The wonderfully named Hungarian side met Arsenal in Hungary as the Gunners continued to build up fitness and continued their match preparations after making a short trip from their Austrian base. Arsene Wenger had no favourites as he picked those who impressed against Barnet, and those in need of match fitness.
An interesting line-up was chosen with the Hoyte brothers paired up at centre-back. But there was no doubt that the majority of Arsenal interest fell upon Carlos Vela, who finally made his debut after loan spells at Salamanca and Osasuna. The impressive Wilshere was handed a starting berth on the left and no doubt was looking to fast-track his route into the first team. Walcott was placed out wide as Vela partnered Bendtner up front. On the bench, the rugged Simpson, who had a key role in the turnaround against Barnet, bagging a goal and an assist, was rewarded with a place on the bench.
Bendtner won the ball on the left and crossed for Vela, who failed to control but the ball fell to Denilson, who shot against the bar. The Dane was involved in the early stages but seemed to have a heavy touch and a lack of mobility as he eased himself into match sharpness. Vela then played in Walcott, who failed to execute his shot as another chance went. Clinical finishing is a must for next season as the usual chances were created.
Denilson, who acknowledged that 2008/09 will be a key one for him, started confidently alongside Ramsey, who seemed to have slotted in with great ease, looking like he had been at the club for years. The Welshman was set up by his Brazilian partner to shot from distance, but his effort was blocked and landed for a corner.
At the back, Gavin Hoyte seemed quite disturbed by any ball that was hopefully played in, completely opposite to the calm Sagna. The young defender grew into the game, making a key interception as the Haladas striker closed in. The number 17 Simon found space on the left flank as the ball ricocheted off Walcott. Kenesei then played in the same man but Sagna read the danger and covered the inexperienced Hoyte brothers.
The former Auxerre man will be hugely important in this upcoming season, with Justin Hoyte not looking positionally sound as a central defender or as a full-back. The older brother lost Kenesei who ran in and lifted the ball over Almunia to give the Hungarians the lead. Gavin Hoyte tried to cover and seemed to hook the ball off the line but the referee gave it in front of the 13,000 sell-out crowd at the Haladas VSE Stadium. Like at Underhill, Arsenal were behind once more. It was this kind of mistake that lost Arsenal points in the run-in last year and they must improve on this kind of direct ball if they are to challenge once more.
In a bid to make amends for his error, Justin Hoyte went up field and found himself a few yards from the net but sliced his kick from the corner in a very poor effort. Clichy, once more captaining the side, showed great energy in supporting the attacks but his end product was lacking. A early cross reached only the arms of the goalkeeper, while when he was played in by Bendtner, he shot into the side netting, when squaring for a team-mate could have resulted in a equalizer. Alumnia was forced into a fine save, as the defenders in front of him were lax in their concentration, allowing a dangerous cross in.
The Spanish stopper blocked the effort from the opposition striker as Haladas got more into the game. Wilshere hit a volley over from the left side of the box in a competitive tempo from the hosts. But the Gunners weren’t behind for long as Bendtner controlled a difficult long ball and played in Walcott with a fine pass to finish with aplomb, as the ball rolled in off the post. Bendtner then suffered a knock as the first half ended in an intriguing contest. Randall, Traore, Lansbury, Almunia came on for Vela, Ramsey, Hoyte and Mannone at the start of the second half, as several changes disrupted the flow of the game, as it became more cage in the opening exchanges of the second 45 minutes.
Randall, who had a goal wrongly disallowed versus Sunderland, on the final day of the season, had an early effort in the second half blaze just over the bar. The Hungarians, dressed in white shirts and black shorts, were still threatening to break the deadlock once more but when the chance came, it was Traore, who covered his centre-back and removed the ball from danger. But the youngsters were by no means being overrun as a curled shot from Lansbury was tipped over by Rozsa, who seemed as eccentric as former Szombathelyi Haladas keeper Gabor Kiraly.
Soon after the 16 year old Jack Wilshere shaped to shoot but crossed for Hoyte who failed to connect. The vision shown by the rookie at such a young age was encouraging. He certainly has great footballing intelligence, with Arsenal TV analyser Stewart Robson even suggesting he has better vision than Walcott currently. Nicklas Bendtner, much more impressive than against Barnet, made a driving run past a number of players. He played in Theo whose shot was blocked. The Dane seemed to be a slow starter who needs games to get into his stride, unlike Clichy and Sagna, who appear to have reached a high level in just 135 minutes of matches.
Soon after Jay Simpson, Francis Coquelin came on for Wilshere and Bendtner as the side found a whole new look. The new French defensive midfielder showed his physical prowess by closing down quickly, as he tried to set a higher tempo by pressing higher up the pitch, a mantra echoed by Perry Groves in commentary. Randall too, often playing second fiddle to Merida in the reserves last season, was playing in a attacking role and tried to dictate play, with many probing passes and a few shots, both of which were off target.
Peter Toth was causing Hoyte and Lansbury problems down the Arsenal right flank, with driving runs from deep buying his team space and even a chance to nick the win. The physical Hungarians were worthy of a point as they battled harder than a young Arsenal side, made up predominantly of reserves. Coquelin was closing down impressively and won the ball for Simpson to dribble and win a free kick, which Clichy whipped wide. Sagna showed why he is the best right-back in England, as he was alert to the danger after Clichy slipped, the man with the braided hair ran across to cover the cross, whilst also showing his versatility, by playing at centre-back.
Henri Lansbury then made a run down the right, beating one man and he went to ground but was denied a penalty after a strong, but fair challenge from his Hungarian marker. Coquelin made a driving run and pulled back for Simpson to shoot but his effort was blocked, as was Walcott’s follow up. The game became more stretched towards the end as both sides went for the win. Theo Walcott made a fine turn away from his man and set up Traore for the cross but the ball was met by no-one as the game ended at 1-1. This game was a good physical work-out and contest for the younger players. Both the first and second half sides had decent performances which can be seen as general improvements on the first game at Barnet.
Next up is a game against a Burgenland XI, followed by a big test against Stuttgart in their new stadium. As captain Clichy stated in a post match interview, ‘the main objective is fitness’, with integration of new signings also an aim for Arsenal. It was good to see a number of the younger players and obviously Carlos Vela’s debut. There are six days until the next game, and one should expect to see the first team then.
Tuesday 22 July 2008
Friday 11 July 2008
The Curse Of Pele...?
Edison Arantes do Nascimento is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, with the European view shaped by his amazing performances at the greatest stage of all: the World Cup finals, and not his club form, which may be dismissed by claiming the level of competition was low in comparison to Europe, but his side was run extremely close each year by Sao Paolo, Portuguesa and especially Palmeiras. In terms of the physical element, Santos played 31 times in 1958 between 16th July and 1st November, a run of games involving almost three games every week.
The legend of the man who scored over a thousand goals has often cast aside players who were equally brilliant or efficient in their end product. Players such as Alberto Spencer or Garrincha, who perished a genius troubled by alcoholism, all fell into the shadow of the idea that was Pele. The former outscored Pele in the Copa Liberadores, while the latter was the star of the 1962 World Cup impressing all with his outstanding dribbling ability. Brazil never lost when the man dubbed the ‘Angel with bent legs’ and Pele were in the same line-up. His myth has become so overwhelming that fans just acknowledge his position as the best ever rather than make a decision based on any footage, meaning that earlier genius such as Di Stefano, Josef Bican and others such as Cruyff and Beckenbauer were never held in such esteem either despite their ability and the size of their trophy cabinet.
Of course, the modern game is more fitness based and less on technique, but there were very rugged defenders not nicknamed ‘Tiny’ in those days, who were fighting for a living in each game unlike today, where a young player can earn £10,000 a week. Pele now earns £18 million annually, based on his image and promotion of various products such as Viagra and Nokia. The great man sadly never moved to Europe, as he was deemed a ‘national treasure’ as Eusebio also was but has had a trail of ‘new Peles’ attempt to follow his exploits. Rarely have many of these players had a similar impact but as Brazilians move to Europe from an ever-younger age any action is strongly examined by the seemingly omnipresent eye of the media, leading to a number of players seen as the ‘second coming’. Unfortunately many of these footballers are more like Matrix Revolutions than the Godfather II.
Here we profile some of those who have tried to meet the (half the) achievements of the phenomenon or have been called the new Pele by the media, even if the comparison is not warranted.
Not as media friendly (not by a long shot) as the legend but Romario became the second man to reach a thousand goals, with a number of controversial goals in matches that weren’t official, like the FIFA joint player of the century (not Maradona, if you’re wondering). He won the 1994 World Cup scoring 5 goals, with his explosive style bringing back fine memories. Fond of caricatures (on the toilets of his nightclub) of those who he has fallen out, he has had arch-enemy Edmundo and Brazil coaching legend Mario Zagallo (after being left out of the 1998 World Cup squad) drawn on. Surprisingly Zagallo failed to see the funny side and sued the temperamental striker.
When one thinks of Rivaldo, they see two sides: the con-artist and the magician. The man who collapsed in a heap holding his face in agony, as the ball was thrown at his chest against Turkey in 2002 is not the Rivaldo we’ve come to expect. It is the man who scores free-kicks with the falling leaf technique, and the one who scored that master-class of a hat-trick against Valencia once upon a time, with the famous overhead kick the pick of the lot. He was one of Barcelona’s best players in recent years, standing out as Catalonia had an influx of Dutchmen.
‘El Phenomeno’ had probably the most chance of becoming a modern day legend. The teenage Ronaldo had a stunning goal-scoring record in Holland with PSV and in Spain with Barca. 54 goals in 58 games for PSV and 47 in 49 games for the Catalan Giants, he was surely about to reach the pinnacle of the world’s greatest sport. Then came that infamous night in Paris (1998). A ‘zombie-like’ Ronaldo took to the pitch having reportedly suffered a fit of some sort in the hours leading up to the match. Since then thousands of conspiracy theories have been formed as to why he took to the pitch despite not being fit to play, such as a clause in his boot deal with Nike.
Then came the injuries in 1999 and 2000, whilst playing for Inter. The rebirth of the phenomenon came in Japan/Korea in 2002, where his goals sent a Brazil side to their fifth title. Another inflated transfer fee took him to Madrid, where he managed over a 100 goals in all competitions along with enduring jibes such as ‘el Gordo’. Even Pele himself got in on the act, to which Ronaldo retaliated calling the Brazil legend a ‘two-bob opportunist’. The descent continued as he moved to Milan, where having scored 7 goals in 14 games, as things began to look up, he suffered another cruciate ligament injury. Then came the mishap with three transvestites and the Brazilian Legend is now a free agent as his contract with AC Milan ended this summer. A seemingly unfortunate end to a man who could have emulated Pele himself.
And finally we come to Robinho, the then 15 year old, ‘a little black boy, very thin and skilful’ who Pele likened himself to. Santos had gone 18 years without winning a trophy, and Robinho, of the same age, came to the fore, in a side full of young Brazilian talent, including Elano, Diego and Alex, they brought silverware back where it belonged. His initial impressions for both Santos and Real have been mouthwatering. A 25 minute cameo against Cadiz had the Spanish press placing Robinho on a pedestal and kneeling before him. But the change in managers at Real affected the youngster as did the new country and initial separation from his family.
The kidnapping of his mother was a key reason of his decision to move abroad with his family. After a 5-0 thrashing of Ecuador in the South American Qualifiers in the Autumn of 2007, the young striker went to a nightclub with his team-mates to celebrate their success. The night out was covered by the local media, Robinho arrived late for Real’s next training session and was left out for the defeat at Espanyol. Despite the controversy, the Brazilian wizard scored twice and got an assist in a scintillating performance against Olympiakos. It was to be the turning point in his career. He has matured and started to fulfil the potential that could propel him to the very top. Having scored 15 from the wing last season, he must add a consistency to his game if he is to reach the top.
Best Of The Rest:
Diego of Werder Bremen was dubbed ‘White Pele’ after his stunning performances for Santos. Tostao claims he organizes the play better than Zico, while others have made the comparison to Deco, due to his slight physique and running style.
Anderson was known as ‘Little Pele’ on the streets as a child playing football. The tenacious midfielder was seen as a natural playmaker, but has seen his position change to a rugged all-action midfielder who only lacks goals from his game
Such was the hype around Alexandre Pato that the Milanese faithful were seeing him as the saviour to their faltering league campaign. No pressure on his 18 year old shoulders then, eh? ‘The Duck’ took it all into his stride and finished his first six months in the side with 9 goals, with more to come.
It is typical of the world press and their obsession to pigeonhole new players as replicas of more established footballers but a new precedent was set when 9 year old Jean Carlos Chera was seen as the second coming of Pele. Interest from Manchester United has been spoken of, but such attention on such young shoulders has had an adverse effect before – Freddy Adu being the obvious example.
Marta Vieira da Silva has 47 goals in 45 games for Brazil and this young star is only 22 years old. Who you ask, well this young striker is the best female footballer in the world and has even been called ‘Pele in skirts’. And when you have your own documentary Marta - Pelés kusin" ("Marta, cousin of Pelé"), especially so early in your career, you must be something special. And Marta certainly is. She has also had 68,000 spectators rise to a standing ovation in the Maracana Stadium. Not many others her age have done that.
The most recognisable face in the world alongside the boxer Muhammad Ali, fittingly, his autobiography read ‘Even people who don’t know football know Pele’. And in this modern world, where we are obsessed with comparisons to the past, we should remember each player is his own man. Pele is Pele and others will always have to suffer the burden of his name (a nickname which incidentally, he hated as a kid).
The legend of the man who scored over a thousand goals has often cast aside players who were equally brilliant or efficient in their end product. Players such as Alberto Spencer or Garrincha, who perished a genius troubled by alcoholism, all fell into the shadow of the idea that was Pele. The former outscored Pele in the Copa Liberadores, while the latter was the star of the 1962 World Cup impressing all with his outstanding dribbling ability. Brazil never lost when the man dubbed the ‘Angel with bent legs’ and Pele were in the same line-up. His myth has become so overwhelming that fans just acknowledge his position as the best ever rather than make a decision based on any footage, meaning that earlier genius such as Di Stefano, Josef Bican and others such as Cruyff and Beckenbauer were never held in such esteem either despite their ability and the size of their trophy cabinet.
Of course, the modern game is more fitness based and less on technique, but there were very rugged defenders not nicknamed ‘Tiny’ in those days, who were fighting for a living in each game unlike today, where a young player can earn £10,000 a week. Pele now earns £18 million annually, based on his image and promotion of various products such as Viagra and Nokia. The great man sadly never moved to Europe, as he was deemed a ‘national treasure’ as Eusebio also was but has had a trail of ‘new Peles’ attempt to follow his exploits. Rarely have many of these players had a similar impact but as Brazilians move to Europe from an ever-younger age any action is strongly examined by the seemingly omnipresent eye of the media, leading to a number of players seen as the ‘second coming’. Unfortunately many of these footballers are more like Matrix Revolutions than the Godfather II.
Here we profile some of those who have tried to meet the (half the) achievements of the phenomenon or have been called the new Pele by the media, even if the comparison is not warranted.
Not as media friendly (not by a long shot) as the legend but Romario became the second man to reach a thousand goals, with a number of controversial goals in matches that weren’t official, like the FIFA joint player of the century (not Maradona, if you’re wondering). He won the 1994 World Cup scoring 5 goals, with his explosive style bringing back fine memories. Fond of caricatures (on the toilets of his nightclub) of those who he has fallen out, he has had arch-enemy Edmundo and Brazil coaching legend Mario Zagallo (after being left out of the 1998 World Cup squad) drawn on. Surprisingly Zagallo failed to see the funny side and sued the temperamental striker.
When one thinks of Rivaldo, they see two sides: the con-artist and the magician. The man who collapsed in a heap holding his face in agony, as the ball was thrown at his chest against Turkey in 2002 is not the Rivaldo we’ve come to expect. It is the man who scores free-kicks with the falling leaf technique, and the one who scored that master-class of a hat-trick against Valencia once upon a time, with the famous overhead kick the pick of the lot. He was one of Barcelona’s best players in recent years, standing out as Catalonia had an influx of Dutchmen.
‘El Phenomeno’ had probably the most chance of becoming a modern day legend. The teenage Ronaldo had a stunning goal-scoring record in Holland with PSV and in Spain with Barca. 54 goals in 58 games for PSV and 47 in 49 games for the Catalan Giants, he was surely about to reach the pinnacle of the world’s greatest sport. Then came that infamous night in Paris (1998). A ‘zombie-like’ Ronaldo took to the pitch having reportedly suffered a fit of some sort in the hours leading up to the match. Since then thousands of conspiracy theories have been formed as to why he took to the pitch despite not being fit to play, such as a clause in his boot deal with Nike.
Then came the injuries in 1999 and 2000, whilst playing for Inter. The rebirth of the phenomenon came in Japan/Korea in 2002, where his goals sent a Brazil side to their fifth title. Another inflated transfer fee took him to Madrid, where he managed over a 100 goals in all competitions along with enduring jibes such as ‘el Gordo’. Even Pele himself got in on the act, to which Ronaldo retaliated calling the Brazil legend a ‘two-bob opportunist’. The descent continued as he moved to Milan, where having scored 7 goals in 14 games, as things began to look up, he suffered another cruciate ligament injury. Then came the mishap with three transvestites and the Brazilian Legend is now a free agent as his contract with AC Milan ended this summer. A seemingly unfortunate end to a man who could have emulated Pele himself.
And finally we come to Robinho, the then 15 year old, ‘a little black boy, very thin and skilful’ who Pele likened himself to. Santos had gone 18 years without winning a trophy, and Robinho, of the same age, came to the fore, in a side full of young Brazilian talent, including Elano, Diego and Alex, they brought silverware back where it belonged. His initial impressions for both Santos and Real have been mouthwatering. A 25 minute cameo against Cadiz had the Spanish press placing Robinho on a pedestal and kneeling before him. But the change in managers at Real affected the youngster as did the new country and initial separation from his family.
The kidnapping of his mother was a key reason of his decision to move abroad with his family. After a 5-0 thrashing of Ecuador in the South American Qualifiers in the Autumn of 2007, the young striker went to a nightclub with his team-mates to celebrate their success. The night out was covered by the local media, Robinho arrived late for Real’s next training session and was left out for the defeat at Espanyol. Despite the controversy, the Brazilian wizard scored twice and got an assist in a scintillating performance against Olympiakos. It was to be the turning point in his career. He has matured and started to fulfil the potential that could propel him to the very top. Having scored 15 from the wing last season, he must add a consistency to his game if he is to reach the top.
Best Of The Rest:
Diego of Werder Bremen was dubbed ‘White Pele’ after his stunning performances for Santos. Tostao claims he organizes the play better than Zico, while others have made the comparison to Deco, due to his slight physique and running style.
Anderson was known as ‘Little Pele’ on the streets as a child playing football. The tenacious midfielder was seen as a natural playmaker, but has seen his position change to a rugged all-action midfielder who only lacks goals from his game
Such was the hype around Alexandre Pato that the Milanese faithful were seeing him as the saviour to their faltering league campaign. No pressure on his 18 year old shoulders then, eh? ‘The Duck’ took it all into his stride and finished his first six months in the side with 9 goals, with more to come.
It is typical of the world press and their obsession to pigeonhole new players as replicas of more established footballers but a new precedent was set when 9 year old Jean Carlos Chera was seen as the second coming of Pele. Interest from Manchester United has been spoken of, but such attention on such young shoulders has had an adverse effect before – Freddy Adu being the obvious example.
Marta Vieira da Silva has 47 goals in 45 games for Brazil and this young star is only 22 years old. Who you ask, well this young striker is the best female footballer in the world and has even been called ‘Pele in skirts’. And when you have your own documentary Marta - Pelés kusin" ("Marta, cousin of Pelé"), especially so early in your career, you must be something special. And Marta certainly is. She has also had 68,000 spectators rise to a standing ovation in the Maracana Stadium. Not many others her age have done that.
The most recognisable face in the world alongside the boxer Muhammad Ali, fittingly, his autobiography read ‘Even people who don’t know football know Pele’. And in this modern world, where we are obsessed with comparisons to the past, we should remember each player is his own man. Pele is Pele and others will always have to suffer the burden of his name (a nickname which incidentally, he hated as a kid).
Is Huntelaar Really The Answer?
We’ve gathered that he is currently one of the most prolific players in Europe, but is this Dutch striker really the ideal replacement to the seemingly Milan-bound Adebayor? He is a typical poacher, who began at De Graafschap and has worked his way around a number of Dutch clubs before signing for Ajax from Heerenveen in what was a Dutch transfer record at the time (one broken recently by another deal between the two clubs as Miralem Sulejmani arrived in Amsterdam for over 16 million euros).
The stats show his ability in one of Europe’s smaller leagues with the poacher netting 36 goals in the last two seasons. But as we’ve all come to find out, statistics are misleading with the quality of the opposition not taken into account. This is clear as Mateja Kezman actually outscored Ruud Van Nistlerooy in Holland, but upon arriving in the Premiership, we realised who had the talent and adaptability. The elder of the two scores goals everywhere he’s played: Holland, England and now Spain with Real Madrid, where he seamlessly fitted into the set-up, scoring the goals that have lead to two title triumphs after four trophyless years.
While Huntelaar is dubbed ‘the new Van Nistlerooy’, his style is much more restricted to pure finishing and finding space. In fact, he is much closer in his style of play to Inzaghi of Milan than to the Real Madrid striker. There is a common misconception that Van Nistlerooy is only a finisher, and despite his differences with Arsenal players, there was always an admiration for the Dutchman. From the perspective of the fan, even though Henry outshone him on many occasions in the scoring charts, we knew of his danger and prowess around the box. He brings players into the game, can hold up the ball and has the vision for the pass. This was evident in his wonderful displays for Holland in the group stages before their customary failure. Despite failing to score, the game against France confirmed what most doubted of the former Manchester United attacker. He was the focal point of the Dutch counter-attacks as the more mobile players supported him in attack and was lively throughout the games he played.
In comparison, Huntelaar appears to have the physique to play in this league, having bulked up over the past few years. He doesn’t have the pace that is necessary in behind to give different options to our midfield. The Milan game at home demonstrated the number of times Fabregas released Adebayor who tormented the aging Milan defence with his pace (the sheer number of times that we have tried this move has caused Adebayor’s off-side stats to rise enormously), this reported target probably couldn’t provide this option. One could also argue that Huntelaar, had he been in place of Adebayor at the death, would have buried that header, rather than hit the bar, such is his clinical nature. He is basically a more limited version of Eduardo, who has playmaking skills, versatility and pace.
It may seem that this is a critical piece on the Ajax striker but his ability to find space and time to finish would make him a valuable asset to any side. There are potential positives, with the number of chances we create, our efficiency would increase with his prowess in front of goal but would the chance actually come? His first touch is disappointing and his interplay with his team-mates seems to be limited but he certainly knows how to finish and this is predominantly what strikers are judged upon – well efficiency rather than goals, Adebayor scored 30 in all competitions but was still heavily criticised. Rather than prove his doubters wrong by playing another season and trying to better himself, he has decided to depart for ‘greener pastures’, which they won’t be.
The goal against Greece was typical of Huntelaar, finding space at the back post and tapping in, having shifted away from his marker. Dutch international central defender Barry Opdam said of Huntelaar, ‘He can easily move in between defense and our midfield, leaving most of us confused. He is smart. He can predict what his team mates do and what we will do in response. He also uses his body smartly. At the right time, before the cross or pass comes in, he’ll nudge you. That gives him those extra seconds or that extra half a yard. He has grown enormously, in particular physically’. It is this footballing intelligence and ability to lull his defender into a false sense of security that makes him so dangerous.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar is a quality striker but is too similar to what we already have and may not suit our style of play. I think Italy would suit his style of play in a more rigid and tactical game, as equally as I think it will restrict Adebayor’s potential.
There have been other names mentioned, such as Roque Santa Cruz, and while one could claim that he would fit right in due to his injury prone nature, his style of play, like Huntelaar is incompatible to ours. Adebayor seems to have been pigeonholed into the same bracket as Santa Cruz but the Togolese man’s game is far more expansive. Santa Cruz plays in a side, where the favoured pattern of play is to shift the ball wide and cross. The majority of his goals have been from aerial circumstances, much like Nicklas Bendtner this season.
For Bayern, his goals-to-games record was very poor, and it is easy to see that their game is closer to Arsenal’s style than Blackburn’s is. Former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes astutely saw Santa Cruz’s attributes and saw him fit in swiftly into a side that plays to his strengths. The type of chance created at Arsenal and the angles formed for the shot are different due to the way we play (i.e. less direct) and so he would probably be less effective in comparison to a roaming, mobile forward with physical presence, a ‘battering ram’ if you will. It is likely that if we sign a replacement, he will come from France, someone like Gomis (or at a huge stretch - Benzema) seems a realistic target.
One thing that is disappointing is the manner in which our resolve has seemingly dwindled away. This might not actually be the case, as Wenger may have already have found a replacement. The endless list of attacking midfielders being linked to us is worrying, especially with Invincible Gilberto (only Toure and Clichy will remain) set for a move to Greece or to surprisingly rejoin Dennis Bergkamp at Ajax, and with Flamini and Diarra gone, a new defensive midfielder is a priority. Despite all the striker talk and rumours of player departures, one thing is for sure. Denilson and Diaby will have to step up this upcoming season and fulfil their potential and repay the boss, the faith he has shown to them.
Update: According to Spanish tabloid Marca, Real Madrid have secured first option on Huntelaar. And 'according to Marca' means take this news with a huge amount of caution.
The stats show his ability in one of Europe’s smaller leagues with the poacher netting 36 goals in the last two seasons. But as we’ve all come to find out, statistics are misleading with the quality of the opposition not taken into account. This is clear as Mateja Kezman actually outscored Ruud Van Nistlerooy in Holland, but upon arriving in the Premiership, we realised who had the talent and adaptability. The elder of the two scores goals everywhere he’s played: Holland, England and now Spain with Real Madrid, where he seamlessly fitted into the set-up, scoring the goals that have lead to two title triumphs after four trophyless years.
While Huntelaar is dubbed ‘the new Van Nistlerooy’, his style is much more restricted to pure finishing and finding space. In fact, he is much closer in his style of play to Inzaghi of Milan than to the Real Madrid striker. There is a common misconception that Van Nistlerooy is only a finisher, and despite his differences with Arsenal players, there was always an admiration for the Dutchman. From the perspective of the fan, even though Henry outshone him on many occasions in the scoring charts, we knew of his danger and prowess around the box. He brings players into the game, can hold up the ball and has the vision for the pass. This was evident in his wonderful displays for Holland in the group stages before their customary failure. Despite failing to score, the game against France confirmed what most doubted of the former Manchester United attacker. He was the focal point of the Dutch counter-attacks as the more mobile players supported him in attack and was lively throughout the games he played.
In comparison, Huntelaar appears to have the physique to play in this league, having bulked up over the past few years. He doesn’t have the pace that is necessary in behind to give different options to our midfield. The Milan game at home demonstrated the number of times Fabregas released Adebayor who tormented the aging Milan defence with his pace (the sheer number of times that we have tried this move has caused Adebayor’s off-side stats to rise enormously), this reported target probably couldn’t provide this option. One could also argue that Huntelaar, had he been in place of Adebayor at the death, would have buried that header, rather than hit the bar, such is his clinical nature. He is basically a more limited version of Eduardo, who has playmaking skills, versatility and pace.
It may seem that this is a critical piece on the Ajax striker but his ability to find space and time to finish would make him a valuable asset to any side. There are potential positives, with the number of chances we create, our efficiency would increase with his prowess in front of goal but would the chance actually come? His first touch is disappointing and his interplay with his team-mates seems to be limited but he certainly knows how to finish and this is predominantly what strikers are judged upon – well efficiency rather than goals, Adebayor scored 30 in all competitions but was still heavily criticised. Rather than prove his doubters wrong by playing another season and trying to better himself, he has decided to depart for ‘greener pastures’, which they won’t be.
The goal against Greece was typical of Huntelaar, finding space at the back post and tapping in, having shifted away from his marker. Dutch international central defender Barry Opdam said of Huntelaar, ‘He can easily move in between defense and our midfield, leaving most of us confused. He is smart. He can predict what his team mates do and what we will do in response. He also uses his body smartly. At the right time, before the cross or pass comes in, he’ll nudge you. That gives him those extra seconds or that extra half a yard. He has grown enormously, in particular physically’. It is this footballing intelligence and ability to lull his defender into a false sense of security that makes him so dangerous.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar is a quality striker but is too similar to what we already have and may not suit our style of play. I think Italy would suit his style of play in a more rigid and tactical game, as equally as I think it will restrict Adebayor’s potential.
There have been other names mentioned, such as Roque Santa Cruz, and while one could claim that he would fit right in due to his injury prone nature, his style of play, like Huntelaar is incompatible to ours. Adebayor seems to have been pigeonholed into the same bracket as Santa Cruz but the Togolese man’s game is far more expansive. Santa Cruz plays in a side, where the favoured pattern of play is to shift the ball wide and cross. The majority of his goals have been from aerial circumstances, much like Nicklas Bendtner this season.
For Bayern, his goals-to-games record was very poor, and it is easy to see that their game is closer to Arsenal’s style than Blackburn’s is. Former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes astutely saw Santa Cruz’s attributes and saw him fit in swiftly into a side that plays to his strengths. The type of chance created at Arsenal and the angles formed for the shot are different due to the way we play (i.e. less direct) and so he would probably be less effective in comparison to a roaming, mobile forward with physical presence, a ‘battering ram’ if you will. It is likely that if we sign a replacement, he will come from France, someone like Gomis (or at a huge stretch - Benzema) seems a realistic target.
One thing that is disappointing is the manner in which our resolve has seemingly dwindled away. This might not actually be the case, as Wenger may have already have found a replacement. The endless list of attacking midfielders being linked to us is worrying, especially with Invincible Gilberto (only Toure and Clichy will remain) set for a move to Greece or to surprisingly rejoin Dennis Bergkamp at Ajax, and with Flamini and Diarra gone, a new defensive midfielder is a priority. Despite all the striker talk and rumours of player departures, one thing is for sure. Denilson and Diaby will have to step up this upcoming season and fulfil their potential and repay the boss, the faith he has shown to them.
Update: According to Spanish tabloid Marca, Real Madrid have secured first option on Huntelaar. And 'according to Marca' means take this news with a huge amount of caution.
Euro 2008: Final Matchday Round Up
Germany vs. Spain
Everything has to come to an end. Tonight, one of the most thrilling tournaments in football history will end, hopefully in the most enticing, dramatic fashion. There was an Arsenal presence on either side, with Cesc Fabregas supporting Torres in attack against his soon-to-be ex-team-mate Jens Lehmann, who will join Stuttgart on July 1st. Both must have been hoping for their first piece of silverware since the 2005 FA Cup.
Germany disposed of their fellow favourites Portugal with a pressing game and their use of the aerial ball and set pieces, with Klose and Ballack netting with headers. Joachim Low’s side also gave a reminder of their technical ability in Schweinsteiger’s opening goal, showing they have that intriguing quality, we English call ‘grit’ and the necessary technical ability. Moreover Michael Ballack was declared fit to start, a player who has been lavished with praise this summer, averaging 12 miles a game. The German captain is deceptive with his movement on the pitch, especially when viewing the game on television. One hopes he can complete the 90 minutes on a stage with is fitting of his talents, having been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final.
For their efficient style of play, with the needed ball always played accurately and always finished with aplomb, their defensive play has little to be admired, with the fear that Mertesacker and Metzelder likely to troubled by the pace and industry of Torres always in the back of the German mind. Or will they? The psychology of major games is a huge factor, with the white shirts so successful in major tournaments, last triumphing in 1996 thanks to Oliver Bierhoff, now the team manager of the national side. Despite their lack of progress in Euro 2000 and 2004, it is a testament, partly to their history and predominantly their qualifying campaign and their 2006 showing, as to their pre-tournament backing. Spain, who last reached a final in Euro 1984 and lost 2-0 against Platini’s france, and last triumphed in 1964, in a side inspired by Luis Suarez, may have felt under greater pressure to make history.
Against them, the Spanish side were shorn of David Villa, the current top scorer with 4 goals, but Fabregas was brought in to influence the attacking play alongside Catalan duo Xavi and Iniesta. The size of the Spanish team was a concern despite their technique, as Xavi claimed of his fellow midfielders: ‘Passing is in our DNA’, with the short midfield of Portugal overcome by the Germans in a physical contest. Spain have a much more varied approach to their neighbours and this intriguing contest between two differing styles appeared to make for a fitting end to this enthralling three weeks.
Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos has often been compared to the legendary Paolo Maldini but this comparison looks false especially on the basis of his positional play throughout the tournament and his defensive assurance with a poor back-pass to Puyol intercepted by Klose, who overran the ball as he raced into the box. The Germans had more of the ball and pressed hard as they made the more impressive start, with Ballack beating Puyol to the ball and flashing a cross in, which reached no-one. But for all their industry it was Spain, who created the first chance, as Xavi cut open the German defence with a slide-rule pass inside Friedrich, who was beaten by Iniesta as he cut in. The Barcelona playmaker drove the ball into the box and it almost hit the net, deflecting off Metzelder. Lehmann, who has been criticised for error-prone displays throughout the tournament, proved that age is no barrier, with a stunning reaction save to keep the score at 0-0. Aragones’ side grew into the match, using the running of Torres down the channels to create space in the German defence allowing time for the midfield runners to support him in attack. Sergio Ramos crossed at the far post over the head of the giant Mertesacker for Torres, who headed against the post with Lehmann beaten. Fortunately for Low’s side, the rebound evaded any red shirts. Germany countered as Ballack’s effort was blocked in the box by Ramos. Torres made runs from early passes as Spain looked to bypass the German midfield, but on both occasions he was denied by well-timed sliding challenges from Mertesacker.
The Liverpool man, overshadowed by the clinical nature of David Villa, continued to torment the German defence, as he ran onto a fine pass from the ‘quarter-back’ Xavi, and outmuscled Lahm to finish with aplomb over Lehmann’s dive as the net rippled. The Red half of the Ernst Happel Stadium shook the stands with a flare going off and covering a part of the stadium in a mist. They would have been rejoicing once more, as Iniesta clipped a cross to Silva at the far post, but he sliced his volleyed effort high and wide. Germany had a few set-pieces, which we unsuccessful as they attempted to equalize, but the aerial threat of Ballack was not present as he had to be attended to after a cut by his eye. Spain closed down any German attack and countered in numbers with Xavi playing in Iniesta on the left flank, but he could not find the space to cut the ball back to Torres.
The second half began with Marcel Jansen, disappointing in his defensive game in the group stages, but adventurous in supporting the attack, replacing Lahm as Low attempted to perhaps pin back Sergio Ramos, who was supporting the Spanish attack. A Spanish corner reached David Silva at the far post. The Valencia wideman had time to control and shoot and his shot was almost turned in by Ramos. Spain almost doubled their lead with a move involving the same players as Xavi played in Torres once more, but this time Lehmann gathered. Soon after, the Real Madrid full-back stormed forward and lashed in a cross across the goal, but it was Germany who began to take the initiative. Jansen passed to Schweinsteiger in the centre, who laid the ball off for Ballack to shoot into the side netting.
Aragones, in his last game as Spainish coach, showed once more that he was not afraid to take off the big players, as he has done with Torres in the past few games. He replaced Fabregas and Silva with Alonso and Cazorla respectively. Ramos then had a header tipped over by Lehmann at the back post, after horrible defending by Jansen playing on his fellow full-back. Iniesta had a chance from the resulting corner and after it was played short, he hammered a shot to the near post. A combination of Frings on the line and Lehmann denied the Barcelona man, who had another chance soon after. Cazorla fed the tricky attacker but his shot was straight at Lehmann and lacked pace.
Frings then curled a free-kick into the box, but Casillas punched well clearing any danger. The Real Madrid keeper was assured at any high ball, clearing any set-piece or cross with ease, showing why he is rated the best in the world. Xavi released Torres once more, who knocked the ball past Mertesacker, but overhit his touch, allowing Lehmann to gather in what was becoming a typical move for the Spanish. They continued their dominance as Xabi Alonso made a first time volleyed pass to his club team-mate Torres from a lofted ball but the striker couldn’t reach. Low brought on Gomez for Klose in his final throw of the dice but the Stuttgart attacker barely had a touch of the ball. Santi Cazorla of Villarreal crossed to the far post where Guiza stood. The 27-goal Mallorca man headed back across to Marcos Senna, who was inches away from connecting and making it 2-0. Xavi was involved in a late move, but rather than shoot the last man elected to play in Xabi Alonso, who couldn’t reach the ball. The four minutes of stoppage time ended as Roberto Rosetti blew for the final whistle in a score-line that didn’t reflect the Spanish dominance. Iker Casillas held aloft the Henri Delauney trophy as the fireworks began and the champagne rolled.
It was fitting that a side that adopted an attacking philosophy came out victorious in a tournament that promoted attacking football that was aesthetically pleasing. The goals to games ratio increased from 2.30 in the 2006 World Cup to 2.53 in Euro 2008 showing a clear indication of the forward-minded mature of the majority of the 16 sides that began the tournament on June 7th. The organisation by the host nations Austria and Switzerland was exceptional and only added to the viewing experience of the tournament. They last won this tournament 44 years ago, but that elusive World Cup still awaits their talents. We should offer commiserations to Michael Ballack, after an agonizing season, in which he lost three trophies, similar to the 2001/02 season, in which his side was beaten on three fronts, while Germany lost against Brazil in the final. An exceptional player, if not one of the most unlucky.
Aragones celebrates his 70th birthday with this deserved triumph, having been heavily criticised for his decisions throughout his four year reign, such as dropping Real Madrid talisman Raul, but now he is likely to be afforded the freedom of the country after ending so many years of hurt and under-achievement. Finally, our own Cesc, ending his club season on a low, should be very optimistic and on a mental high note come the new season. The Arsenal maestro gave an eloquent interview to the BBC revealing his joy and acknowledgement to their success and its place in Spanish history. In two years time, one is likely to bet the media will compare England’s hopes in South Africa to Spain in 2008, with it being 44 years in 2010 since the 1966 triumph.
A final word goes out to John Motson, who bowed out from live commentary on the BBC, after a long and illustrious career beginning in modest radio roots and ending on the biggest stage. But it was Spain’s day and Spain’s summer. Sport is by no means short in summer 2008, with the Olympics soon to begin and Wimbledon underway.
Germany 0 – 1 Spain
Everything has to come to an end. Tonight, one of the most thrilling tournaments in football history will end, hopefully in the most enticing, dramatic fashion. There was an Arsenal presence on either side, with Cesc Fabregas supporting Torres in attack against his soon-to-be ex-team-mate Jens Lehmann, who will join Stuttgart on July 1st. Both must have been hoping for their first piece of silverware since the 2005 FA Cup.
Germany disposed of their fellow favourites Portugal with a pressing game and their use of the aerial ball and set pieces, with Klose and Ballack netting with headers. Joachim Low’s side also gave a reminder of their technical ability in Schweinsteiger’s opening goal, showing they have that intriguing quality, we English call ‘grit’ and the necessary technical ability. Moreover Michael Ballack was declared fit to start, a player who has been lavished with praise this summer, averaging 12 miles a game. The German captain is deceptive with his movement on the pitch, especially when viewing the game on television. One hopes he can complete the 90 minutes on a stage with is fitting of his talents, having been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final.
For their efficient style of play, with the needed ball always played accurately and always finished with aplomb, their defensive play has little to be admired, with the fear that Mertesacker and Metzelder likely to troubled by the pace and industry of Torres always in the back of the German mind. Or will they? The psychology of major games is a huge factor, with the white shirts so successful in major tournaments, last triumphing in 1996 thanks to Oliver Bierhoff, now the team manager of the national side. Despite their lack of progress in Euro 2000 and 2004, it is a testament, partly to their history and predominantly their qualifying campaign and their 2006 showing, as to their pre-tournament backing. Spain, who last reached a final in Euro 1984 and lost 2-0 against Platini’s france, and last triumphed in 1964, in a side inspired by Luis Suarez, may have felt under greater pressure to make history.
Against them, the Spanish side were shorn of David Villa, the current top scorer with 4 goals, but Fabregas was brought in to influence the attacking play alongside Catalan duo Xavi and Iniesta. The size of the Spanish team was a concern despite their technique, as Xavi claimed of his fellow midfielders: ‘Passing is in our DNA’, with the short midfield of Portugal overcome by the Germans in a physical contest. Spain have a much more varied approach to their neighbours and this intriguing contest between two differing styles appeared to make for a fitting end to this enthralling three weeks.
Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos has often been compared to the legendary Paolo Maldini but this comparison looks false especially on the basis of his positional play throughout the tournament and his defensive assurance with a poor back-pass to Puyol intercepted by Klose, who overran the ball as he raced into the box. The Germans had more of the ball and pressed hard as they made the more impressive start, with Ballack beating Puyol to the ball and flashing a cross in, which reached no-one. But for all their industry it was Spain, who created the first chance, as Xavi cut open the German defence with a slide-rule pass inside Friedrich, who was beaten by Iniesta as he cut in. The Barcelona playmaker drove the ball into the box and it almost hit the net, deflecting off Metzelder. Lehmann, who has been criticised for error-prone displays throughout the tournament, proved that age is no barrier, with a stunning reaction save to keep the score at 0-0. Aragones’ side grew into the match, using the running of Torres down the channels to create space in the German defence allowing time for the midfield runners to support him in attack. Sergio Ramos crossed at the far post over the head of the giant Mertesacker for Torres, who headed against the post with Lehmann beaten. Fortunately for Low’s side, the rebound evaded any red shirts. Germany countered as Ballack’s effort was blocked in the box by Ramos. Torres made runs from early passes as Spain looked to bypass the German midfield, but on both occasions he was denied by well-timed sliding challenges from Mertesacker.
The Liverpool man, overshadowed by the clinical nature of David Villa, continued to torment the German defence, as he ran onto a fine pass from the ‘quarter-back’ Xavi, and outmuscled Lahm to finish with aplomb over Lehmann’s dive as the net rippled. The Red half of the Ernst Happel Stadium shook the stands with a flare going off and covering a part of the stadium in a mist. They would have been rejoicing once more, as Iniesta clipped a cross to Silva at the far post, but he sliced his volleyed effort high and wide. Germany had a few set-pieces, which we unsuccessful as they attempted to equalize, but the aerial threat of Ballack was not present as he had to be attended to after a cut by his eye. Spain closed down any German attack and countered in numbers with Xavi playing in Iniesta on the left flank, but he could not find the space to cut the ball back to Torres.
The second half began with Marcel Jansen, disappointing in his defensive game in the group stages, but adventurous in supporting the attack, replacing Lahm as Low attempted to perhaps pin back Sergio Ramos, who was supporting the Spanish attack. A Spanish corner reached David Silva at the far post. The Valencia wideman had time to control and shoot and his shot was almost turned in by Ramos. Spain almost doubled their lead with a move involving the same players as Xavi played in Torres once more, but this time Lehmann gathered. Soon after, the Real Madrid full-back stormed forward and lashed in a cross across the goal, but it was Germany who began to take the initiative. Jansen passed to Schweinsteiger in the centre, who laid the ball off for Ballack to shoot into the side netting.
Aragones, in his last game as Spainish coach, showed once more that he was not afraid to take off the big players, as he has done with Torres in the past few games. He replaced Fabregas and Silva with Alonso and Cazorla respectively. Ramos then had a header tipped over by Lehmann at the back post, after horrible defending by Jansen playing on his fellow full-back. Iniesta had a chance from the resulting corner and after it was played short, he hammered a shot to the near post. A combination of Frings on the line and Lehmann denied the Barcelona man, who had another chance soon after. Cazorla fed the tricky attacker but his shot was straight at Lehmann and lacked pace.
Frings then curled a free-kick into the box, but Casillas punched well clearing any danger. The Real Madrid keeper was assured at any high ball, clearing any set-piece or cross with ease, showing why he is rated the best in the world. Xavi released Torres once more, who knocked the ball past Mertesacker, but overhit his touch, allowing Lehmann to gather in what was becoming a typical move for the Spanish. They continued their dominance as Xabi Alonso made a first time volleyed pass to his club team-mate Torres from a lofted ball but the striker couldn’t reach. Low brought on Gomez for Klose in his final throw of the dice but the Stuttgart attacker barely had a touch of the ball. Santi Cazorla of Villarreal crossed to the far post where Guiza stood. The 27-goal Mallorca man headed back across to Marcos Senna, who was inches away from connecting and making it 2-0. Xavi was involved in a late move, but rather than shoot the last man elected to play in Xabi Alonso, who couldn’t reach the ball. The four minutes of stoppage time ended as Roberto Rosetti blew for the final whistle in a score-line that didn’t reflect the Spanish dominance. Iker Casillas held aloft the Henri Delauney trophy as the fireworks began and the champagne rolled.
It was fitting that a side that adopted an attacking philosophy came out victorious in a tournament that promoted attacking football that was aesthetically pleasing. The goals to games ratio increased from 2.30 in the 2006 World Cup to 2.53 in Euro 2008 showing a clear indication of the forward-minded mature of the majority of the 16 sides that began the tournament on June 7th. The organisation by the host nations Austria and Switzerland was exceptional and only added to the viewing experience of the tournament. They last won this tournament 44 years ago, but that elusive World Cup still awaits their talents. We should offer commiserations to Michael Ballack, after an agonizing season, in which he lost three trophies, similar to the 2001/02 season, in which his side was beaten on three fronts, while Germany lost against Brazil in the final. An exceptional player, if not one of the most unlucky.
Aragones celebrates his 70th birthday with this deserved triumph, having been heavily criticised for his decisions throughout his four year reign, such as dropping Real Madrid talisman Raul, but now he is likely to be afforded the freedom of the country after ending so many years of hurt and under-achievement. Finally, our own Cesc, ending his club season on a low, should be very optimistic and on a mental high note come the new season. The Arsenal maestro gave an eloquent interview to the BBC revealing his joy and acknowledgement to their success and its place in Spanish history. In two years time, one is likely to bet the media will compare England’s hopes in South Africa to Spain in 2008, with it being 44 years in 2010 since the 1966 triumph.
A final word goes out to John Motson, who bowed out from live commentary on the BBC, after a long and illustrious career beginning in modest radio roots and ending on the biggest stage. But it was Spain’s day and Spain’s summer. Sport is by no means short in summer 2008, with the Olympics soon to begin and Wimbledon underway.
Germany 0 – 1 Spain
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