Underrated Players

[Nymzee]

Was a thread on this but locked 7 years ago. Tell me your picks for really underrated players! (present or past)

 

[ToffeeTim]

Gross at Brighton

 

[KaiserEFC]

Dimitar Berbatov. Doesn’t get half of the plaudits he deserves and was even considered to not be an elite striker at points whilst at United. Easily the most technically gifted player I’ve ever seen and a lot worse players get a lot more credit than him

 

[chicoazul]

Neal Maupay.

 

[kev]

Every single Everton player from the past.
Every single current Everton player.
Every single player we are linked with.
*by about half of the fanbase

 

[Papa Shango]

This fella.

Vassilis Hatzipanagis, played in Greece and had all the talent in the world, built like Maradona.

Was half Greek and half Russian which kind of messed up his chances of being seen on the world stage as there were issues with his nationality.

Would shoot from corners, float in penalties, dribble past players effortlessly and gave wonderful through balls (which has team mates would usually then sky over the bar.)

I actually started to write a book about underrated footballers who people have never heard of a few years back but never got round to finishing it.

 

[Kurt.]

Papin

Not massively underrated I suppose but never gets spoken about in the same way as other strikers from that era.. personally I thought he was a terrific player

 

[Nymzee]

One current player I'd add is that Dewsbury-Hall over at Leicester. Would love him here.

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

Lee Hendrie
Could've been more than what he was.

 

[Papa Shango]

Papin

Not massively underrated I suppose but never gets spoken about in the same way as other strikers from that era.. personally I thought he was a terrific player

I think the main issue with Papin is that he played at a time where European football was not quite as common on TV as it is now and also that France missed out on qualification for tournaments during his peak. I know he was in the 86 squad but didn't play much, I don't think they qualified for another competition until 1998 (when they hosted it of course). Oh Euro 92, but they were crap in that.

 

[everton fan number one]

Leon Osman

 

[Nymzee]

This fella.

Vassilis Hatzipanagis, played in Greece and had all the talent in the world, built like Maradona.

Was half Greek and half Russian which kind of messed up his chances of being seen on the world stage as there were issues with his nationality.

Would shoot from corners, float in penalties, dribble past players effortlessly and gave wonderful through balls (which has team mates would usually then sky over the bar.)

I actually started to write a book about underrated footballers who people have never heard of a few years back but never got round to finishing it.

Get it finished; sounds interesting.

 

[chrismpw]

Me.

 

[Billy Dean]

James Vaughan and Michael Ball. Were it not for injuries they might have gone on to have long international careers IMO. But now I get the feeling they;re more remembered as average journeymen

 

[Papa Shango]

Get it finished; sounds interesting.

I will one day, Think I had about 30 players done and was aiming for around 50. Players like Lajos Detari, Magico Gonzalez and Jurgen Croy.

The problem with "Great players you have never heard of" is getting usable information on them to pad it out a bit, especially the likes of African players, Central Americans etc.