Soundoff: Nominate Your Underrated Footballers

By: Daryl | September 23rd, 2009

The Manchester derby post-match talk was dominated by debates about time-keeping. So much so, no one seemed to notice that Darren Fletcher scored twice.

Which is sort of a common theme for DF. Because he doesn’t have a tan, a fancy name, or a flashy (or even decent) haircut. Because he doesn’t do stepovers or rabonas. Fletcher tends to go either unnoticed or underestimated by many. Myself included. But he works hard, is tactically disciplined, technically very solid, and makes smart passes and very few mistakes.

Which is why the guy played 42 times for Man Utd last season, and – based on Sunday’s two-goals-from-midfield-evidence – is going to be a mighty important player for one of the world’s biggest clubs this season.

Which brings us to the inevitable Offside Soundoff: Which other players in world football are underrated? Who does an important job but doesn’t get the attention/respect they deserve?

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: Darren Fletcher, Man Utd, Soundoff, underrated, World Football, World Soccer

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 52 comments.
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• Rob |  September 23rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm

  
  
  

  Alexandre Song has quietly stepped up his game this year. I think a lot of people still hold his growing pains from last season against him.

  Posted from United States

  

• alessio |  September 23rd, 2009 at 7:45 pm

  
  
  

  I might ask that the offside goal not count, but that’s just me…

  When they start retroactively adjusting goals, let me know.

  Posted from United States

  

• MAD |  September 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm

  
  
  

  The league table was adjusted retroactively.

  The goals we are still working on.

  Posted from United States

  

• victor |  September 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 pm

  
  
  

  Lucio and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.

  Posted from Australia

  

• siva |  September 24th, 2009 at 12:20 am

  
  
  

  dealbert for valencia cf

  Posted from United States

  

• Drabik |  September 24th, 2009 at 12:26 am

  
  
  

  Dave Trotter clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Fletcher isn’t a goalscoring midfield player. He works hard for the team, breaking down opponents attacks. That’s why Fergie picks him against ALL the big teams (and Man City). He doesn’t play every game, because I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but Manchester United have a lot of good centre midfielders Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, Hargo (when fit). He is, in my opinion the most under-rated player in the United team, but I would also like to point out that if Park Ji Sung was not Asian, he would probably be rated higher in the media.

  Another reason for Mr. Trotter’s idiocy is saying that Michael Owen is over-rated. He has shown wherever he has played that he has a great eye for goal, and has great movement. He can score headers, despite not being tall, and as he showed last night, can set up other players. Oh, and of course, this 1996 World Cup you are on about… it never happened. It’s probably a typo, but based on the rest of your comment, I cannot be sure.

  Posted from United States

  

• Luka |  September 24th, 2009 at 5:30 am

  
  
  

  Ashley Cole. Though perhaps it’s only because everyone (including me) hates him.
  Other random ones: Higuain, Forlan (come on, he’s a goal machine), Agger.

  Posted from Australia

  

• Al |  September 24th, 2009 at 7:38 am

  
  
  

  Juan Vargas for Fiorentina.

  Posted from United States

  

• thomaskarl |  September 24th, 2009 at 7:45 am

  
  
  

  Luka Modric.

  Posted from United States

  

• wob |  September 24th, 2009 at 8:20 am

  
  
  

  Forlán, I agree with Luka.
  In the eredivisie Koevermans, Calabro.

  Posted from Netherlands

  

• Daryl |  September 24th, 2009 at 10:02 am

  
  
  

  I’d also nominate Peter Crouch. He doesn’t always get taken as seriously as his talent deserves. I know he lacks pace (severely) and looks a bit, erm, unorthodox, but the man has great control and pulls out the occasional bit of magic.

  Posted from United States

  

• Kevin |  September 24th, 2009 at 11:01 am

  
  
  

  Van der Vaart

  Posted from United States

  

• heynow |  September 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am

  
  
  

  Yaya Toure. He is amazing.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  September 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

  
  
  

  Mamadou Niang. Much as I hate to say it as a PSG fan, but he’s absolutely amazing.

  Posted from United States

  

• Oliviero |  September 25th, 2009 at 8:12 am

  
  
  

  Claudio Marchisio, he is probably the best young italian midfielder

  Posted from United States

  

• michael |  September 25th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

  
  
  

  I second the Marchisio vote.

  Posted from United States

  

• nick |  September 25th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

  
  
  

  Cassano!

  I would have to say that he is one of the best players in the world right now, and is highly overlooked (especially by people who either don’t watch calcio, or only watch CL) due to his emotion filled past. I think he must be one of the best trequartistas in the world.

  Posted from United States

  

• Dave Trotter |  September 25th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

  
  
  

  Drabik, Owen has a great eye for the goal? Hogwash!

  Yeah, when he is the dominate player on a team (his early Liverpool days) he does alright. But just look at him at Real Madrid…a total flop! And since then, he has been nothing. He couldn’t keep Newcastle from relegation. Hell, Alan Shearer didn’t even want to start the guy because he was useless!

  Does Owen play well for England? Yes he does. But that is it. Otherwise he has been a flop! Oh, and if Owen is such a great player, why has he only started two games and come in as a sub in four games this season? If a player is sooooooo great, he would be a starter every time! Instead, he comes in as a sub in the 78th minute of their most important game of the season. Explain that one!

  Again, besides saying ‘he has a good header’, tell me how Michael Owen is so great when Shearer didn’t even want him and Fergie never starts him! Also, the guy is way to injury prone.

  As far as Fletcher, I said that people are mentioning him now because he is scoring goals. I didn’t say he was a goal scorer. But now since he scored two goals in one game, he is all of a sudden a underrated player? That is bull!

  If you knew something about French Ligue 1 play, there is a reason why I compared Christophe Jallet with Darren Fletcher…and that is because the same hype is around him. Jallet was a defender at Lorient until he moved to PSG this year. At PSG, they have moved him up to midfield where has scored goals, which is unlike him! So, if you knew who Jallet was, then you would understand that I was saying that Fletcher isn’t a scoring midfielder, but that there is useless hype around him.

  Now, could Fletcher be the most underrated player on the team? Maybe. But in soccer in general? Hell no!

  Posted from United States

  

• Dave Trotter |  September 25th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

  
  
  

  I third the Marchisio comments. He is amazing!

  Posted from United States

  

• Paul Dinneen |  September 26th, 2009 at 2:43 am

  
  
  

  Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao – Absolute class already and still improving. Two footed, can head the ball well and is physically strong. One of the top strikers in Europe already.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Geoff |  September 26th, 2009 at 5:18 am

  
  
  

  Marchisio, hands down.

  Posted from United States

  

• moka |  September 26th, 2009 at 9:18 am

  
  
  

  I 5th Marchisio!

  Posted from United States

  

• Jack |  September 26th, 2009 at 10:11 am

  
  
  

  jussi jaaskelainen, giovinco & marchisio

  Posted from Malaysia

  

• Jake |  September 26th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

  
  
  

  RAFAEL VAN DER VAART! easily the most underrated and is currently being screwed over by madrid

  Posted from United States

  

• SoccerFanatic |  September 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am

  
  
  

  I agree that DF is underrated, but there are so many others that slip by unnoticed behind the visage of superstars.

  Posted from United States

  

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