Not as good as he thinks he is (Frank Leboeuf)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	Frank Leboeuf
Date:	05/01/01 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good passer

Disadvantages: Bad attitude, superiority complex

Frank Leboeuf has, in the space of the past 4 seasons or so gone from a complete non-entity playing for the mighty(!) Strasbourg, to the fringes of the all-conquering French team. Plucked from the obscurity of the French league by Chelsea, this ball-playing defender likes to think of himself as one of the best defenders in the world. Sadly, he is nowhere near as good as he thinks he is (Chelsea need Marcel Desailly alongside him to cover for his lack of talent).

What makes it worse is that Lebeouf is constantly moaning about English football, despite his move to the Premiership being his big break. He really should stop whinging and realise just how fortunate he is to be playing for one of the Premiership's top teams, rather than trying to denigrate it all the time.

Although a good passer of the ball, Lebeouf lacks pace, and is more comfortable playing as a sweeper where his defensive qualities are tested less frequently. He is also prone to the odd tantrum - witness his stamp of Harry Kewell's ankles last season after the young Leeds United striker had got the better of him yet again.

His attacks on his fellow professionals in his column in the Times are also one of the reasons why he is habitually listed near the top spot in all those "least liked player in the Premiership" polls. Most of the other players voted for in these sort of polls are there mainly because of their footballing skills, but with Lebeouf, it is his whole attitude that lets him down. His "I won the World Cup" attitude grates as well - were it not for Laurent Blanc's ridiculous red-card in the World Cup semis, Lebeouf would not have got anywhere near the pitch.

Sadly for Lebeouf, time is running out. When he signed for Chelsea he was at the peak of his career, but now he is looking surplus to requirements at Chelsea, and a move back to the French league is most likely. I, for one, won't miss him at all.

Summary: