Top Ten: Big fish in small football ponds
We could all reel off the great players in the great teams- Cruyff at Barcelona, Maldini in Milan, Best at Manchester United and so the list goes on. They will always be remembered amongst the elite, able to showcase their talent on the highest plane. But what about those players that weren’t so lucky; the players who undoubtedly were good enough but were not consistently playing at the top. Whether this was down to a personal decision or simply circumstance, Sport .co.uk takes a look at players both past and present punching below their weight.
Alan Shearer - Newcastle United
Sorry Newcastle United fans but there was no escaping this one. One of the finest strikers England has produced finished his career with one solitary trophy after his decision to shun the advances of Manchester United and choose his boyhood heroes instead. In the ten years he was at the Toon despite two serious injuries he did break Jackie Milburn’s goal scoring record and finished his career as the top Premier League goal scorer. But there will always be that nagging doubt about what might have been if he had been able to line up alongside- Giggs, Scholes, Van Nistelrooy as oppose to Cort, Ameobi and Bassedas.
Scott Parker- West Ham
Described as Mr West Ham by the club’s controversial owner David Sullivan, the centre midfielder has been the stand out man in a turbulent season for the Hammers. His stunning goal against Wigan at the weekend was a fitting way for the Irons to prolong their top flight stay and it also brought calls for the tenacious tackler to be considered for Mr Capello’s World Cup squad. Although Parker has had a taste of the top four with Chelsea, he’s never had a fair crack at it and his bite and determination in the middle of the park would be a welcome addition to many a top half club.
Matt Le Tissier- Southampton
Along with Gazza, Le Tiss was one of the most naturally gifted footballers from these shores. His skill and trickery often left crowds speechless and his ability to score from practically anywhere made him one of the most exciting players around. Despite this he never got to showcase his talent on the biggest stage and even turned down moves to Milan and Tottenham to stay with his beloved Saints. He’ll never be forgotten as long as the internet exists but he won’t be remembered as one of the greats; unless of course it’s on the South Coast.
David Villa- Valencia
The Spanish striker is coming to the end of his fifth season at the Mestalla and despite scoring over 100 goals for the club; all he has to show is one Copa del Rey medal. He’s already proved he can do it on the international stage and has scored 36 goals in 55 appearances for the national side. Now don’t get me wrong Valencia are a very good team but they are not a Real Madrid or a Barcelona and someone as good as Villa should be a team of this ilk and of course he would always be welcome in this country too.
Cesc Fabregas- Arsenal
Although the Arsenal captain’s season may be over, he’s already left his mark on this campaign. Who can forget his 30 minute cameo against Aston Villa in which he turned the game on its head by scoring two goals or the determination to take that penalty against Barca with a broken leg. However, like his previously mentioned Spanish compatriot, he too does not have trophies to match talent. If the Gunners were to invest in the summer with some established names and a serious title challenge envelops, then Cesc would be duly withdrawn from the list. But until then, like his team, he’s going nowhere.
Jussi Jaaskelainen -Bolton Wanderers
The Bolton Keeper has been at the Rebook since 1997 when Colin Todd brought him over from Vaasan Palloseura. With over 400 games for the Trotters he’s been an integral part in establishing them into a recognised Premiership side. Maybe not an obvious choice, but it is difficult to name a better goalkeeper around and it will prove a very tricky task indeed replacing the big Fin when he does decided to hang up his boots.
Fabrizio Ravanelli- Middlesbrough
The White Feather moved to Middlesbrough at the prime age of 28 and was an instant success on Teesside after hitting a hat trick against Liverpool on his home debut. He finished up as one of the league’s top goal scorers but somehow Middlesbrough were still relegated and it was all a far cry from the Champions League victory he attained a year earlier. He was never again to reach these heights and even ended up having spells at Derby and Dundee. He will be remembered mainly for his shirt over the head celebration and looking back on the latter years of his career; it’s probably the best way to view it.
Henrik Larsson- Celtic
Now there’s no arguing that his record for the Hoops was phenomenal and that if you look at his career he can boast to be being one of only a handful of players to have represented both Manchester United and Barcelona. However the Scottish league is not a patch on any of the top European leagues and Larsson could and should have been testing himself against some of the best players in Europe. If rule changes allow the Old Firm to play in the Premier League then hopefully a similar situation can be avoided in the future.
Mikel Arteta- Everton
The former Rangers midfielder has just returned from a serious knee injury and many Toffees may feel aggrieved that he is included on the list, especially with what they have achieved over the past few years. When fit, he is one of the finest midfielders in the country and would slot in comfortably to most teams in the league. He’s picked up where he left off for the Blues by notching six goals since his return. However he faces a stiffer test to get into the national side with a wealth of players in his position, but were he to make the step up, it would do his chances no harm at all.
Shay Given – Newcastle United
Given spent 11 years on Tyneside and the years of mediocrity finally got too much after 5-1 spanking at home to Liverpool. Ironically Given was one of the best players on the pitch and had he not been in goal it could well twice as many. Although he did play in the Champions League while in the North East, he has never got the rewards he deserved and he will hope this will all change now at free spending City.
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