Who are the top 10 English players in the Premier League?

[Lionel Messi]

1. Harry Kane - a world class striker. Kane is currently one of the best goalscorers in Europe
2. Raheem Sterling - I wouldn't have put him in the top 5 until his performances this season.
3. Dele Alli - one of the most talented 21 year olds in the world. England should build their attack around Kane and Ali.
4. Kyle Walker - has grown under Pep and now one of the best right backs in the world.
5. Adam Lallana - I don't think many other English players can match his ability on the ball, playmaking and workrate. I had Lallana 4th, but moved him down because of his lack of football recently.
6. James Vardy - England's the most dangerous forward on the counter-attack.
7. Marcus Rashford - I think Rashford will be in the top 3 soon. England's most exciting attacking talent.
8. Jack Wilshere - a quality passer with good ball control, I think his ability deserves to be recognized in the top 10.
9. Eric Dier - probably England's most important defensive midfielder now. Versatile too, solid as a centreback or rightback.
10. Jesse Lingard - I think his match-winning performances for Manchester United this season warrant his inclusion here. At first, I was actually surprised he made the list, but who do you replace him with?


Who missed out?
Danny Rose - haven't seen a lot of Rose this year but he's Spurs' and England's best left back at full fitness.
Jordan Henderson - not in the top 10 anymore. I think he is a very effective midfielder in the right system though.
Jack Butland - it hasn't been Butland's best season but he should be a fixture in the top 10 in years to come.
Daniel Sturridge - sadly injuries are stopping him now. 4 years ago he would be top 5.
Oxlade Chamberlain - I think my appreciation for him has grown a lot this season. Potential to break the top 10 this year.
Gary Cahill - his performances have declined this season.
Chris Smalling - save as above, not the same commanding defender as last year.



Agree? Disagree? Who did I forget? What is your top 10?

 

[epic73]

Adnan Januzaj

 

[St. Juste]

There's a lot of low cards in that list - Walker and Dier stand out as being particularly poor footballers.

 

[epic73]

Scott Sinclair, on the other hand...

 

[Lionel Messi]

There's a lot of low cards in that list - Walker and Dier stand out as being particularly poor footballers.

I did think about this when comparing Lallana and Walker. I would say Lallana’s the better footballer, but I feel like Walker is better within his position.

I think Dier will be very important for England - but yes, his natural ability is nowhere near Rashford or Wilshere’s.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Scott Sinclair, on the other hand...

He doesn’t even make my top 30.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Adnan Januzaj

Januzaj is already a Belgian international.

 

[Skinner]

There's a lot of low cards in that list - Walker and Dier stand out as being particularly poor footballers.

Kyle Walker hasn't been shit for about 3 years now

 

[St. Juste]

I did think about this when comparing Lallana and Walker. I would say Lallana’s the better footballer, but I feel like Walker is better within his position.

I think Dier will be very important for England - but yes, his natural ability is nowhere near Rashford or Wilshere’s.

Dier just isn't very good as a defender or midfielder. One of those baffling players you are not quite sure why he survives.

For a long time people on this forum, and certainly in the media, thought Joe Hart was a world class goalkeeper. The evidence of watching him play demonstrated he clearly was not and I'm glad this is finally now obvious to all (even if some did think he'd be a great signing for West Ham).

Dier and Walker will go through the same process. The latter just runs very quickly - did you see his attempt at a shot when through on goal against Stoke?

Kyle Walker hasn't been shit for about 3 years now

He was by far the worst outfield player on the pitch when Scotland played England.

Just clearly isn't very good.

I wonder how this list would compare to a similar list 10 years ago or 20 years ago. Better or worse?

 

[Skinner]

So just based on one game then? He was the best player on the pitch when I watched him live in December...

I was his biggest critic up until around as I say, 3 years ago when he started dramatically improving, especially his one on one defending and positioning.

As or the list, it's obviously a lot worse than 10-20 years ago, the quality of English players has declined drastically, but we all know that.

 

[Renegade]

For a long time people on this forum, and certainly in the media, thought Joe Hart was a world class goalkeeper. The evidence of watching him play demonstrated he clearly was not and I'm glad this is finally now obvious to all (even if some did think he'd be a great signing for West Ham).

Hands up. I was very wrong. Won't be the last time.

I can't believe how poor he has been to be honest. I don't even think you thought he would be this bad.

 

[shane]

By no stretch of the imagination is Eric Dier "solid as a centre back or right back".

 

[Lionel Messi]

Dier is neither a world class centreback, rightback or defensive midfielder, but could be a solid option in all three positions for England in the right set-up. I think he is needed for balance.

 

[epic73]

For a long time people on this forum, and certainly in the media, thought Joe Hart was a world class goalkeeper.

I seem to remember you were one of those people?

 

[St. Juste]

So just based on one game then? He was the best player on the pitch when I watched him live in December...

I was his biggest critic up until around as I say, 3 years ago when he started dramatically improving, especially his one on one defending and positioning.

As or the list, it's obviously a lot worse than 10-20 years ago, the quality of English players has declined drastically, but we all know that.

I've only ever seen him play live once and he stood out for being bad. Further to that, when I see him on TV (e.g. recently against Crystal Palace) he looks rubbish. Fast, but ultimately rubbish. Neither a particularly good defender, nor technically skilled going forward.

The last RBs Pep worked with were Lahm, Kimmich and Alves. He is ludicrously far off all of them.

I seem to remember you were one of those people?

Your memory has completely failed you there, I stated the opposite case repeatedly.

 

[Jockney]

I've only ever seen him play live once and he stood out for being bad. Further to that, when I see him on TV (e.g. recently against Crystal Palace) he looks rubbish. Fast, but ultimately rubbish. Neither a particularly good defender, nor technically skilled going forward.

The last RBs Pep worked with were Lahm, Kimmich and Alves. He is ludicrously far off all of them.



Your memory has completely failed you there, I stated the opposite case repeatedly.

And yet Pep spent £50m on him.

 

[Skinner]

I've only ever seen him play live once and he stood out for being bad. Further to that, when I see him on TV (e.g. recently against Crystal Palace) he looks rubbish. Fast, but ultimately rubbish. Neither a particularly good defender, nor technically skilled going forward.

The last RBs Pep worked with were Lahm, Kimmich and Alves. He is ludicrously far off them.

Funny you mention the game against Palace, as that's the game I saw him live and he handled our double ups superbly and made Zaha switch wings.

He's not on the level of Lahm or Alves, I don't even think he's the best English right back defensively, but bad? No chance.

 

[St. Juste]

And yet Pep spent £50m on him.

I think his homegrown status is what sealed that particular move.

Trippier is a far better player.

 

[Skinner]

I think his homegrown status is what sealed that particular move.

Trippier is a far better player.

Pep and Poch disagree with you mate.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Trippier better than Walker?

I think Walker would walk right back into that Spurs team.

Walker is better than Trippier, Clyne, Joe Gomez and Trent Arnold Alexander.

 

[Gilly?]

Walker is bobbins, just a rapid Glen Johnson.

 

[St. Juste]

Pep and Poch disagree with you mate.

Yep, and Mancini and Pellegrini (both far more knowledgeable about football than me) thought Joe Hart was a great keeper.

Sometimes even the best get it wrong.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Yep, and Mancini and Pellegrini (both far more knowledgeable about football than me) thought Joe Hart was a great keeper.

Sometimes even the best get it wrong.

Joe Hart has declined. There was a time when Hart was both England’s and Manchester City’s best goalkeeper. I do not understand why you are comparing Joe Hart’s sharp decline to Kyle Walker’s rise

 

[Lionel Messi]

Walker is bobbins, just a rapid Glen Johnson.

A “rapid Glen Johnson”? I think you’re underrating Walker here. Johnson was never considered the best fullback in the Premier League, neither one of the best in Europe.

 

[St. Juste]

Joe Hart has declined. There was a time when Hart was both England’s and Manchester City’s best goalkeeper. I do not understand why you are comparing Joe Hart’s sharp decline to Kyle Walker’s rise

I'm not sure he has declined, I just don't think he was ever that good.

Being Englands best goalkeeper was, and is, comparable to having the best house in Middlesborough.

The idea that because a player plays for a top team is immune from criticism isn't a new one. I've had the same discussion over a number of years with several players. I remember Felipe Melo around 2010 starting for both Juventus and Brazil therefore he can't be a bad player. Except if you watch him, Ramires and Melo were a drastically poor central midfield partnership.

Walker isn't that good, he isn't a great defender, he hasn't got the technical capability of a winger, his main attribute is his speed. This will become clear sooner rather than later.

The Glen Johnson comparison is apt, people used to think he was a great player too.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Hart has definitely declined: in confidence, consistency, decision making, handling, movement off his line, sharpness - all qualities that are key for a goalkeeper. A keeper his age should be entering his peak but he has taken a few steps back since his promising and confident form of years ago.

I don’t think anyone with a balanced critical mind put Glen Johnson under the “great” bracket

 

[G.B]

our resident liverpool fans did. all of them. they used to shout at me and that when I told them he wasn't good. only one of them apologised for their despicable behaviour and admitted they were wrong all along, so i can only assume the rest of them still think he was a great player.

 

[Bilo]

our resident liverpool fans did. all of them. they used to shout at me and that when I told them he wasn't good. only one of them apologised for their despicable behaviour and admitted they were wrong all along, so i can only assume the rest of them still think he was a great player.

None of this is true and G.B thinks that Morata is a better signing than Salah lol.

 

[Lionel Messi]

None of this is true and G.B thinks that Morata is a better signing than Salah lol.

Salah is the signing of the year.

 

[G.B]

salah wasn't signed this year, so kenedy is clearly signing of the year

beelo is trying to rewrite history. no doubt he's currently organising his posse to back up his lies again. he also thinks keita is better than prime iniesta as evidenced by the direct quote in my signature. can you believe that? you can't trust that man. DO NOT TRUST THAT MAN. he's as dodgy as messi's tax return :flint::giphy::hesk: