I got thinking about LFC players of the premier league era that tend to get over-looked when compared with others in their own position.
Here goes:
GK: Pepe Reina - With over 150 LFC clean sheets, Pepe seems to be taken for granted with the occasional mistake grabbing the headlines. He is arguably the best distributing goal-keeper on the planet and with a win ratio of over 50%, has to be in the sticks.
RB: Steve Finnan - Steve racked up over 200 appearances for LFC and was a constant rock at the back whose crossing ability was often over-looked. I can never recall a winger having the better of Steve over 90 minutes.
CB: Stephan Henchoz - Stephan also made more than 200 appearances for LFC, winning a flurry of silverware. The performances of big Sami often saw Stephan go unnoticed some what but for me he was a top player and very reliable.
CB: Jamie Carragher - For a stint, Jamie was the best center back in the league but seemed to constantly get over-looked due to the success of both Rio Ferdinand and John Terry when they were picking up league medals, which is not a dig at them by the way. For all of Jamie's games I can only recall two players who would normally get the better of him, one Thiery Henry and two, Didier Drogba, not too shabby eh ?
LB: Fabio Aurelio - Signed for "free", this lad is the most gifted left-back I have witnessed play for LFC. Seemed to never give the ball away, rarely beaten in a one on one and produced quality ball after quality ball into the box. Real shame he was so injury prone.
RM: Dirk Kuyt - Work-rate, desire, never say die, Dirk had it all. Not the most gifted, most would agree. However, the man always delivered on the big occasion, his 1 in 4 record at LFC speaks volumes.
CM: Momo Sissoko - I feel that having a Xabi Alonso spraying the ball around often took away the meaning this man had on LFC. He did the dirty work in the midfield, the stuff under-valued at the time, the stuff Lucas gets praised for at the minute. His tackling and energy was a match for most and with a 63% win ratio has to be in.
CM: Daniel Murphy - Really disappointed when Rafa moved Danny on. Calm on the ball, eye for a pass and was always sticking them in against United, quality player and very under-rated.
LM: Craig Bellamy - Granted he could start a fight in a phone box but what a player to have wearing red. Would fight for every cause, would hassle and hurry opposition and blessed with great pace. Just shy of a 1 in 4 record for LFC.
ACM: Luis Garcia - Luis was known for linking play up and his 1 in 4 record goes largely unnoticed. Instrumental in our 2005 champions league journey scoring against Juventus and Chelsea. Luis had that spark that not many had and could always produce the unexpected.
Striker: Peter Crouch - I never thought Crouchy was given a fair crack of the whip from Rafa, maybe it was the form of Torres but what a handful. Would constantly produce moments of class and although 1 in every 3 and a bit games sounds suspect, a lot of those games saw Crouchy sub. I always felt others benefited from having Crouchy in the side as well.
--------------Reina---------------
Finnan--Carra----Henchoz--Aurelio
Kuyt----Momo----Murphy---Bellers
---------------Luis----------------
--------------Crouchy-------------
What would your under-rated LFC team be ?
Under-rated LFC team
posted on 20/3/13
He won me 140 quid with the free kick at OT
posted on 20/3/13
Collymore was an excellant player.
posted on 20/3/13
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posted on 20/3/13
"I'd argue with anyone that cara was the best centre half in Europe in the 2005 season it was his performances that got us to Istanbul"
in complete seriousness, Biscan did more to get us to Istanbul than Carra.
He had absolute binders in massive CL matches that season
posted on 20/3/13
Don't be silly.
posted on 20/3/13
I know he's much maligned (for good reason)
but in the CL, and only in the CL, Igor was a monster that year
posted on 20/3/13
Hmm.
I remember he had a good game against Deportivo.
I know he played in the later stages but don't remember him being owt special.
posted on 20/3/13
hmmmm... some of this is a bit out of left field
Here goes:
GK: Pepe Reina!!! that mad he is head an shoulder over the rest. he'd be in everyones team. frankly james went on to prove his credentials for england and he was prob one of the more under rated we had. friedal comes to mind more -
RB: Steve Finnan - probably right honestly. rafa tried to replace him 4 times. I'm not sure he would not be the first pick for best team of the prem though. rob jones, and a couple others might beat him though.
CB: Stephan Henchoz - probably correct as under rated and forgotted.
CB: Jamie Carragher - GOD no... he'd be in 90% of peoples to team. If you wanted another shout it could be the likes of mark wright who got forgotten under souncess but made a comeback... or babb (bad but not as bad as made out)
LB: Fabio Aurelio - "gifted left-back I have witnessed play for LFC". that goes a bit far IMO but i won't labor that. I would not put the glass one in the list ever. I think there was bjornebye who was called muck but lasted a long time for us and then lets not forget
RM: Dirk Kuyt - Prob right seeing most would not put him in the list of top 11 in the prem for us.
CM: Momo Sissoko? Nah I think he did ok in preseasons but didn't get chances so I think hamann was a slight bit under rated in terms of impact.
CM: Daniel Murphy - no way. i couldn't stand him cos he went out on big days with his hed hung low before a ball was kicked.. for me the impact of jhon barnes as a cm was largely over looked in how we played wth fowler and mcmanaman
LM: Craig Bellamy - well.... not so sure. berger should be on most peoples list but who knows.
ACM: Luis Garcia - probably right cos he kept giving the ball away but was effective.
Striker: Peter Crouch - maybe so. i mean he did ok so if you look at the prem with collywobbles, heskey, folwler, rush, owen, litmanen, moeriente torres et al he might well be forgotten.
anyway its all about opinion so good thread
posted on 21/3/13
Babel............
posted on 21/3/13
Babel?!!!!