Arjen Robben

[Alarcón]

Look at the Mexico game and you already have more than 3

 

[Icarium]

Edit: look at the share of goals that settles everything. Netherlands as a team performing well with LVG doing some arrogant but awesome things. But it is just messi at Argentina, in the last match only Higuain played well but that goal also came from classic messi skill.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

ITT prejudiced people. Robben has been nothing short of amazing in each and every match, yes even the Mexico one, for me easily the player of the tournament so far. I bet Spain, Chile and Mexico are the same calibre as Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria.

Robben > James > Messi, soon to be Messi > Robben > James. Vamos!

Saying Robben has been better than James is absurd. James has 6 goals and like two or three assists. Robben has three goals and about 16 dives.

 

[Icarium]

Who runs most is the best player... Barcaforum logic

If you consider key moments messi wins it, that dude is dragging the team. Robben has had awesome world cup and his performances or on par with messi this WC and sometimes he looks more dangerous than messi. But robben better than messi in your wild dreams maybe. Who ever wins the match is best player of tournament for me. If argentina wins it obviously it will be messi win, but if netherlands wins it it may not be robben win. Masch will have Robben in his back pockets wait and see.

 

[KingMessi]

I think that Robben is probably a lock for at least the Silver Ball.

 

[Icarium]

I think that Robben is probably a lock for at least the Silver Ball.

I am not sure for that too, James might get it assuming messi wins this match which i am not sure he will. If messi does not win then that diver will get the golden ball.

Edit: Anyway we are all forgetting about muller. He has 2 important matches if he is the top scorer and wins those matches for germany he will also have some chance. Neymar is out of the picture now, Messi James Robben and Muller have the chance i think.

 

[footyfan]

Messi has scored more from less chances

Nope, Messi has had more shots than Robben. Also, James has taken less shots than Messi and scored more goals.

created more chances than anyone in the tournament

Is 'chances created' the new 'key pass' or is it actually another term for 'key pass'? I haven't seen Messi creating a lot of chances in this tournament.

dribbled more than anyone at the tournament.

Only 4 players in the entire World Cup have been dispossessed more than Messi.

Saying Robben has been better than James is absurd. James has 6 goals and like two or three assists. Robben has three goals and about 16 dives.

Look at the teams Robben has faced and compare to the teams James and Messi have faced. I don't understand why people aren't taking this into account. Arguing based on stats for such a short tournament and when players don't face the same teams is absurd.

 

[KingMessi]

I am not sure for that too, James might get it assuming messi wins this match which i am not sure he will. If messi does not win then that diver will get the golden ball.

Edit: Anyway we are all forgetting about muller. He has 2 important matches if he is the top scorer and wins those matches for germany he will also have some chance. Neymar is out of the picture now, Messi James Robben and Muller have the chance i think.

Ah, right. Well then Robben could at least be a lock for the Bronze Ball?

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

Maybe Cristiano will get the golden ball. That volley vs Ghana was incredible.

 

[Icarium]

Ah, right. Well then Robben could at least be a lock for the Bronze Ball?

Looks like it unless muller surprises everyone

 

[DonAndres]

Robben is perpetually active, far more than Messi is. He's not as good, not as efficient, not as creative, etc. But still, a higher level of activity from the team's most dangerous/best player easily improves the team's overall attacking output (a big reason why Netherland's attack looks more dangerous than Argentina's). That's why Messi in 10/11-11/12 is better than Messi now.

Robben's insane stamina also helps, which is why 10/12 of Netherland's goals have been in the 2nd half when teams get more tired and why Robben always looks so dangerous late in the game. A player who's not even close to as talented as Messi yet can provide so much attacking threat and danger just by being more active than he is gives yet another reason as to why Messi should amp up his workrate. Di Maria wouldn't have to do all of the engine work then and Argentina would've looked a far more threatening side overall (I've little doubt that Messi would be leading the golden boot race by some distance if it were the case).

Honestly Idk why you guys are so defensive about Messi's walking. Don't you want a better Messi?? Or is this the most you think the GOAT can provide? No one is saying he's shit, quite the contrary. Just that he's capable of so much more. I really hope Messi gives 100% against the Dutch, and then that Lucho can fix his bad habits for Barcelona so that he isn't in a position to be doubted.

 

[KingMessi]

I think Messi has played rather conservatively so far with regards to energy. We saw in the first half against Belgium and in the game against the Swiss that Messi can run. I'd prefer Messi saves his energy for the Semis and the Final, and then amp up his work rate, rather than burn out due to injury like Di Maria last match.

 

[Luftstalag14]

If you think that Robben is only a fast and strong player then you don't know anything about football, By technical qualities, i was referring to ball control and pace changing, regarding these elements Robben is the best player of the tournament (to be clear, i'm not stating a global opinion but just relatively to the WC).

Messi has been good but less constant than Robben, but yeah judging all of their carrier, Messi is a far better player no doubt about that.

About his tendency to dive, just give me more than 3 specific actions where he did that, i'm curious.

Since when has Robben had better ball control and pace changing than Messi? Especially the latter, which is Messi's signature characteristic?

I will give it to you though that Robben as better pace.
I guess I really don't know anything about football.

 

[gatsu]

Edit: look at the share of goals that settles everything. Netherlands as a team performing well with LVG doing some arrogant but awesome things. But it is just messi at Argentina, in the last match only Higuain played well but that goal also came from classic messi skill.

Stats doesn't mean anything knowing that the 2 players don't have the same role, worst for a 10 Messi workrate is pretty poor.

 

[footyfan]

Robben is perpetually active, far more than Messi is. He's not as good, not as efficient, not as creative, etc. But still, a higher level of activity from the team's most dangerous/best player easily improves the team's overall attacking output (a big reason why Netherland's attack looks more dangerous than Argentina's). That's why Messi in 10/11-11/12 is better than Messi now.

Robben's insane stamina also helps, which is why 10/12 of Netherland's goals have been in the 2nd half when teams get more tired and why Robben always looks so dangerous late in the game. A player who's not even close to as talented as Messi yet can provide so much attacking threat and danger just by being more active than he is gives yet another reason as to why Messi should amp up his workrate. Di Maria wouldn't have to do all of the engine work then and Argentina would've looked a far more threatening side overall (I've little doubt that Messi would be leading the golden boot race by some distance if it were the case).

Honestly Idk why you guys are so defensive about Messi's walking. Don't you want a better Messi?? Or is this the most you think the GOAT can provide? No one is saying he's shit, quite the contrary. Just that he's capable of so much more. I really hope Messi gives 100% against the Dutch, and then that Lucho can fix his bad habits for Barcelona so that he isn't in a position to be doubted.

I don't think Messi can provide more running. Post-Belgium match (where he had to put just a bit more of a defensive shift even though he was one of the 2 forwards) he said he felt tired when he approached the ball. Same interview he said he ran more than usual even though his distance ran is no different to his other games. Only difference was 'off-possession' movement was a higher percentage of the overall distance run.

Maybe his stamina really has dropped because of that vomit thingy.