Is Buffon overrated?

Question

Don't get me wrong, I think he's great, but I disagreed with him getting the Lev Yashin award. Though he was great during regulation, and didn't let any goals in save for Zidane's penalty and that own goal against the USA, Buffon disappointed me. You can't really rely on him in a penalty shootout, he never came close to saving any, going the wrong way on all of them. He got lucky that poor Trezeguet messed up.

And from what I've seen him against Arsenal...he's not as great as they make him out to be.

A good goalkeeper should be able to save penalties, because sometimes the World Cup is decided in the end by penalties! I think Buffon is like Beckham, they are both not excellent, but are hyped because of thier good looks. I like Buffon, but sorry, I just don't think he's the best goalkeeper. Jens Lehmann is much better.

Kaj, just because he won the World Cup, he can still be overrated, there was a lot of hype about him before he won, I'm not saying he's not good, I'm just saying he's not as great as some say he is.

Favouritism? How the hell is this favourtism, I'm just saying there are better goalkeepers out there than Buffon, like Lehmann and Ricardo. It's just a fact.

Answer 1

I don't think he's that good of a player... b/c my choice will always be Kahn, Lehmann, and Hildebrand. I think Lehmann should be the one that deserves the Lev Yahsin award. He couldn't even save penalty goals, how can you give that award to a guy who can't save PK goals? And come on, he is only 28, and he couldn't even save penalty goals! Lehmann should be the hero, he saved two shots from Argentina, leading Germany into the semi-final. So, Buffon, beat that!

Answer 2

It's often the actual game that counts, the 90-120 minutes that the audience really looks forward to watching. Penalty kicks don't show much action, and penalty shoot-outs are basically sudden-death-type events. Yes, Buffon wasn't successful during Zidane's penalty kick and the penalty shoot-out, but he had excellent positioning throughout the matches, and had the most saves for a goalkeeper for the entire tournament. I guess penalty kicks just happened to be a major weakness during the match versus France, but otherwise, he is truly a wonderful goalkeeper.

Answer 3

im a big italy fan but i agree. buffon is definitely not one of my favorite goalies and i do think he's a bit overrated. dont get me wrong though, hes a very good goal keeper, however, italy's defense is amazing, which i think make buffon look better than he actually is.

i think youre wrong about the penalty shootouts though...it doesnt matter how great you are as a goal keeper, stopping penalty kicks is extremely hard because you never know which direction the ball will go. its about luck for the most part, but yes, a really good goalie can read the player who is kicking in order to stop the ball(ricardo!!!).

buffon is good player among a group of good players. its the fact that they all work so well together which makes them look like they have great individual talent. they are great individual players, but as a team, they know how to combine all of the strengths.

Answer 4

I think that he's a fine goalkeep but he is over-rated. Italy has an excellent back four that spared him just as France's defenders spared Barthez (also a good goalie overall... just prone to occasional bone-headed mistakes). I find it interesting that even with his Italian club threatened with relegation to Serie B, Buffon was probably the only notable player staying. Also, I don't recall any big teams jumping up and down to get him either. If Buffon ever left Italy to go to say... the Premiership... he'd likely be exposed as a fraud.

Answer 5

Ok..agree that he's not very good in the penalty shoot outs (Ricardo is better)....but otherwise he's great...he made many important saves throughtout the WC..like the Zidane header save in the final to take one as example..that would have probably won France the wc..?? yay buffon!

Answer 6

I have not heard that however I bet its to be anticipated. He is used to be and nonetheless is essentially the most high priced Goalkeeper on the earth so a few men and women will suppose the must criticise that price and must justify whether or not he's valued at that. The indisputable fact that he has gained Serie A 4 instances, used to be a runner up the 2003 Champions League last & has simply gained the World Cup will have to close those idiots up despite the fact that!

Answer 7

He's an amazing goalie! he deserved that award so much he saved every goal.. besides the own goal that was deflected of Cristian's shoe.. but besides that he deserved it.. in penalty kicks he needs to improve.. Ricardo was amazing in penalty kicks! But Buffon over
all deserved it! He made AMAZING saves throught the games.. im sure Italian fans will agree with me there..

Answer 8

Please think about this. He honestly didnt let anyone score on him in the world cup no one has ever done that. He set that defense to fit him. No ones perfect and pks are not easy to handle. Think of a ball being kicked 75-80 miles and hour 15 feet away. all you can do is guess what way. He had the best performance of any goal keeper in world cup history and im all about Oliver Khan.

Answer 9

Are you kidding me? That goal against USA was from his own player! Do you think it ever crossed his mind that his own player was going to score in his own net. Get a grip!

He may not excel in saving penalty shots, to be honest, but Buffon is superior to everyone when it comes to diving, catching high balls and having incredible fast reflexes.

Answer 10

It seems to me that with your new name a new, more reasonable person has been born. Your responses lately have been impressive, including this one - although I think that Ricardo is even better than Jens Lehmann.