1. Carrick, Hargreaves and Neville are held in higher esteem and assumedly the former two will continue to be unless McClaren re-shapes the team (he’s only slightly younger than them).

2. I said he was good, I said I like him as a player and he’s one of my favourite premiership midfielders. I said I don’t think he will it to Viera’s, Makalele’s or Gerrard’s standard… Not that he won’t be top class. There are other top class midfielders who aren’t held in such high esteem as Viera, Makelele and Gerrard. You have to be inhuman to reach that standard in reality. Maybe if he joins Man Utd he can reach those heights.

3. I dont think he’s slow in running terms, i think he’s a little bit cumbersome at times. (you need footballing intellect as well as good running ability) He’s quite similar to Scotty Parker, despite the talent, he doesn’t seem to read the game as well as someone with his talent should. You can appear slow in sprinting and still be a great player if you read the game well enough, perhaps Reo-Coker will eventually develop his understanding of the game to the point where his slight lack of pace isn’t an issue.

4. I like putting numbers before my points. It’s fun.

5. Perez doubted Makelele’s pace and ability to beat players and play Madrid style attacking football, not his value as a defensive midfielder who breaks up play. I guess I can understand what you mean by comparing my comment with that, but let’s face it, I made alot of concessions in the end that proved I do value the good things about Coker’s game and that I think he will be a great player. I just don’t reckon he’ll be a Viera or a Maka!

You’ve got to admit you were trying to be a bit of an arse comparing the most short sited statement in footballing history (undermining makelele’s importance) to my comments about an unproven young midfielder who hasn’t shown any real signs of being the next big thing. There are a number of young midfielders with similar qualities who are held in higher regard. At that time, there weren’t a huge number of defensive midfielders plying their trade as lynchpins of teams (Keane and Viera were though). Today most teams employ a defensive midfielder and therefore Coker will be judged more harshly.

You know what I mean, it was a bit unfair.

But then if he’s employed regularly in the defensive midfield role, who knows what he can do. That is exactly the position Man United or Arsenal would play him in should they acquire his services. Considering his youth and the fact that he’s just spent one year player in the top division, I think it’s a bit early to terms his prospects as mediocre and not top class. His best is yet to come, and still, he’s just as good as Senna (at the very least).

Your damnation of Reo-Coker as intellectually challenged for football rang the same bell as Perez on Makelele. Nothing personal, I just think you’re calling time on him too soon.

I wouldn’t disagree with anything in that statement. He’s not the most talented player on the ball. He does read the defensive game outstandingly, and is the best at closing down space and breaking up build up play in the world at the moment. Real were blind to his defensive abilities because they wanted a more attacking defensive midfielder.
(The ‘lack of technique’ comment is interesting. He doesn’t go past people and turn players inside out, he doesn’t send probing balls out to the wings. He plays a similar role to Gattuso, who I also admire hugely) If Perez was worth listening to, he would have bought Ronaldinho when given the opportunity, instead of Cash-cow Beckham.

I am not an arrogant, money driven spaniard justifying my ‘galactico’ club’s reason for refusing a world cup winning defensive midfielder an increased contract and selling him. (Viera knew he would never get the money and respect he deserved at Real, hence why he never chose to join them)

I am stating my opinion on the internet about a recently promoted team’s defensive midfielder who can’t get into the England set-up because Hargreaves, Carrick and even Phil Neville are held in higher esteem than him.

Reo Coker is a good midfielder (one of my favourites in the premiership) but right now, he doesn’t look like he can ever reach the heights that Gerrard and Lampard have, or for that matter Viera and Makelele. Makelele is played in a role that suits his strenghts, Reo Coker is used in the Lampard role when he should be sitting back playing the Makalele role.

This is on recent form, he might just be unfit or carrying a knock or something, because I don’t remember noticing such a severe lack of mobility and pace last season. That is either down to physical limitations, or down to a lack of mental sharpness.

(Either way, after a summer break, he shouldn’t be showing signs of either limitation)

Thanks for you input though Rocky, it was so relevant.