STEFAN DE VRIJ | PES 2017 STATS
Probably the best Serie A defender in his prime, De Vrij is a safe house at the back, providing great foundation for what I think was the best defensive unit in Europe, consisting of him, Skriniar, and Bastoni, forming a solid three at the back system. He's somewhat a bit overlooked, especially in the national team. I mean who could blame him? Van Dijk's presence is overwhelming for any players that played alongside him, even as good as De Vrij. But there's no denying his quality and reading of the game, that was such in a high level, even going back in his Lazio's time. He's also very competent in the build up, courtesy of his high quality passing. De Vrij is a very competent yet somewhat underrated CB.
HANS VANAKEN | PES 2017 STATS
Is Vanaken the most overlooked Belgian player? Maybe. His languid and rather slow style looks unattractive for the eyes of spectator. But make no mistake, underneath that unconvincing aesthetics, lies a very good technical proficiency, and a top, top class talent. Vanaken might just be, one of the best attacking midfielder in Europe. Club Brugge has been competing at the top of Belgian League's first divison for the past few seasons, and has produced some promising talent like De Ketelaere and Noa Lang. And there's Hans Vanaken, who happens to be their most important figure. Yet so far, there's no rumours of interest from European big clubs. Maybe because he's already entering late 20s, and maybe his prime years is going to run out soon. But there's no denying his abilities on the pitch. Vanaken is a great midfielder, capable of conducting the play from a deeper position, or making late runs into the box to score. He's a very talented footballer, and seems to have special touch on the ball.
Vanaken is such a rarity in modern football. A 6 ft 5 midfielder with an eye for goal, an unusually crisp touch and skill, and decent passing ability, he pretty much looks like a modern day number 10. But, he often operates as a number 8 that tends to move a bit wide, occupying the left side area. He has good vision and creative mind, somewhat similar to Paul Pogba, as they're both tall yet technically talented midfielders. In addition to his skills, Vanaken is also hardworking and has great link up play. He has tendency to do combinations and link ups rather than taking on players, due to his awkwardness in controlling his body. In short, Vanaken is a unique type of footballer to build your team around.
MASON GREENWOOD | PES 2017 STATS
Greenwood is an absolutely special talent, that's destined for greatness. He is the most prolific teenager in Man United's history. Even at the age of just 18, he already has everything. Greenwood is an all round forward with decent skills, pace, and attacking mind. And an absolutely fantastic shooting skills. In my opinion, no teenager has this level of shooting skills and finishing, not even young Michael Owen. His finishing style is not a fancy one, but devastating. It's accurate, hard, and lethal. And he could hit it accurately with both feet as well, makes it more unpredictable, almost unstoppable. But obviously, his way of seeing things and situation on the pitch is not yet refined, at least not as refined as his partners upfront, i.e. Rashford and Martial. But with more experience it will get better, and so does other aspects. That is if he can keep his attitude and behavior in check.
WILLIAM SALIBA | PES 2017 STATS
In contention of becoming the best CB in the future alongside Gvardiol and Schlotterbeck, Saliba oozes calmness, maturity, and leadership in such a young age. There aren't many defenders nowadays that has proper DF leader quality. Saliba is one of them, he's a proper organizer of defence, who could amplify the quality of players around him. But he does have weakness, and its a massive one, that is his aerial abilities. For a guy of his stature, he doesn't have good strength in the air, which could be a massive issue when defending long balls.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD | PES 2017 STATS
Aside from his defensive ability which is subpar, especially for a defender, TAA is an incredible asset technically, a great footballer with very intelligent mind. He has potential to be the best English Right Back of all time. In terms of creating chances, he's almost unrivalled by any fullbacks, like ever. He had this Beckham-esque delivery quality that's simply unbelievable. At his best, his long passes could open up just about any team. If you watch him, you'll wonder: How's this guy not playing in midfield? Well he could play there, and I seriously believe when his physicality started to decline, it will most likely become his default position. He's usually sitting deep, in an inverted fullback position that could give him full view of the pitch. From this position, he acted as Liverpool's "disguised" playmaker, spreading passes like a mad man yet with extreme precision.
LUIS ALBERTO | PES 2017 STATS
Certainly one of the best player that I've ever seen for the past decade, he's an elite breed of midfielder who always finds time and space to operate. His technical level is superb, probably the most gifted player in Serie A in terms of technical skillset. This incredible technical abilities could cover up his physicality, which is subpar, especially in a harsh and physical environment like Serie A. This also a thing that maybe hampered his time at Premier League. He simply doesn't have the ability to cope with the intensity there. But at Lazio, he has players around him that could provide defensive cover, and thus allowing him to thrive as a more advanced playmaker.
CRISTIANO RONALDO | PES 2017 STATS | 2018-2020
It's amazing that after so many years at the top of football's summit, Cristiano is still competing right up there with the best. This is a testament of how dedicated he is to football. He's a consumate professional who's always trying to improve, and eliminating his weaknesses. Sadly, as his aging process keeps going, he just couldn't keep doing this. His physicality just wasn't the same as before, even if he tries his hardest to cover it up, it's going to be an uphill battle. His decline is an inevitability. He's human after all.
Apart from that, he's still pretty much the same as a player. His overall attacking ability is still top notch. His instincts, his headers, his finishing are pretty much on God level, still ridiculously good. One of the best player of all time certainly.
MOHAMED SALAH | PES 2017 STATS
This is Mohamed Salah in his most complete version. Arguably a better player than he was in his first season at Liverpool, Salah started to show all round ability like what we usually see nowadays. He becomes a significantly better passer, and more of a creator, rather than just getting on the end of things. His vision and attacking intelligence was incredible, probably only rivalled by Aguero in the Premier League. At times, he could just decide games on his own, and simply unplayable. He's also developing physically, and has become so strong at resisting challenges. Other than these newly improved qualities, he still has his old traits, such as incredible speed and great stamina, which makes him a constant threat to the opposition when in great form.
NEYMAR | PES 2017 STATS | 2019-2021
Definitely one of the most talented player of all time, the closest it can get to Messi technically speaking. He has everything, except physical strength. Neymar is such a joy to watch. He has wide amounts of tricks and skill, it's almost impossible to predict his next move. Plus his passing skills are outrageously variative and accurate. Neymar is a very unique footballer, he's a combination of winger's skills and playmaker's vision. Some of the play that he's done with PSG and Brazil is magnificent. He's too damn good of a footballer.
NUNO MENDES | PES 2017 STATS
An exciting, super fast player from Portugal. His technical aspects is obviously unrefined, but there's no denying his athleticism. Even at the age of 18 or 19 he already has great pace and stamina which are necessary for an attacking fullback. He has great potential, could become another Alphonso Davies in the future, all he needs to do is keep himself fit and worked on his technique. The sky's the limit for this player, any football fans should keep an eye for this incredible young talent.
BRUNO FERNANDES | PES 2017 STATS
This is the set of Fernandes's earlier time at Man United, and i have to say, back then he looked like their best signing in years. Fernandes fits into the team seamlessly, and straight away became arguably their best player. Fernandes is a very instinctive player, who could constantly creates danger out of nothing. And that's the right word to describe him, "danger". This level of relentlessnes in creating chances could only rivalled by one man in my opinion, namely Alexis Sanchez. They both have similar traits in their style of play, as they relied heavily in what they feels in the game.
There's another player on the other end of spectrum who has similar quality but use it in a different way. And it's Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne is also feel oriented player, but use it in a more measured way, more cultured manner. As for Fernandes, he just do it. No matter what the outcome will be, he just do it. He's a more opportunistic and brave creator. This is why he looks a bit of a hit and miss with his passing. Sometimes it looks great and accurate, but other times it looks ridiculously overhit and misplaced. But the ones who really found their way to the target, looks genius, otherworldly.
This is why Fernandes looks so fit with Man United. Player like him would fit in a structurally loose team, that doesn't emphasize a defined style or strategy. This would give him maximum freedom to operate. But in the other hand, there's a risk that the team would be over reliant on him. When Fernandes's going through a period of poor form, the team will also have a dip of performance.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE | PES 2017 STATS | 2019-2021
Have you ever seen a better passer of the ball in Premier League, like ever? I certainly don't. And this is not a recency bias. Nobody has ever made passes like the ones that he makes. The timing, the execution, the weight is all perfect. And he does it consistently, week in, week out. This would guarantee tons of chances every game for his team. No wonder City's been a goal scoring machine for the past five years. De Bruyne has been their main creator, an absolutely indispensable figure.
Aside from his incredible technical quality, De Bruyne is also a hardworking player, and arguably reaching his physical peak in his late 20s, as represented by this set. He's deceptively quick on the ball, and has great upper body strength, makes him difficult to knocked off the ball. This enables him to carry the ball forward and progress the play. So basically, he could open up the tightest defense that sitting deep courtesy of his precise passing, or exploiting space in counter attacks by carrying the ball forward and deliver a killer pass. He could do everything, it's scary. In addition to a great mind and passing quality, KDB has an absolutely thunderous shot, equipped with great accuracy. This makes him a decent finisher as well.
So, KDB is everything. He's a passer, a finisher, has great stamina, decent technique, and physicality. Does he have a weakness? well I'm not gonna say weakness, but he has something that holds him back a little bit. It's his tendency to be a provider rather than a star player. He's not a clutch performer, who's more than welcome to not taking the limelight. So in spite of having even more dangerous qualities than someone like Zidane, he's so often failed to produce in the biggest stage. He lacks a bit of ego or self belief which possibly could makes him an even more decisive, clutch player in the most important games. Because by looking at his qualities, it's obvious isn't it? He has no reason not to become the greatest midfielder in history. He could and should've been an absolute super star. Yet he refused to be one, and thus, doesn't give enough persona to cement him as one of the greatest player ever.
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