This time last week, we uploaded a video on 7 footballers too good for their clubs. We said that if the demand was there for a part 2 then we’d make it happen – and it was, so that’s what this is.
Once again, we mean no disrespect to any of the clubs who feature here, it’s just a consequence of the footballing food chain of the 21st century that sees talent dispersed so narrowly to the top clubs.
Also, as with last time – for those of you who haven’t yet watched part 1 – there’ll be no silly inclusions like David De Gea at Manchester United or even Eden Hazard at Chelsea.
Here are our 7 footballers who are too good for their clubs, part 2:
7. Neal Maupay – Brentford
From James Tarkowski to Andre Gray, Brentford have had a few of their star players leave the club and go onto bigger and better things elsewhere in recent years. With all due respect to the Bees, Neal Maupay could well be another man who falls into that category. Aged only 22, Maupay tops the Championship scoring charts for the divison’s 15th placed side right now, with a mightily impressive 12 goals to his name already.
The youngster has earned rave reviews in France’s youth teams for a number of years now, and he racked up more than 50 appearances in the country’s top flight with Nice and Saint-Etienne. With much of his early promise threatening to peter out, Maupay has been outstanding since signing for Brentford.
A really well-rounded footballer, Maupay has decent feet, he can hold the ball up, spot a pass, and as this season has shown, he can score goals. In addition to his 12 goals so far this season, which is just one shy of his tally last season already, Maupay has 6 assists to his name, which is the joint most in the league. He’s clearly a talent, and he could easily command silly money come the summer if he continues his current form through until May.
6. Benjamin Pavard – Stuttgart
Benjamin Pavard of France reacts during warmup before the international friendly match between France and Uruguay at Stade de France on November 20, 2018 in Paris, France.
A World Cup winner having lifted international football’s most prestigious trophy over the summer, Benjamin Pavard scored the goal of the tournament, with a delightful long range strike against Argentina. Although that strike was the most memorable moment of Pavard’s tournament, it certainly isn’t symptomatic of his usual game.
He had only scored two goals in his entire career prior to that, and was largely thought to be preferred by Didier Deschamps over Djibril Sidibe due to the solidity his more defence-minded approach ought to bring. He played as a right-back in Russia, but plays predominantly at centre-back for his club side Stuttgart, who currently find themselves in last place in the Bundesliga.
A solid, alert and versatile defender who is only 22 years old, it’s little wonder that some are questioning whether the Frenchman ought to be with the German strugglers. Bayern Munich have been heavily linked, but Pavard denies the rumours, and has suggested that he will leave Germany next summer.
5. Sebastien Haller – Frankfurt
Making it three Frenchmen in a row and two consecutive Frenchman who play their club football in the Bundesliga, is 24-year-old striker Sebastien Haller. Now, we have to be careful here, because Eintracht Frankfurt are a very good team right now, and one could question why Sebastien Haller would want to leave when he is part of such a vibrant and talented front three right now. Well, this isn’t a list of 7 players who should leave their clubs, but rather 7 who are possibly too good for their clubs.
World Cup finalist Ante Rebic is another who could have featured here, but of the Frankfurt duo, we think Haller is the more refined. A prolific scorer for his countries U-21 side a few years ago, the 24-year-old is yet to win a full international cap. He won’t have to wait long for one to arrive if he maintains his current form though, currently second in the Bundesliga scoring charts to his teammate Luka Jovic.
Haller is tall, strong, he has a neat touch and he’s showing himself to be a handy marksman in front of goal this season. He has been linked with a January move to Newcastle United, which speaks volumes about the amount of money in the Premier League right now, but we’d suggest that might not be the shrewdest move for Haller.
4. Hakim Ziyech – Ajax
Hakim Ziyech of Ajax, celebrate his goal the 1-6 during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Excelsior v Ajax at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Rotterdam Netherlands
It seems wild to suggest that anyone who isn’t one of the best players in the world in their position is good to play for Ajax, but that’s where we are at now, and since we included a PSV player last week, there’s no way to justify not including Ajax.
Hakim Ziyech is a player we’ve been droning on about for a while now, but he just keeps getting better and better. He has topped the Eredivisie’s assist charts in three of the last four seasons, which is testament to his vision and passing, but he’s also a regular scorer for the club now, particularly from dead ball situations.
Cool, calm and classy on the ball, whilst being highly productive in the opposition’s half, the Moroccan international was named as the Dutch Footballer of the Year last season, and history shows that the player who picks up that accolade rarely sticks around for long.
3. Jack Butland – Stoke City
England’s second choice goalkeeper, Jack Butland never looked out of place in the Premier League, and one might suggest that he is a better shot stopper than a handful of current top flight ‘keepers. With that in mind, it seems a bit mad that he is playing football in the Championship at the age of 25.
Following the Potters relegation last season, many people expected Butland and Joe Allen to be on their way out of the Bet365 Stadium, but they stuck around. On paper, the Stoke City squad is the best in the division, but they’re languishing in 14th place right now. Given that he was linked with both Arsenal and Chelsea before the Londoners brought in new goalkeepers over the summer, Butland could be forgiven for thinking about what might have been.
2. Emiliano Sala – Nantes
Nantes’ Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Nantes (FC) and Guingamp (EAG), on November 4, 2018, at the La…
Whilst it was Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah who stole all the headlines with his remarkable rate of goal scoring in England last season, it looks like Emiliano Sala is going to be the name on everyone’s lips in France at least this season. The former Bordeaux prospect appears to be a bit of a late bloomer, having exploded into life this season at the age of 28.
The uncapped Argentine is currently tied at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts with Kylian Mbappe with 11 strikes each. Hard working, strong and typically pretty reliable in front of goal, Sala is obviously a decent player, but it remains to be seen whether he has finally reached a level he is capable of playing at or whether his start to this season is just a purple patch of form.
He has been linked with a transfer to Everton, who are lacking a prolific frontman themselves.
0. Honourable Mentions
Last week, we didn’t do any honourable mentions because we said there was a decent chance we’d do a part 2 if the views were good and the interest was there. Well, this week, we’re going to do the same….
We still have a large shortlist of players who we feel could have featured in parts 1 and 2, so if you’d like to see a part 3, let us know in the comments and we’ll do it if the interest is there.
1. Jonas Hector – Koln
Jonas Hector of Germany looks on as he arrives prior to the UEFA Nations League A group one match between Germany and Netherlands at Veltins-Arena on November 19, 2018 in Gelsenkirchen,…
As with last time, this seven is in no particular order, but I have to say that if it were, Jonas Hector would be a worthy top spot. Capped 42 times by Germany, Hector has consistently been one of the best left-back’s in the Bundesliga over the last four years. That was, until Koln were relegated from Germany’s top flight, meaning Hector is now plying his trade in the second tier.
We hugely admire the 28-year-old’s loyalty, but it is a little bizarre in the modern game. Last April, Hector was being heavily linked with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. Most players would be licking their lips at the prospect of playing for one of that trio, but Hector decided to extend his deal with Koln.
Hector has stated that he is happy in the city and with the club, and thus sees no reason to move on. A real grafter, it is a mark of Hector’s qualities that Joachim Low has stuck by him and he has won 7 additional caps for the national team in 2018, despite playing at a lower standard than that of his teammates.
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