ball. For me knowing that i have just ran past a man by taking the ball around him and leaving him standing there is a great feeling. To when i cross the ball and someone then gets his head on the ball and scores is also a great feeling knowing it was me who did all that hard work on the wing setting up the goal.

i like the type of player that can create a bit of magic in an instant and excites you with his skill and often pace as well .....Liam Brady....Ian Wright .....Dennis Bergkamp.....Marc Overmars ......Thierry Henry...Theo Walcott .

Liam Brady often could turn a game with a delightful chip or pass and Ian Wright had such desire and the ability to score from anywhere ....a simple tap in ....a stunning volley ....a headed goal or an audacous lob or chip ....Dennis Bergkamp ....a master of football and did things other players could only dream about ..

Marc Overmars had electric pace and could run from one end of the pitch to the other and past 4 defenders to score .....

Thierry Henry .......on his day he was simply untouchable ....he could make defenders look silly with his unbelievable pace ...had great vision and was often the goal maker as well as goal scorer ...could also score from anywhere and anyhow ....header ....volley .....back heel .....curler.....etc


Theo Walcott ....early days but he has shown his skill on more than a few occasions ....has scorching pace and the potential to be every bit a s good as Thierry Henry

Hey Conner, I thought yours would be the referee The one who enforces rules, discipline, and deadlines!

for me id have to say the creative minded players

i loved players like zidane/hagi/litmanen with there eye for goal as well as being technically brillant

for me

the speedy, pitch-covering fullbacks like Evra, Alves etc.

i've never really adored any strikers in an abundant way.. and most of my favourite players have been either defenders or midfielders since i started liking football.. lol..

it's sometimes feeling better to see how a team backbones 'fight' against strikers to prevent them from scoring.. and wingers who're good at dribbling forward are also fascinated to stare at.. lol..

Growing up, and when I used to play, I used to really love the speedy tricky wide men - Franz Carr of Notts Forest & Tottenham's Tony Galvin for example. I was once blessed with pace so would very much base my game on beating players down the line and getting a good cross over for the front man to feed off of.
Unfortunately my game also had a great emphasis on the 'lazy tart' side and making sure my mullet looked good once I had flighted the ball over.

I have a very high for regard mental strength - Roy Keane, okay he has his moments such as Saipan '02 and 'that tackle', but his desire, shere determination and winning mind-set demonstrates to me how much further a person can go with a strong focused mind.
I also admired the guys that got stuck in no messing, pulled their socks back up and dusted themselves down - Souness, Ruddock, Butcher and Graham Roberts.

I am also very much mesmerised by the maverick's - the loose cannon's who may have a screw or two loose but work pure magic & amazing skill you and I can only dream of - Cantona, Di Canio, and my personal favourite, Tino Asprilla. What a loon, but my God what a player.

The first player that really got me into football and had me copying was Ian Hutchinson he just had a style that was appealing to me.Loved Merson a great deal fantastic variation of use of the outside of his foot to shoot and pass,he was pure finesse.John Barnes was another great player that i admired who had a slightly similar style.
Bergkmap was an exceptional player who's style is a blueprint for the current Arsenal style of play imo.
He was technically probably the best player to ever play in the prem.

I think Ronaldinho has taken football to a new level and his ability to run at full speed with the ball take a hit and still maintain balance and the ball is unprecedented as far as i know.Not even Pele was able to do that on a consistent bases.I really don't think people today understand this about ronaldinho's game he is one of the players who changes the game of football throughout history with his ability.

The player today that i believe has some of the qualities of all of the above and to me is the one who i would pick first of todays players worldwide is Hleb.
Like Hutch he is not a physical player like Pele or ronaldinho,but he is almost impossible to get the ball from.Even when he is within range of a tackle he calmly moves the ball around the oncoming foe with an ease that is incredible.The few times he has lost the ball most of the time he reclaims the ball in the within the same play.HIs passing vision is impeccable and unpredictable which is what makes him the best in this field.He makes game changing tackles that spark the attack every game.His only short coming is his finishing,but in my eyes he more than makes up for that with his consistent play in the areas mentioned before. When he can play almost every game
doing what he does then scoring goals are the least of my problems hat's why you buy players like Adebayor ,Van Pirsie and eduardo.Hleb is one of those players like Ronaldinho and Berbatov that are unique and are almost impossible to replace and come along maybe once in a generation.You may hav e your pretenders like Messi,Ronaldo, etc who are fine players ,but they will never be as good as Ronaldinho
just look at their hi light films to know that.

But in short i love finesse players first alongside the likes of Ronaldinho and Pele .

Some excellent and pretty interesting posts.

It's particularly interesting how the skill/flair players aren't favoured so much. I thought they'd be the most popular.

big strong strikers that can power their way through defences

when I was younger it was the goal-poaching finishers, later the flair, but now it's the craftsmen.

I like the skillfull attacker who doesnt rely on pace or height. Playing in the hole.
Dennis Bergkamp if it almost fits that description. Maradona, Messi, Ronaldinho.
Wont always get 30 goals a season, but will get lots of assists and be a team player...bringing others into the game.

I love watching players who are technically very astute in their role. In todays game that does not limit you to the forward attacking positions as recently defenders such as Rio Ferdinand have made the need for the central defender to be alot better with the ball at his feet. But Football is about entertainment so i like to be entertained but also want the entertainment to be productive and have a finished product. So saying that i would probably have to go with players such as Lionel Messi, who is not only technically brilliant but also very productive. He fulfils both criteria. For me he is the best player on the planet. It is frightning that someone so young is at that level already. He is the player i would want to watch over everyon else at present.

Before that i used to love Raul. He has been one of Europes most potent finishers for years now and i would love to watch him play. He can score any type of goal. Even though he could be classed as a bit of a poacher he has scored some unbelievable goals over his career. A class act. Another class act is Roberto Baggio. I really like the creative players. 1994 World Cup he was amazing, especially with his brace in the semi final i think it was.

I have never (apart from Raul and robbie fowler) had a time where my favourite player has been a out and out forward. I tend to go for the attacking midfield/ free role/ just off the main striker kind a player. I think i get more pleasure out of watching some amazing pieces of skill and build up play than the actual ball going in the net. Strange, never really thought about it.

Wouldn't Essien be considered the gutsy, determined type? Strong simple powerhouse players would probably be more along the lines of a Sol Campbell. I'm not sure, there's such a thin line but I digress...

I was crazy about flair players when I was younger and I'm sure that Messi and Ronaldo would have been high up on my list of favorite players just like Zidane was. These days I prefer an orchestrator like Cesc or Pirlo. The whole game seems to unfold before them when they're in posession and that's really and awesome thing to behold for me. Obviously Ronaldo and Messi's styles lend themselves to flashes of game changing brilliance and they're therefore more appreciated by the neutrals but a player like Cesc has the ability to spot runs, open up unused players and unlock defences completely. When he gets going and starts spraying those perfect passes around - the entire game ebbs and flows to his will.

Bergkamp's designation is my favorite although the type of player isn't very common. Totti and Del Piero bridged the gap between a forward and an attacking mid but Bergkamp was like a forward crossed with a Cesc. He could unleash 30-yarders, thread through passes and baffle markers with deft touch but I remember him dropping to the right back position in a couple of games and just peppering the box with sublime long-range passes. He was an attacker but he could pop up anywhere and dictate the play as well as any creative midfielder whilst still getting at the end of chances and finishing like a striker should. It was really like having 3 players in one when Bergy played.

And therein lies the problem as to why England will never win a thing until that mind set changes amongst the majority.We Brits were brought up on a certain style of football ,a style that is hard-nosed and gritty.It's
viewed wrongly as a more "manly" style of football which is in a constant struggle with evolution.

If you look at players like McFadden,Rooney,Gerrard or huddlestone all of which are Brits that have that certain flair and ability to their game.They have fantastic technique that shows the way British football should be headed.Of course a fusion of the two styles would be incredible and Gerrard and Rooney are the blue prints for that style,but let's hope they are the beginning of such style.

Similar. I have always loved players who played in the hole behind the two strikers who could make something out of nothing and spread play intelligently.

Juninho Paulista, Matt Le Tissier, Bergkamp spring to mind.