Players you rate more highly than others did...

Devil81

Full Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2014
Messages
6,646
I know some thought he was a show pony but I loved it when Denilson would get his cameo at the end of matches for Brazil.

It was like they unleashed the Harlem Globetrotter.

The skill levels were absolutely insane.
 

Gio

★★★★★★★★
Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
20,298
Location
Bonnie Scotland
Supports
Rangers
Roy Makaay
I rated him higher than van Nistelrooij
Probably the same here, although they're slightly different types of attacker. Makaay had a better left peg, more of a threat from around the edge of the box, and stronger in the air. He was a little more rounded and had the skillset to play off the right (as he often did for the national team) or as a second striker for Depor. All of that said, Ruud was more devastating in the penalty box. Next to nothing between their goal records during their 3-year peaks (RVN 110 goals, Makaay 104 goals). When you factor in assists Makaay was a bit more productive (RVN 0.85g+a per game, Makaay 0.95 g+a per game). Comparable in their standards, just depends what you need in your team.
 
Last edited:

Welbeckham

Full Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
1,552
Thiago Motta was an incredible player. Very slow, but his football brain was unbelievable. It was a pleasure to watch him jogging around with his silky left foot and always making the right decision.
 

AltiUn

likes playing with swords after fantasies
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
23,494
Maguire's one for me. In my opinion, he's one of the best CBs in the league and rarely gets the respect he deserves.
 

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,025
Location
...
Rob van Persie

One of the best strikers I’ve seen in my life, and for about 3 years touched an incredible level and for me, is up their with the very, very best centre forwards this league has ever seen. And he made it look so good too. Great player, who is obviously rated, but nowhere near highly enough for my liking.
 

carvajal

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
11,053
Location
Spain
Supports
Real Madrid
I join the Makaay club, without going to assess whether Van Nistelrooy was better.
I loved him in his time at Deportivo and I think he is not remembered as much as he should be
 

Synco

Lucio's #1 Fan
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
6,437
Yes, Makaay was damn great. He had this predatory instinct, total confidence, and an unbelievable shooting technique. Also a unique way of making unpredictable decisions and the skills to back it up. My favourite goal was the first one against Ajax in 2004 - I mean, who finishes off a counter like that?

 

Jerzol78

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
375
Location
PL
Hargreaves, Kuyt, Piszczek, Riquelme, Joaquin, David Villa.
 

Tom8700

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 31, 2021
Messages
44
Supports
Bayern
Zico, he never gets mentioned in Top 10 discussions when he most certainly should.
 

JJ12

Predicted Portugal, Italy to win Euro 2016, 2020
Joined
Mar 30, 2016
Messages
10,841
Location
Wales
Ruud was better thank Makaay but both were quality.

Fred currently. Clearly has his flaws but what he does is so important. Matic and Fred rolled into one would be ideal.
 

Pickle85

Full Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
6,371
Sort of semi-related but I remember watching one Derby game years ago and coming away convinced that Seth Johnson was destined for greatness. Despite the next two seasons of him being bang average I remained convinced he was just about to catch fire. All based off of one game. There's still a part of me that thinks "he's only 42 now...maybe he's just a very late bloomer..."
 

Suedesi

Full Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2001
Messages
23,866
Location
New York City
Lee Bowyer - that Leeds team was a bunch of hard bastards to play against. Made it back to back to UEFA and CL semifinals playing a high-tempo, electric style. As a sidenote, can't believe David O'Leary never got another decent job after Leeds and Villa.
 

SerenityValley

Full Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2016
Messages
361
Henrik Larsson.

For a decade I had frequent arguments with English football fans over his top class quality. They couldn’t see past the league he was playing in.

Sure a lot changed their minds over time but that doesn’t count for me - he wasn’t rated properly whilst in Scotland. Despite a terrible leg break he was still an unbelievable talent.
 

Alex99

Rehab's Pete Doherty
Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
15,545
Maguire's one for me. In my opinion, he's one of the best CBs in the league and rarely gets the respect he deserves.
I work with a scouse fan who genuinely argues that Coady and Mings are both "miles better" than Maguire.
 

Ecstatic

Cutie patootie!
Joined
Nov 26, 2015
Messages
13,787
Supports
PsG
At their prime:

Laurent Robert
Robert Pires
William Gallas
Jeremy Menez
Ceara
 
Last edited:

Ecstatic

Cutie patootie!
Joined
Nov 26, 2015
Messages
13,787
Supports
PsG
Thiago Motta was an incredible player. Very slow, but his football brain was unbelievable. It was a pleasure to watch him jogging around with his silky left foot and always making the right decision.
Another man of taste here - The best of the Brazilian, Italian and Spanish (product of Barcelona FC) football reunited in one player :drool:
 

Polar

Full Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2020
Messages
1,424
Players like Henderson and Dier deserve more credit.
 

Luke1995

Full Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
3,444
I always felt like Sturridge and Walcott were underrated. Maybe a case of unfulfilled potential.

Sturridge was great in the season Liverpool almost won the league.

Walcott had many world class games during his career. But it was married by inconsistency to maintain it week in - week out.
 

Gibb11

Full Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
451
Location
Wakefield
At their prime:

Laurent Robert
Robert Pires
William Gallas
Jeremy Menez
Ceara
Don't really know how good he was or rated at PSG and Roma but I was surprised how good he was at AC Milan before his injury, basically a one man offence for them, super ability