Andres Iniesta

[keniget]

He deserves his own thread.

He was the main man and the winner for them against Chelsea. Tonight he lead from the front once again and provided the inspiration, drive and confidence that eventually gained them the win. When the rest of the team looked shaken, he kept his cool and that produced a massive swing in momentum that Utd never recovered from.

Man of the match and it's been quite a while since I've seen someone look so at home in a European cup final. He might as well have been having a kickabout with his mates at home.

 

[Sunny]

I was saying in the BARCA thread Keni - I'd rather have him in my team than any other player on that pitch.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He's just a phenomenal player.

 

[rebel23]

it's a shame they never come up against great technical midfielders every week because they're very poor dealing with them ive noticed. look at their record against the top 4 this season and now Barce..

 

[livvy145]

Brilliant player.

I'd love him here.

 

[Rafiagra]

He ran the game tonight.

Put Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney well into the shadow

 

[Judge Jules]

Not sure about MOTM (I though Puyol shaded that) but Iniesta is a truly tremendous player.

 

[jan]

I've probably said that after the Chelsea game already but he's been my favourite player outside Liverpool for a few years now. He's just awesome.

 

[cochyn]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33802.msg876850#msg876850 date=1243456782]
Not sure about MOTM (I though Puyol shaded that) but Iniesta is a truly tremendous player.
[/quote]

he may be ex-manure but i would call it for Pique, he was immense tonight!!

 

[KopKing]

Iniesta is sheer quality. He's had his injury problems too. I thought Messi was class also.

 

[Hansern]

For all the talk of Ronaldo and Messi for World player of the year. Xavi or Iniesta should got the award.

Iniesta is just a fantastic player. I love watching him play the game with such ease.

 

[keniget]

Messi will win it by a landslide. He's just matched Ronaldo's last season more or less.

It'd be good if Xavi and Iniesta got some recognition however (although the latter has spent a large part of the season injured).

 

[vikas]

Iniesta is magic.

Can't remember a player that I've been as confident about not losing the ball whenever he takes a run at anyone from any angle.

 

[TheBunnyman]

He's tiny, he's not athletic at all, and he has possibly the worst haircut in Spain, but yeah... Iniesta's control and vision is probably the best in modern football.

That's why I want us to sign Silva - he's the closest thing to Iniesta we could possibly buy. AND he happens to play our in our sole 'problem position'.

 

[Friend no. 2]

[quote author=Rafiagra link=topic=33802.msg876841#msg876841 date=1243456641]
He ran the game tonight.

Put Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney well into the shadow

[/quote]

Harsh on Messi, he was phenomenal tonight...

 

[keniget]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33802.msg876943#msg876943 date=1243458779]
He's tiny, he's not athletic at all, and he has possibly the worst haircut in Spain, but yeah... Iniesta's control and vision is probably the best in modern football.
[/quote]

I noticed quite a few times tonight also that he refused to be shrugged off the ball when under a lot of pressure. He's tiny, pale and looks slightly ill, but he's got great acceleration and can hold his own.

Agree re: his control. Fantastic.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=33802.msg876949#msg876949 date=1243458900]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33802.msg876943#msg876943 date=1243458779]
He's tiny, he's not athletic at all, and he has possibly the worst haircut in Spain, but yeah... Iniesta's control and vision is probably the best in modern football.
[/quote]



I noticed quite a few times tonight also that he refused to be shrugged off the ball when under a lot of pressure. He's tiny, pale and looks slightly ill, but he's got great acceleration and can hold his own.

Agree re: his control. Fantastic.
[/quote]

Ha ha - 'slightly ill' is spot on. He doesn't look like a professional footballer at all. Except when you watch him play football.

 

[redfromlondon]

He's a magician and will be one of the greatest Attacking midfielders ever if he carries on like this.

 

[Oncy]

I love Iniesta, have for years, so rather than me bang on about how great i think he was today, i just searched under my name for any mention of him, and bar a couple of quotes when he was dissapointing in early Euro2008 this is pretty much my thoughts on him.

Barca were so poor tonight, it looked like they could play for weeks and not score, but brilliant finish from Iniesta and some of the most heartwarming scenes the 'neutral' will ever see

He wouldnt leave there mate, and if he did it would be 40m plus.

Messi, Etoo and Henry are all terrific but Xavi and Iniesta do so much to allow them to play their game. I doubt a better front 5 have ever existed. Just amazing.

He's a beautiful footballer. In fact i think id only put Gerrard ahead of him as best all rounder in the world.
Incidentally xavi is right up there too.

Reina
Evra
Ferdinand
Carragher
Bosingwa
Gerrard
Xavi
Iniesta
Messi
Torres
Ronaldo

Xavi, Iniesta and Toure is pretty fucking shit hot.

Id be willing to bet my left ball he will sign a new deal at Barca.
Stupid story, he wont leave there.
If he ever did, id love him here, and iniesta too.
But he/they wont.

I think Iniestas a wonderful player Ken.
I like Xavi and Et'oo too, but it would be Iniesta for me.

And now a red card for almeria.
This could be a long night for these lads.
Iniesta is a fucking wizard.

If we offered em Xabi and lucas plus 10m maybe.
Iniesta is way out of our league.

I must say i have given aragones stick for keeping with Iniesta and Xavi, but both have been fucking brilliant in the semi and final. Just masterclasses in slick passing and controlled posession.

I would go with Iniesta. Hes a beautiful footballer.
Id play him in the hole with Gerrard part of the attacking 3

 

[mark mc]

Xavi got man of the match which amazed me as I thought Inesta pissed it.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

He's been superb for years. I'm not sure why so many seem to have only just noticed.

 

[Wilko7]

What are all your quotes for, Once?

 

[Glock21]

Xavi is a better player than Iniesta. Having said that, Iniesta really ran the show last night. Superb slick passing, vision and control. Fucking hell.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=33802.msg877177#msg877177 date=1243482423]
Xavi is a better player than Iniesta.
[/quote]

Ha ha - Glock has spoken. I think we all know what that means.

Well done, Andres.

 

[Mors]

Is there a player in their 1st choice 11, from the midfield upwards that isn't fucking brilliant? Yaya? Xavi? Iniesta? Henry? Messi? Eto'o?

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33802.msg876965#msg876965 date=1243459271]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=33802.msg876949#msg876949 date=1243458900]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33802.msg876943#msg876943 date=1243458779]
He's tiny, he's not athletic at all, and he has possibly the worst haircut in Spain, but yeah... Iniesta's control and vision is probably the best in modern football.
[/quote]



I noticed quite a few times tonight also that he refused to be shrugged off the ball when under a lot of pressure. He's tiny, pale and looks slightly ill, but he's got great acceleration and can hold his own.

Agree re: his control. Fantastic.
[/quote]

Ha ha - 'slightly ill' is spot on. He doesn't look like a professional footballer at all. Except when you watch him play football.
[/quote]

So true. He's awesome and has been for the past two seasons.

 

[Judge Jules]

We were lucky they had to play him at LB, where he's not nearly as effective, when we last faced them in the Nou Camp (though Momo was on fire that night and would probably have crippled him at some stage).

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=33802.msg877385#msg877385 date=1243503870]
We were lucky they had to play him at LB, where he's not nearly as effective, when we last faced them in the Nou Camp (though Momo was on fire that night and would probably have crippled him at some stage).
[/quote]

Iniesta at LB? Are you sure?

 

[Judge Jules]

It was either LB or left wing-back. He's played there on one or two other occasions for them. It nullified him almost completely as I remember.

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33802.msg877218#msg877218 date=1243492555]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=33802.msg877177#msg877177 date=1243482423]
Xavi is a better player than Iniesta.
[/quote]

Ha ha - Glock has spoken. I think we all know what that means.

Well done, Andres.
[/quote]

Hehe. I'd also always rated Xavi above him but maybe after Glock's comments I need to reconsider!

To be fair they both make that midfield tick. It would be interesting to see whether it would affect them if they weren't playing together.