Daily Telegraph's 100 Greatest ever EPL players

[Rout-Ledge]

Lloris should be in there

 

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Who would honestly take Giggs at his peak ahead of Ronaldo or Henry?

Gary Speed ahead of Bale? Based on what?

 

[nailsy]

Who would honestly take Giggs at his peak ahead of Ronaldo or Henry?

Gary Speed ahead of Bale? Based on what?

103 career goals for Speed against 47 for Bale. Plus Speed played for 22 years (not all in the Prem) while Bale was only in the Premier League for 6 or 7.

Personally I think Bale is one of the best players I've ever seen, but I'm biased.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

103 career goals for Speed against 47 for Bale. Plus Speed played for 22 years (not all in the Prem) while Bale was only in the Premier League for 6 or 7.

Personally I think Bale is one of the best players I've ever seen, but I'm biased.

It's not a goals competition though is it...the whole point of having a list is surely to appreciate the finest talent that the Premier League has showcased. Bale is a finer talent than Speed and was at his finest (to date) during his time in the PL.

There have been many mainstays and consistent goal scorers, but those qualities do not, to my mind, form the basis of a true great.

Ronaldo was only at anything approaching his true peak for one or two premier league seasons, but in those seasons he demonstrated talent that very few could match, including Ryan Giggs.

 

[nailsy]

It's not a goals competition though is it...the whole point of having a list is surely to appreciate the finest talent that the Premier League has showcased. Bale is a finer talent than Speed and was at his finest (to date) during his time in the PL.

There have been many mainstays and consistent goal scorers, but those qualities do not, to my mind, form the basis of a true great.

Ronaldo was only at anything approaching his true peak for one or two premier league seasons, but in those seasons he demonstrated talent that very few could match, including Ryan Giggs.

I agree that Bale was the better player. There aren't too many players who've won Player of the year twice so Bale should be higher up the list.

I gave up on the list. Was Giggs rated number one?

 

[dontcallme]

The big question with these lists is how they are rated. The list seems to appreciate longevity over short-term brilliance.

Giggs is obviously a PL great but at his best probably isn't top 10 let alone top 1. But to perform consistently as well as he did for as long as he did is pretty special.

Like always there's a few decisions that go against the mould. Bale performed better over a longer period than Suarez imo.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I agree that Bale was the better player. There aren't too many players who've won Player of the year twice so Bale should be higher up the list.

I gave up on the list. Was Giggs rated number one?

Yup. And Henry number 2. I can't argue with Henry, but Giggs is in no way the best player of the Premier League era. Scholes was better, imo.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Who would honestly take Giggs at his peak ahead of Ronaldo or Henry?

Gary Speed ahead of Bale? Based on what?

I would.

Most decorated and successful EPL player by far. Look at his list of honours it speaks for itself why he is no. 1.

I would ask the question "who wouldn't?"

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I would.

Most decorated and successful EPL player by far. Look at his list of honours it speaks for itself why he is no. 1.

I would ask the question "who wouldn't?"

By that logic, Henning Berg is s greater player than Bale and Modric.

Giggs was part of the greatest team of the Premier League era, and as a result gained the most honours. That doesn't make him the greatest overall player.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

By that logic, Henning Berg is s greater player than Bale and Modric.

Giggs was part of the greatest team of the Premier League era, and as a result gained the most honours. That doesn't make him the greatest overall player.

Ryan Giggs has won more EPL titles / league championships than anyone in the history of British football. He consistently produced at a high level over 17 years in the EPL, in many different teams at man Utd.

You are now putting words into my mouth with Henning Berg. So Ronaldo deserves the 1 spot for his what? 4-5 years in the prem? Or Henry because he scored how many goals? Neither did it for 20 years and neither are as decorated or anywhere near.

My logic is Ryan did it for nearly 20 years, won more honours being a mainstay in an ever changing team, set the league alight with pace, skill, passing, crossing and free kick ability, goals of the highest calibre. How can you even question that he is not worthy?

Does it not strike you that one of the reasons that the greatest team over the last 2 decades was successful maybe Giggs?

I repeat again Giggs is the most decorated footballer EVER in this country. Not just in the Prem Era. That is no accident.

 

[sparx100]

Always going to provoke debate.
Things that irritated me:

Bale, Modric and Berbatov not being higher.
Kevin Phillips.
David fucking Batty
My onion is that Henry is the best player in the premier league era.
The one actually that annoyed m most was that Zola was 30th........really? Would be in my top 10 - just a fantastic player.

 

[C0YS]

Ryan Giggs has won more EPL titles / league championships than anyone in the history of British football. He consistently produced at a high level over 17 years in the EPL, in many different teams at man Utd.

You are now putting words into my mouth with Henning Berg. So Ronaldo deserves the 1 spot for his what? 4-5 years in the prem? Or Henry because he scored how many goals? Neither did it for 20 years and neither are as decorated or anywhere near.

My logic is Ryan did it for nearly 20 years, won more honours being a mainstay in an ever changing team, set the league alight with pace, skill, passing, crossing and free kick ability, goals of the highest calibre. How can you even question that he is not worthy?

Does it not strike you that one of the reasons that the greatest team over the last 2 decades was successful maybe Giggs?

I repeat again Giggs is the most decorated footballer EVER in this country. Not just in the Prem Era. That is no accident.

I think most people understand the logic on why Giggs got put first, even though I like others disagree with it, but there is no way anyone would take Giggs at his best over Ronaldo at his best in the PL.

Giggs has performed to a fairly consistent level for many many years. But he has never been the shinning light in thee PL. In fact he has only won a single player of the year award and that was given to him through sympathy more than anything else. I nmean giggs has only broke the 10 goal mark twice in the PL, he is an all time great for sure, but because of longevity and symbolism rather than actual ability.

 

[Redfap]

I actually think the list is quite good. These lists always create a stir because we all like/dislike players, rate certain characteristics higher etc...but I think they have done a reasonably good job. I would agree Essien is an omission, but I think longevity is an important thing to consider. Ronaldo in his two dominant seasons is arguably the best player to have graced the Premier League.However, the list encompasses his entire career in England, Bale similarly had 2 very good seasons.

David Batty was a very effective player in his position. Ryan Giggs deserves to be number 1. I've been watching some games from the early-mid 90's lately and he was simply an outstanding player, not to mention the fact that he was a great player and made 600 appearances. Hard to argue with that!

I personally believe that Man Utd side of the mid 90's to be a better side than the Arsenal invincible's. Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are in my opinion the best two central midfielders to have played in the EPL era, then add Ryan Giggs and the left and David Beckham on the right. Beckham is much maligned as a player at times because he is viewed as a celebrity, but he was a a very good wide midfielder who's ability to pass, cross and deliver a dead ball was very often a match winner. There is a reason why this generation of Man Utd players absolutely dominated the league.

Dare I say...

Tony Adams was a better central defender than Terry or Ferdinand.

I also noticed Graeme Le Saux entry in this list questioned, Ashley Cole aside, I cant think of too many full backs who have been better than him. I personally thought he was a very good player

 

[SpurSince57]

Gave up when I saw Lee Dixon at number 59!!! Higher than Carrick, Ljungberg and Modric....

He was a quarter of the best back four the EPL (and arguably English football full stop) has ever seen, so P59 doesn't seem unreasonable.