My memory of the world cup was Hazard not having a goal, an assist nor a shot on target vs Brazil and France Several takeons and runs which amounted to nothing
Didn’t remember the silver ball, but I remember him bossing it. There are very few players I can think of more talented than him at his best. Not overrated, but maybe a slight underachiever, given his ability (he’s still won plenty, though).
Yes he won but he started a grand total of ONE game in 7 KO rounds in the WC and Euros. That was in the years he was supposed to be one of the greatest PL midfielders of all times. He was behind the likes of Karembeu, Deschamps and Djorkaeff who played a much bigger part in France's success. Add to it his failure to impose himself and stand out over elite CL midfielders. Yes he dominated in a physical PL and still was a part of a successful international team but to me that makes him a great PL midfielder and a successful international career but that does not put him in the conversation of the greatest midfielders of his era.
You're completely right! Tevez was a terrier and we loved him. His work ethic and his style fit with the PL perfectly and his combination with Ronaldo and Rooney was probably our dynamic attack under Fergie. But when you look deeper into his individual input, he was good, maybe even great but he was never at the level of the very elite.
This is a United forum though, I don’t think Carrick is rated by the general public as highly as on here.
Yeap, that’s gotta be the one.
I'd go along with underachieving for sure. But he's also got the third most man of the match awards in Europe (just behind Messi and Ronaldo) over the last decade for a reason - and it still holds true despite the last 3 seasons. Immensely influential and consistently effective during his time in the PL, aside from one injury-plagued season.
Agree with all of that. It’s hard to describe his career because he’s both been brilliant, and (slightly) underachieved. When I say underachieved, I say it because he was good enough to win at least one Ballon D’Or and multiple Champions Leagues. Then again, he has won more than people like Roberto Baggio, even.
Yes - he is overrated because he kept bullying Arsenal and made both Arsenal players and fans cry.
You know he's only 23 right?
Nice to see a bit of balance in the discussion surrounding Alexander-Arnold. He clearly has glaring weaknesses in his defensive game but time is on his side at least.
I loved Ruud to bits, but I think this is probably true.
Have agree about Paul Pogba, considered by many as world class yet he was highly frustrating to watch as a fan. He work rate and lazy attitude along with 1 good performance in every 5 games is a poor return.
I still rate him, I think what he's done playmaker wise at Liverpool over a number of years deserves a lot of praise.
Uh oh.
No, I did not; this is startling and brand new information. Cheers for cluing me in, mate!
Dani Alves was not just at Sevilla; he was dominating vast spaces almost single-handedly, and crucially, showing improvement on a year-to-year basis (from little Bahia (a much lower starting point vis-à-vis Alexander-Arnold) to his developmental years at Sevilla and evolving to reach a point where major clubs were interested in him). Whereas Alexander-Arnold seems to have stagnated as an all-round footballer (who exceled at certain things and continues to excel at those things, but hasn't come up leaps and bounds in other aspects).
São Paulo with Telê Santana at the helm (and players like Raí, Cerezo, Leonardo, Juninho, Ceni in the mix) was probably the last truly great club team from South America, so this should be “at 23, Cafú played for THE São Paulo”. Monopolized the continental club scene, and also won the Intercontinental Cup vs. Cruyff's Barcelona and Capello's Milan. And again, Cafú showed meaningful progress. Baby steps in the formative stages, then one of the best at his position — and by 1994 (at age 24), he was South American Footballer of the Year, a mainstay for World Cup winners Brazil and probably the best fullback in the world with Maldini; a high-octane force of nature with an unmatched work ethic.
This does not signify much, and does not strengthen the argument in Alexander-Arnold's favor IMO. He boasts a long list of award-based accomplishments and statistical achievements, and has time on his side — everyone is aware of that and no one denied those basic facts. He just seems to lack the non-stop motor, urgency and rigorousness of truly great fullbacks (stuff that will be magnified and repeatedly exploited when when the dominance around him starts to fade and he's asked to shoulder greater responsibility, in and out of possession). On the basis of his accomplishments, he is a great fullback on paper. I just wonder if the fundamentals are there for him to be a genuinely and consistently great fullback in actuality (now or over the long haul); and whether he can keep improving on a year-to-year basis, when he hasn't evidenced comprehensive improvement in recent years. For what it's worth, I don't have a bone to pick with Alexander-Arnold, and he's clearly a very skilled and precise playmaker — if he shows greater appetite and improves to become a better fullback who is a factor in multiple phases of the game, I will gladly eat humble pie.
Fair. You're entitled to that opinion. If everyone agreed, the Café would be a boring place!
Drogba is a Mourinho style player who fit very well into that particular system of play and did extremely well to deliver results expected of him. He may not be very effective in a different type of system, similar to Lukaku. I don't think he was overrated at all.
Yes he's 23 so he's got time to develop and learn how to defend but until he actually does that he's overrated because people already call him the best RB in the world or the best in premier league history. Both statements are ridiculous
Well here's another wee quote since we're on the subject. Brendan Rogers who managed Gerrard up close and personal, chose Scholes. You'll find it on YouTube MOTD. Not that I'm basing my opinion on that...but that a Liverpool man saying that. Without doubt one of the greatest players In our history. Overatted my arse. Have you ever seen Scholes play?
Man made him sound like Origi"Scored a few cup final goals"
Scholes was never even voted into the PFA team of the year by the players he was supposedly running games against. Retired young from international Football because he couldn't get games in his preferred position. Has zero votes in the Ballon d or throughout his career. Not one person voted for him. Never saw him singlehandedly winning as many games as other elite midfielders. Was not even in the top 3 most important/best United players in the squad.
