Kaka announces retirement.

[Sidney1st]

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Didn't realise he was the last player to win the Ballon D'or before Ronaldo and Messi made it a private competition.

[houseboy]

He wasn't a bad player for someone whose name is another word for sh!t.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Was one of the most exciting players for around 5 to 7 years.

The fact he and other similar players arent even talked about these days (ronaldinho, rivaldo, even Zidane) just shows what level they have taken it to.

He used to glide over the pitch. Never forget his goal against argentina at the emirates.

[HatfieldClaret]

Couldn't get into a claret shirt if he tried !

[FactualFrank]

Couldn't get into a claret shirt if he tried !

Not now, he's put on about 17 pounds.

[gandhisflipflop]

Never rated him. Expected him to flop at Real Madrid and saw it proved.

[ecc]

Like so many Brazilians, Kaka looked a great player for a few years, above all in 2006/7 when he played a major role in Milan winning the CL, and then it all went wrong. In fairness, he suffered a great deal with injuries.

[KRBFC]

Never rated him. Expected him to flop at Real Madrid and saw it proved.

How did you never rate him? Are you blind or just a typical hater? I'd bet you're another Neymar hater. World class at Milan. I'd have him here now, I'd love us to sign an over the hill type like Kaka to sit on the bench.

[Sidney1st]

How did you never rate him? Are you blind or just a typical hater? I'd bet you're another Neymar hater. World class at Milan. I'd have him here now, I'd love us to sign an over the hill type like Kaka to sit on the bench.

Calm yourself down.

He was great at Milan and that was it, afterwards he wasn't and yes a large chunk was down to injuries etc.

As for Neymar, he's still got a lot of convincing to do yet and faffing about in France won't be helping his cause.
I know he's waiting for his move to Madrid next summer so we will see then how good he really is.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Yep bloody useless. And dont get me startrd on that neymar who only has 50 odd brazil goals at 25.

[Dyched]

Great player a joy to watch. Part of the greatest team in a couple of decades imo.

[gandhisflipflop]

How did you never rate him? Are you blind or just a typical hater? I'd bet you're another Neymar hater. World class at Milan. I'd have him here now, I'd love us to sign an over the hill type like Kaka to sit on the bench.

What is a typical hater? I did not rate kaka what's wrong with that? He was good for a couple of years at Milan but he flattered to deceive. Neymar as has been mentioned needs to do some convincing. Wernt you the one who challenged my view on Brazil's Ronaldo on the 90s strikers thread? I would suggest it is you that's the blind one

[Sidney1st]

Brazilian Ronaldo?
Anyone who says he isn't one of the greatest strikers ever is blind.

[cricketfieldclarets]

So Neymar who was one of the best players in one of the best sides of all time and has been one of the best players around since he was 17 has some convincing to do?

Wow. No wonder expectations in this country are too high.

[Sidney1st]

You go steady, you'll fap yourself to death over him in minute.

Neymar is a good player, just appears to be a bit of a tosser.

[gandhisflipflop]

The question is would I take neymar ahead of a Ronaldo, a romario, a zico, a ronaldinho or a rivaldo? The answer is no i wouldnt. Neymar is a good player but for me he is just too flimsy to be up there with these greats for now. I remember shitting myself before the game before Brazil v England 2002. Somehow a kaka/luis fabiano attack or a neymar/coutinho attack doesn't quite have the same fear factor although the latter are miles better than the former.

[Dyched]

Football is far more accessible nowadays. Players have lost that mystique that came with the name. We now have some of the best players in the world coming to the turf in our league. On our tvs every week spainish/french/italian/champs league.

[KRBFC]

What is a typical hater? I did not rate kaka what's wrong with that? He was good for a couple of years at Milan but he flattered to deceive. Neymar as has been mentioned needs to do some convincing. Wernt you the one who challenged my view on Brazil's Ronaldo on the 90s strikers thread? I would suggest it is you that's the blind one

In this country there's alot of haters of foreign footballers who are world class. I remember the England Brazil game where Neymar did little (before he moved to Barca) and people were up in arms about how overrated and sh*** Neymar is, no doubt many have ate humble pie and admitted they were wrong but some continue on.

[KRBFC]

What is a typical hater? I did not rate kaka what's wrong with that? He was good for a couple of years at Milan but he flattered to deceive. Neymar as has been mentioned needs to do some convincing. Wernt you the one who challenged my view on Brazil's Ronaldo on the 90s strikers thread? I would suggest it is you that's the blind one

I said R9 isn't up there with Messi and Cristiano because Imo, nobody is. It doesn't mean he wasn't a world class player.

[Sidney1st]

Football is far more accessible nowadays. Players have lost that mystique that came with the name. We now have some of the best players in the world coming to the turf in our league. On our tvs every week spainish/french/italian/champs league.

I've made this point a few times in various chats.

When I was a kid the Brazilian teams had this aura and mysticism about them because you didn't see much of them and they were full of tricks and flair players.
Nowadays it's a lot easier to see them and they don't seem that special overall.

Even in that World cup they were shockingly bad.

[Sidney1st]

I said R9 isn't up there with Messi and Cristiano because Imo, nobody is. It doesn't mean he wasn't a world class player.

I respect your opinion because they are top players we are lucky to be able to see, but for me Zidane was better
Is and always will be my favourite player.

[KRBFC]

I've made this point a few times in various chats.

When I was a kid the Brazilian teams had this aura and mysticism about them because you didn't see much of them and they were full of tricks and flair players.
Nowadays it's a lot easier to see them and they don't seem that special overall.

Even in that World cup they were shockingly bad.

The quality of international football has nosedived, Holland and Italy can't even make it to the World Cup. England have the worst squad they have ever had. The only international team who have got better over the past few years is Belgium.

[UpTheBeehole]

Proper Ronaldo was better than Cristiano Ronaldo

[Sidney1st]

The quality of international football has nosedived, Holland and Italy can't even make it to the World Cup. England have the worst squad they have ever had. The only international team who have got better over the past few years is Belgium.

Yeah it's weird how Belgium appear to be having their golden generation of players despite no one banging on about their youth system or style of play.

How are England meant to copy them if no one tells us how they're doing it?!?!?

[gandhisflipflop]

In this country there's alot of haters of foreign footballers who are world class. I remember the England Brazil game where Neymar did little (before he moved to Barca) and people were up in arms about how overrated and sh*** Neymar is, no doubt many have ate humble pie and admitted they were wrong but some continue on.

I wouldn't say haters of foreign footballers. I'd say there is an English snobbery to any team outside the premier league. Those that say la liga is like the Scottish league for example, citing that teams like Malaga wouldn't cut it in the PL whilst being arrogant enough to think Pep Guardiola couldn't do what he did in England because the quality of the other teams is much better. Those types have gone very quiet these past 6 months. Hell there was even a thread on here asking if he was a fraud . It is a part of the problem with our game and hopefully pep is starting to change that.

[Sidney1st]

I did wonder if Pep could cut it over here and he's proven me wrong so far BUT he's needed a shed load of money to do it.

Amusingly over the last few days it's been reported that 7 of the players who started the last league game for UTD were signed by Fergie

I will admit I think Pep will change English football for the better though with the style of play his team are producing.

[gandhisflipflop]

Money or not they said that the PL was unlike any other league and therefore couldn't be done. I do hope that the legacy is that as you say it changes English football for the better and also the English fans perception of foreign leagues too. There is good football outside our national game.