FIFA PRO Team of the year 2013

[nrico2006]

As for Suarez being better or having a better year than Messi, that is a joke.  Messi had been doing all year what Suarez has done the past few months, only with more goals to show for it.

I've had a look at the stats again and Suarez actually scored more goals in 2013 than than Messi did.

Suarez actually got 43 while Messi got 42.

Suarez got 14 Premier League goals from January to April, and 19 from September to December. 2 in the Europa League and 8 for Uruguay.

8 of Messi's goals came from penalties whereas only 2 of Suarez's goals did.

So in terms of goals scored from open play or free-kicks, Suarez got 41 to Messi's 34.

How, therefore, is it a joke, to say that Suarez had a better year than Messi? Rather, it's a joke to say otherwise based on preconceived notions of who is the better player, when the statistics don't back you up.

Where did you see these stats?  Suarez and Messi both scored 42 goals this year. 

How many games did each player play?  And how can you classify open play and a free kick as being the same with a penalty being seen as completely different?  Penalties and free kicks should be categorised together if anything.

[Sidney]

As for Suarez being better or having a better year than Messi, that is a joke.  Messi had been doing all year what Suarez has done the past few months, only with more goals to show for it.

I've had a look at the stats again and Suarez actually scored more goals in 2013 than than Messi did.

Suarez actually got 43 while Messi got 42.

Suarez got 14 Premier League goals from January to April, and 19 from September to December. 2 in the Europa League and 8 for Uruguay.

8 of Messi's goals came from penalties whereas only 2 of Suarez's goals did.

So in terms of goals scored from open play or free-kicks, Suarez got 41 to Messi's 34.

How, therefore, is it a joke, to say that Suarez had a better year than Messi? Rather, it's a joke to say otherwise based on preconceived notions of who is the better player, when the statistics don't back you up.

Where did you see these stats?  Suarez and Messi both scored 42 goals this year. 

How many games did each player play?  And how can you classify open play and a free kick as being the same with a penalty being seen as completely different?  Penalties and free kicks should be categorised together if anything.

Goals from free-kicks and penalties should be categorised together?

Really?

You don't see the difference between the two?

[Sidney]

The UCL and EPL much higher standard than International Football.

The standard the top international teams play at is pretty much the same level as the top level of Champions League football.

In a hypothetical scenario where they were allowed compete in the competition, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Holland and Italy would all be Champions League contenders.

Do you think the Chelsea team which won the 2012 Champions League was as good as the Spanish team which won Euro 2012?

The EPL is certainly a more competitive league than La Liga, though.

[Dinny Breen]

The UCL and EPL much higher standard than International Football.

The standard the top international teams play at is pretty much the same level as the top level of Champions League football.

In a hypothetical scenario where they were allowed compete in the competition, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Holland and Italy would all be Champions League contenders.

Do you think the Chelsea team which won the 2012 Champions League was as good as the Spanish team which won Euro 2012?

The EPL is certainly a more competitive league than La Liga, though.

But we're not talking hypothetical situation though are we. International teams play maybe 10 times a year with minimum training, it's impossible to play at your maximum ability as a team with such little game time and preparation hence the standard is significantly lower than the top professional leagues and the UCL.

Look at how many poor footballers excel at international football, it's easier for a poor player to step up a level than it is for a good player to step down a level.

[Main Street]

When Suarez starts to score regularly against the top 7 or even in the UCL in can enter this conversation, currently he is nothing but a flat-track bully, a pretty good one at that mind.

When Messi gets his team to a World Cup semi-final then we can talk.

The UCL and EPL much higher standard than International Football.

It's a moot point about standard of play, galactico club players who play with each other week in week out are bound to have a better rhythm in their team game than players who just meet for internationals. Nevertheless a difference comes into the standard once an intl team play together for a few weeks or a month.
Is a CL Bayern v Barca  of a higher standards to  Euro semi finals  Spain/Germany/Italy/ Portugal? 
A Barca dismantling  of Man U in a CL final,  higher than Spain  dismantling Netherlands or Italy in a Euro final?
At the WC and Euro Finals, the class players have to perform against similar standard players  that they would meet in the CL.

The standard of the EPL is mixed, some good, some reasonable  and some ordinary bog standard.  Certain class players like Larsson  don't need to be playing in the top leagues just to prove they are class, but only an football idiot would have claimed that Larsson was unproven before he went to Barca.
Suarez is one of the few truly class player of this generation.

[Hound]

When Suarez starts to score regularly against the top 7 or even in the UCL in can enter this conversation, currently he is nothing but a flat-track bully, a pretty good one at that mind.

In the last season and a half Suarez has played 16 games against the rest of the Top 7, and scored in 8 of those games (10 goals). Scored at least once against all of those teams in that short time span - bar ManU (played against less due to suspension)

Not sure where you're getting that he doesnt score against top teams, because its utter nonsense.
He scores more against the rubbishy teams, but so does Ronaldo, Messi and probably every other top striker there has ever been.

[Dinny Breen]

He has only scored 12 goals against the top 7 teams currently in the EPL spanning over 2 and 1/2 seasons (60 goals in total). He has 5 UCL goals to his name. This season when it mattered most (the context of the game) he has failed to score against City, Chelsea and Arsenal despite the opportunities presented to him.

Messi has scored 17 goals against Real Madrid alone.

[GalwayBayBoy]

When Suarez starts to score regularly against the top 7 or even in the UCL in can enter this conversation, currently he is nothing but a flat-track bully, a pretty good one at that mind.

Not sure where you're getting that he doesnt score against top teams, because its utter nonsense.

It was the latest bunkum being peddled about after he didn't score in the two Chelsea/Man City games over Christmas (despite actually still playing well). Quickly debunked as bobbins.

[nrico2006]

As for Suarez being better or having a better year than Messi, that is a joke.  Messi had been doing all year what Suarez has done the past few months, only with more goals to show for it.

I've had a look at the stats again and Suarez actually scored more goals in 2013 than than Messi did.

Suarez actually got 43 while Messi got 42.

Suarez got 14 Premier League goals from January to April, and 19 from September to December. 2 in the Europa League and 8 for Uruguay.

8 of Messi's goals came from penalties whereas only 2 of Suarez's goals did.

So in terms of goals scored from open play or free-kicks, Suarez got 41 to Messi's 34.

How, therefore, is it a joke, to say that Suarez had a better year than Messi? Rather, it's a joke to say otherwise based on preconceived notions of who is the better player, when the statistics don't back you up.

Where did you see these stats?  Suarez and Messi both scored 42 goals this year. 

How many games did each player play?  And how can you classify open play and a free kick as being the same with a penalty being seen as completely different?  Penalties and free kicks should be categorised together if anything.

Goals from free-kicks and penalties should be categorised together?

Really?

You don't see the difference between the two?

A free kick would be closer to the 'Penalty' category than 'open play'.

[Applesisapples]

To say that Suarez, good as he is is better than Messi is a joke. Messi's consistent record speaks for itself, he brings more to a team than goals. Barca with a fit Messi and a coach would not have gone down 7-0 over two legs to Bayern.

Suarez's performances in 2013 were better than those of Messi.  That should be the only criteria for selection.

Based on that my selection would have been:

Neuer
Lahm
Silva
Dante
Alaba
Ribery
Iniesta
Bale
Suarez
Cronaldo
Ibrahimovic

Absolute nonsense, you need to start watching La Liga.

[nrico2006]

To say that Suarez, good as he is is better than Messi is a joke. Messi's consistent record speaks for itself, he brings more to a team than goals. Barca with a fit Messi and a coach would not have gone down 7-0 over two legs to Bayern.

Suarez's performances in 2013 were better than those of Messi.  That should be the only criteria for selection.

Based on that my selection would have been:

Neuer
Lahm
Silva
Dante
Alaba
Ribery
Iniesta
Bale
Suarez
Cronaldo
Ibrahimovic

How is Ibrahimovic or Bale in ahead of Messi though?  He scored more goals than both of them.

[Applesisapples]

You've one spot left on your team and Leo and Luis are standing there, who do you pick?

[rodney trotter]

To say that Suarez, good as he is is better than Messi is a joke. Messi's consistent record speaks for itself, he brings more to a team than goals. Barca with a fit Messi and a coach would not have gone down 7-0 over two legs to Bayern.

Suarez's performances in 2013 were better than those of Messi.  That should be the only criteria for selection.

Based on that my selection would have been:

Neuer
Lahm
Silva
Dante
Alaba
Ribery
Iniesta
Bale
Suarez
Cronaldo
Ibrahimovic

How is Ibrahimovic or Bale in ahead of Messi though?  He scored more goals than both of them.

Bale doesn't play as a forward, don't know why you are using him as a comparison

[Hound]

He has only scored 12 goals against the top 7 teams currently in the EPL spanning over 2 and 1/2 seasons (60 goals in total). He has 5 UCL goals to his name. This season when it mattered most (the context of the game) he has failed to score against City, Chelsea and Arsenal despite the opportunities presented to him.

Yip, so it is pure nonsense to say he doesn't score against good teams.
Like any striker he won't take every chance, but he certainly missed nothing easy away to City, Chelsea or Arsenal, games where the opposition played better than Liverpool.

In just the last season and a half, and despite suspensions, he's scored against Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton. And all the while playing with plenty of pretty mediocre teammates.

[Dinny Breen]

Gee I said regularly against the top sides, maybe he might in the 2nd half of the season but I have my doubts.