Players who never got enough credit

[johan neeskens]

cruyff could do his own defending

The 1974 side was built around Cruyff, even football geniuses like Van Hanegem were put in a servile role for him. But that was fair enough as Cruyff was that good. Seedorf isn't anywhere near Cruyff's league though.

[squidward123]

The 1974 side was built around Cruyff, even football geniuses like Van Hanegem were put in a servile role for him. But that was fair enough as Cruyff was that good. Seedorf isn't anywhere near Cruyff's league though.

I think seedorf got a lot closer to playing in the EPL than cruyff ;)

Seedorf 1
Cruyff 0

[Paganitzu]

The 1974 side was built around Cruyff, even football geniuses like Van Hanegem were put in a servile role for him. But that was fair enough as Cruyff was that good. Seedorf isn't anywhere near Cruyff's league though.
Well, talking about Cruyff brings me on another player who never got enough credit..

Jan Van Beveren!

1959-1965: VV Emmen
1965-1970: Sparta (101 wedstrijden)
1970-1980: PSV (292 wedstrijden)
1980-1983: Fort Lauderdale Strikers
1984-1985: Dallas Side Kickers

Jan van Beveren, still known as the best goalkeeper in the history of PSV Eindhoven. Especially his reflexes where from an other planet. Unfortunately he needed to go to the USA because he was threatened by some stupid Ajax (Cruyff fans).

Jan van Beveren is the best goalkeeper our country ever had, unfortunately he isn't famous at all. The reason why he's not famous is Johan Cruyff. Johan Cruyff with his Ajax friend hated v. Beveren. Van Beveren made himself unpopulair because he didn't agree with the fact that the 4 stars of the dutch team got far more money from the KNVB then the PSV and other players in the dutch team. The "stars" where: Cruijff, Neeskens, Van Hanegem and Keizer.

After that moment it all hapenend:

Just before the WC the coach got a message from Cruyff who made clear that Van Beveren and Van der Kuijlen should be kicked out of the NT and Jongbloed and V. Hanegem should replace them. If that would'nt happen all the Ajax players will not play anymore for the dutch NT..

So the coach had no choice.. The VI chosed the side of Cruyff and Beveren became threated. So he left to the VS...

Much more things against the PSV players happened that time, but this is the main reason that you can't find a PSV fan who loves Cruyff. This moment the same thing happened with Mark v. Bommel. Cruyff hates him so Van Basten, his friend, will not select him.

Some "funny" clip about that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyIH8HjqyM8
On the field you see Johan Cruyff talking with some dutch presentator.

That brings me on the second and last player PSV who doesn't get the credit that they deserve. Mark v. Bommel...

[Cirdan]

First, I think the German World Champions of 74 that were mentioned earlier are overrated, if anything. Of course lots of people haven't actually seen them play, including me, but even in our minds they are seen as football gods due to constant praise by the older generation. And this isn't limited to Beckenbauer, this also includes Netzer, Overath, Vogts, Müller, Maier, Breitner. In polls, they are usually rated higher than the 1990 Champions, despite less people actually having seen them play (or maybe because?)

As underrated Germans I'd probably pick Jeremies and Hamann. Both very good DMs, with a lot of success with their club sides, however since the German nt had no notable AMs, wingers or strikers during their time and thus, played horrible, Jeremies will probably soon be forgotten... Hamann has at least scored the last goal in old Wembley, which makes him immortal :P

[Massimo_Oddo]

I've never seen him take any defensive responsibility for Holland though. I respect what he's achieved on the club level but of the say 80 games he's played for Holland, he only played about 10 games genuinely well. That's not enough, especially not for a player of his stature.

I agree that for Holland he's never played well. One thing to consider is that his best position is as the central playmaker but for Holland he rarely played that position (I remember in Euro 2004 he really wanted to play there but it was VDV's position). I suppose he is one of those players where his versatility is abused.

Also another thing is that (sorry to stereotype here) i dont think Seedorf is your typical dutch player, he plays more like a South American, hence this might be a reason why he doesnt play well for Holland but has done so well for Milan.

[squidward123]

First, I think the German World Champions of 74 that were mentioned earlier are overrated, if anything. Of course lots of people haven't actually seen them play, including me

I think that explains your whole post.

[dor02]

First, I think the German World Champions of 74 that were mentioned earlier are overrated, if anything. Of course lots of people haven't actually seen them play, including me, but even in our minds they are seen as football gods due to constant praise by the older generation. And this isn't limited to Beckenbauer, this also includes Netzer, Overath, Vogts, Müller, Maier, Breitner. In polls, they are usually rated higher than the 1990 Champions, despite less people actually having seen them play (or maybe because?)PYou should watch them play, then make an assessment. If you haven't watched a specific player, you shouldn't be trying to assess him.

[squidward123]

You should watch them play, then make an assessment. If you haven't watched a specific player, you shouldn't be trying to assess him.

yes I mean as good as the 1990 team were, I don't think anyone should say they were better than the team from the 70s. The 1974 WC was won despite them shooting themselves in the foot from all angles at the start.

[Cirdan]

I didn't really try to assess their strength, and it was not my intention to compare them with the 1990 team (though it might have looked like this).

I just think you cannot be more appreciated than the players of 72/74 that I mentioned, so it's impossible that they are underrated, as simple as that. It's like saying Pele is underrated, you don't need to have seen him play to know that this can't be true.

[squidward123]

so what you are saying is they deserve to be rated as they are?

[Cirdan]

What I say is I have no idea if they deserve to be rated as they are since I don't think I've seen one complete match of that time, but if you want to pin me down, I'll go with the majority and admit that they must have been fantastic footballers.

To put it in another way: if the European Champs of 72 (world champs of 74) are the best nt Germany ever produced (which they probably are) they are rated correctly, if they are not, they are overrated, but there is no better than best, so key players can't be underrated.

Hoeneß might be an exception, since his manager career at Bayern is overshadowing his career as a player, and if you think that anyone in the team was better than Beckenbauer, that one might also be underrated, but short of that, it's hardly possible to give those players more credit than they are already given.

[Gregoriak]

Hoeneß might be an exception, since his manager career at Bayern is overshadowing his career as a player, and if you think that anyone in the team was better than Beckenbauer, that one might also be underrated, but short of that, it's hardly possible to give those players more credit than they are already given.

If I understand you correctly, you are basing your assumptions solely on the rating the 70s generation gets in Germany. In that regard you are correct. However outside of Germany, the 1974 World Cup winners are not rated as highly. From an internationally viewpoint (especially the 1972 Euro winners) one could argue that they are underrated.