Metaphysical
Bomb Dropper
yes, yes I am.
Iniesta is a wonderful player with awesome potential, but if he wins this prize, the prize is simply useless. This is so far from close. Even barca have two players who deserve it more, let alone guys like sneijder. Ronaldo I suppose is out since there where no titles.
This would be true, if it wasnt for the fact that the prize has nothing to do with past performance.
Iniesta is a wonderful player with awesome potential, but if he wins this prize, the prize is simply useless. This is so far from close. Even barca have two players who deserve it more, let alone guys like sneijder. Ronaldo I suppose is out since there where no titles.
This would be true, if it wasnt for the fact that the prize has nothing to do with past performance.
the new Zidane.
the new Zidane.
Iniesta's amazing mental strength and big game mentality is very underappreciated. I know you are all aware that he has scored big goals and shined in big games, but I still don't think this aspect of him is talked about enough. He isn't just a great big game player, he is unquestionably the best big game and big moment player in the world and there are countless examples. I'd say he has a Michael Jordan mentality in big games - Obviously completely different sports, but in big games and high pressure moments something clicks in their minds and they say "I'd rather die than lose".
Messi and Xavi are also strong mentally, but Iniesta has a Michael Jordan-esque ability to go to the next level in big games. He is already a great player, but my god, something possesses him in big games, and he becomes even better. He doesn't have the best shooting technique but my god, he shoots like a born finisher when it really matters in the biggest moments of the biggest games.
I know I'll get abuse for this, but Messi and Xavi both looked a bit scared and inhibited against Inter Milan in the semi finals of the champions league especially in the second leg at the Camp Nou. Messi did nothing except that one shot in the second leg. Xavi for some bizarre reason refused to shoot or rather was scared to shoot when he had two clear chances against Inter in the second leg at the Nou Camp. Also Xavi wasn't his fluent best and seemed very unusually inhibited. Notably Iniesta was injured and Barcelona were without him in both legs. Oh how they missed the mentally strong genius Iniesta.
Funnily enough despite Messi's incredible shooting technique and finishing ability, in a do or die situation with all the pressure in the world, I'd rather Iniesta take the shot than Messi. Messi is leagues above Iniesta in terms of shooting ability, but Iniesta is leagues above in terms of mental strength. I hate questioning Messi's mental strength, but I've seen so many examples of Messi going into his shell in big games and his shooting technique deteriorating.
Last season only injury stopped Iniesta from hitting the heights of 2008/2009 season where he got countless standing ovations. If he can stay injury free this season, I think he will even better than he was in 2008/2009. He showed amazing consistency in 2008/2009 season so I don't know why people say he is inconsistent. If he doesn't have any injury, he is just as consistent as Xavi and Messi, BUT more importantly he is better than both of them in big games.
the new Zidane.