Players who were *almost* world class

[17 Van der Gouw]

Who are the nearly men?

Excellent players who were just a step down from being amongst the world's best.

I'll open with:

- Michael Owen. Arguably his performances circa 97/98 were world class, especially his goals at the World Cup that year, but long-term he became just an above average striker who faded into nothing and ended up seeing out his playing days on the bench at Stoke City.

- Juan Sebastian Veron. Clearly talented, glimpses of real promise when he was at United - but hard to remember him doing anything truly memorable or exceptional.

- Owen Hargeaves. Absolutely the real deal as a youngster, played 90 minutes and won a Champions League final years before Gerrard ever got close to it. Sadly broken all the time in his mid-to-late career. Cracking player for Bayern, and solid enough for us to start with. Possibly the biggest waste of talent we've ever had at United.

You don't have to pick United players, I guess they're just easier to remember for us.

 

[Jaybomb]

Nani

 

[Shark]

Dimitar Berbatov is one, I'd say.

 

[rcoobc]

Thierry Henry?

Edit - I think I'd put him as "World Class" but not in the "First XI of the Decade"

 

[Ish]

Forlan for a brief period was close, wasn't he?

 

[JustJackTheLad]

Thierry Henry?

Wow really? What makes you think this one?

I'd put Henry in the elite class of strikers in the world ever. Maybe that's just my personal choice!

 

[Sassy Colin]

Wayne Rooney?

 

[fcbforever]

Thierry Henry?

Wut.
An all time great for sure.

 

[Minimalist]

Henry was world class - let's not be silly.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Owen won the Ballon D'Or so it is fair to say he was world class at one point.

Gary Neville for me.

 

[Offside]

Darren Fletcher? Was reaching really high levels then got that horrible illness. In 09/10 he was top quality. Could have improved further into a world class player.

 

[Skills]

Henry was world class - let's not be silly.

Yup, best player in the league for about 4 years straight.

 

[Stacks]

Thierry Henry?

Hardy ha ha. Henry regularly appeared in the top 3 World Player of the year and European player of the year so this is amusing. He was unanimously recognised as a World Class player.

 

[Unmutual]

Veron's time in England was a flop, but I'd consider him world class during his time at Italy.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Darren Fletcher? Was reaching really high levels then got that horrible illness. In 09/10 he was top quality. Could have improved further into a world class player.

Not a chance, sorry.

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Surely Henry was World Class?

Gary Neville for me.

Now that's a good shout. Although I'm struggling to think of many better right backs during his time.

 

[Minimalist]

Basically this thread should be players who have been called World Class but you disagree with it.

Pires was probably on the cusp at times but I'm sure Arsenal supporters thought of him as world class.

 

[Boycott]

Nicolas Anelka

Never settled anywhere to have the longevity of a world class player and he was never in the conversation of top strikers - but still an impressive career and no doubting the talent.

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Basically this thread should be players who have been called World Class but you disagree with it.

It is subjective, that's true - but there are a few obvious 'nearly men' - I don't remember anybody ever calling Hargreaves world class

Nicolas Anelka

This is also a good example.

 

[m1y2]

Van Nistelrooy. Alan Shearer. Becks, Harry Kane next.

 

[hellohello]

Van Nistelrooy. Alan Shearer. Becks, Harry Kane next.

What do you have against goalscorers?

 

[B20]

Anelka, Neville are good shouts.

I think Pires was arguably world class at his peak.

Fowler.

 

[Thisistheone]

Would definitely put Veron as World Class during his time in Italy.

Trying to think of more unusual picks... One of our players I always really rated but thought injury stopped him reaching even greater heights was Ronny Johnsen. Amazing defender for a while, almost world class?

Edit: Also Wes Brown?

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Van Nistelrooy. Alan Shearer. Becks, Harry Kane next.

 

[Scholesy]

Gary Neville

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Totti and Gerrard.

Both would have been had they moved to top teams

 

[Kentonio]

I'm sure some people will laugh at this, but Joe Cole was heading that way. At the time when he picked up his injury for England that ruined his career, he was putting in some truly incredible performances. Without that injury, I think he could truly have gone on to be one of the England greats.

 

[Stacks]

Tony Adams. Irwin. Giuly. Deco. Yorke. Morientes. Guti. Mendieta, Aimar, Tevez, Recoba, Joaquin, Jay Jay Okocha, Ozil,

 

[Robertd0803]

Rooney.

 

[Macern]

Darren Fletcher? Was reaching really high levels then got that horrible illness. In 09/10 he was top quality. Could have improved further into a world class player.

Yeah was going to say Fletcher

 

[Offside]

Not a chance, sorry.

Bullshit. He was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at one point. If he had got a little stronger rather than being forced by illness to go in the completely opposite direction he would have been world class. I've no idea why he is so underrated, the Fletcher of 2008-2010 would walk into our midfield now and be our captain.

 

[Macern]

Rooney.

Was clearly world class a long time ago

 

[2cents]

Patrick Kluivert (see the other thread).

 

[Needham]

Des Walker, Le Tissier

 

[Joga Bonito]

Veron was definitely world class and amongst the best midfielders in the game at his peak

 

[SoCross]

Tevez

 

[Sassy Colin]

Bullshit. He was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at one point. If he had got a little stronger rather than being forced by illness to go in the completely opposite direction he would have been world class. I've no idea why he is so underrated, the Fletcher of 2008-2010 would walk into our midfield now and be our captain.

No point argueing with the Fletcher Appreciation Society

 

[rcoobc]

Lee Sharpe?

 

[Robertd0803]

Lee Sharpe?

Ohh good call.

 

[El Zoido]

Teddy Sheringham