Quality players from Europe...

Brwned

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Apr 18, 2008
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...who don't get get a lot of recognition.

Michel Bastos and Blaise Matuidi from Ligue Un are very impressive I think.

Bastos is a winger from Lille, fast, a brilliant shot, great from set pieces and good at crossing and passing. Said to have the best left foot in the league, an always capable of a moment of magic. Expect him to move on to bigger and better things in a year or so, and should get a call up to the Brazilian team soon enough.

Blaise Matuidi's been great for Saint Etienne for over a year now, and has been linked with Arsenal since last year. Physically perfect for the league, has a very natural footballing brain and he leads by example. Not the so-called defensive midfielder that they're in desperate need of, but a perfect partner for Fabregas and he'd be a great buy for them if it did happen.

Pierre Gignac and Fernando Cavenaghi have been making a name for themselves this season too. Cavenaghi with 15 goals and 16 assists last season, and being a great target man, and Gignac for showing the potential many believe he had this season, with him being the top scorer in the league for a long while and replacing Elmander perfectly.
 
Sidney Govou has always been one that's impressed me and it shocks me he's not more known or respected by the masses.

Infact, a good number of lads from Ligue 1 are brilliant players.

As well as the Russian and Portugeese leagues.
 
Renato Augusto (Leverkusen) - we were linked with him a couple of times and damn he turned out to be a good player. Could become a world-beater if he keeps improving on his current level.
Patrick Helmes (also Leverkusen), probably the best German striker around this season.
Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim) who developed phenomenally at his new club and has become one of the best full-backs of the Bundesliga.

On another sight Gilardino has found his old Parma form again and keeps scoring for fun for Fiorentina. Milan wasn't the right place for him it seems...
 
Wow Brwned I must say that I'm impressed that you know about the quality players of the league here in France.I don't like Cavenaghi,he reminds me of Inzaghi and I hate that type of striker. Gignac is a physical beast but he's got some good technique as he showed in the last goal he scored.Matuidi is a great midfielder ala Toulalan.
 
Xabi Etxebarria. Was always scoring or being involved in the goals when he was representing Spain.

As for Bastos, I've read several reports that rate him highly this season. Having never seen him play I find it hard to give him 'the respect he deserves' though
 
Ekeke said:
Xabi Etxebarria. Was always scoring or being involved in the goals when he was representing Spain.

As for Bastos, I've read several reports that rate him highly this season. Having never seen him play I find it hard to give him 'the respect he deserves' though
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Ekeke your respect is really valuable.
 
Anduin said:
Renato Augusto (Leverkusen) - we were linked with him a couple of times and damn he turned out to be a good player. Could become a world-beater if he keeps improving on his current level.
Patrick Helmes (also Leverkusen), probably the best German striker around this season.
Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim) who developed phenomenally at his new club and has become one of the best full-backs of the Bundesliga.

On another sight Gilardino has found his old Parma form again and keeps scoring for fun for Fiorentina. Milan wasn't the right place for him it seems...
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I've heard quite a bit about Renato Augusto, but every time I see him he's never seemed that impressive. Good enough for someone like us, or Liverpool? We've both been linked with him quite a lot.
 
kouroux said:
Wow Brwned I must say that I'm impressed that you know about the quality players of the league here in France.I don't like Cavenaghi,he reminds me of Inzaghi and I hate that type of striker. Gignac is a physical beast but he's got some good technique as he showed in the last goal he scored.Matuidi is a great midfielder ala Toulalan.
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Cavenaghi's hardly the most exciting player, but you can't deny he's effective. Scoring scrappy goals isn't great to watch, but it's an asset any team can use.

I quite like Gignac, he's a nippy little player and does plenty more than scoring.

Matuidi's goal at the weekend was brilliant, don't you think?
 
Well, he just turned 21 a week ago and lacks experience on international level, but he is a raw diamond. Brilliant on the ball, can play either as attacking midfielder or on both wings, excellent distribution, can do set pieces and still works a lot for the team. His average rating by the 'kicker' this year is 2,74 (1 is the best, 5 the worst) which is fecking brilliant for a field player... if I remember correctly only Ribery (and Ibisevic who is injured now) has been better than him.
Unfortunately he is tied to Leverkusen until 2013 and is partly owned by some consortium similar to MSI (it's not MSI, but I don't remember which one it is)... give him 2-3 more years and I'm pretty sure he will be good enough for a club like us or Liverpool... well, maybe he even is already now, but we'll never find out.
 
Brwned said:
I've heard quite a bit about Renato Augusto, but every time I see him he's never seemed that impressive. Good enough for someone like us, or Liverpool? We've both been linked with him quite a lot.
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It's mostly FM bollocks with him though.
 
Brwned said:
Cavenaghi's hardly the most exciting player, but you can't deny he's effective. Scoring scrappy goals isn't great to watch, but it's an asset any team can use.

I quite like Gignac, he's a nippy little player and does plenty more than scoring.

Matuidi's goal at the weekend was brilliant, don't you think?
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Gignac is very physical and yes Matuidi's goal was a beauty (i think his stronger foot is the right)
 
Anderson Searl said:
It's mostly FM bollocks with him thought
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I doubt it, Anduin's well up on what's going on in Germany and if he says he's that good I'd trust him, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with FM.
 
kouroux said:
Gignac is very physical and yes Matuidi's goal was a beauty (i think his stronger foot is the right)
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He's physical but that's not what I mean, for someone so tall he's very quick and adept with his feet.
 
Anderson Searl said:
He's not as special as everyone makes him out to be.
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He is 21 and stands out (along with Helmes whom I mentioned above as well) in a strong Bundesliga team fighting for the title. Now I assume we all agree the Bundesliga is not as good as the Premier League but it doesn't mean there aren't any 'special' players. Time will tell though.
 
Italy's young keeper, Emiliano Viviano, looks quite impressive. Impressed in the U-21 Euro's two years ago, and he looked really good in the Olympics I thought. Reflexes, confidence, and one of the few keepers around who catches nearly everything that's thrown at him. Might just be another young keeper performing well at a lower level, but he looked good.

Just signed with Inter in January.

Diego Lopez is a very good keeper too, IMO. Perfectly reliable, an imposing physical stature and very strong on crosses and shots. Doesn't excel at anything, but has a great all round game.

Sergio Asenjo was absolutely brilliant against Madrid earlier in the season as well, and has been hyped up for a while now.
 
Domenico Criscito on loan at Genoa from Juventus. Maldini has hailed him as one of the best defensive talents in Italy but I'm fairly sure that outside of Italy few know of him yet. Plays left back and central defence, a lot like his future team mate Chiellini. Has looked solid for a young player at the back and equally comfortable on the ball.
 
Brwned said:
Sergio Asenjo was absolutely brilliant against Madrid earlier in the season as well, and has been hyped up for a while now.
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A Barca supporting mate of mine just recently said we were linked to him in the Spanish press. Can't confirm it and can't make a judgement on him either, but he must be one hell of a prospect if he is a regular in the Primera Division at the age 19! (and already was last season when he was 18)
 
Antonio Di Natale. As consistent or good as other forwards of better reputation, over the last two seasons.
 
Anduin said:
A Barca supporting mate of mine just recently said we were linked to him in the Spanish press. Can't confirm it and can't make a judgement on him either, but he must be one hell of a prospect if he is a regular in the Primera Division at the age 19! (and already was last season when he was 18)
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Yes we were linked with him in the summer I believe.
 
kouroux said:
Come on I'm just kidding with your respect thingy:boring:
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Well, I'm not. Feel free to respect or disrespect my opinion as much as you wish :lol: I respect your opinions on Ligue 1 and French national team matters for obvious reasons though :p
 
Liedson from Sporting.

and a guy that if he keeps improving we will be hear a lot about him in the near future is Porto´s striker Hulk the guy is a beast,hell of a player.
 
Out of all these players you lads have mentioned, which do you think are 'United Quality' ?
 
Anderson Searl said:
Sidney Govou has always been one that's impressed me and it shocks me he's not more known or respected by the masses.

Infact, a good number of lads from Ligue 1 are brilliant players.

As well as the Russian and Portugeese leagues.
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He has hung around there for long more than he should've done.

Dont think there is anything great about him these days to attract big clubs.

Gourcuff is some one who has found some life after Milan.

Would do teriffic, if some other Italian club signs him and starts him regularly.
 
Sevilla's Renato.

The guy just oozes class on the ball, very technical, great passer and has a fierce shot. Makes Sevilla tick.
 
HsJ said:
Out of all these players you lads have mentioned, which do you think are 'United Quality' ?
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Lucho Gonzalez, Domenico Criscito, Sergio Asenjo and Diego Lopez.
 
Brwned, your football knowledge seems very good, I would not like meet you in a football quiz although I would still win obviously.

Villareal's Gonzalo is the most underated player in Europe.
 
Scholesy said:
Brwned, your football knowledge seems very good, I would not like meet you in a football quiz although I would still win obviously.
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"Wenger has studied his spindly legs and twig-like frame first hand and visualised him being snapped in half by an opponent twice his size in the depths of an English winter. Indeed, aside from the rise in standard - and him, as one of the most talented players in Europe, should be untroubled by that - there really is little in England that he will not have encountered at home. Yet Wenger, arguably the most sophisticated thinker in the Premier League, would not take a chance on him.

Having delivered his verdict, it was pointed out that Cesc Fàbregas, Arsenal's playmaker, is not exactly the first person one would call on to get a book off the top shelf in the library, but Wenger saw it differently. He mimed Fàbregas by sticking out his chest and his chin to indicate a pocket general. In Wenger's opinion, Fàbregas is one of those short, stocky items, a compact unit that cannot be easily knocked over, like those Mexican boxers who operate in the lower weight divisions, whereas he was one of those awkward challengers from Europe that always end up on the canvas. There is not enough meat on him. Wenger has a point. There is only a 3cm height difference between the two (Fàbregas is taller at 177cm or just over 5ft 9in), but there is 4kg in weight (almost 9lb). Using the limits enforced by the World Boxing Association, he would therefore fight at super-lightweight and Fàbregas at super-welterweight, two divisions above, and would be nearing the top end of that; with a little bulking up he could be a middleweight."

Scholesy, which player is Martin Samuel of The Times talking about here?

Hint, he looks a bit like Sally Gunnell.
 
Scholesy said:
Brwned, your football knowledge seems very good, I would not like meet you in a football quiz although I would still win obviously.

Villareal's Gonzalo is the most underated player in Europe.
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Gonzalo's a good shout, his partner Godin last season was great for them too.

Achille Emana's been great for Betia this season, and was always impressive, if a bit inconsistent, for Toulouse.

Felipe Melo's a real player too, but no-one besides KeyzerSoze seems to know anything about him.
 
KeyserSoze said:
"Wenger has studied his spindly legs and twig-like frame first hand and visualised him being snapped in half by an opponent twice his size in the depths of an English winter. Indeed, aside from the rise in standard - and him, as one of the most talented players in Europe, should be untroubled by that - there really is little in England that he will not have encountered at home. Yet Wenger, arguably the most sophisticated thinker in the Premier League, would not take a chance on him.

Having delivered his verdict, it was pointed out that Cesc Fàbregas, Arsenal's playmaker, is not exactly the first person one would call on to get a book off the top shelf in the library, but Wenger saw it differently. He mimed Fàbregas by sticking out his chest and his chin to indicate a pocket general. In Wenger's opinion, Fàbregas is one of those short, stocky items, a compact unit that cannot be easily knocked over, like those Mexican boxers who operate in the lower weight divisions, whereas he was one of those awkward challengers from Europe that always end up on the canvas. There is not enough meat on him. Wenger has a point. There is only a 3cm height difference between the two (Fàbregas is taller at 177cm or just over 5ft 9in), but there is 4kg in weight (almost 9lb). Using the limits enforced by the World Boxing Association, he would therefore fight at super-lightweight and Fàbregas at super-welterweight, two divisions above, and would be nearing the top end of that; with a little bulking up he could be a middleweight."

Scholesy, which player is Martin Samuel of The Times talking about here?

Hint, he looks a bit like Sally Gunnell.
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Without googling anything...

A few guesses.

Merida - although 'one ofthe most talented players in Europe' doesnt give me hope.

Diarra - doubtful.

Modric - the physical description is accurate.

Guy they signed from Werder Bremen in the summer on a free... Bischoff?
 
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