They weren’t exactly top players, for them of course, but in world football they weren’t. Juninho was for example was no better than Kinkladze. Ravanelli was a good striker, but not on a par with Shearer and Emerson was bang average I thought. They did play some canny stuff mind.
Juninho was a ridiculous signing. Was a young kid already playing for Brazil a year after USA 94, and he went to Boro. Was way above the level & reputation of Kinkladze at the time they joined their clubs.
Aye, but in terms of his performances for Boro, he was no world-star, none of them were.
Ravanelli was underrated in Italy, he was allowed to leave Juventus for a reason. He was a goalscorer, but nit a top player like a Shearer for example.
Juninho was the epitome of hype back in the day, a MOTD highlights player. My mate is a 30 + year season ticket holder at Boro, a former youth player of theirs and a former director and he says he would regularly disappoint, they all would. Didn’t Ravanelli dry up goals wise after a great start?
Ravanelli got 31 goals in all competitions that season