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It's obviously Milner. Shutters.
You have players who’re first name on the starting 11 and there you’ve O’Shea who’ll be the first name on the squad.Sheasy is a great shout. Put keeper gloves on him, problem solved! Send him up against Almunia, no problema! That chip over Almunia was magical. CB, LB, RB, any midfield position, piece of cake. Front line, give the man the ball.
Forgot all about Watson, great shout. He played pretty much everywhere and took a mad somersault throw in so had that in his locker tooSteve Watson
Yeah, this guy. Played every single outfield position for Newcastle apparently.Steve Watson
And the man went out with an absolute bang, fitting of his career at Liverpool… with a 6-1 defeat to Stoke.I was gonna say him on the basis that he had really good qualities that were heavily caveated. Like he was a good passer.. of hospital balls. Would be everywhere.. where he shouldn't be. Could beat a man for fun.. so long as it was a DJ.
Yes? He’s one of the greatest right backs of all-time.Brilliant player but was he ever the best in the business in one particular position at any one point?
I think Cocu is a good pick for this idea, but if Lahm, Alaba, Seedorf, Zanetti are being considered too good, then i wouldn't have Cocu either. imo he was a better overall footballer than all of those players in terms of his skillset and tactical awareness, which is why despite being versatile, three of them ended up in less tactically and technically demanding defensive positions far more often. While Cocu was often tasked with being one of the players running the game in different midfield roles; i can't say i was convinced by Lahm as an elite midfielder at all, but saw Cocu in many games with stacked lineups where i thought he arguably played the best. Seedorf had similar talent and more athletic ability; probably more potential overall, but was imo a lot more hit and miss in his consistency until later in his career, which is a partly why he ended up playing a bit-part role at WC 98 and Euro 2000.
These are interesting takes given there’s never any comment or fanfare around Cocu and all the other players in the first post are variably regarded in terms of greatness either in contemporary scaling or all-time (Lahm, Zanetti).Cocu was too good for this kind of thread. He was a master of many things and a top class player.
Milner seems like the quintessence of the thread.
I'd pick Phil Neville over o'shea. he ended up a handy midfielder in the end.
He also carved a nice for himself as a first team midfielder in a title winning Barcelona side.Cocu carved out a niche for himself by being an exceptional utility player, essentially, where as all the others are known first and foremost for a primary position.
That´s a good shout. But it´s so obviously Milner that it could be re-named to a James of all trades. How the talent tides have turned. I remember the U21 Euros final of 2008 that became the core for Germany´s Golden Generation. Milner was the only standout English player. If you look back at that England starting 11 today, Milner could probably have had a better career than all the other starters in their respective position from goalkeeper to striker, if he played their positions.Hasan Salihamidžić, maybe? I recollect him playing in every position other than centre-half. Great utility player, but not a star.
I always thought you preferred TrentYes? He’s one of the greatest right backs of all-time.
Looking at that 2009 U21 Euros final, another player who fits that jack of all trades master of none label would be Gonzalo Castro? Not spectacular anywhere, but very useful across many positions.That´s a good shout. But it´s so obviously Milner that it could be re-named to a James of all trades. How the talent tides have turned. I remember the U21 Euros final of 2008 that became the core for Germany´s Golden Generation. Milner was the only standout English player. If you look back at that England starting 11 today, Milner could probably have had a better career than all the other starters in their respective position from goalkeeper to striker, if he played their positions.
Don't think a player considered to be among the greatest players of all time can be called a master of none.Lotthat Mattheus? CB.CM.AM
good shout.Hasan Salihamidžić, maybe? I recollect him playing in every position other than centre-half. Great utility player, but not a star.
Shit at all tradesGood shout though i feel like the Dutch had many of them. Even Kuytt could be considered one. Guess it fits with their approach to footie that you need to have experience playing just about any position.
Too good for this threadJavier Zanetti is the best surely
C'mon now. I know he was a Pool player but 437 G+A over 790 games in his career with the vast majority playing as a winger or behind the striker is nothing to sneeze at.Shit at all trades
Cocu’s versatility is a bonus but fundamentally he was a brilliant central midfielder for Barcelona and Holland. Over 100 caps in midfield despite jostling with Davids, Seedorf, Winter, De Boer, Van Bommel, Gio, Van der Vaart, etc for a spot.These are interesting takes given there’s never any comment or fanfare around Cocu and all the other players in the first post are variably regarded in terms of greatness either in contemporary scaling or all-time (Lahm, Zanetti).
Cocu carved out a niche for himself by being an exceptional utility player, essentially, where as all the others are known first and foremost for a primary position.
To be honest, it’s an interesting take that he’s above the threshold for the thread.
Would love to hear others’ takes on this.
I'd agree he's a player that seems to go under the radar. I've thought he was underestimated since his time at Barca, though I'm not sure what opinion of him is in the Netherlands itself.These are interesting takes given there’s never any comment or fanfare around Cocu and all the other players in the first post are variably regarded in terms of greatness either in contemporary scaling or all-time (Lahm, Zanetti).
Cocu carved out a niche for himself by being an exceptional utility player, essentially, where as all the others are known first and foremost for a primary position.
To be honest, it’s an interesting take that he’s above the threshold for the thread.
Would love to hear others’ takes on this.
He also carved a nice for himself as a first team midfielder in a title winning Barcelona side.
Cocu’s versatility is a bonus but fundamentally he was a brilliant central midfielder for Barcelona and Holland. Over 100 caps in midfield despite jostling with Davids, Seedorf, Winter, De Boer, Van Bommel, Gio, Van der Vaart, etc for a spot.
To be fair, this support for Cocu is great. I would argue he got by via just being so smart and tidy and of course via really impressive in-game awareness and versatility, but it's a matter of perspective as to whether that's 'enough'. Seedorf's massive lull would be what I'd put forward as the main reason for Cocu featuring as much as he did, but I guess ultimately that's not Cocu's fault.I'd agree he's a player that seems to go under the radar. I've thought he was underestimated since his time at Barca, though I'm not sure what opinion of him is in the Netherlands itself.
I thought of him as someone who was excellent in a variety of midfield roles (including side-midfielder/winger to a lesser extent) primarily. Tactically and technically of a very high standard...passing technique, vision, organising/tempo-dictating ability. A player you could rely on to use the ball very well while also being a very hard-working leader figure who was very solid defensively. He had that "plays capably almost anywhere" utility player versatility, but I do think he was a great midfielder first and foremost, just as Lahm, Zanetti, and others that could play well in midfield were primarily great wide players.
Maybe the fact that Barcelona were inconsistent during his time there and sandwiched in between more successful times has gone against perception of him; as an individual, I thought he was their best midfielder and a steadying hand stopping further issues during most of that era.