There is no denying their skills and strengths, but at times these two are given a little too much credit and value to their skills. They have both received too much or undeserved praise which, in truth, should not be given.

They are still amazing athletes no doubt, but please 'world class' is a tad over-the-top.

I know the press in the UK overrates and hypes up players beyond belief, and if anyone was to read about Bale or Walcott you would assume that they are both the 'second coming of maradona or pele' ffs.

And no, this is not about the clubs in which they play for, i couldnt care less, but lets just all calm down regarding their abilities.

Wut?

No-one's ever called Walcott "the best player in the PL" or "3rd/4th best player in the world", phrases Bale is constantly getting thrown in his direction

Walcott "has no footballing brain" ffs. I fail to see the comparison in that case.

Overhyped chimp is overhyped.

Tbf Walcott isn't really on Bale's level anyway. He went through a period where he got a lot of hype because of his incredibly impressive and entertaining style, but wasn't actually as good as made out. Inconsistent. However, now he's showing consistency, responsibility and versatility. He doesn't deserve to be called overhyped anymore really. Walcott hasn't yet showed these things for Arsenal yet.

Bale is also really carrying Spurs, something I don't think Walcott could ever do.

Funny how both Dembele and Bale are "carrying" the Spurs

I think consistency is a big factor in deciding whether a player is World Class or not.

Yohan Modric wrote:I think consistency is a big factor in deciding whether a player is World Class or not.

true, and being on another level year in,year out...not having a fantastic game against (no disrespect to any hammers or anyone lol) the likes of West Ham.

At 23 and with what he's achieved, Bale is not world class. Not in the way we speak of guys like Pirlo, Vidic, Iniesta, Casillas etc. who have been considered among the world's best at what they do for years and years. However, I think you can say that with the talent he's got, and with what he's doing now, he's well on his way to being considered as such a player.

Its not as if he had one good game either... He's been outstanding pretty much all season, and he's probably even played better games in recent weeks.

Of course, the term is completely subjective, but you probably earn the right to own it after being truly at the top for 2-3 years minimum.

Yohan Modric wrote:I think consistency is a big factor in deciding whether a player is World Class or not.

you think?!, its ONE OF THE big factors.

People are lashing the term of world class too loosely, it has lost its meaning.

I'm with xcx on this one. Every good player has a world class performance every now and then, when you come to a place where you constantly expect a player to perform on a world class level, that's when he probably is world class.

If you're top 5 in the world at your position, you're WC generally.

Walcott world class

Who seen Walcott against Bayern? What a limited player.

worms wrote:Walcott world class

Who seen Walcott against Bayern? What a limited player.

Tbf he was played out of position, didnt adapt too quickly

worms wrote:Walcott world class

Who seen Walcott against Bayern? What a limited player.

"Didn't score against Europes best defense. Is shit!"
Really?

Walcott is not world class ffs. Give me a break. He's good at two things only. outpacing defenders towards goal or outpacing defenders to the wing. That's it. Unless you play a high line, he's pretty much useless.

People have been calling Bale world class for a couple of seasons now, but he has never actually been near that level or worthy of the praise until this season. Does he have the resume of some of the other world class players out there? Maybe not, but he is doing extremely well right now and is performing at a world class level.

As for Theo, I don't know if I've ever heard more than 1 person here or there call him world class, and this is a guy who has had better stats than Bale in every season before this one (which is competitive between the two).

VivaStPauli wrote:

worms wrote:Walcott world class

Who seen Walcott against Bayern? What a limited player.

"Didn't score against Europes best defense. Is shit!"
Really?

Is that how people judge Walcott? Focus just on his goal scoring to hide the fact the rest of his game is average?

Pace.

Composed finishing on 1vs 1's with the keeper.

What other attributes does he have? Nada.

Average player and always will be.He didn't start playing football until he was 10,maybe that's why he doesn't have a football brain and is a one dimensional player?

Vision? Has racked up quite a few assists

Decision making? See above

Composure?

Technique?

Oh go away, Worms

Assists doesnt necessarily equate to having vision.

Anyone who watches him consistently would say he's not one of the most creative players around.

El Shaarawy wrote:

worms wrote:Walcott world class

Who seen Walcott against Bayern? What a limited player.

Tbf he was played out of position, didnt adapt too quickly

To be fair as a Bayern fan, who was really crashing the goal with Walcott against Bayern? He literally had no help running down the right side of the pitch, when he got to the box there was no where to go with the ball but backwards.

On the thread topic, I think the term "world class" gets thrown around way to easily.

Walcott is still underrated if anything. I think most people on average rate Bale fine, but the media drastically overrate him.

I dont think either are world class. Bale is probably closest.

Walcott = underrated
Bale = overrated


They are not world class they are just great players but world class for me defines something else, its some one who can change the whole game,step up when its most needed even if its needed he will be the sacrifice.

World Class for me : Iniesta,Messi,Ronaldo,Pirlo, Buffon,Xavi,Totti, Del Piero , Gerrard, Lampard....
Potential to be world class or close to it : RvP, Vidal, Ozil, Yaya Toure,Marchisio,Falcao,Lamela, Jovetic, Bale, Suarez, ... and so on

There is a difference between them for me I've put Buffon there because if you have seen them you'll know what kind of saves he makes.

Don't get me wrong I love the other players to and I would be even more than happy to have them in Juve but they lack something to be in the elite the best of the best.

Those are just few examples

Overdone thread has been overdone. Everyone agrees the term is thrown around too much.

Bale is a better player than Walcott though, not really a tough decision for anyone who watches both players IMO.

Dives better, that's fo sho'

Yohan Modric wrote:I think consistency is a big factor in deciding whether a player is World Class or not.

Very correctly said. Neither of them are world class players, both are one trick ponies. Take away their pace and they'll become quite average.