LionOfGosforth

I like this theory. I never ever saw him do anything beyond the basics in a game and he cost like 40m when good players were going for half that.

Thought Kaka was a magnificent player, just seemed to glide around the pitch, brilliant finisher too. Class hair as well, had it all. Pato is a good call though.

Definitely. He was one of those players (I think Hulk was another) who were signed by Russian teams for astronomical amounts in an era when players didn't go for that kind of cash. Never got Witsel at all.

I loved Predrag Mijatovic in that mid-90s Madrid team and I have vivid recollection of Morientes "stealing" his place so disliked him and thought he was a overrated

Damn, I definitely am not getting many likes on this one

Yeah was more a comment on watching him every week at Boro and wondering how/why he was in the Spanish team constantly and not seeing it. I'm sure his trophy haul stands against many though

McManaman. Not a great player, definitely overrated at least by the English media. Part of that whole spice boys era at Liverpool. Somehow got a move to Madrid, the skinny floppy haired sod. Shit pundit an aal.

Tricky thread and topic because there are so many players that could be argued were good, even close to great and yet you don't like them because of x or y and it's all just opinion anyway. Couple more: Mendieta - memory might be playing tricks, quite good at Lazio but can't recall him doing anything for Boro in the 90s and was a Spanish international for ages Marcelo - I don't know if he's "overrated" per se but I think he's absolutely terrible. Positionally a joke, runs around like fucking Benny Hill

Francis Jeffers. Jug eared scouser, chased by loads of clubs. Finally went to Arsenal, and just disappeared basically

Thats exactly it. I explained why I didn't like him, while also acknowledging he was a very good, at times, great player and feted to the point of making me ill. I also think this can encapsulate the fan experience, knowing a player is good, perhaps hating him for that as he performs against your club so well and so often. Carlos was a limited defender like you said, but an utterly brilliant character and scored 2 or 3 of the best goals i've ever seen. From left back.

I can absolutely hate that twat and still love football

Many will disagree on this one. Bergkamp. I hated him. No personality, like an automaton. Yeah, he was good, reallygood and maybe even great at times but feted to the point it made me puke. Got so sick of seeing that goal he scored against us when he made a mug of Dabizas. Funny thing is, I loved that 2000ish Dutch team. Kluivert, Overmars, Stam, Reiziger, Seedorf, Davids etc

9-0 over two games. The gap is galaxy big.

I don't ever want us to become like this. 5 nowt up in a stadium a third full. Soulless club, shit support.

Pig sick of losing by scorelines like this in this fixture.

Longstaff did something, Christ

He may be rusty as owt understandably, but having Wilson back makes a massive difference to the whole team. Tripps too, next season will be class man.

Nice move, should have scored, shame that

I wonder, just musing a bit, do we see a better ASM with Wilson back? At least in an attacking sense hopefully

Longstaff absolutely invisible.

nice cross Tripps, great to have him back

Well, this feels shit but at least I care again

Dubs mute AGAIN

Agree, once the (perfectly flighted) cross is into the box, there's problems. ASM isn't blameless but there's more nuance to it.

He reminds me more and more of George Reilly, but with a slightly better touch. Just a big bloke with no heading ability whatsoever. No clue how he's been a 1 in 3 striker previously. You could possibly say he's played a bit more than he would have due to Wilson being out for fucking ever but still. Needs someone else near him to do the dirty stuff probably but as much as i've tried to give him some benefit of the doubt, he's just a modern day Reilly. The forward line needs big time investment if we're going to push on next year.