The definition of what it really takes to be a true ‘top, top player’ is still incredibly murky, so that got us thinking: would it be possible to provide a solid, definitive answer on just which players really are ‘top, top’, and which players aren’t? After extensive research, our conclusions are provided below… The definition The Back of the Net Wiki claims that the term ‘top, top player’ was coined by the Redknapp family, and is ‘generally reserved for English internationals or anybody in form for Tottenham Hotspur’. Our incredibly extensive research, carried out over a period of at least half an hour, does touch on that definition, but it also challenges it. According to multiple sources, a list of top top players is as follows: Top, top player: James McCarthy According to: Roberto Marinez He’s Scottish, he’s Irish, he plays for Wigan, and according to Roberto Martinez, he’s one of the elect: “He’s a top, top player. James McCarthy showed what he can do in his attacking sense. Top, top player: Roman Pavlyuchenko According to: Harry Redknapp The Russian striker was brought to White Hart Lane for nearly £14m in 2008, and most fans could considered him inconsistent at best. Harry Redknapp had a different definition in 2011, however: “Technically, he’s a top, top player. When he lined it up I had a feeling he was going to score because he is a very clean striker of the football. He’s got two great feet. Top, top player: Joe Cole According to: Harry Redknapp Mercurial for Chelsea, a flop for Liverpool, and now seeing out his career back at West Ham, Joe Cole was, according to Redknapp, “an outstanding player, a great professional and a top, top player. I would love to have Joe at Tottenham, but there are lots of clubs in for him. Top, top player: Joleon Lescott According to: Paul Lambert He isn’t the best defender in Manchester. He isn’t even the best defender at Manchester City, but according to Paul Lambert, Joleon Lescott is special: “Joleon has been a top player and still is. He’s a top, top player.” Top, top player: Adnan Januzaj According to: David Moyes Could it be that a footballer is born a top, top player, but cant become one? Although a Champions League winner (Steven Gerrard) isn’t a top, top player, but a youngster who has played a handful of games has attained such status. At least according to David Moyes: “I remember giving Wayne his debut, even people like Ross Barkley their debut, and Adnan is certainly in that quality. He’s a top, top player, he really is.” Top, top player: Wayne Rooney According to: Harry Redknapp Considering some of the names above, Premier League and Champions League winning Wayne Rooney sticks out like a sore thumb among top, top players. Nonetheless, the England forward is in the category, according to, you’ve guessed it, Harry Redknapp: “Rooney is a top, top player. I have said for a long time that he has been our one truly world class striker. (Hmm, is there a correlation between being a top, top player and being truly world class? Intriguing.) The future The tricky thing about trying to define a top, top player is that there are plenty of footballers who almost make the cut, but are only considered potentially future holders of the prestigious title, rather than certified members of the top, top club. Check out some of the examples, defying age (and at times, talent), below: Future top, top player: Joe Allen According to: Brendan Rodgers Injury prone, underwhelming, and perhaps even unnecessary, Brendan Rodgers is fairly certain that Joe Allen will demonstrate he’s a top, top player over time. Future top, top player: Adel Taarabt According to: Harry Redknapp Maybe those guys at the Back of the Net Wiki were right, because Harry Redknapp just can’t stop himself from using the term. This time, he singles out QPR exile Adel Taarabt, saying he can be a top, top player like Paolo Di Canio. Future top, top player: Jonjo Shelvey According to: Ian Holloway He wasn’t good enough for Liverpool, but Ian Holloway has little doubt about Swansea’s shiny-headed midfielder: “All I know is that Jonjo is a fantastic young man who has all sorts of ability. I have no doubts whatsoever that he will be a top, top player.” Future top, top player: Ross Barkley According to: Peter Reid Reidy knows top, top talent when he sees it and. in Ross Barkley, he thinks it’s present: “He has all the attributes to be a top, top player, and who knows, if he keeps improving? There is nothing wrong with sticking young players in England squads and World Cups if they can handle it. I think he has got the right character and ability to do that. Future top, top player: Tom Carroll According to: Harry Redknapp Harry’s back. Again. “He’s a player I fully expect to go to the top of the game – he’s a future England international. He’s got all the attributes to be a top, top player.” Future top, top player: Alex Nimely According to: Clive Platt (his former team-mate) No self-respecting list of future top, top players could be complete without the inimitable Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely. The prolific forward scored one goal in 17 games for Coventry City, so it’s easy to see why his former team-mate Clive Platt described him as having the attributes to be a top player. With a bit of luck, he’ll work his way to establish himself as a top, top player, he added. There’s time yet… Future top, top player: Jack Wilshere According to: Arsene Wenger Considered the most exciting young English talent of a generation, Arsene Wenger insists that Wilshere ‘has the personality to be a top, top player’. Conclusion What is clear from our research is that, well, nothing is clear at all. According to the above experts, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Adnan Januzaj and Joleon Lescott are certified top, top players’, but Steven Gerrard isnt. Future ‘top, top players’ range from a key player for club and country in Jack Wilshere, to a 22-year-old striker that scored one goal for Coventry City, to Adel Taarabt. Perhaps the only clear conclusion is that Harry Redknapp does indeed like to use the phrase. A lot. Trust Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to take it to the next level, however. This summer, the Catalan described Arjen Robben not as a ‘top, top player’, but a ‘top, top, top player’. Or ‘top, top, top spieler’, in fact… talksport
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:49:42 +0000
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