World class players who you thought were pants/overated

[chinaman]

Ibrahimovich.

Good player, not a great on. Never seen him do much against English teams in the CL. Scored lots of goals against crap opposition.

Gerrard.

Meh. Overrated athlete with poor footballing skills and brain.

Agreed. Never delivered in crucial games in major tourneys.

 

[ethanedwards]

Agreed. Never delivered in crucial games in major tourneys.

Are you sure?

 

[Gassin's finest]

Had a stint in Paris last year, and took in a PSG game against Toulouse. I never really appreciated Ibrahimovich's ability until that game. His reading of the game, timed contributions, and goal reeked of the sort of class only the naturally gifted possess. No he doens't move particularly fast, but in his head he was 3 or 4 moves ahead of everyone else. He didn't even need to look when he recieved the ball... he already knew where he was going to pass it too, or dribble or shoot.

Reminded me of that Zidane documentary that follows him around for a full game.

And as pointed out, his trophy cabinet speaks for itself.

A player rated as world class incorrectly IMO? Michael Bridges.

 

[Liquidator]

[quote="Misfit, post: 3239442, member: 8150"

Also - the king of all wankers - JT. Mainly just the Ingerlish press I admit but he's a fucking donkey. For all the shit Daws gets on here from the likes of BC, he's miles better as a footballer. JT gets his fat head in the way very well. Usually when making up for a clusterfuck of his own making.[/quote]

Abolutely agree. If Ledley had been fit all those years, Terry would have been way down the England pecking order. It would have been Rio and King. Damn straight.

 

[Lufti]

Whether you think he's overrated or not, he has a few nice moves





I would say the most overrated player in the world right now HAS to be Neymar. You can't be considered world class until you prove yourself in one of Europe top leagues or at international level and as of yet he has done neither. People still seem to think he's the 3rd best player in the world though..

 

[Misfit]

Think I'll mention a player I still think is underrated somewhat - Zidane. I know it sounds foolish but he really was something special. I think he just about gets the appropriate level of ballwashing but eh, still deserves more imo.

Still sad he no longer plays.

 

[RichSpur58]

Had a stint in Paris last year, and took in a PSG game against Toulouse. I never really appreciated Ibrahimovich's ability until that game. His reading of the game, timed contributions, and goal reeked of the sort of class only the naturally gifted possess. No he doens't move particularly fast, but in his head he was 3 or 4 moves ahead of everyone else. He didn't even need to look when he recieved the ball... he already knew where he was going to pass it too, or dribble or shoot.

Reminded me of that Zidane documentary that follows him around for a full game.

And as pointed out, his trophy cabinet speaks for itself.

A player rated as world class incorrectly IMO? Michael Bridges.

WTF are Toulouse?

 

[Lufti]

Think I'll mention a player I still think is underrated somewhat - Zidane. I know it sounds foolish but he really was something special. I think he just about gets the appropriate level of ballwashing but eh, still deserves more imo.

Still sad he no longer plays.

I'd say he's in an exclusive group in between the best of all time (Maradona, Pele etc) and the best of recent times (Figo, Davids, Nedved, Raul, Fat Ronaldo, Rivaldo etc). Not including people still playing because you can't judge them until they've retired imo (I realise Raul and I think Rivaldo are still playing but they're just getting a bigger pension rather than playing competitively).

Will be interesting to see how his son does at Real Madrid and whether he chooses to represent France or Spain should he make it to the top!

 

[$hoguN]

Neymar is a great shout Lufti. Everytime I have seen him play he has been awful, very average player imo. Laughable that Pele said Messi isn't anywhere near as good as Neymar let alone himself, when every year people find more and more goals that shouldn't count to Pele's record and every year Messi shows more and more why he is twice the player Pele ever was.

 

[Liquidator]

I think all that viagra's twisting Pele's head...

Mind you, he could play - granted all I've seen is the 1958 W C goals, plus all the 1970 WC.

 

[BillyWhizz]

Ashley Cole. Very good defender yes but nothing is ever made of his passing and crossing, it's shite! To be considered a world class fullback in modern football imo you need to be useful attacking from the flanks.

 

[BillyWhizz]

Neymar is a great shout Lufti. Everytime I have seen him play he has been awful, very average player imo. Laughable that Pele said Messi isn't anywhere near as good as Neymar let alone himself, when every year people find more and more goals that shouldn't count to Pele's record and every year Messi shows more and more why he is twice the player Pele ever was.

Steady on. You can't say that's laughable and then go on to say Messi is twice the player Pele ever was. Comparing players from different generations doesn't work, especially not 40 odd years apart.

One thing I think we can all probably agree on though is that Pele is a knob.

 

[Dinpomp]

As soon as I read the title I knew this was going to be about Ibrahimovic.

 

[LukaMotion]

Torres, a few good seasons for an average team makes an in-form player, not a world class one.

Robinho, hailed as the next Pele, never impressed me once when I saw him play.

Adriano, see Robinho.

 

[3Dnata]

Has anyone said Kaka yet?

 

[tobi]

Has anyone said Kaka yet?

He was world class for a period but it all fell apart when he went to Real Madrid, I think he's still a very good player.

 

[sidford]

Ronaldo when he first went to man u.......... One of the worst calls ever

 

[timfrancis]

One thing I think we can all probably agree on though is that Pele is a knob.

But thanks to those little blue pills he advertised he's a fully functioning knob.

 

[dontcallme]

One I think I was right about:

Gerrard - I think he's a top quality number 10. His ability to make space for himself, his shooting ability and ability to link up with a quick striker like Torres or Owen is excellent. But I keep hearing 'he's the complete player,' he's not. Play him deeper and his ball retention is not great, tries long-range passes when his team need to keep possession, tackling is dangerous and footballing brain to slow the pace of the game is non-existent.

One I was wrong about:

Cashley - I rememeber the buildup to the 2002 World Cup, the 'Golden Generation.' I told everyone you can't have a golden generation with an over the hill David Seaman in goal, Mills and Cole as your full backs, Buttin centre midfield, Trevor Sinclair left wing and Heskey up-front. I was right about everything except Cole. Butt played well but Cole was a genuine talent.

Took me years to see it and then admit it. Best English left back in my lifetime, much as I hate to say it.

 

[lillywhites61]

I believe Rooney has been vastly overrated for a long time, he has his moments but lacks consistency, a lot like Ibra, at times shows his class but not enough.