If he had managed to keep the form he showed between 2007-2009 he could have been a legend. That game at Anfield on 2009 was as high-paced and open as football can get and it was wonderful to watch him peaking there. The only other performance which left me as stunned as that day was Messi against Arsenal in 2010. For some reason after the 2009-10 season he just lost it. Stranger decline than Torres. If Arsenal fans think Ozil is lazy they forgot about that guy. Still, when he was interested, was incredible.
The Most Under-rated Footballers in History
- Thread starter GM K
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Laudrup was a genius, you watch him and you'll think that Iniesta isn't that unique in his way of play. Laudrup was the faster and goalscoring version.To be honest, I thought that Arteta stayed in Scotland 4-5 years (and not 2) before joining Everton 2-3 years and joining Arsenal later, which also explained my initial post.
He left Rangers to come back in Spain (La Sociedad) at the age of 22: his career could have been very different if he had stayed there until a so-called great club acquire him.
Clubs like Barcelona/Real Madrid didn't need him but there are top clubs like Valencia that could have been interested.
Also, the recruiters are better nowadays for obvious reasons.
True, at the end of the day, he had a very nice career very probably in line with his talent/mindset
I always wondered how far Riquelme could have gone if he'd played 30 years earlier. Totally different player, but this goes for Mario Gomez too.
I don't know that he's underrated per se ... more forgotten. Matthias Sindelar - Der Papierene, one of the most influential players in the history of the game and the spark that brought the Wunderteam to life in the 30s. Lost in the politics and upheaval of central Europe in the 30s (and kicked to pieces in Italy by the hosts in the '34 World Cup in one of the darkest eras in FIFA's history as the referees were intimidated out of doing anything by the Fascist state around them), his name doesn't come up with post war stars like Di Stefano or Puskas that benefited from much greater exposure, but he was the Cruyff of his day and dramatically changed the way attacking football was played.
Ashley Cole - He was probably the best player in the world (or top 3) in his position during his Chelsea days yet the mention of a golden generation revolves around Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard etc.
Arnold Muhren...a class player in an era of hard tackles, "reducers" and poor pitches.One of a very small number of overseas players in England at the time.
Always seemed to find the right pass, hold the ball and move elegantly across the potato patches that passed as pitches back in the day.
Won all the European titles including helping lowly Ipswich town to win the Uefa Cup.
Still playing for Holland at 37 he passed the ball to Van Basten for THAT goal.
And he did all this with a middle name of Hyancinthus!
Others took the headlines but Arnold was usually pivotal to the move.
Always seemed to find the right pass, hold the ball and move elegantly across the potato patches that passed as pitches back in the day.
Won all the European titles including helping lowly Ipswich town to win the Uefa Cup.
Still playing for Holland at 37 he passed the ball to Van Basten for THAT goal.
And he did all this with a middle name of Hyancinthus!
Others took the headlines but Arnold was usually pivotal to the move.
Robben looked the best in the world at the last World Cup, carried a poor team. I think the game has evolved perfectly to fit his game, his great strength has always been cutting in and getting a shot off. The trend towards inverted wide forwards has allowed him to concentrate on goalscoring.
He is and has been a great player but he is not one I particularly enjoy watching. Lacks some of the artistry that I want to see from great players. Part of it is his running style, an irrational reason to mark down a great player but there you go. Have constantly wondered why defenders allow him to come inside and shoot on his left, everyone knows that is what he is looking for, still finds a way to do it. Spams that move like an annoying FIFA player.
A modern player that is IMO quite underrated is Miralem Pjanic.
His passing range is unbelievable and he has such an ease with the ball. He's brilliant every time I watch Juventus and one of their most important players.
And yet only a few rate him as a top 10 midfielder in the world.
His passing range is unbelievable and he has such an ease with the ball. He's brilliant every time I watch Juventus and one of their most important players.
And yet only a few rate him as a top 10 midfielder in the world.
A past player that is often overlooked:
Gento for Real Madrid
Gento for Real Madrid
Zidane might have more iconic moments, but it's hard to argue that he was a better football player than Platini.
No idea how people in France see it, but it seems Zidane gets a lot more attention in all time great discussions.
The gap between Platini, Zico and Maradona isn't as big as most people assume it is today.
Uwe Seeler had his career right in between the two WC winning teams and refused to move abroad despite recieving insane offers.
The old Luis Suarez had a fantastic career, but I feel like he might be forgotten a bit due to the recent Spanish generation.
No idea how people in France see it, but it seems Zidane gets a lot more attention in all time great discussions.
The gap between Platini, Zico and Maradona isn't as big as most people assume it is today.
Uwe Seeler had his career right in between the two WC winning teams and refused to move abroad despite recieving insane offers.
The old Luis Suarez had a fantastic career, but I feel like he might be forgotten a bit due to the recent Spanish generation.
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Steve Bruce , never got an international cap!! Even though him and Gary pallister were the best defensive partnership in the premier league for years.
I remember Tony Adams always getting the nod instead
I remember Tony Adams always getting the nod instead
I never really understand the word "underrated". As far as I can tell it just means that one person or a small group disagree with other people.
The latter was a right nuisance on football manager
Good choice - should go down as one of the best LB's to play the game; unfortunately the guy had to play for England
Raul & Casillas
I think he's really under-rated in Britain. The tabloid press doesn't help, neither do some of his personal antics. Having said that though, Giggs was porking his brothers wife and it hasn't taken the shine off his legend.
Well it has - there's threads here on this forum trying to rekindle his legendary status when it does not need to happen. These players are more celebrities than sports people because of us the fans rather than their choice. Couldn't really care to be honest - what they do in their spare time is their own personal decision & I just only focus on what goes on the pitch.
Dirk Kuyt
João Vieira Pinto "The golden boy": one of Portugal best players of his generation, his name is somewhat forgotten:
Valdo: one of the most classy players on the pitch
Krasimir Balakov: one of the most skilled players ever to play at the portuguese league.
Paulo Futre: probably the most skilled portuguese player ever. Too bad injuries ruined his career. he was basically dragging himself after 27 y.o., but still manage to play amazing games whenever he was fit
Rui Barros: one of best support strikers of his generation, he played in top clubs all over Europe:
Valdo: one of the most classy players on the pitch
Krasimir Balakov: one of the most skilled players ever to play at the portuguese league.
Paulo Futre: probably the most skilled portuguese player ever. Too bad injuries ruined his career. he was basically dragging himself after 27 y.o., but still manage to play amazing games whenever he was fit
Rui Barros: one of best support strikers of his generation, he played in top clubs all over Europe:
As a footballer - David Beckham.
While I would agree with you on Muhren, the reason that THAT goal was THAT goal was because it was such a shit cross that Van Basten performed a miracle on.
Not seen my name here yet, quite disappointing.
I don't know why I put that as my perfect XI to be honest. Rijkaard would still be there but I'd have to have Baggio and Bergkamp in there - even if they got in each others way:
Martin Buchan, Nobby Stiles, Paddy Crerand, Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt, Peter Osgood, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Colin Bell (before the injury), Duncan McKenzie. Lots of others if I really think about it.
Totally agree, he was a fantastic player. That golden generation all the hype seemed to be about the players you mentioned, but that defence was fantastic right across the back 4
Some of these players are simply forgotten. You have to know a player to rate him!
For instance, it's pretty hard to find a decent Youtube video about most of these players unfortunately.
Also, most of football fans are not interested in the football pre-1980 for obvious reasons.
Underrated player I don't think so, overrated man very certainly say the Rating Agency.
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Showing my age I suppose. The three United players I listed though always seem to fall under the radar for me. Martin Buchan is still one of the best defenders I've seen at OT 40 years on. Nobby Stiles was an absolute rock (with teeth - or without sometimes
) for United and England in the 60s and Paddy Crerand I always thought was massively underrated even back when he played - fiery competitor with silky smooth skills.Harry Kane
Not only a matter of age but also of available videos on the Internet: we can find a lot of things about Best, but not about great players who were his teammates.Showing my age I suppose. The three United players I listed though always seem to fall under the radar for me. Martin Buchan is still one of the best defenders I've seen at OT 40 years on. Nobby Stiles was an absolute rock (with teeth - or without sometimes
Nowadays, we can find videos about a 14-year-old so-called wonder kid very or about weak players coming from exotic countries.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm curious about these players/the history of the game and that is why, I participate in the football redcafe drafts. Already watched a bit Bremner & Stiles on Youtube. I researched in the past about Buchan: a song but no highlights about his style of play on Youtube IIRC Paddy Crerand I only know the name.
Buchan: best defenders in the British football or in the history of United? I know @BeforeKeanetherewasRobson is a big fan of Buchan IIRC
Also, it's hard to compare Buchan with Ferdinand/Vidic or with Foulkes/Edwards. If Buchan is underrated, it's also because more recent players emerged like Ferdinand/Stam/Irwin and most of us have short memories.
Last but not least, human memory is selective & imperfect. An example, as a child, I had good memories of the goal of Kluivert against Brazil at the world cup 98. I recently watched that goal and was disappointed: the goal wasn't very beautiful and the Brazilan defenders haven't jumped
Zidane scoring 2 goals against them at the final show any player with decent heading skills could score against them.Lot of posters don't seem to understand what "underrated" means as there are loads of household names mentioned here.
Enzo Francescoli and Enzo Scifo were two really gifted players I thought got a bit lost in their era due to contemporaries like Maradona, Hagi, Platini and Socrates etc.
Thomas Graveson was a genuinely underrated midfielder.Always thought we should have gone for him when Roy's powers started to wane.
I don't think he's overlooked or under appreciated. The England team at the 2006 WC was generally accepted as having a world class player in every position except the GK (and possibly LW as well depending on how you rate Joe Cole) and that includes Ashley Cole. Its just that a LB will always get less press than a forward or midfielder, especially dynamic midfielders like Gerrard or Lampard. I think Cole is regarded as easily the best LB the PL has had apart from Irwin and that's about correct I feel.
Robert Prosinecki was truly a great footballer.
Guti.
Plays better than Zidane on his day.
Plays better than Zidane on his day.
No, you don't seem to understand what it means. Being a houshold name or even alltime great doesn't mean you can't be underrated.
Jan van Beveren.
By far the best goalie Holland ever had, but Cruijff didn't like him which led to him never playing at a world cup for Holland. It got so bad that he left the country after he and his familiy were threatened.
By far the best goalie Holland ever had, but Cruijff didn't like him which led to him never playing at a world cup for Holland. It got so bad that he left the country after he and his familiy were threatened.
Don't thnk Kuyt is underrated. He's just a rather shite player who carved out a very good career with the sparse talent he had. He's an absolute rolemodel for gifted youngster that waste their talents.
Jay Jay Okocha.
Sometimes it's mindblowing that Fergie never got him, he would become a club's legend like Solskjaer, not to mention one hell of a likeable character with tons of unexplored talent.
EDIT: How could I forget about Maniche. At times unintentional football genius, I don't even think he was fully aware of his own abilities.
Sometimes it's mindblowing that Fergie never got him, he would become a club's legend like Solskjaer, not to mention one hell of a likeable character with tons of unexplored talent.
EDIT: How could I forget about Maniche. At times unintentional football genius, I don't even think he was fully aware of his own abilities.
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