Theo Walcott, Nani, Aaron Lennon, and most pacey wide players of that period. It felt like they were always labelled as either brainless or pace merchants but I think fans often underestimate the difficulty of executing attacks at that pace. Nani in particular was tasked with carrying the creative burden, scoring goals, providing an outlet to carry the ball up the pitch and tracking his full back, yet fans seemed to expect him to make the perfect decision each time he had the ball, I hope was very harsh.
Players you rate more highly than others did...
- Thread starter Rozay
- Start date
Did you take the knock-off covid vaccine recently?
Thiago Mendes
Gabi
Ruben Baraja
Think Thiago was good everywhere he played and added a lot to his teams. Very unselfish player. No coincidence that he would be such a great partner with Gabi, who is another unheralded player. Superb player yet never got one cap for Spain.
Baraja was the bees knees. Perhaps never got the recognition and praise as Mendieta and then Aimar did, but he was so consistent and over a long stretch of time. A true all-round midfielder who chipped in with a lot of goals.
Gabi
Ruben Baraja
Think Thiago was good everywhere he played and added a lot to his teams. Very unselfish player. No coincidence that he would be such a great partner with Gabi, who is another unheralded player. Superb player yet never got one cap for Spain.
Baraja was the bees knees. Perhaps never got the recognition and praise as Mendieta and then Aimar did, but he was so consistent and over a long stretch of time. A true all-round midfielder who chipped in with a lot of goals.
I probably rate Rakitic more highly than others. I think at his peak (2013-2015) he was fantastic. His 2013/14 season for Sevilla was amazing.
Michael Essien. I'm completely biased as he's my favourite ever player and it might be blasphemous to say but pre knee injuries I thought he was the closest thing to prime Keane before or since - Chelsea have never had a midfielder able to run an entire game in all phases by himself at the highest level outside of Essien.
Second this. One of my favourite players. Will never forget when we beat the scouse 3 1 away in the cl under hiddink and he just overran Gerrard and their midfield.
Would you have Mount over Pogba?
Two of them were exactly that. Nani was a good player.
Felt like it was almost single-handedly at times - at least for me personally I'd struggle to think of other midfielders as good at every facet of the role than Essien.
Van De Beek
Agree with everyone saying Blind. Classy and versatile player.
As a pure creator no, but as someone who can fit into a team yes. Emphatically yes if injury history and wages are a consideration.
Nope, but I don’t see Mount as a CM like Pogba. Nor do I think either player mentioned is as good as Pogba, so there’s that too. But mainly, I see Mount and Bruno as 10s, and Pogba as an 8.
Mainly, I don’t think either player has the magic of Pogba, and as a football fan, that matters to me.
Harry Maguire
I’m not saying they were world class but I think people under-appreciate how hard it is to even run with the ball at that speed. Adama Traore suffers from the same criticism now.
I look at Dan James and I wish he had even half the end product or Lennon’s ability to beat players. These players were far more than just pace.
Jason Koumas - Talented maverick
Probably my favourite non-Swansea player. Had a deceptive turn of pace and was a very skilful dribbler. He had lovely technique when striking the ball and had the vision when playing deeper to find those lofted passes to the striker (did this to great effect when Cameron Jerome was at Cardiff) and was also capable of hitting the net from range.
I watched a lot of him while he was at Tranmere as my cousin played for them. I was convinced that not only would he go on to be a premier league player, he would become a staple at a club like Liverpool (where he came through the youth system). He got a £2.25 million transfer to West Brom in 2002. It was his first season of top flight football and while he played well (winning the club’s player of the season award) West Brom were relegated. He later fell out with manager Bryan Robson over attitude issues (a running theme with Koumas) and though he later got a 5 million pound move to Wigan he never managed to realise his potential at the highest level.
Probably my favourite non-Swansea player. Had a deceptive turn of pace and was a very skilful dribbler. He had lovely technique when striking the ball and had the vision when playing deeper to find those lofted passes to the striker (did this to great effect when Cameron Jerome was at Cardiff) and was also capable of hitting the net from range.
I watched a lot of him while he was at Tranmere as my cousin played for them. I was convinced that not only would he go on to be a premier league player, he would become a staple at a club like Liverpool (where he came through the youth system). He got a £2.25 million transfer to West Brom in 2002. It was his first season of top flight football and while he played well (winning the club’s player of the season award) West Brom were relegated. He later fell out with manager Bryan Robson over attitude issues (a running theme with Koumas) and though he later got a 5 million pound move to Wigan he never managed to realise his potential at the highest level.
Makelele wasn't bad.
Gheorghe Hagi, was absolute world class for me.
Quaresma, quality player who was too good to spend his latter years in Besiktas, he showed it in the recent World Cups and Euros that he was an elite calibre winger.
Jesus Navas, unfortunately misbranded as an inconsistent player, he's hard-working, mature in his decision making and having a fantastic end to his career.
Nasri, don't think he'll be appreciated but had he not joined City to be a part of their bench he would have been one of our top players if we signed him. Think he'd be every bit as good as Mahrez.
Jesus Navas, unfortunately misbranded as an inconsistent player, he's hard-working, mature in his decision making and having a fantastic end to his career.
Nasri, don't think he'll be appreciated but had he not joined City to be a part of their bench he would have been one of our top players if we signed him. Think he'd be every bit as good as Mahrez.
Yeah but he didn't have the all-round attributes Essien did in terms of pushing on and being truly imperious in both boxes. Makelele was obviously brilliant at what he did but that was a subset of what Essien could do, if that makes sense.
I rate peak Essien as one of the best midfielders I've ever seen. He was the complete midfielder whenever I put on a Chelsea game.
Diego!
Failed to really establish himself at Porto, but during his time at Bremen he was absolutely electric. Showed his class in glimpses after that at various clubs, but never quite recaptured that magic. Could have had a much better career.
Failed to really establish himself at Porto, but during his time at Bremen he was absolutely electric. Showed his class in glimpses after that at various clubs, but never quite recaptured that magic. Could have had a much better career.
Luis Fabiano. Instrumental to that great Sevilla side. Old school striker that could score every type of goal
Berbatov, yes he was very causal to the point sometimes he looked like he wasn’t even trying but on the ball he was a joy to watch...also THAT Liverpool hat trick.
Better player than Modric?
No.
Got into a long, rather heated argument with a Barça supporter who thought that Rakitic shit all over Modric, was categorically better than Modric at all points of their careers.
I didn’t quite agree.
Rakitic in his prime was quality.
But modric is different gravy.
Pogba
Neymar
Benzema
Lukaku
Griezmann
Not that any of these are like, poorly rated, or anything. But they have plenty of doubters online despite all being top top level players.
Neymar
Benzema
Lukaku
Griezmann
Not that any of these are like, poorly rated, or anything. But they have plenty of doubters online despite all being top top level players.
Alex Del Piero was an amazing player, but he suffered a horrific knee injury and took a long time to recover. Sadly he was never the same. The explosive young Pinturrichhio became Godot in the eyes of Juventus and Azzurri followers... always waiting but never arriving. Still his class was indisputable, but he really only had 3-4 years at the very top top level, the rest were merely very good.
Iniesta. I'm aware he's very highly rated by everyone, but I place him not so far below Messi and Cristiano. Had those two been born 10 years later, Iniesta would have about 3-5 golden balls.
Ronaldo (BR). I don't think people realise how godly he actually was. If he had the same injury record of Messi or Cristiano, he would be regarded as equal or even better than the duo.
Ronaldo (BR). I don't think people realise how godly he actually was. If he had the same injury record of Messi or Cristiano, he would be regarded as equal or even better than the duo.
I think Fellaini was really good.
Didnt realise had such a big injury, he did fade. 3-4years though, lets face it Cantona and Ronaldhino will be forever remembered for there careers which both really only had a similar golden period
I think Bruno fits our style under Ole more than Mount would. Mount fits Tuchel's system perfectly. He's very controlled, patient and adept at finding pockets of space. Bruno is more of an emotional percentage player suited to our fast transitions. I think Ziyech and Pulisic are the Chelsea players that would suit our team under Ole.
Iniesta
Never heard anyone say Xavi is better than Iniesta to be fair!!!
Edit: But I've just seen it affirmed on this thread. For me, Iniesta is the absolute daddy. Will pass the opposition to submission, off the ball movement, very deceptive speed, dribbling, intelligence - he had it all
Thomas Häßler. He was special.