Zlatan

[TruBlue]

1) I also remember those games. He flicked the ball up in the air with his heel, in a very busy box at a set-piece and it was quite fortunate that it lobbed the defender on the line. Sweden were quite lucky to top that group and I don't think Ibrahimovic was anything special in helping them do so.

2) Ok fair enough, a big game, but hardly very difficult opponents.

3) You said it, 'at some of the biggest clubs'. Without doing any research, my guess is that PSG have the most expensive starting line-up in the world (apart from Real maybe). A very quick check on Google tells me PSG's results from last season (4-0, 6-0, 9-0...), hardly competitive is it?

4) I'm not doubting that he can score goals and I find it rather absurd that you would think anyone's opinion on a player would somehow be deemed as hipster...? What I'm saying is that he hasn't proved himself regularly in a competitive league, against a more consistent standard of defenders.

And YES, the bottom half of the Premier League has much stronger defences than AC Sicily and Bari Town FC.

What set of defenders are you suggesting?

1999–2001 Malmö FF 40 (16)
2001–2004 Ajax 74 (35)
2004–2006 Juventus 70 (23)
2006–2009 Internazionale 88 (57)
2009–2011 Barcelona 29 (16)
2010–2011 → Milan (loan) 29 (14)
2011–2012 Milan 32 (28)
2012–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 122 (113)

With the exception of Juventus he's scored a minimum of 1 in every 2? Even the Juventus seasons is around 1 in every 3, which isn't too bad.