Adam Wharton RANKS the world's BEST midfielders ⭐️

Sky Sports Premier League

Adam Wharton ranks Crystal Palace legends, Ballon d'Or contenders, world midfielders and No. 10s on Sky Sports

Adam Wharton takes on a 1-to-3 ranking game across several football topics and explains his picks. He puts Zaha first among Palace legends, Kane first among Ballon d'Or contenders, Vitinha first among central midfielders and Bellingham first among No. 10s. His judgments are mostly based on players he has watched, faced or trained with rather than a full statistical comparison.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWPremierLeagueYT Adam Wharton takes on Saturday Social's RANKS, where he is tasked with ranking a number of different topics from 1 to 3, including Crystal Palace legends, Balon d'Or nominees, The World's best number 10s and the best footy scran... PremierLeague CrystalPalace SkySports ► Premier League highlights: https://bit.ly/PL2627HL ► MNF, FNF, SNF & Super Sunday analysis: https://bit.ly/SkyMatchAnalysis ► Gary Neville Podcast: https://bit.ly/GaryNevillePodcast ► Saturday Social: https://bit.ly/SkySaturdaySocial ► Buy this season’s shirts: https://bit.ly/SkySportsShop More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkySportsFootball ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skysportsfootball ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsfootball ► X: https://x.com/SkySportsPL ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here: https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/31754/11434270/license-sky-sports-footage

Transcript

Yo, what's good people? Welcome to Ranks with Adam Watson. So, Adam, this is very simple. I'm going to give you a bunch of categories and you've got to rank them from one to three. So, the first category is PL Palace Legends. Okay. So, we've got Zaha, EZ, and Elise. What we thinking? This is hard. This is all your opinion as well. So, >> I think for Palace Legends, >> okay, >> I think Zaha's got to go first. >> Okay. >> I think he was there for longer. Obviously I he left just before I joined so I didn't get to play with him but when you think of Crystal Palace you think of uh Zaha obviously before I joined you'd see him and he was ripping teams up and he was there for so long I'm pretty sure he must be the Prem top scorer I think for Palace as well obviously helped them establish themselves in the Premier League so I think he he has to go there >> yeah that's fair that's fair >> and then >> next who's hard >> I think ES second and then Mikey Obviously, Michael weren't here as long, but obviously what he's doing now is incredible. But then, yeah, EB's obviously winning goal in the FA Cup final here a bit longer. Uh, I had two and a half years with him as well and he was top. So, I think Palace fans will agree with me on that one as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. How was it playing with with you? Cuz like you said, the the quality that they had, but it's like the chemistry, the freedom, the joy that they brought to Palace fans as well. >> They're like best mates off the pitch. So obviously like when they were on the pitch as well, they just knew what each other was going to do. And there was like a 6 month, well not even 6 months, it's like a 10 game period when Michael came back from injury and it was so easy to just play them empty. Every time I got the ball, I just pass it to one of them. >> Yeah. It makes your job easier, isn't it? >> And then they dribble, pass to each other, score with JP as well. It was like going into every game, you knew we were going to win. >> Yeah. >> Just that's just how you felt. They were so good. patch one-on-one even if they've got a man on the back, get the ball, just turn them able to receive under pressure. So good. Yeah. >> And you share a similar pathway to to all of them to be honest to play in the Championship then come up to the Premier League. Was that something that kind of guided you to come to Palace cuz that pathway was there as well? >> Yeah, I think obviously when I was sort of speaking to Palace before I joined, that was a big sort of thing about it. they had the the sort of history of of bringing in players from the championship and giving them that opportunity. Obviously they they flourished when they came here and established themselves as Premier League players, top players. So for me looking at that it was sort of if they can do it then it's a good opportunity for me to to go there and try and show what I can do. So before my first game, I was speaking to Michael about how he found it moving from the championship to the Prem and he was like, "You'll be fine. You've obviously come here for a reason. Just trust trust your abilities and and show what you can do." And that was sort of a big boost of confidence for me. And then yeah, I think um I sort of adapted pretty quickly after that. >> I love that. I spoke to some Palace fans as well and you obviously don't have to say it, but they're already saying you're a Palace legend. say you've won you you've won a few trophies for them. You're consistent. You've ordered armband as well. How does that make you feel? >> No, it's great. Obviously, the fans are looking at me in that way. I wouldn't say I'm a legend. Um but no, I just want to sort of give my best. I think the fans have welcomed me since I joined um really well. The atmosphere they create for us on game days is massive. It it pushes us on to try and help us get results and and make them proud. And I think the emotions that they would have felt as well as us as players, but especially them uh when we were winning the FA Cup and uh the Conference League last year. I think you know they deserve it. They've waited so long and I think for us as players that's something uh you can't you can't buy that sort of feeling and it's something that will stay with me forever. >> So the next category is Balumor nominees. So we've got Kane Kian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. >> That's so difficult. I think it's difficult as well because I don't get to see them every week. >> I don't watch all their games. So it's hard to sort of rank, but I think I've watched Kane the most. >> Obviously with England, seeing him in the World Cup, even in the Nations League games recently, like if you give him the boy, he'll score. So, I don't know how many goals he scored, like 70 goals this year or something crazy. I think to be doing that consistently is incredible. I think he scored so many goals for England as well. Obviously, I've seen him in training a few times and his finishing is just like >> unreal. >> Yeah. Out of this world. So, I think he's going first. >> Okay. >> And then >> Le mean second, I think. >> Y and then Mbappe. Yeah. I think obviously I think they won the league last year. woke up and every time I watch him to be fair, it's just like to be doing that at I don't even know how old he's 19, 18, >> 18, 19. Yeah. >> It's just like it's mad really. And like he's got the confidence and ability to beat men. I think it was Inter Milan maybe a couple seasons ago or last like the season before last. >> Yeah. >> It's like semi-final of or quarterfinal of the Champions League and he's doing that. It's just Yeah. Incredible. And then Mbappe like you seen him in the World Cup. If he played in the World Cup every week, he'd be he'd be bound to win every year. >> Turns it up for France. >> Yeah. But like I said, I don't see the games every week. So it is difficult to say, but I've seen Harry the most. And he's I think if you're scoring that many goals, it's pretty hard to say no to winning the Ballor. That's >> he's the closest like we've got to >> Messi Ronaldo since they were scoring 100 goals a year or whatever it was. So the next category is world center midfielder. So we've got Pedri, Declan Rice, and Vetinia. >> I think Vatinia. Okay. And then Deck. And then >> Wow. Yeah. I think Betin is so good at just like controlling the game. Obviously, they've won the Champions League two times in a row and he's been such a big part of that. in the in the one before last year he was like he went on a little run little one two and then put do it through and it was like to be doing that in the Champions League finals just mad. >> Yeah. And to say he wasn't even starting for Wolves a few years ago. >> Yeah, I know. What a crazy journey. Dear Rice second >> obviously Deck put him in the Prem and see how hard it is to play against him so aggressive off the ball and then on the ball he driving with the ball. If you give him any space he'll drive into the space. Yeah, >> he scored against us the other year. Obviously the free kicks against Madrid as well. Like he's got a shot on him. So there's a lot more to his game than probably people see. >> Yeah. >> And obviously Arsenal was so so good last year and he's big part of that playing pretty much every game. So yeah, I think he's he's top. And then obviously Pedri still good but third on the list. >> Someone has to go there. Someone has to go there. No, but I think obviously technically against Newcastle last year in the Champions League was he just controlled the game so well when whenever I see him technically he's unbelievable and like I said he can control the game so well and that's what they do so well in Spain. So >> now fair list fair list. Obviously these are three world class midfielders and you're a great midfielder in your own right as well. What what do you think you need to do to maybe get to to that that level? >> A lot. >> You think? >> Yeah. Yeah. a lot. Um, no, just a little bit of everything. I think they've all got a bit of everything and that's what makes them so good. >> So, the next category, we've got some of the top number 10s in the world. We've got Famine Lopez, Bruno Fernandez, and we have got Jude Bellingham. >> I think Jude's got to be top. >> Yeah. >> And I think Bruno second and third >> for me personally. >> I think that's fair. You've obviously played with Jude. How good is he in in training? We've seen how good he is for England and Real Madrid. But what sets him apart in training that you see, okay, I understand why you like this. >> He's just training like he plays. Like you see when he's playing like he's at it and in training is the same. He's at it. He's always doing extras, finishing or defending or whatever. He's just got a bit of everything. Like he plays number 10, but he could easily play number six. >> Yeah. >> And be comfortable there. I think he's sitting in the World Cup. There's a bit of doubts before about whether he'd be starting or not. I think >> didn't understand that. But, you know, he proved them wrong. >> Yeah. He had a little injury, didn't he, before the World Cup, but I think when you just see him in the World Cup, you can't really say he can't start. >> Yeah. >> He just basically shut everyone up and said there's there's no other option. Uh, >> and fair enough. Yeah, he was he was unreal. And then obviously Bruno, >> see how good he is in the Premier League week in week out, how important he is to Man United. Player of the year last year, I'm pretty sure. >> So many assists, the amount of chances he creates. I think people look at like sort of the chances he maybe waste, but >> he doesn't create them chances by not taking risk. >> He could get 100% pass rate, but he wouldn't get them he won't get that assist record uh last year. So players in these positions have to take that risk and he does that and when it comes off obviously he gets the the praise and then when he doesn't people are going to criticize him but that's just part of the position I think and if I was playing with a number 10 I'd rather them miss 10 passes and get two right, then get 12 passes right, but not create any chances. So, yeah, I think as a number 10, he's he's unreal. >> And then Lopez, I've not really seen him as much. I just seen a few clips, but he looks sharp and again, I think he gets in good positions scoring, creating goals. So yeah, maybe if I see him a bit more, >> he could he could jump up the list a bit, but now this is from what I've seen anyway, this is what I' fell. >> So we've got a different one. Yeah. So we've got hair swaps. So >> we've got curtains, we've got a perm >> and we've got a mullet. So rank them in which you put them all down here. >> Which suits you the most? Where where you >> not that >> not curtains? No. >> No. I see. >> What is this? >> You know what? The mullet. I actually think that that suits you a little bit. >> None of them do. Curtains has to bottom. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Curtains bottom. >> Honestly, that actually looks the best. And I don't know how. >> No, that actually I don't know how. >> Oh my gosh. You might have to think of doing that. You know, >> if I move to Australia. Yeah. >> Not feeling the perm. >> I think if it was like I don't like how it's like it looks like a posh perm in a way. >> Do you know what I mean? Right. If it was just a bit of a fringe perm. I don't know. Maybe when I'm older I might grow shirt. >> I don't think anytime. >> I'd love to see the mullet, bro. I'd love to see the mullet. All right, cool. So, the next category is footy scr. So, we've got a pie boil and we've got a burger. >> Are we ranking these? >> Pie is going up there. Has to. Yeah. >> Any type of pie. >> Meat and potato pie. >> Meat potato. Has to be. >> Not chicken and mushroom. >> Mushroom. See, I'm not the biggest fan of mushroom here, but in a pie at a football stadium, it bangs. You know, >> we're not having mushroom. No way. No way. I wouldn't get a bo, so I'm putting it there. >> Fair. I've never had one. >> Yeah. And then burger. >> I think when you're at footy, you got to just you go into the at halfime, >> you want to get some food. It's got to be like a pie or a burger, some chips. That's footy footy scr. So yeah, for me it was always me and potato pie. >> Meat was on a way day. Yeah. I just don't think you can go wrong with a pie, especially up north as well. Like proper >> meat and potato pie. >> When's the last time you've had one? >> Too long ago now. Really? >> Yeah. Adam, thank you so much for joining me. We'll see you next time on Ranks. Peace.