How do you rate Dani Alves?

First off,is it just me or has Alves gotten even better this season?
Imo he has gotten even better and I have noticed 3 areas where he has improved.
The most remarkable improvement is in his crossing.Before this season he was an inconsistent crosser.
He would hit a brilliant one and then hit 2 into the stands.But this season his crossing has improved remarkably and it has been nothing short of sensational.In fact I cant remember the last time he hit a poor one.
90% of the time they are pin point perfect and if not they are in the box.

Another area of improvement is his ability to play as a forward for us.Prior to this season,contrary to expectation he always struggled when played as a forward for us.But he has corrected that this season.
I think he has been exceptional when played as a forward,either in a 3-4-3 or in a 4-3-3.
He is more willing to dribble players,link up is magnificent,runs are excellent,passing is excellent.Only thing lacking when played up is goals.

Third area of improvement is ofcourse defensive.Every single year under Pep he has improved the defensive side of his game and this year is no exception.Played a few times in a back 3 and was rock solid.
And ofcourse as always completely owns CR every single time.

Overall he is a better player than he was last year.So the question is,HOW good is he?
Is he a top 30 player?
Is he a top 20 player?
A top 10 player?
Or a top 5 player?

Yennaris means January in Greek…
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I've already stated in another thread that I consider him the 4th best player in the team. It's hard to asses where that would be in comparison with all the players in the world, but he'd definitely make my top 20, maybe even the top 10.

That being said, I'm surprised at how much you think his crossing has improved, given that I absolutely hate it when he does. I haven't noticed any big improvements in this area and have considered starting a thread titled "why does Guardiola let Dani Alves cross?". 95% of the time he goes for that option we lose the ball, and they rarely lead to goal. To my memory, there's the Cesc goal in the 3-1 against Madrid, in which the cross was admittedly sublime (and so was the run), but I can't really remember other times.

Dani Alves has tons of asissts, nearly all of them crosses so im not quite following that one Alf.

He picks out players with crosses, whereas most people just pick out a space and put it there.

Anyway, how high do I rank him? Its hard because his position is unique and so is his role...its hard for any "rightback" to be high up on peoples list but clearly he has gone far past the term rightback...he is "entire right flank".

Anyway, I dont think I can name 10 better players really.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I've already stated in another thread that I consider him the 5th best player in the team. It's hard to asses where that would be in comparison with all the players in the world, but he'd definitely make my top 20, maybe even the top 10.

That being said, I'm surprised at how much you think his crossing has improved, given that I absolutely hate it when he does. I haven't noticed any big improvements in this area and have considered starting a thread titled "why does Guardiola let Dani Alves cross?". 95% of the time he goes for that option we lose the ball, and they rarely lead to goal. To my memory, there's the Cesc goal in the 3-1 against Madrid, in which the cross was admittedly sublime (and so was the run), but I can't really remember other times.

Messi,Xavi,Iniesta and who else?
I consider him the fourth best player in the side alongside Busquets.
Cant recalll separate the 2.

Dont you think his crossing has been excellent?
Just in the 3-1 game,there was another terrific cross for Xavi,a free header and Xavi missed.
In the same game,another terrific cross for Fabregas.
Then I remember Xavi scoring from a header against Mallorca.Not entirely sure but think it was Alves who crossed it in.
Even yesterday an inch perfect cross for Messi right towards the end.
Messi with a glancing header forced the keeper into a save.
We lose the ball because we are not a team renowned for headers.
Nothing to do with the quality of his crosses.

Nearly all? It looked to me like the vast majority were ground passes.

That is, unless my understanding of what a "cross" is is completely off.
(If a "cross" is a pass coming from the flank then I have to retract my words, but I've always understood crossing as not touching the ground, otherwise it's simply a "pass")

Well I consider ground passes like those and crosses and one in the same for us...I mean, Dani Alves isnt sending crossing high into spaces in the hope people can get them..that wouldnt make sense.

alexjanosik wrote:Messi,Xavi,Iniesta and who else?
I consider him the fourth best player in the side alongside Busquets.
Cant recalll separate the 2.

I meant 4th, it's been fixed now.

Funny thing about his crossing. We were discussing with a fellow Barca fan and we agreed that his crosses were either pinpoint accurate or terribly executed.
It really depends on whether he is on his “day”

If your reading this Pacroid, im keeping the pink horse.

Dani's Pink Horsey :flower:

Looks like you had a hard time looking for the roid picture lol

The Franchise wrote:Well I consider ground passes like those and crosses and one in the same for us...I mean, Dani Alves isnt sending crossing high into spaces in the hope people can get them..that wouldnt make sense.

Which is why I hate it when he actually goes for high crosses

Anyways, if we're counting ground passes as crosses, which everyone seems to do but me, then I agree that Dani's crossing is fantastic. But I really wish he did less of the high cross type, as we're not a team to be playing in that kind of cross for.

Jack Daniels wrote:Looks like you had a hard time looking for the roid picture lol

The opposite actually, there was just so many to choose from it took a while.

Well I think he only really does the high ones when he is pressed on his right foot and has to check back on his left, when there isnt a easier pass on thats what happens.

I dont think he often does high crosses out of choice.

Top 5 player in the world for sure.
I was just telling my liverpool friend yesterday how he's undoubtedly top 5 players in the world, so it's funny you posted this.

He's such a unique player that you can't simply replace him. When he's on the bench or injured, barca have to alter their game plan. Why? Cause he runs that entire right flank by himself, offensively and defensively.

Somehow, he manages to always make himself available in the attacking buildups - he's always an option for xavi to lay off a pass.
On top of that, he somehow manages to own cr7 in almost every clasico. It's amazing. The versatility that his role brings gives opposing managers a nightmare, ala Mourinho. He can transition from a solid and defensive RB (who NEVER gets tired) to an offensive threat down the right wing.

What's really and truly amazing about Dani Alves is his stamina. Pay attention to how his legs are moving in the 80th+ minutes of games. He's the only guy that still sprints and looks full of energy in the late stages of matches. This makes up for ALL his other weaknesses, bar none.

He's invaluable for our squad.

Best buy under Guardiola and the best wing back of his generation. Textbook wingback. No other player can replicate his movements.

In order of importance:

Guardiola
Messi
Xavi
Alves

Iniesta is more important to the squad. Although perhaps I should refer to it as Xaviesta because each individual is not as important as the sum of both.

I'd say crossing is simply a pass out wide into the middle. Regardless of height. Of course, there is some grey area with that definition, but I think any kind of pass/ hard pass from out wide that has mostly a straight horizontal movement would be a cross. And his crossing has improved noticeably. I give him top 10.

Ever since the end of the 08/09 season I've considered Alves our 4th best player. I think I'm also one of the few who might say he's as important and sometimes more important than Iniesta! I just feel we lose as much without him as we do without Iniesta.

Seriously the best right back I've seen and possibly the best fullback.

I'm not sure whether he's improved defensively, or whether a 3 man backline just draws more attention to how good he really is. Either way, I think its obvious he is both a wall and a revelation going forward.

As I said before 'right boss', not 'right back'.

Alves normally has the 2nd most assists in the team unless i'm mistaken. He had 20 last season for sure, and many more on the way.

Don't listen to the garbage in the Gen. section, Alves is the best RB in the world at the moment, he's shown that consistently over the years.

Only reason i voted "Top 10" was because he scores at 6th place for me so...

BarcaKizz wrote:Ever since the end of the 08/09 season I've considered Alves our 4th best player. I think I'm also one of the few who might say he's as important and sometimes more important than Iniesta! I just feel we lose as much without him as we do without Iniesta.

Seriously the best right back I've seen and possibly the best fullback.

I'm not sure whether he's improved defensively, or whether a 3 man backline just draws more attention to how good he really is. Either way, I think its obvious he is both a wall and a revelation going forward.

As I said before 'right boss', not 'right back'.

I agree with you.
For me the first names on the team sheet are Xavi,Messi and Alves in that order.
And Right Boss sounds about right for Alves.

i used to be a Alves hater(specially because of Copa America) but he has really been impressive lately,he has been a rock defensively,specially against madrid.He owns CR so much

and what does the poll mean by "top x",because hes easily the best rb out there imo,even if you include Lahm as a RB

Its a shame he will never have the career for Brazil he has had at club level.

If he was around in the era of Cafu (and Cafu didnt exsist) he would of really shown what he can do.

The team recently is nothing like the Brazil of just 10 years ago, not quality wise more importantly, stylistically.

I am sure though he is very proud of his club career.

2 Uefa cups, 3 Super cups, 3 La Liga, 2 Copa Del Rey, 2 CWC.

He just wins.