Most underated players

[phishnchipz]

Watching Barca, technique often gets confused with creativity. A lot of players can "see" the subtle flicks, short passes that Barca plays with, but don't have the technique to execute them consistently. And even when players are gifted with the technique, its not often that most of their teammates are as well, so they don't play the same way. Barca's system really tends to make players "look good".

A truly creative pass, in terms of vision and not just technique (ability to backheel the ball while running: YouTube - Fernando Torres magic assist), would be Ronaldinho's assist to Giuly against AC Milan. Very few players would have been able to even PERCEIVE that a scoring chance would arise if a ball were to be played in that space. Even as a spectator watching it on video, you can hardly believe it until the ball is in midflight. Other examples would be Gerrard's assist to Owen from about 40-50 yards and many of Bergkamp's assists. Riquelme makes it a habit to play these kinds of balls more consistently than anyone else, but my caveat with him is that he often does it into a position that isn't much more useful than just a regular pass.

[BTV802]

Mmmm backheels are fun. Watch this goal from Ajax this season. Nice interplay between 4 players (Suarez, Van der Wiel, Enoh & Sulejmani) with an average age of 21.5. A very nice series of passes with our right back finishing things off tidily.

So I'm not off topic here, Enoh would be the underrated player here (Suarez & Sulejmani are considered two of the best forwards in the Eredivisie and Van Der Wiel is already starting at right back for the Dutch NT). Just picked him up from Ajax affiliate in Cape Town and he's been great for us in midfield this season.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5V7VfYYipI

[erick]

Pippo Inzaghi.

[Wolfbeatseagle]

Pippo Inzaghi.

I'm not arguing, but I hate him. His game is so ugly but so effective. Positioning is the name of the game.

[phishnchipz]

Why do you think his game is ugly? One and two-touch goals are beautiful too. Very few strikers can do this (and with such clear intent): YouTube - Inzaghi 2nd Goal Portsmouth vs Ac Milan 2-2

[Fried]

Knew that guy, know Ronaldinho, so it's more than a patriotic post. Not a reply, just a needed register, compensating a previous mention of a great player whose underating would be more for the country level (Renato Gaúcho). Couldn't find a greater video.
YouTube - Dener - Dribles Mágicos

For the case of someone happening to see different weights in populational quantities, a completely off-topic stress on a perhaps related sample to populational qualities.
YouTube - Ayrton Senna for ever - Tema da Vitoria

[kingkong1]

Lately, Ronaldinho, by far...

http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=sportmediaset&data=2009/07/12&id=4077&from=link

[old_carioca_in_nyc]

Lately, Ronaldinho, by far...

http://www.video.mediaset.it/mplayer.html?sito=sportmediaset&data=2009/07/12&id=4077&from=link

As Dunga said, it is entirely up to him (Ronaldinho) whether he gets back to the selecao... So maybe with Leonardo encouragement, he will get back into top shape. No one else has his artistic abilities (malandragem, jeitinho) in the field.:rolleyes:

[phil80]

Lately, Ronaldinho
will have to agree.

players that deserve more recognition: Arshavin, David Suazo, and Cabanes

[BTV802]

will have to agree.

players that deserve more recognition: Arshavin, David Suazo, and Cabanes

Arshavin is sick! I was skeptical, but the dude just showed up midseason in the premiership and looked like a seasoned veteran superstar.

I think maybe I mentioned this already, but Luis Suarez from Ajax is a nasty. People tend to discredit attackers from the Eredivisie (justifiably so) because of the crappy defenses they go up against, but this kid is going to be great anywhere he plays. We are incredibly lucky as it looks like we'll hold on to him for one more season.

[erick]

Kerlon :)

[TKORL]

Watching Barca, technique often gets confused with creativity. A lot of players can "see" the subtle flicks, short passes that Barca plays with, but don't have the technique to execute them consistently. And even when players are gifted with the technique, its not often that most of their teammates are as well, so they don't play the same way. Barca's system really tends to make players "look good".

A truly creative pass, in terms of vision and not just technique (ability to backheel the ball while running: YouTube - Fernando Torres magic assist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZZTQWRbEFs)), would be Ronaldinho's assist to Giuly against AC Milan. Very few players would have been able to even PERCEIVE that a scoring chance would arise if a ball were to be played in that space. Even as a spectator watching it on video, you can hardly believe it until the ball is in midflight. Other examples would be Gerrard's assist to Owen from about 40-50 yards and many of Bergkamp's assists. Riquelme makes it a habit to play these kinds of balls more consistently than anyone else, but my caveat with him is that he often does it into a position that isn't much more useful than just a regular pass.

Fantastic assist, but I think that was clearly on the side of technique rather than creativity. The reason being that in my mind, a really creative pass is that few see except the player (which may end up giving up possession as the intended recipient may also be on a different wavelength). Torres's idea was natural as Gerrard was abt to break onto goal, but making the pass was the harder part.

I think for creativity I'd go for Kaka's pass to Crespo in the 2005 CL final. But that was also technically really hard.

[TKORL]

underrated: Villa, Mata, Forlan, Rio, Totti, Diego

overrated: rooney

[TKORL]

For some reason, whenever great players of the 80s and/or early 90's are discussed, Hugo Sanchez is rarely mentioned.
"magico" gonzalez.

[TKORL]

serie a legend.


You could make the case that del piero's underrated, but I think that's partly due to the fact IMO he wasn't as good as his fellow Italian SS's Baggio and Totti.

[Bugre]

Diego is totally underated! But with the absence of some talent this year on italy,i am 100% sure that Diego will improve his image a lot.

[Halamadrid26]

probably every defender in soccer is underated...

[phil80]

except Ben Haim.

[BTV802]

except Ben Haim.

Don't forget Oleguer.

[Halamadrid26]

still underated IMO. That decision has something to do with the fact I rarely, if ever, hear about him