[Black Dagger]

So the 'Katie Hopkins' of football, Joey Barton has made a scathing attack on English players and in particular Wazza. Just want to get your thoughts on this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26867861

[LeatherTrumpet]

He is world class but he has not shown that at the top level or for England

[Cherie]

Poor Joey it could all have been so different if he had kept up the anger management classes.

[Black Dagger]

He gets shown up a lot when he plays for England so I don't see him as a 'world elite' player, he's a top quality player though in terms of the PL.

[thesheriff443]

he looks good playing in the english league, up against players from spain, he looks adverage.

[Drew.]

He could fit into any side in England, probably most sides around the world. Just doesn't perform consistently like some of the others.

[Kyle]

Not for me. World class to me is an elite branch with about 20 to 30 players in it and I don't think he would get in.

England's only real (potential) match winner though.

[the truth]

no not quite world class. but at club level he is one of the best. very consistent over many years with over 200 career goals. hes a great player. I think to put in bluntly english players fail to develop , over the years possibly due to overpayment or possibly because english players dont spend enough time working on their skills
I guess the same can be said for british players...though Id add that george best worked so hard he became 2 footed, so too bale who has become a world class talent imo.....english players tend to get overhyped over rated overpaid and they always fail to reach their potential with the exception of a bobby charlton type who always kept his head

[Brother Leon]

Yes. There aren't many clubs in the world where he won't play for. Every time United play in Europe he is considered elite by the opposition and is considered world class, because of everything he provides. I'll take opinions of Pep Guardiola,Carlo Ancelotti etc over Barton lol.


Also it isn't fair to compare his work ethic to Ronaldo, because there isn't another footballer on the planet who could compare to how hard he has worked to be the best.

[Brother Leon]

Also. He's almost certainly going to end up top scorer for one of the world's largest football clubs and is going to continue to climb up the PL scoring table. Considering he has spent a lot of time as a #10 or even a winger sometimes when CR7 was here that is pretty crazy.

Not sure how United's top scorer won't be considered world class.

[Jemal]

He was 'A World Class Player' in the 2009/10 season.
Right now he isn't a world class player anymore. Hes a very good player capable of World Class Performances. The fact he doesn't do it consistently like he used to 3-4 years ago is why i don't count him as world class anymore.

[King Gizzard]

Aye

[smeagol]

comletely overrated . he is a very good player and great as a team player. but you got to be able to finish if your a striker and thats where he fails.

england are never any good at finishing we get near to the goal and panic , to be world class you need to be like all the other countries and be able to follow through

we only have a couple of world class players in my view. but what is world class really its just a state of mind. a hunger and belief and a manager who doesn't hold them back.
3 things we never seem to really have

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by smeagol

comletely overrated . he is a very good player and great as a team player. but you got to be able to finish if your a striker and thats where he fails.

england are never any good at finishing we get near to the goal and panic , to be world class you need to be like all the other countries and be able to follow through

we only have a couple of world class players in my view. but what is world class really its just a state of mind. a hunger and belief and a manager who doesn't hold them back.
3 things we never seem to really have

Most teams/players around Europe probably have worse goals to shots ratios than English players, I don't think being able to finish has ever been something Rooneys been bad at.

[Kazanne]

I like him,he's a great player,scored some cracking goals,a bit of a hot head,but surely that's expected sometimes.

[Chuck]

For most of Brazilian pundits/fans he is considered World Class.

It always surprises me that this is even questioned in England.

[King Gizzard]

He still gets on the Nike ad with Neymar and Ronaldo which should tell you something

[Brother Leon]

He's more appreciated out of this country tbh. Hell there was some idiot journalist that was seriously saying Jay ****ing Rodriquez should start ahead of him. Not sure why the "he never delivers in a wc" excuse should be labeled at him when no English player bar Ashley Cole ever does.

[joeysteele]

For me and it is sad really, Joey Barton for me could and should have been a world class player.
I really rate his talents but he does fail to keep his aggression in check, although he is doing much better at QPR.

As to Wayne Rooney, he has been put at the very top in Football.
He is at one of the greatest clubs,with an extremely lucrative and in my opinion over generous contract,he is a regular England player too.
I however feel he has not on the really big matches often delivered as to performance.

So while I would say he is a really good player on his day, world class I very much would hold back on and agree with Joey Barton as to that.

[King Gizzard]

Rodriguez should start tho just not ahead of Waz

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Rodriguez should start tho just not ahead of Waz

There is no space for him to start though

He's the fourth choice forward at best and on the wing England is stacked too. He should go, but not more than that imo.

[Brother Leon]

Henderson
Gerrard
Barkley/Wilshere

Rooney

Sturridge
Welbeck

Liverpool style formation

Or

Gerrard
Henderson

Sterling(natural width)
Rooney
Lallana/Welbeck

Sturridge

England does have exciting options though. We should make a thread closer to the time.

[King Gizzard]

Just find it very harsh that a striker that could easily end up with 20 PL goals at the end of this season won't have a look in. That doesn't send out a good message. He's earned it more than most

[smeagol]

Originally Posted by Drew.

Most teams/players around Europe probably have worse goals to shots ratios than English players, I don't think being able to finish has ever been something Rooneys been bad at.

that's not what he's girlfriend said lol

if you watch the england games he and the whole team cant finish.
the only goals we ever get is goal hanging or corners free kicks.
then watch the other teams they run with a mission no fear and most times score or give it a good try.
england however with roony just cant finish none of them can.
different class or mentality bit of both Id say

[Locke.]

Yeah, he is