Footballing genius is defined as extraordinary talent and intellect and in many cases creative power and flair. What causes some players to become footballers and others to fail in trying to do so?
Is it genetic?
You look at clubs taking on close relatives of their own players. For example, when Milan bought Kaka, they also decided to buy his brother Digao, in the hope that Kaka’s technical excellence runs in his sibling’s blood. With Giovanni dos Santos, found in a youth tournament by Barcelona, along comes his apparently more promising brother Jonathan with him. Sometimes, this is only done to appease the parent and seal the deal, as Tomas Rosicky contemplates. His father, a left back in his playing career, also played for Sparta Prague, issued a ultimatum to his former club: “If you want Jiri [Rosicky, Tomas’s older brother], then you have to take my younger son Tomas as well”. This paid off for the club, when both brothers moved in multi-million pound moves to Atletico and Dortmund respectively. Other examples include the three generations of the Maldini family: from Cesare, now Milan Scout, to Paolo himself, to Christian, the elder of Maldini’s two sons and is in Milan’s youth system, for whom the legendary no.3 shirt will be pulled from ‘retirement’ if he makes it to the first team.
This is because there are a number of genes, linked with physical fitness, both muscular and cardiovascular. It is these passed down from generations that can influence the physical fitness of a player. Naturally, it would be impossible to find one gene that can make a person a sportsman or woman. There are probably a number of genes linked to the psychological aspect of the game, with genes linked to natural intelligence and team work and decision making, but these are less obvious as football is a physical game, but nonetheless a team game, so the effect of genes is more subtle. Discovering genius in the future points to more rigorous scouting systems, rather than developments in to gene research, simply due to the cost benefit ratio and the likelihood of any success. But knowing the scientific nature of the Milan-lab, based at ‘Milanello’, the training ground of AC Milan, it is likely that they may be looking at research into genes and whether this develops into a form of scouting tool or injury therapy is anyone’s question.
Tactics, Individual or Team genius?
Naturally, when a club has a very talented player, it is appears most likely that that player will play in the free role, drifting freely in between lines of midfield and attack, learning who to influence the game. It is normally the player that adopts this role who is labelled a genius. And this is common, as the majority of teams in Europe have a focal point, through which the majority of the team’s attacking play is directed, such as Arsenal’s is directed by Cesc Fabregas and as Barcelona’s play is by Deco. This was not the trend in England, until recently, where the majority of attacking play came from the wings, where the ‘flair’ players played, away from the physical and aerial battle that occurred in the middle of the park. This was where players such as Keane and Vieira resided, but now more technically accomplished players such as Fabregas dictate play. This changes the style of play of a team, as Arsenal fans have realised in recent times, with a slower more ‘European’ game-plan being adopted rather than the counterattacking, high pressing game that the ‘invincibles’ played. While the majority of playmakers lie in attacking midfield, there are and were a few, who played in other positions, defying tactical knowledge of the time, and came as great use to their team. These missionaries adapted their technical skills and knowledge to the new role and executed its use with lethal precision. Geniuses such as Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Nandor Hidegkuti and even Andrea Pirlo, who used his previous experience as a striker, to adapt and make plays for Milan from a deep role, where there is more time and space.
While these ‘geniuses’ used new tactics to their effect, it is now the opposition of the attacking player, who is adapting, with better defensive systems, which include man marking the playmaker, or cutting of his supply with pressuring his fellow team-mates. Therefore when a genius is given the ball, he has little time, before he can do something efficient for his team, or lose the ball. Therefore, a genius must adapt and use his flair to beat the system, normally from a moment of inspiration. This does not always work, for a genius must have a strong mentality, and a number of geniuses can often cause conflict due to a clashing of egos. “If Ronaldo, Adriano and Ronaldinho were all at their best for 90 minutes, Brazil would win 23-0”. What Gordon Strachan said may be true, but the reason that Brazil did not win, was due to a lack of correct physical and tactical preparation. The main star, one of the ‘magic quartet’, Ronaldinho, was played out of position, with no freedom to roam and probe and create openings. This was perhaps due to the lack of runs made by the two strikers, both criticised in the build up to the tournament, and both suffering personal problems.
It is for this reason, why it is the team that can maximise the positive output on the field of play rather than vice versa. For example, Frank Rikjaard had a masterstroke by devising a new position for Ronaldinho in 2003/2004 after a missing five matches in October due to a hamstring injury, giving the player a role as a ‘false’ left winger, who could cut in to the box, score goals and drift around to influence proceedings. And it is in this position that Ronaldinho has won two ‘FIFA world-player of the year’ awards in the past three years and become more prolific than ever. It may be tactics that allow a team to use its focal point, but sometimes it is just moments of inspiration. For example, Thierry Henry’s audacious back-heeled finish, having been turned away from goal, and surrounded by a number of Charlton players who were marking him correctly to stop anything normal. But Thierry Henry is not a normal player. Another example is Ronaldinho’s ‘run and see what happens approach’, through his darting dribble into the heart of the Chelsea box, using his raw physical strength to hold off challenges from John Terry among others, before rifling home a shot, which sent Petr Cech the wrong way, thus knocking Chelsea out of the Champions League. Genius is developed as a player grows as experience causes better decision making to occur and a player to become more effective. Technique in all good players is evident, but it is the way it is used and the decision making, both on the pitch and off it is what makes a player great.
True legends are the Dutch 1974 World Cup team, who lead by Johan Cruyff, destroyed opposition, through interchanging positions in what was described as ‘total football’. This prevented any sort of man marking from the opposition, while his vision, of knowing where his team-mates would be also contributed to the cliché of his team being known as ‘the greatest team never to win the cup’. Pele, too had a similar effect in his team in the 1970 World Cup, epitomised by the amazing team play that resulted in Carlos Alberto’s emphatic finish against Italy in the final. A similar move occurred in the 2006 World Cup with Esteban Cambiasso, a defensive midfielder, rounding off a flowing 24-pass move against Serbia & Montenegro. Therefore, genius can also be a team move rather than an individual piece of brilliance.
Culture
The best example of a genius that for all his talent was embroiled in social, health and perhaps fiduciary problems is perhaps the greatest player ever: Diego Maradona. After quarrels with Barcelona’s directors, the player demanded a transfer to SSC Napoli, where he was adored. Genius is also constantly in the spotlight, with the Argentine’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, and later in the 1994 World Cup, he failed a drugs test and was sent home. After his career, he had drug and obesity problems and his residence has fluctuated from various medical clinics to rehabilitation centres. Perhaps the most iconic player of his time, Johan Cruyff, too was in the spotlight, mainly for his footballing talent, from helping ‘Los Cules’ picking apart arch rivals Real Madrid, culminating in a 5-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu, to playing for Ajax, and later arch rivals Feyenoord, leading both clubs to a league and cup double.
Now the greatest players in the world are bought and sold for inflated transfer fees. The Galacticos era at Real Madrid, brought in Figo for £39 million pounds, Zidane for £47 million pounds, Ronaldo for £26 million, among others. The transfer fees for these players, who had the ‘X-Factor’, along with their outlandish wages always kept the genius in the public spotlight. The media-friendly face of the superstars brought in by Florentino Pérez also brought in money from image rights, which the club took in. It is widely believed that in the summer of 2004, Arsenal Invincible Patrick Vieira spurned Real’s advances purely on the fact that due to his lack of marketability, he was offered a lower wage than, for example, David Beckham, who earns millions from a variety of endorsements he has taken aboard. While he was their equal in football terms, the fact that he could not sell shirts meant that he was not deemed worthy of such a high wage. His style of football, which is based more on brute force, rather than finesse, also appears to diminish his marketability.
The North American Soccer League, which formed in 1968 and ran until 1984, had stars such as Pele and Beckenbauer vying against fellow geniuses such as Eusebio. This was the final swansong in most of these players’ careers, with the failure to land the 1986 World Cup in America a major part in its downfall. The majority of the clubs became bankrupt due to the lack of funds and inability to make profit, due to the salaries of the playing staff and low attendance income.
Revolutionaries
The true greats in the game, changed the way it was played, with new tactics, technique and vision. Here are a few legends:
Johan Cruyff is someone who has won 34 titles in his playing and managerial career, He was a general on the pitch, ordering his fellow players around into different positions. As Terence, the Roman poet once wrote ‘fortune favours the brave’, Cruyff, who lead a revolution in the style of football, winning plaudits from all over the world and also owner to a trophy cabinet brimming full of silverware, should know what Terence was talking about. He says he does not regret losing the 1974 World Cup final, stating it made ‘total-football’ more famous than ever. Perhaps trying to recreate its unique style is a great tribute to one of Holland’s greatest players. Only Van Basten and Bergkamp could even come close.
Pele is a name heard in association with the word ‘GOOOOOOOOL’. He should know he’s scored 1281 of them. His technical ability, vision, and his amazing dribbling ability, led Waldemar de Brito, who coached the to-be-legend at a youth club, to tell the Santos directors that Pele, who at the time was 15, would become the greatest player ever. He was certainly true. The player matured over time, winning countless trophies and in 1962, he was announced as a ‘national treasure’ which meant Europe never saw him.
Puskas and Hidegkuti are two halves of a partnership which destroyed England at Wembley. Ferenc Puskas was imprudently written off by the English players as ‘a fat little chap’. Rivalled by Maradona for the award of the greatest left foot in football, his amazing shot, and vision led him to become a great, but as the game becomes more physical, he would not have been able to survive due to his physical condition, which in modern times, would most likely lead him to be criticised as Ronaldo has been in recent times. Nandor Hidegkuti created the half-striker role, where coming in from deep allowed him more time and space to execute his vision with deadly precision. It is because of this that he is a genius.
Franz Beckenbauer: another revolutionary, who changed footballing tactics with his perfection of the role of the ‘libero’. According to Osvalso Ardiles, he was the reason why Cruyff’s Holland failed to win in Germany. A great leader, his technical abilities launched attacks for his teams after clearing up attacks from the opposition through tackling, anticipation, positioning and his exemplary reading of the game.
Alfredo Di Stefano, the original Galactico, and along with a plethora of legends at Los Merengues, he dominated Europe for a period of five years from 1955. He had great strength physically as well as mentally and like most geniuses, he did make his mark in history, being known as the first Total footballer, with his ability to play in any outfield position, before Cruyff had even invented the concept of team total football. He still remains with Real Madrid, now honorary president of the club. The rights to sign the genius widened the gap between the sides who take part in el classico, with the Spanish federation prompting a ban on foreign imports due to this incident. Still all time leading scorer in European football, he averaged almost a goal a game for Real.
Eusebio, another who carried teams on his back to success, it was a pity he could not leave Benfica for a big money move to Inter but again due to political reasons, he was denied a move. A player, who could score freely, from any angle, because he loved football and spent hours after training, harnessing his skills. Rumours of kidnappings by Benfica, to hide him from rival suitors, when he was a youngster arriving from Mozambique, shows how his potential was evident, even before he became a genius.
Maradona made a huge mark in football, through his amazing dribbling ability and unavoidable need to use his hand to score or stop goals as views of the World Cup have found out. Also he was one of the true greats with an outstanding left foot, including Puskas, Riva and Maldini. Genius shines through when the odds are stacked are against one, and Maradona led SSC Napoli to the Serie A title, breaking the monopoly of the richer northern clubs, who usually won it.
Platini had five key attributes: tackling, passing, vision, positioning and goal-scoring. Perhaps his one weakness: his left foot. Luck evaded him in 1982, when Toni Schumacher, a likely idol for Jens Lehmann, was not dismissed after his obvious ‘foul’, which almost certainly stopped France reaching the final. He was perhaps the true great of European football in the 80s.
Zidane is probably the reason why football was called the working man’s ballet. His last great performance was against Brazil in the World Cup of 2006, in his final international tournament. Pervious to this he was on the wane in a Real Madrid side full of overpaid, underachieving Galacticos. The ball was a diamond to Zidane, who could find the thousandth option if you offered him 999. His vision, strength, which helped in shielding the ball, passing, and sheer ability to make players around him seem world class, along with his eternal spotlight in the media, make him a genius.
Friday 29 June 2007
Wednesday 27 June 2007
Henry is gone...Arsenal Lives On
With reports of Thierry Henry’s impending transfer to Barcelona, for a measly fee of £16 million, while a world class centre forward and Arsenal legend leaves, Darren bent, a relatively inexperienced English striker is being mooted around at £18 million pounds. The proposed inflation in the transfer market has surrounded English clubs buying and selling from one another, with Manchester United spending close to £54 million on three imports from foreign leagues. So where does this leave Arsenal, whose talisman uttered these words: "This is my last contract. It is where I belong", last summer, and now completes a complete turnaround to his statement, completing a significant move in what truly will be the final contract of his career.
The simple fact is that there will never be another Thierry Henry. While there may be young pretenders, with Theo Walcott and Ryan Babel, both biding their time on the wing, before playing in a similar role to Henry. True class is rare and Henry was a legend. Remember each of his 226 Arsenal goals, and relive them with joy. Remember the barnstorming run against Tottenham, and the daring celebration which followed. Remember the outrageous back heeled finish against Charlton. Remember the wonder goal in the Bernabeu. Remember Thierry Henry, the greatest player to ever grace the Premiership, with joy.
And while we dare not crucify him, we must see that there is a growing uncertainty in the direction of Arsenal’s future on and off the pitch. With the news that the board are willing to work with Stan Kroenke after Peter Hillwood’s unnecessarily blunt remarks concerning the American, this appears to point to a possible takeover with David Dein’s possible reinstalllment as Chairman. Arsene Wenger’s future too is uncertain, although this has been a common pattern as the French tactician almost always commits to a new contract at the end of his current one, which prompts media speculation into his future. More worrying is the number of players tied to Wenger’s future with Cesc Fabregas, amongst others, with an uncertain future at the club. Therefore it is vital for the uncertainty in the upper hierarchy of the club to be settled and for the club to continue to add to its illustrious history. While there will be great players and managers, no one person is greater than the club itself.
One problem is due to the inflated transfer fees in players coming over to England, it will be difficult to find a player who can stop the lack of Thierry Henry’s influence in Arsenal’s game being found. Therefore it is vital that Wenger gets the player that he wants to replace Henry, with Patrick Vieira (Wenger failed to buy Julio Baptista as well), not effectively replaced until Fabregas developed into his new type of role dominating games with his ability rather than pure physicality. Therefore here are a number of players who Wenger could have his eye on:
Ryan Babel has been likened to Henry by his national team coach Marco Van Basten, who incidentally was Henry’s idol when he was a young hopeful. The player himself is right footed though plays on the left wing and can also play up front. He is blessed with pace and trickery and so on his day can bamboozle opponents with his skill. He is inconsistent, naturally due to his inexperience and so this is not the kind of player that needs to be added to Arsenal’s strike-force as experience and goal-scoring prowess is needed.
Speaking of goal scoring prowess, Klaas Jan Huntelaar is a striker whose goal-scoring record for teams at different ends of the spectrum in the Dutch league. The player himself is relatively young and again is unproven in a foreign league but his record of 37 goals in 46 Ajax appearances shows his instinct for goal. The player would not provide Thierry Henry’s sheer elegance (he is, in fact, more likened to Ruud van Nistelrooy) or be as involved in the build up, but he would be a ‘fox in the box’, a tag shunned by Arsenal fans, since the signing of Francis Jeffers, who was a spectacular disappointment.
Carlos Tevez is a player that can bring the same level of excitement to fans as Thierry Henry. After a season of acclimatization to the English league in which he still managed to save his club, West Ham United, from relegation, he appears to be ready to step in to the shoes of a legend. Tevez has been a club talisman all his life, carrying Boca juniors and Corinthians on his broad shoulders, the latter almost suffered disciplinary action due to its involvement with MSI, whom Tevez is also associated with. This may put off Wenger as third party ownership deals enter murky water. Also an asking price of close to £32 million pounds and interest from Inter Milan and Real Madrid may mean that Tevez is out of reach due to the superiorly financially backed rivals.
Darren Bent has a eye for goal and is proven in this league, scoring goals for a side of considerably less quality. He is valued at a price greater than what Henry has been sold for, which is not uncommon as the lack of available, quality English players, who are in scare supply. He has clever movement and would love to try his luck at a bigger club but there has been no link and again Wenger may be put off by the price.
Obafemi Martins reportedly has a £13 million pound release clause in his contract at Newcastle, as does strike partner Michael Owen (of £9 million pounds). Martins is a player of blistering pace and has a powerful shot. Wenger has first hand experience of the player, who as a rough 18 year old teenager single-handedly tore apart Arsenal’s defense at home to Inter in 2003. There are doubts about his age (he is thought to be 23), as there are with a number of African players, who lie in the hope of breaking from a life of poverty.
There is also the unlikely Samuel Eto’o (who maintains that his future lies at Barcelona and that he was looking forward to playing with Henry at the Camp Nou. If there was any hope of him coming in what in a swap deal for Henry), Adriano (mooted in a swap deal for Henry and also his motivational problems are also a dilemma), David Trezeguet (thought to be brought in to appease to Henry’s demands for a world-class striker and now his loss of form, and more static movement makes him a inadequate buy, as his day was three years ago) and Dimitar Berbatov (this is impossible but Arsenal fans can only dream that the player will switch from the white of Tottenham to the red and white of Arsenal). A final mention to a possible return of Nicolas Anelka, who is now a reformed character but Wenger has never resigned a former player and also Diego Milito, who seems destined for Zaragoza.
Finally I ask you to trust in Wenger, who without doubt already has a replacement lined up. There is no one bigger than the club and we will prove that once more.
The simple fact is that there will never be another Thierry Henry. While there may be young pretenders, with Theo Walcott and Ryan Babel, both biding their time on the wing, before playing in a similar role to Henry. True class is rare and Henry was a legend. Remember each of his 226 Arsenal goals, and relive them with joy. Remember the barnstorming run against Tottenham, and the daring celebration which followed. Remember the outrageous back heeled finish against Charlton. Remember the wonder goal in the Bernabeu. Remember Thierry Henry, the greatest player to ever grace the Premiership, with joy.
And while we dare not crucify him, we must see that there is a growing uncertainty in the direction of Arsenal’s future on and off the pitch. With the news that the board are willing to work with Stan Kroenke after Peter Hillwood’s unnecessarily blunt remarks concerning the American, this appears to point to a possible takeover with David Dein’s possible reinstalllment as Chairman. Arsene Wenger’s future too is uncertain, although this has been a common pattern as the French tactician almost always commits to a new contract at the end of his current one, which prompts media speculation into his future. More worrying is the number of players tied to Wenger’s future with Cesc Fabregas, amongst others, with an uncertain future at the club. Therefore it is vital for the uncertainty in the upper hierarchy of the club to be settled and for the club to continue to add to its illustrious history. While there will be great players and managers, no one person is greater than the club itself.
One problem is due to the inflated transfer fees in players coming over to England, it will be difficult to find a player who can stop the lack of Thierry Henry’s influence in Arsenal’s game being found. Therefore it is vital that Wenger gets the player that he wants to replace Henry, with Patrick Vieira (Wenger failed to buy Julio Baptista as well), not effectively replaced until Fabregas developed into his new type of role dominating games with his ability rather than pure physicality. Therefore here are a number of players who Wenger could have his eye on:
Ryan Babel has been likened to Henry by his national team coach Marco Van Basten, who incidentally was Henry’s idol when he was a young hopeful. The player himself is right footed though plays on the left wing and can also play up front. He is blessed with pace and trickery and so on his day can bamboozle opponents with his skill. He is inconsistent, naturally due to his inexperience and so this is not the kind of player that needs to be added to Arsenal’s strike-force as experience and goal-scoring prowess is needed.
Speaking of goal scoring prowess, Klaas Jan Huntelaar is a striker whose goal-scoring record for teams at different ends of the spectrum in the Dutch league. The player himself is relatively young and again is unproven in a foreign league but his record of 37 goals in 46 Ajax appearances shows his instinct for goal. The player would not provide Thierry Henry’s sheer elegance (he is, in fact, more likened to Ruud van Nistelrooy) or be as involved in the build up, but he would be a ‘fox in the box’, a tag shunned by Arsenal fans, since the signing of Francis Jeffers, who was a spectacular disappointment.
Carlos Tevez is a player that can bring the same level of excitement to fans as Thierry Henry. After a season of acclimatization to the English league in which he still managed to save his club, West Ham United, from relegation, he appears to be ready to step in to the shoes of a legend. Tevez has been a club talisman all his life, carrying Boca juniors and Corinthians on his broad shoulders, the latter almost suffered disciplinary action due to its involvement with MSI, whom Tevez is also associated with. This may put off Wenger as third party ownership deals enter murky water. Also an asking price of close to £32 million pounds and interest from Inter Milan and Real Madrid may mean that Tevez is out of reach due to the superiorly financially backed rivals.
Darren Bent has a eye for goal and is proven in this league, scoring goals for a side of considerably less quality. He is valued at a price greater than what Henry has been sold for, which is not uncommon as the lack of available, quality English players, who are in scare supply. He has clever movement and would love to try his luck at a bigger club but there has been no link and again Wenger may be put off by the price.
Obafemi Martins reportedly has a £13 million pound release clause in his contract at Newcastle, as does strike partner Michael Owen (of £9 million pounds). Martins is a player of blistering pace and has a powerful shot. Wenger has first hand experience of the player, who as a rough 18 year old teenager single-handedly tore apart Arsenal’s defense at home to Inter in 2003. There are doubts about his age (he is thought to be 23), as there are with a number of African players, who lie in the hope of breaking from a life of poverty.
There is also the unlikely Samuel Eto’o (who maintains that his future lies at Barcelona and that he was looking forward to playing with Henry at the Camp Nou. If there was any hope of him coming in what in a swap deal for Henry), Adriano (mooted in a swap deal for Henry and also his motivational problems are also a dilemma), David Trezeguet (thought to be brought in to appease to Henry’s demands for a world-class striker and now his loss of form, and more static movement makes him a inadequate buy, as his day was three years ago) and Dimitar Berbatov (this is impossible but Arsenal fans can only dream that the player will switch from the white of Tottenham to the red and white of Arsenal). A final mention to a possible return of Nicolas Anelka, who is now a reformed character but Wenger has never resigned a former player and also Diego Milito, who seems destined for Zaragoza.
Finally I ask you to trust in Wenger, who without doubt already has a replacement lined up. There is no one bigger than the club and we will prove that once more.
Arsenal's Silva Lining
Gilberto Aparecido da Silva. Where to begin, one might ask? A player, who is so highly rated by fellow volante and also former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who called him the lynchpin of Brazil’s successful 2002 World Cup campaign, is now the captain of the most illustrious footballing nation known. Yet, he has his critics. Many argue of his importance to the Arsenal and Brazil teams, claiming that the modern game has no need for defensive midfielders. To them I say, look at the evidence.
Arsène Wenger’s pervious teams have been based on counterattacking with a defensive midfielder partnering the midfield enforcer, who was Patrick Vieira. In the unbeaten season it was the Brazilian World Cup winner who was the ‘invisible shield’, intercepting passes and distributing the ball cleanly. Again, the critics claim he is not a great passer although in this pervious season, he was second only to the precocious Cesc Fabregas in the Arsenal team with a pass conversion rate of 82%. Naturally the midfield anchor must be able to defend. Gilberto Silva has perhaps saved his team at least four or five points this year, through his abilities.
Physical prowess. Just look for the amazing 12 yards he made up to dispossess compatriot Ronaldo in a thrilling Champions League encounter last year. He rarely gets injured, with the one exception a career threatening vertebrae injury, in the 2004/5 season, when Arsenal sorely missed his calming presence.
Man marking. Remember the expert marshalling of argentine Juan Roman Riquelme in the tense Champions League semi-final last year in Villarreal, the countless sliding tackles, timed to perfection, the number of dispossessions he undertook and also the interceptions of the playmaker’s passing.
Tactical awareness. The new Arsenal style is more of a passing one, with a patient build-up, as Fabregas dictates teams more often. The lack of true width means the full-backs must attack forward and provide crosses to stretch teams. Imagine Arsenal and Brazil, without the likes of Eboue and also namesake Gilberto (Hertha Berlin full-back), creating less space, due to the lack of running from deep.
Gilberto allows this to happen, providing a balance within the team. He covers positions when his fellow players are out of position, intercepting passes, breaking up possible counterattacking play with his ability. In essence, he provides the attacking base for the team, with the flair players going forward reassured that they are covered. The ability to know where to place one self when defending has been priceless, as his lack of lightning pace is rarely exposed.
Putting the team first, Gilberto is a natural leader; an example is when he threw himself in front of a powerful Michael Essien shot and thus effectively blocking it in the penultimate game of the season. So it was little surprise when ‘Bertie’ (as he is affectionately known by the Arsenal faithful) committed to the club he loves, rather than like many of his team-mates, who instead claimed their futures hinge on Wenger’s future.
Praised by Dunga, the figure point in the art of the anchorman in recent history, he has all the attributes to become a permanent captain for the ‘Gunners’, if Thierry Henry does leave. Naturally being placed in midfield, gives the most access to Silva. He constantly speaks to the younger players surrounding him, guiding them, positioning them correctly. More a quiet captain, than his former midfield partner Patrick Vieira, he is very effective, leading the young ‘Gunners’ to a seven match unbeaten run in the absence of club talisman Henry. His awareness on and off the ball is 360 degrees and because of this, he is so effective, rarely losing possession and the figurehead of the defensive unit, which he leads. And it is because of this that his game is based on great trust from his team mates, rather than individual, breathtaking moves.
Yet in this previous season, the attacking aspect of his game has been revealed, with a personal record of 11 goals in all competitions, his aerial ability, and eerie coolness, when it comes to taking penalties has been even more vital to his team than ever. It is experience that is now showing as he reaches his peak, knowing when to go forward, as he has shown with his pin point cross in the final minute of the inaugural full international at the new Wembley, resulting in a goal, not to forget the header earlier in the very same game, that was wrongly ruled for offside. Now as Edu once helped him, he helps fellow countryman Denilson acclimatise to the country and its style of play, hoping to pass on his experience to the player that one day hopes to succeed him.
Every generation, there is one outstanding attacking player, who for all his talents may lack discipline and patience. In contrast, Gilberto has both of these attributes and he may not sell millions of shirts for his club, but his is more vital to his team than ever. Now all that remains is the elusive Champions league trophy that has long eluded him and Arsenal.
Arsène Wenger’s pervious teams have been based on counterattacking with a defensive midfielder partnering the midfield enforcer, who was Patrick Vieira. In the unbeaten season it was the Brazilian World Cup winner who was the ‘invisible shield’, intercepting passes and distributing the ball cleanly. Again, the critics claim he is not a great passer although in this pervious season, he was second only to the precocious Cesc Fabregas in the Arsenal team with a pass conversion rate of 82%. Naturally the midfield anchor must be able to defend. Gilberto Silva has perhaps saved his team at least four or five points this year, through his abilities.
Physical prowess. Just look for the amazing 12 yards he made up to dispossess compatriot Ronaldo in a thrilling Champions League encounter last year. He rarely gets injured, with the one exception a career threatening vertebrae injury, in the 2004/5 season, when Arsenal sorely missed his calming presence.
Man marking. Remember the expert marshalling of argentine Juan Roman Riquelme in the tense Champions League semi-final last year in Villarreal, the countless sliding tackles, timed to perfection, the number of dispossessions he undertook and also the interceptions of the playmaker’s passing.
Tactical awareness. The new Arsenal style is more of a passing one, with a patient build-up, as Fabregas dictates teams more often. The lack of true width means the full-backs must attack forward and provide crosses to stretch teams. Imagine Arsenal and Brazil, without the likes of Eboue and also namesake Gilberto (Hertha Berlin full-back), creating less space, due to the lack of running from deep.
Gilberto allows this to happen, providing a balance within the team. He covers positions when his fellow players are out of position, intercepting passes, breaking up possible counterattacking play with his ability. In essence, he provides the attacking base for the team, with the flair players going forward reassured that they are covered. The ability to know where to place one self when defending has been priceless, as his lack of lightning pace is rarely exposed.
Putting the team first, Gilberto is a natural leader; an example is when he threw himself in front of a powerful Michael Essien shot and thus effectively blocking it in the penultimate game of the season. So it was little surprise when ‘Bertie’ (as he is affectionately known by the Arsenal faithful) committed to the club he loves, rather than like many of his team-mates, who instead claimed their futures hinge on Wenger’s future.
Praised by Dunga, the figure point in the art of the anchorman in recent history, he has all the attributes to become a permanent captain for the ‘Gunners’, if Thierry Henry does leave. Naturally being placed in midfield, gives the most access to Silva. He constantly speaks to the younger players surrounding him, guiding them, positioning them correctly. More a quiet captain, than his former midfield partner Patrick Vieira, he is very effective, leading the young ‘Gunners’ to a seven match unbeaten run in the absence of club talisman Henry. His awareness on and off the ball is 360 degrees and because of this, he is so effective, rarely losing possession and the figurehead of the defensive unit, which he leads. And it is because of this that his game is based on great trust from his team mates, rather than individual, breathtaking moves.
Yet in this previous season, the attacking aspect of his game has been revealed, with a personal record of 11 goals in all competitions, his aerial ability, and eerie coolness, when it comes to taking penalties has been even more vital to his team than ever. It is experience that is now showing as he reaches his peak, knowing when to go forward, as he has shown with his pin point cross in the final minute of the inaugural full international at the new Wembley, resulting in a goal, not to forget the header earlier in the very same game, that was wrongly ruled for offside. Now as Edu once helped him, he helps fellow countryman Denilson acclimatise to the country and its style of play, hoping to pass on his experience to the player that one day hopes to succeed him.
Every generation, there is one outstanding attacking player, who for all his talents may lack discipline and patience. In contrast, Gilberto has both of these attributes and he may not sell millions of shirts for his club, but his is more vital to his team than ever. Now all that remains is the elusive Champions league trophy that has long eluded him and Arsenal.
The Generation Game
When Bojan Krkic scored a poacher’s goal to deny England yet another victory on the international stage recently in the UEFA U17 Euro Championships in Belgium, it makes one wonder how far ahead foreign youth systems are evolving away from England.
Recently, looking at the FA Youth Cup Semi-final between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, it was quite clear who the most influential player on the park. Francisco Merida Perez. Not an Englishman, but a Barcelona youth product, who dominated the game with his wide array of passing skills and priceless ability to shield the ball. This begs the question, how far has the league academy system progressed since its inception?
Club teams all over mainland Europe have seen the fruits of their labours at some point over the last few years. Names that immediately spring to mind are Barcelona and Ajax and also the famed Clairefontaine academy in France. With statistics suggesting the game has become more defensive in recent years with the average strike rate being 2.28 goals per game – the lowest yet in the history of the Champions league, passing and ball retention is vital, and England’s stereotypical ‘gung-ho’ approach has been criticised, recent evidence is suggesting that Arsene Wenger’s promise of the academy producing world class talent finally bearing fruit. This involves mixing a few foreign youngsters, namely Nacer Barazite and the precocious Merida, accompanied by an English spine. Proof was evident in the strong cup run which ended when Merida, having played three games for the Spanish U17 team in the previous five games was forced Steve Bould (Arsenal youth team coach) into making a substitution changing the tide of the youth cup semi final second leg with the ‘Gunners’ conceding four times in relatively quick succession.
This method hasn’t been taken very positively by Joan Laporta, who was furious of the methods adopted by English clubs, with Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique being ‘poached’ by Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. “We are a club that has invested €7 million in the youth policy and now it causes us a great problem that English clubs pay attention to our youngsters," Barca president Joan Laporta told El Mundo Deportivo. The idea of copying the Spanish league’s use of feeder clubs in lower leagues was supported by managers of the top four sides in the Premiership, but rejected by the upper hierarchy at the Football Association. The potential benefits are great as fans will have noticed through loan spells at lower league sides with Justin Hoyte improving considerably in the more physical Championship. Although, with a whole team of young inexperienced players in a lower league, this could be detrimental to the players’ development as Barcelona B recently discovered, dropping to the fourth tier of Spanish football. This, ironically, lead to calls for their young starlets to be loaned out to leagues of higher quality for experience, in contrast to the potentially great idea that premiership bosses had looked into.
The contrast in styles also affects development, with teams such as Arsenal teaching their youth teams to ‘Joga Bonito’ or play beautiful, following Arsene Wenger’s philosophy, as I witnessed the one touch passing along the ground at their youth cup games, with the long ball only occurring when all possible angles were explored in an attempt to play the ball out to the defence. While in Brazil, where players are discovered as young as the age of five, as football is seen as a way to escape the ‘favelas’ forming around the main cities, the game is developed through playing futsal, where close control and skill are developed. In contrast, in the economically developed European counties, football is only a number of ways to earn a living and with compulsory schooling present too, the early development of players is hindered. The import of foreign players has been helping the English game recover after the three year ban from Europe in the 1980s after the incident in Heysel. Those lost years after a period of English dominance concerning the European Cup affected the English game as Arsene Wenger states: “We have to secure a place in the Champions League” as its experience is vital to youth development.
Another way through which English clubs have to catch up with the foreign youth systems is through the scouting systems, where big European clubs are poaching the best youngsters from relatively unknown places and grouping them together in the hope of finding a gem. In contrast English clubs must find potential stars in a certain area, with any under 16 players having to live within an hour and a half drive in England. This hinders development, for example a promising player in Bristol, would not be allowed to move to a Champions League club, where under the guidance of top youth team coaches, he would blossom. To overcome this ruling by the FA, “if a club wants that player, the club can give the parents artificial work”, as Arsene Wenger states. International rules are even more complex, with FIFA prohibiting international movement of all U18 players, while UEFA allow movement of U16 to U18 players internationally. This bending of the rules is unnecessary, as is the over complication forming loop holes, which clubs such as Barca have exploited, by luring Lionel Messi to the Nou Camp when he was 12, by offering to pay for growth hormone treatment, which his own club could not afford. Recently they were lambasted by FIFA for a similar approach to Messi’s countryman, Erik Lamela, a 12 year old prodigy.
Clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea have been finding youth talent all across the globe, with players such as Carlos Vela discovered, but the downside of these potential stars is their nationality, with work permits and visas rarely given on account of a lack of appearances for their national teams. In contrast the more relaxed laws in Spain, mean that youth players can be directly transferred into the team and then earning a Spanish passport in the process and free movement within the EU. Due to this, Spanish youngsters have been an attractive proposition to English clubs due to their availability and equally attractive is the promise of a faster route into the first teams of Europe’s greatest clubs. Due to the strict rules concerning international transfers, players from impoverished areas often lie about their age, a problem occuring frequently in Africa, where the infrastructure of youth football has deteriorated so much that players are bought and sold by agents, effectively forming a kind of slave trade, with the families of the youngsters being dried of every penny that they earn in the promise of a potentially false dream. This scheme is morally wrong as it is ethically, with the players that make it to Europe but have been turned down, reluctant to return to their homes for fear of shame.
The lack of a national academy in England has also been blamed for the lack of talent being produced with the majority of the Under 21 players being on the periphery of their club teams. Structure of youth development in different countries has also had an affect on production of potential stars. With Clairefontaine adopting a strategy of normal schooling with technical training after 4pm, whereas in England, the amount of training is limited due to pressures of schoolwork. In contrast, clubs such as Real Madrid, where the scouting network is very efficient, but the efficiency of youth players being transferred to the first team is low as little or no technical training is done until the player becomes 15.
As the youth policy changes with imports being reduced and the emphasis on home-grown players put forward, this is likely to hinder English teams, still improving on the technical accomplishment of their products. But while missionaries such as Arsene Wenger remain in the English game, expect future English teams to succeed on the international stage once more.
Recently, looking at the FA Youth Cup Semi-final between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, it was quite clear who the most influential player on the park. Francisco Merida Perez. Not an Englishman, but a Barcelona youth product, who dominated the game with his wide array of passing skills and priceless ability to shield the ball. This begs the question, how far has the league academy system progressed since its inception?
Club teams all over mainland Europe have seen the fruits of their labours at some point over the last few years. Names that immediately spring to mind are Barcelona and Ajax and also the famed Clairefontaine academy in France. With statistics suggesting the game has become more defensive in recent years with the average strike rate being 2.28 goals per game – the lowest yet in the history of the Champions league, passing and ball retention is vital, and England’s stereotypical ‘gung-ho’ approach has been criticised, recent evidence is suggesting that Arsene Wenger’s promise of the academy producing world class talent finally bearing fruit. This involves mixing a few foreign youngsters, namely Nacer Barazite and the precocious Merida, accompanied by an English spine. Proof was evident in the strong cup run which ended when Merida, having played three games for the Spanish U17 team in the previous five games was forced Steve Bould (Arsenal youth team coach) into making a substitution changing the tide of the youth cup semi final second leg with the ‘Gunners’ conceding four times in relatively quick succession.
This method hasn’t been taken very positively by Joan Laporta, who was furious of the methods adopted by English clubs, with Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique being ‘poached’ by Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. “We are a club that has invested €7 million in the youth policy and now it causes us a great problem that English clubs pay attention to our youngsters," Barca president Joan Laporta told El Mundo Deportivo. The idea of copying the Spanish league’s use of feeder clubs in lower leagues was supported by managers of the top four sides in the Premiership, but rejected by the upper hierarchy at the Football Association. The potential benefits are great as fans will have noticed through loan spells at lower league sides with Justin Hoyte improving considerably in the more physical Championship. Although, with a whole team of young inexperienced players in a lower league, this could be detrimental to the players’ development as Barcelona B recently discovered, dropping to the fourth tier of Spanish football. This, ironically, lead to calls for their young starlets to be loaned out to leagues of higher quality for experience, in contrast to the potentially great idea that premiership bosses had looked into.
The contrast in styles also affects development, with teams such as Arsenal teaching their youth teams to ‘Joga Bonito’ or play beautiful, following Arsene Wenger’s philosophy, as I witnessed the one touch passing along the ground at their youth cup games, with the long ball only occurring when all possible angles were explored in an attempt to play the ball out to the defence. While in Brazil, where players are discovered as young as the age of five, as football is seen as a way to escape the ‘favelas’ forming around the main cities, the game is developed through playing futsal, where close control and skill are developed. In contrast, in the economically developed European counties, football is only a number of ways to earn a living and with compulsory schooling present too, the early development of players is hindered. The import of foreign players has been helping the English game recover after the three year ban from Europe in the 1980s after the incident in Heysel. Those lost years after a period of English dominance concerning the European Cup affected the English game as Arsene Wenger states: “We have to secure a place in the Champions League” as its experience is vital to youth development.
Another way through which English clubs have to catch up with the foreign youth systems is through the scouting systems, where big European clubs are poaching the best youngsters from relatively unknown places and grouping them together in the hope of finding a gem. In contrast English clubs must find potential stars in a certain area, with any under 16 players having to live within an hour and a half drive in England. This hinders development, for example a promising player in Bristol, would not be allowed to move to a Champions League club, where under the guidance of top youth team coaches, he would blossom. To overcome this ruling by the FA, “if a club wants that player, the club can give the parents artificial work”, as Arsene Wenger states. International rules are even more complex, with FIFA prohibiting international movement of all U18 players, while UEFA allow movement of U16 to U18 players internationally. This bending of the rules is unnecessary, as is the over complication forming loop holes, which clubs such as Barca have exploited, by luring Lionel Messi to the Nou Camp when he was 12, by offering to pay for growth hormone treatment, which his own club could not afford. Recently they were lambasted by FIFA for a similar approach to Messi’s countryman, Erik Lamela, a 12 year old prodigy.
Clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea have been finding youth talent all across the globe, with players such as Carlos Vela discovered, but the downside of these potential stars is their nationality, with work permits and visas rarely given on account of a lack of appearances for their national teams. In contrast the more relaxed laws in Spain, mean that youth players can be directly transferred into the team and then earning a Spanish passport in the process and free movement within the EU. Due to this, Spanish youngsters have been an attractive proposition to English clubs due to their availability and equally attractive is the promise of a faster route into the first teams of Europe’s greatest clubs. Due to the strict rules concerning international transfers, players from impoverished areas often lie about their age, a problem occuring frequently in Africa, where the infrastructure of youth football has deteriorated so much that players are bought and sold by agents, effectively forming a kind of slave trade, with the families of the youngsters being dried of every penny that they earn in the promise of a potentially false dream. This scheme is morally wrong as it is ethically, with the players that make it to Europe but have been turned down, reluctant to return to their homes for fear of shame.
The lack of a national academy in England has also been blamed for the lack of talent being produced with the majority of the Under 21 players being on the periphery of their club teams. Structure of youth development in different countries has also had an affect on production of potential stars. With Clairefontaine adopting a strategy of normal schooling with technical training after 4pm, whereas in England, the amount of training is limited due to pressures of schoolwork. In contrast, clubs such as Real Madrid, where the scouting network is very efficient, but the efficiency of youth players being transferred to the first team is low as little or no technical training is done until the player becomes 15.
As the youth policy changes with imports being reduced and the emphasis on home-grown players put forward, this is likely to hinder English teams, still improving on the technical accomplishment of their products. But while missionaries such as Arsene Wenger remain in the English game, expect future English teams to succeed on the international stage once more.
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