Try telling the French national team he is overrated as well. Since he's come into the national team, they've gone from winning World Cups and Euro to losing every game.
French team is almost unrecoginisable from the World Cup winning team. Gone are Petit, Deschamps, Blanc, Desailly, Dugarry etc. Besides, players like Zidane, Barthez, Djorkaeff and Lizarazu were at their absolute prime. The new team do not have the preparation nor motivation (of playing in a home tournament) as the 98 team. It's been 7 years since and if you are comparing then and now, you have sadly missed the point. No way can one man replace the lost of so many established members in a winning team. Henry is also struggling in the new French team. Does that mean he is over-rated as well? Try Real Madrid 2 seasons ago vs. last season's team. Most of the players are still intact but without the steel of a player like Markelele, their defensive weakness is suddently exposed for all to see. They have since tried to sign a similar player like Graversen to plug the hole but it remains to be seen if he is as effective as Markelele. When he decided to leave Real, there were no shortage of high profile teams willing to take him but at the end the Mafia's money rules.
I wish when I played football I had the luxury of running 50% less than the rest of the midfield players, sitting on the half way line when we have the ball, and never passing the ball more than 5 metres.
It's no surprise that Claude Markelele's name is in the Chelsea's team sheet week after week. I don't claim to have better footballing knowledge that anyone but I am sure in a packed midfield full of household names, Maureen con't to select and value of Merkelele should tell you something.
At least Viera and Keane get forward and help when their sides are attacking.
different player brings different skills to the table. I happen to value Hamann's presence in our team in difficult games. Obviously, you might feel otherwise.
JMHO
