Surprised Clichy's being picked so much, he's been really good whenever I've seen him this season. I'd go for: Debuchy, Agger, Cahill, Cole; Gerrard, Henderson, Cleverley; Ramirez, Defoe, Podolski. No idea for 'keeper. I'd have said Szczesny last summer but people seem to have his number now and as much as Reina has dropped off dramatically, I don't think he's that highly rated anymore. I said Debuchy looked average last summer in the Euros and I've seen nothing that suggests any different since he moved to the PL yet everyone seemed to rate him. Cahill's the new Upson, utterly hopeless when faced with the prospect of defending against any kind of pace or not defending on the edge of his 18 yard box all game, also inexplicably getting regular England caps. Cole's still good but he's showing his age and a shadow of the player he was a few years back. Defoe seems to have this tag as a clinical finisher and a poacher. Really? I don't see him scoring many by nicking ahead of the defender in the area or scoring many one on ones with the 'keeper. He shoots with power and as such is erratic and takes him as many chances, if not more, as everyone else to score but he is good at taking advantage of errors by defenders though, I'll give him that. The rest of the choices are pretty obvious, I think.
Thing is though, Cahill isn't over rated, because we Chelsea fans don't rate him! Ramires is not overrated either - he adds energy but is a woeful footballer. I think we can all accept that. Cole I can understand. I notice no difference between when Bertrand and Cole play.
Yeah, I was talking about the Soton one. I like Ramires, although he has had a poor season compared to the previous one. I'm not saying Cahill's highly rated by you guys but he's playing regularly for a top side in the league and getting regular caps for England when I believe there are other defenders just as good and better than him. To me that means he's rated. Mariappa was another one I considered for it but I think he will come good and didn't have the easiest conditions this season.
Personally I think Cahill gets a lot of unfair stick he certainly has a mistake or two in him but I look at his performances in big games and he's genrally very solid Phil Jones for me is hugely overrated ive never seen him have a standout game yet we are told what a great player he is.
Szcesney Kyle Walker Gary Cahill Vermaelen Baines Phil Jones Cleverley Gerrard Scott Parker Rooney Papiss Cisse
Great thread this. As a Toon fan I can honestly say Debuchy has had about one good game. It might have been against Chelsea. Other than that he's been slow, gave away pens and looked well out of sorts - expect him to come good next season. Can't imagine why Bains has been mentioned in this thread? Surely anyone wants him LB for England after Cole??
Played in a piss poor league. Found out in Europe and Chelsea knocked them out of the domestics as they have a better first XI.
But if they are overrated, what does this say about the rest of the league? Surely the likes of Chelsea and City are the overrated ones if they couldn't get close to such a weak Utd?
Valdes Dani Alves Ferdinand Pepe Clichy Tiote Lucas Sessegnon Gervinho P. Cisse Taarabt I'll explain a few... - Alves is good but spends most of his time hitting shots/crosses into row Z. Peaked maybe 4 years ago. - Ferdinand hasn't been brilliant for years. But he IS English. - Lucas is good, but Liverpool fans have become carried away with praising him. He's good but not great. - Arguably noone rates Gervinho, but he always seems to get good ratings in football games, and I had to include an Arsenal player somewhere when I didn't leave space for Ramsey, Sagna, Szchesny etc. Honourable mentions to Milner (who I do actually like), A. Johnson and Robben.
Would it be easier if I just said 'the England team'? All in the P.L and all over rated; especially in the weeks before a major championship.