The Most Underrated Players in the English Premier League: Part 1
August 2, 2009
by Andrew McNair… I am not for a second saying any of the players on this list are necessarily world class or should even be playing for bigger teams.
This article is simply to give some exposure to some of the league’s unsung heroes, players who consistently perform to their ability, are invaluable to their clubs, and most importantly, don’t get paid £200,000 a week.
So here goes…
Darren Fletcher
Well, anybody who knows me knew this was coming so I figured I’d get it out of the way. My first underrated star is of course Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher.
The Scottish midfielder has endured a difficult career at Old Trafford despite the odd important goal and inspirational performance in the Champions league.
Last season, though, the 25-year-old came of age and played a vital role in the Red Devils’ championship season. He was, however, sadly missing for his side’s UEFA Champions League final due to suspension.
A coincidence? I think not.
Still, this season I see United fans talking about the upcoming season without even a mention for the sometimes Scotland Captain.
With 42 caps for Scotland and over 200 games for United under his belt, it is about time supporters stopped referring to Fletcher as a backup midfielder but as a first eleven player for one of the greatest sides in the world.
He has earned it.
Alan Hutton
Speaking of Scotland, I may as well get the other one out the way before people start crying foul.
Alan Hutton signed for Tottenham Hotspur just over a year and a half ago for £8 million pounds, yet has only played 21 times for the London Club.
Some would say this is because the 24-year-old was overrated, but I disagree.
He is a world class right back in my opinion, and in his day a confident Hutton would rival any right back in world football. All Rangers and Scotland fans will always remember his galloping wing back runs in the Champions League and in the European Championship qualifiers which made him look, well, quite Brazilian.
That earned him his big money move, but injury and a change of manager at Spurs have left the defender staring on the bench for another season. The recent signing of Kyle Naughton from Sheffield United seems to only confirm such a belief.
Alan Hutton is underrated by Harry Redknapp, somebody please come to his rescue as the lad needs games.
Steven Pienaar
When many think of Everton they talk straight away about Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill, but what about Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman?
South African Pienaar has excellent pedigree having come through the ranks at Ajax Amsterdam following his move from feeder club Ajax Cape Town in 2001.
He is also a fantastic lively little player who can shoot, pass, tackle, and just as importantly for the English game, take a tackle.
Approaching 50 caps for his country, which he’ll likely manage during next year’s 2010 Fifa World Cup in his home country, the 27-year-old will be hoping for a stellar year.
If he doesn’t quite manage out of Arteta’s shadow this season, he won’t be too bothered. He certainly won’t be in anyone’s shadow come the summer in South Africa.
Leon Osman
It may be a surprise to many, but Leon Osman is 28.
The tiny midfielder hardly ever gets any recognition, even when he scores, and I cannot take it anymore.
Osman is a lifelong Toffee with an eye for goal and does much of the donkey work in Everton’s much talked about midfield.
Two goals by Osman on the final day of last season saw Everton secure the fifth spot in what was another impressive season for Everton, despite the usual injury-hit small squad, a season in which Leon was vital.
But how many of you have ever stopped and said, “that boy can play a bit”?
Matty Taylor
I couldn’t believe it when long distance hard-hitting Matthew Taylor fell out of favour at Portsmouth, as I had always rated the talented midfielder.
A wicked left foot and an eye for goal (does anyone remember his 40 yard lob at Sunderland?) obviously weren’t good enough for some, and after over 200 games on the south coast he signed for Bolton Wanderers.
And what was he seen doing last season?
Scoring 10 league goals and supplying many more with that terrific left foot, and in general being a nuisance to every top player he came up against.
Sorry Harry, it appears we don’t see eye-to-eye.
Taylor is a class act.
Mark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer is the first of three goalkeepers in my list of 17 underrated players (sorry, I just couldn’t whittle them down).
The 36-year-old Aussie is going into his 20th season, probably off the back of his best year having been voted Fulham’s best player last term.
A decade at Middlesbrough had brought more downs than ups one would feel, despite a League Cup winners medal and over 400 appearances.
He felt a new challenge was needed. At Fulham, he probably plays behind the best defense of his career. His maturity showed as he played every game in 08/09, contributing with a string of shut outs (especially at home), as the Cottagers became very difficult to beat with a fantastic seventh place in the Barclays Premier League.
Schwarzer just happened to be there? I think not.
James Milner
Aston Villa’s James Milner has played a whopping 46 times for the England under 21’s. I assume that’s a record.
The midfielder always stands out when you watch Villa play, just as he did when he started his career at Leeds or at Newcastle United (Oh, how glad he must be that he jumped those sinking ships).
In truth, he is very highly rated but makes this list for his under 21 caps. Just not good enough for England yet, Fabio?
The fact is, no one has ever reached such an incredible amount of junior appearances because a player gifted enough to be so important to his nation’s u-21’s is normally just as important to his country’s full international side.
Even taking into account the fact he has been around the Premier League since he was 16, it must still make tough reading for Milner who must be bursting for a full cap.
Just a quick note to Villa: Watch out, this man has been seen on many a floundering vessel.
Brad Friedel
Just in case Schwarzer was not old enough for you, it is time to look at the oldest man on my list.
Brad Friedel was definitely underrated during his spell at Liverpool but nearly a decade at Blackburn Rovers helped the American build a staunch reputation.
Just not a world class one judging by his club career.
Having retired from international duty in 2005 the 82 times capped keeper joined Aston Villa at the beginning of last season and filled what had been a troubled role in the Birmingham side.
A near-breakthrough year by Villa, which saw them at one stage fighting for fourth spot with Arsenal, was all played out in front of the veteran American who, like Schwarzer, played all 38 league games.
Another coincidence? It must have had a lot to do with Villa’s number one.
James Beattie
When Stoke City snapped up veteran striker James Beattie from Sheffield United in January, I thought he could be the very man to keep the Potters in England’s top flight.
I even picked him as one of my top 10 January signings.
His spell in the Championship helped him find his scoring boots after a difficult time with Everton, where a lot had been expected of him.
Seven vital goals later by the 31-year-old and Stoke are safe by miles in the dog fight that is the premier League relegation battle.
But who gets all the credit and all the publicity?
Rory Delap.
Keep your eye for Part 2…coming soon!
Nate Campbell Loses Controversial Fight Against Timothy Bradley
August 2, 2009
by Stoker MacIntosh… Put promoters Gary Shaw and Don king in a boxing event together and there is bound to be some sort of controversial ending.
With that said, tonight, on Showtime boxing’s Timothy Bradley - Nate Campbell fight, it was once again, business as usual for the two promoters.
However, the fight itself, although short, was definitely a good one.
Bradley was winning the wars on the inside and—as is the case most times with inside fighting—there were also plenty of head-clashes.
Nearing the end of the third round, the fight was all but over, with Bradley giving his 37 year old opponent a terrible pounding along the ropes.
When the bell sounded to end the round , Campbell’s fighting will had been broken, he looked the part, of a thoroughly beaten fighter.
Now I’m not sure what went through Campbell’s mind , he did have a huge gash above his left-eye, and he had to know that he wasn’t going to win the fight inside the ring.
So maybe he intended to to look for another option, in any case, he immediately started to complain to the ringside physician about his vision being impaired, ” I’m seeing spots”. I cant see,” he was saying.
If by doing this, he was somehow looking for a way out of the fight, then Campbell got his wish, the fight was immediately stopped.
The controversy however, had only just begun. Campbell seemed to think that—due to the head butt, the fight should be declared a no contest.
Which is in fact, a general rule in a fight stoppage caused by an unintentional headbutt, before the fourth round.
The referee however saw it differently, he said although they were butting each other, the last thing he saw was punch, and his job was to go with that.
During the post fight interview both promoters , King and Shaw entered the ring and were asked by the showtime interviewer if they would agree to a rematch, King agreed, but Shaw was more reluctant to make a commitment.
” If showtime wants to buy the rematch, and the money is right, then yes, we will fight again,” said Shaw.
Campbell stated that it was up to his opponent to do the right thing by stepping up and granting him the rematch.
To that, Bradley had this to say:
” Why not, yes I’ll fight him again, because I know the result will be the same, he was looking old in there, flatfooted and slow, and the further the fight went, the older he got.”
“Hell, I’ll even fight him in his own back-yard, we can go to Florida and have-the rematch and the end result will be-the same.”
This writer, after watching tonight’s fight, is in total agreement with Bradley.
Campbell looked old in there, he was out gunned on the outside, and out muscled on the inside.
And, anyone who saw the third round, would have to agree that there may definitely be more of the same headed Campbell’s way in the following rounds, should the fight continue.
In my-opinion, Campbell knew-that also, which is why he wanted out.
NHL 2009 Offseason: Central Division Review (So Far…)
August 2, 2009
by Bryan Thiel… The scary thing about the Central? It’s one of the most powerful divisions in the league. Not only were the Nashville Predators just a handful of goals away from having all five teams make it to the playoffs, but there was no conceivable way for their not to be a team in the Stanley Cup final representing the Western Conference not from the Central division.
Pretty stacked eh?
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