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Paolo Maldini

One of greatest, or an overrated fraud

  • Total voters
    46
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This is pretty silly. A bunch of 30 and 40 something fan boys straining at the memory of remembering a good looking Italian swan around on a sun basted pitch without an opposition player to challenge or harass him. Of course he looked good. He was good. My point was then and is now its ludicrous to compare him to either of the eras referenced in that thread.

The mid 80s and Everton were the best in the world. Gary Stevens and the likes of mad Pat not only had to actually defend but to cover driving runs from teams set up to challenge us in what was the most competitive league on the planet. And Gary and Pat etc did it. Mastered it. Maldini was no better than either and probably worse but I'm biased so on reflection I'll call it equal.

Where there is no doubt a blue was superior to Maldini was Kevin Ratcliffe - probably the best defender we've ever seen. Different eras but Rats had it all.

More recently Baines clearly had more skill than the aforementioned Italian. Lacking in pace Leighton glided into pockets of space others could only dream of. And he could defend when needed. Plus he had an individuality about him that you didn't get with Filippo Berio man.

Where this comes about is fanboys now reflecting on their spreading girth and harking back to the halcyon days in the 90s when they could touch their toes whilst flexing to Football Italia. Just because James Richardson told you in hushed tones than Maldini was a God doesn't make it true.

The lad was good. Very decent even. But not really special.

Google Dani Behr for context and lay off the biscuits.
 
Charlie Sweet said:
This is pretty silly. A bunch of 30 and 40 something fan boys straining at the memory of remembering a good looking Italian swan around on a sun basted pitch without an opposition player to challenge or harass him. Of course he looked good. He was good. My point was then and is now its ludicrous to compare him to either of the eras referenced in that thread.

The mid 80s and Everton were the best in the world. Gary Stevens and the likes of mad Pat not only had to actually defend but to cover driving runs from teams set up to challenge us in what was the most competitive league on the planet. And Gary and Pat etc did it. Mastered it. Maldini was no better than either and probably worse but I'm biased so on reflection I'll call it equal.

Where there is no doubt a blue was superior to Maldini was Kevin Ratcliffe - probably the best defender we've ever seen. Different eras but Rats had it all.

More recently Baines clearly had more skill than the aforementioned Italian. Lacking in pace Leighton glided into pockets of space others could only dream of. And he could defend when needed. Plus he had an individuality about him that you didn't get with Filippo Berio man.

Where this comes about is fanboys now reflecting on their spreading girth and harking back to the halcyon days in the 90s when they could touch their toes whilst flexing to Football Italia. Just because James Richardson told you in hushed tones than Maldini was a God doesn't make it true.

The lad was good. Very decent even. But not really special.

Google Dani Behr for context and lay off the biscuits.
Click to expand...
You OK hun x
 

Charlie Sweet said:
This is pretty silly. A bunch of 30 and 40 something fan boys straining at the memory of remembering a good looking Italian swan around on a sun basted pitch without an opposition player to challenge or harass him. Of course he looked good. He was good. My point was then and is now its ludicrous to compare him to either of the eras referenced in that thread.

The mid 80s and Everton were the best in the world. Gary Stevens and the likes of mad Pat not only had to actually defend but to cover driving runs from teams set up to challenge us in what was the most competitive league on the planet. And Gary and Pat etc did it. Mastered it. Maldini was no better than either and probably worse but I'm biased so on reflection I'll call it equal.

Where there is no doubt a blue was superior to Maldini was Kevin Ratcliffe - probably the best defender we've ever seen. Different eras but Rats had it all.

More recently Baines clearly had more skill than the aforementioned Italian. Lacking in pace Leighton glided into pockets of space others could only dream of. And he could defend when needed. Plus he had an individuality about him that you didn't get with Filippo Berio man.

Where this comes about is fanboys now reflecting on their spreading girth and harking back to the halcyon days in the 90s when they could touch their toes whilst flexing to Football Italia. Just because James Richardson told you in hushed tones than Maldini was a God doesn't make it true.

The lad was good. Very decent even. But not really special.

Google Dani Behr for context and lay off the biscuits.
Click to expand...
There's a reason you can't remember seeing him under pressure from his opponents you total Custatd Creme.

He achieved that level of separation from opponents by an almost unmatched reading of the game.

You can dismiss plenty, but Maldini is an all time world XI at either left or centre back.
 
Charlie Sweet said:
This is pretty silly. A bunch of 30 and 40 something fan boys straining at the memory of remembering a good looking Italian swan around on a sun basted pitch without an opposition player to challenge or harass him. Of course he looked good. He was good. My point was then and is now its ludicrous to compare him to either of the eras referenced in that thread.

The mid 80s and Everton were the best in the world. Gary Stevens and the likes of mad Pat not only had to actually defend but to cover driving runs from teams set up to challenge us in what was the most competitive league on the planet. And Gary and Pat etc did it. Mastered it. Maldini was no better than either and probably worse but I'm biased so on reflection I'll call it equal.

Where there is no doubt a blue was superior to Maldini was Kevin Ratcliffe - probably the best defender we've ever seen. Different eras but Rats had it all.

More recently Baines clearly had more skill than the aforementioned Italian. Lacking in pace Leighton glided into pockets of space others could only dream of. And he could defend when needed. Plus he had an individuality about him that you didn't get with Filippo Berio man.

Where this comes about is fanboys now reflecting on their spreading girth and harking back to the halcyon days in the 90s when they could touch their toes whilst flexing to Football Italia. Just because James Richardson told you in hushed tones than Maldini was a God doesn't make it true.

The lad was good. Very decent even. But not really special.

Google Dani Behr for context and lay off the biscuits.
Click to expand...
Provide the book references you massive melon
 

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