Underappreciated Players

[Sven]

What a dick... but a talented one!

Love Veron! Typical 'dirty' South American player... a winner. But there's nothing wrong in that video, just a dude fighting to win the ball.

He was not dirty there. The hand in the face is accidental.

Anyway, the three players challenged very hard for the ball... And Verón owned all of them. You don't see players of that quality putting that Gattuso esque fights everyday.

 

[Fiero]

He was not dirty there. The hand in the face is accidental.

Anyway, the three players challenged very hard for the ball... And Verón owned all of them. You don't see players of that quality putting that Gattuso esque fights everyday.

Exactly. Veron has ridiculous technique and fantastic passing accuracy, shots, and free kicks... but he also has grinta. He's a winner... goes all in. Absolutely love that dude.

He was one of the world's best during his time at Lazio, was actually the brains of that Argentina team during the 2002 WC qualifications... at that time they were by far the strongest NT and shat on South America. By the time the World Cup came, Veron was already in United and reached some of his lowest form... flopped badly at that WC and was made scapegoat in Argentina. Some still consider him a traitor.

Such a shame he went to United in his prime, his game clearly didn't suit hoof the ball league. All his best games for United came in the Champions League. The guy totally owned in Serie A... one time he scored a goal from a corner kick with Lazio... no deflection or anything, just a curved ball into the far post... genius.

Eriksson had a crush on him, bought him at Sampdoria and Lazio. Incredible player. With his trademark shaved head and goatee, socks down, that thing on his ankle, and long sleeves pulled a bit up... ball in his right foot, very hard to find a player with better control, passing range, or shot accuracy.

 

[Ashish]

Exactly. Veron has ridiculous technique and fantastic passing accuracy, shots, and free kicks... but he also has grinta. He's a winner... goes all in. Absolutely love that dude.

He was one of the world's best during his time at Lazio, was actually the brains of that Argentina team during the 2002 WC qualifications... at that time they were by far the strongest NT and shat on South America. By the time the World Cup came, Veron was already in United and reached some of his lowest form... flopped badly at that WC and was made scapegoat in Argentina. Some still consider him a traitor.

Such a shame he went to United in his prime, his game clearly didn't suit hoof the ball league. All his best games for United came in the Champions League. The guy totally owned in Serie A... one time he scored a goal from a corner kick with Lazio... no deflection or anything, just a curved ball into the far post... genius.

Eriksson had a crush on him, bought him at Sampdoria and Lazio. Incredible player. With his trademark shaved head and goatee, socks down, that thing on his ankle, and long sleeves pulled a bit up... ball in his right foot, very hard to find a player with better control, passing range, or shot accuracy.

 

[KujaIX]

Exactly. Veron has ridiculous technique and fantastic passing accuracy, shots, and free kicks... but he also has grinta. He's a winner... goes all in. Absolutely love that dude.

He was one of the world's best during his time at Lazio, was actually the brains of that Argentina team during the 2002 WC qualifications... at that time they were by far the strongest NT and shat on South America. By the time the World Cup came, Veron was already in United and reached some of his lowest form... flopped badly at that WC and was made scapegoat in Argentina. Some still consider him a traitor.

Such a shame he went to United in his prime, his game clearly didn't suit hoof the ball league. All his best games for United came in the Champions League. The guy totally owned in Serie A... one time he scored a goal from a corner kick with Lazio... no deflection or anything, just a curved ball into the far post... genius.

Eriksson had a crush on him, bought him at Sampdoria and Lazio. Incredible player. With his trademark shaved head and goatee, socks down, that thing on his ankle, and long sleeves pulled a bit up... ball in his right foot, very hard to find a player with better control, passing range, or shot accuracy.

That does happen reasonably often. Dinho once hit the post trying it

But I like Veron. Always have done. It's a shame he moved to England.

 

[Fiero]

2001 Argentina was by far the strongest NT in the world, let alone South America. They finished 1st in the qualifications. Brazil at a point looked like they risked not qualifying, of course they appointed Scolari midway through qualifications then Ronaldo returned for the WC so the story has a happy ending for you.

But that Veron, Batistuta, Ayala, Simeone, Sorin, Aimar team was something else. No idea what happened to them in the World Cup. Losing to a Beckham penalty.

 

[Sven]

2001 Argentina was by far the strongest NT in the world, let alone South America. They finished 1st in the qualifications. Brazil at a point looked like they risked not qualifying, of course they appointed Scolari midway through qualifications then Ronaldo returned for the WC so the story has a happy ending for you.

But that Veron, Batistuta, Ayala, Simeone, Sorin, Aimar team was something else. No idea what happened to them in the World Cup. Losing to a Beckham penalty.

You're right:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL)#Final_standings

Exactly. Veron has ridiculous technique and fantastic passing accuracy, shots, and free kicks... but he also has grinta. He's a winner... goes all in. Absolutely love that dude.

I also do value him a lot for his relation with Estudiantes, just like his father. He always loved the club, he spent his own money to help them... He came back to Argentina to lead the team back to glory and they won the Libertadores again.

Loyalty to a team is something I will always take very highly. So rare nowadays.

 

[Senatore_M84]

i'm kind of with ashish.

Argentina had an amazing squad.... but brazil's was equally amazing talent wise. Just took a little longer for a coach to figure out the best way to configure it.


It's sad for argentina.... back then they had talent all over. Now it's just forwards + mascerano. ffs you can justify zanetti still being a need at 39?! Fuck, even veron at 37? I mean i think he might still be better in that role than gago

 

[Sven]

i'm kind of with ashish.

Argentina had an amazing squad.... but brazil's was equally amazing talent wise. Just took a little longer for a coach to figure out the best way to configure it.


It's sad for argentina.... back then they had talent all over. Now it's just forwards + mascerano. ffs you can justify zanetti still being a need at 39?! Fuck, even veron at 37? I mean i think he might still be better in that role than gago

Yeah, but the little longer was actually two years, the whole qualifications. Brazil had 3 coaches on that period and only at the last round guaranteed qualification - that for 5 spots. Even Scolari was almost sacked after losing to Honduras in Copa America.

While Bielsa really make Argentina perform amazing the whole time.

 

[Jasper]

Fuck Veron!

 

[Charbel]

Ambrosini.

 

[necromancer]

Brazil 2002 was the most 'disappointing' world cup win that I've seen. In my view, Italy and Spain were so much stronger in that tournament. Fuck Byron Moreno. Argentina is never dependable and I hate them, so didnt really mind them crashing out.

 

[Sage]

byron moreno <3

 

[Sonny.Bill.Williams]

Jorge Valdivia

 

[Fiero]

Brazil 2002 was the most 'disappointing' world cup win that I've seen. In my view, Italy and Spain were so much stronger in that tournament. Fuck Byron Moreno. Argentina is never dependable and I hate them, so didnt really mind them crashing out.

Spain - Korea was an Egyptian ref. Italy's game was a scandal though... that whole WC is a disgrace to the sport. Fucking rigged piece of shit world cup, no doubt it's by far the worst in history.

 

[Eccolo]

Moreno later got sent to jail for trying to smuggle like 4 kg of cocaine....Never ever seen a match so obivously fixed as the Italy-Korea. If I remeber correctly I think Zamparini, who was in charge over Venezia at the time, fired one of the players...because he was korean

 

[Fiero]

Moreno later got sent to jail for trying to smuggle like 4 kg of cocaine....Never ever seen a match so obivously fixed as the Italy-Korea. If I remeber correctly I think Zamparini, who was in charge over Venezia at the time, fired on of the players...because he was korean

Yep, Ahn Jung Hwan. He was the dude that scored the golden goal that took Italy out. Maldini's reaction.

Totti's red card instead of a penalty, Vieri's disallowed goal. Fucking disgrace.

 

[Sage]

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he scored an extra-time header in the round of 16 game against Italy that sent the South Koreans through to the quarter-finals. The next day, Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci cancelled his contract and was quoted as saying, "I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football."

Perugia later took back what it said, and offered to outright buy Ahn's contract, but the player rejected it, saying "I will no longer discuss my transfer to Perugia, which attacked my character instead of congratulating me for a goal in the World Cup."

no class what so ever

 

[Fiero]

no class what so ever

They cheated, don't you hate cheaters?

 

[Sage]

They cheated, don't you hate cheaters?

so? he fits right in

 

[Senatore_M84]

Brazil 2002 was the most 'disappointing' world cup win that I've seen. In my view, Italy and Spain were so much stronger in that tournament. Fuck Byron Moreno. Argentina is never dependable and I hate them, so didnt really mind them crashing out.

Debateable


No doubt italy had a squad primed to challenge to end and much stronger than germany but that doesn't mean they beat brazil

 

[necromancer]

Another very underappreciated player in world football, but perhaps appreciated enough in this forum - Marek Jankulovski.

Debateable


No doubt italy had a squad primed to challenge to end and much stronger than germany but that doesn't mean they beat brazil

It's a subjective opinion, so obviously it's debatable.

That Brazil was a weird team. I remember discussing this with Sven etc in another thread. Tactics changed midway, there were rumours of a mini-riot between players and coach, and apparently the 'Senatori' decided to ignore Scolari's tactics and went ahead with their own ideas.

Turkey actually looked better than them in the semifinal.

 

[Sage]

marek jankulovski.

<3

 

[crazy4milan]

Marek was awesome with Udinese, a little dissapointing with us to be fair, but I really really enjoyed him with Udinese, and was like "NAILED IT" when we got him.

As for Italy 2002. I got no doubt in my mind that that World Cup was disgustingly fixed, the fact that things got even more disgustingly obvious after wet dream final no.1 screwed it on their own (France and Argentina)...we got wet dream final no.2, Fifa's long dream finally comming true and with Collina still being able to be ref. Belgium's dissalowed goal vs Brazil, Rivaldo's playacting (Busquets still wishes to get there), Germany's handball vs USA, Italy's 5 dissallowed goals (I can at most justify only 1 of them), Italy-Korea (I really really hate the prick that kicked Maldini's head and later admitted to do it on purpose, what a little prick), Spain-Korea, that was just too obvious.

However, even if Italy's team on paper looked to be really good, but I mean even they would admit they didn't feel it. Trap gave Totti a superstar role (which he again did in 2004) and that caused a lot of issues within the team. And tbf even if they played really good against Ecuador and got screwed in the other games with the dissallowed goals and everything that happened vs Korea, they didn't seem solid in d. (tbf Maldini hadn't played for 6 months, Nesta was injured, Cannavaro got suspended for the game vs Korea), and the midfield was pretty dissapoiting. It wasn't an Italy playing as a team. I didn't really saw them as strong.

This reminds me, I liked Tomassi, such a caveman and commie, but he's one of those players you want to have on your team, solid overall, a lot of leadership, crazy hair to distinguish him, good passing skills....

 

[SpartanMilan]

if Italy took Baggio and Albertini wasnt hurt that would have been such an amazing squad... they still got screwed though

 

[Mario]

Busquets.

 

[vB9]

Denis Irwin.

 

[KujaIX]

Jorge Valdivia

I like Valdivia.

One of those players you watch with bated breath, awaiting something magical.

 

[necromancer]

Damiano Tomassi +1

Rivaldo's playacting (Busquets still wishes to get there)

Hahaha, so true.

 

[WILL2K]

Thought Guti wasn't bad at Real but was overshadowed by super stars.

From Milan, JDT was quite good, he would have been a definite starter in current Milan. Same goes for Dario Simic or Kaladze.

 

[necromancer]

Thought Guti wasn't bad at Real but was overshadowed by super stars.

Guti is an absolute legend at Madrid! Their Seedorf, in more ways than one. Incredibly talented, absolutely mood-dependent performance, and slightly eccentric. Madrid fans love him.