Thursday 23 December 2010

Famous 5ive: The top players of 2010

Narrowly edging out Darren Ambrose, who makes it in at number 6

1. Xavi

When you go to see an orchestra you can be taken by any of the expert musicians, excelling with their particular instrument but the real star of the show is undoubtedly the conductor; the man who sets the rhythm and tempo that everyone plays to. This is the role of Xavi, for both his conquering club side and national team. For Barcelona and Spain he is the creative hub, the man who dictates play, keeping the ball moving; always prompting.

Both at club and international level, Xavi is the fulcrum, personifying the short passing, possession style of play that has led him to all of the biggest prizes in the modern game. Breaking all records for the amount of passes completed in a game and in a season, it is not just possession for possessions sake; keeping the ball is both the best form offence and defence – no-one can score against you if you never give them the ball. Never flashy, but always effective, he is substance and style combined. A monumental year when he became a Champion of the world, Xavi right now is untouchable.

2. Wesley Sneijder

In 2010, very few other players were able to dominate every competition they entered quite like the Dutchman. Rashly and foolishly discarded by Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, he went about showing them what they missed by being the key player in Inter Milan’s historic treble, the culmination of which occurred in Madrid’s backyard. For years the dominant force in Serie A, Sneijder was the key player in knitting the team together into a tem which could win abroad; he was the key link between a forward line and a midfield which was often detached from one another in the Mancini years. A more aggressive and forward thinking midfield player than Xavi, his goals and assists were vital to both the success of his club and his country.

3. Diego Forlan

Apologies for the ‘copy and paste job’ but from CollinsBeans review of the World Cup...

‘It’s often rare for FIFA to get things right when picking out ‘players of the tournament’ given their penchant for just handing the gong out to the biggest name, but this year, with their allocation of the 2010 Golden Ball they’ve got it spot on. This site has professed its admiration for Diego Forlan on several occasions and it was well deserved that he be recognised as the outstanding player of the tournament. While they were impressive, it’s hard to imagine just how far Uruguay would have got without their talismanic forward. The five goals he contributed doesn’t tell the full story, often playing in a deeper role behind the front two, he was a creator of chances as well as a taker of them, full of hard running and non-stop commitment. Forlan was a true MVP of the World Cup, with an outstanding individual contribution to a less heralded team, helping to take them all the way to the semi-finals.’

When you factor in his huge contribution to Atletico Madrid’s Europa League triumph a worthy contender for top player of 2010

4. Lionel Messi

When I was younger, the players who were great goal scorers were not necessarily the scorers of great goals and vice versa. Artisans who created goals, through great dribbles or exquisite passes were not seen as prolific whereas goal poachers, those tapping them in from a yard were the one’s getting thirty a season. Then you get someone like Lionel Messi, someone for whom there doesn’t appear to be enough superlatives in the dictionary. This man continues to astound me through both the sheer quality and volume of the goals he scores. His record in 2010 is quite simply staggering; 58 goals in 53 competitive games – the highest total ever. He is a human highlight reel of a player; phenomenally tight dribbling, amazing close control, great balance all wrapped up in a pocket sized package of explosive finishing. Right now the best individual player on the planet, bar none.

5. Arjen Robben

Another Dutchman to be liberated/cast out of the Bernabeu and another who went on to inspire his team all the way to the Champions League final being played in that stadium. 2010 saw the Robben we all hoped still existed, following the years of injury and under achievement. In scintillating form for Bayern Munich he at times, particularly in Europe carried his teams to victories (Manchester United and Fiorentina) that they otherwise would not have gained. It’s refreshing in the 21st Century to still see a player willing to take on his man, beat the fullback and excite the crowd. In the age of glorified fullbacks on the wing (see Kuyt, Dirk and Park, Ji Sung) it was wonderful to see the Flying Dutchman in all his glory, tearing up and down the wing creating havoc, rather than being used to stop someone else from playing. Let’s hope for more of the same in 2011.

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