persvenality cult
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 1 May 2008
- Messages
- 2,855
The point about his age is well made, but I think he's a little unlucky to be compared to such stellar talents in his position. Aguero, Nasri and Silva are amongst the most talented players in the world. They not only have the skills but immense footballing intelligence and, crucially experience. They have been playing with some of the world's best at every stage of their career.
In terms of outright technical ability, AJ would always be a step behind. BUt he's still very gifted. What he can do, what he needs to do, is learn how to play that game.
English 'flair' players are mishandled, misdirected. We say, we'll field 10 grafters and you go out on the wing... when you get the ball, just go for it and score. The Argentinians, Dutch, Italian, French and of course the Spanish have a different attitude to their most technically gifted players. They put them at the centre of the team, they play everything through them, instead of viewing them them as the end point. They train them to become team players, not in terms of their work rate and 'chasing back' (although that's rarely missing), but in the way they are always involved in optimising the general play, moving the opponent about, and in the way they are always looking to create magical play by combining with other players.
This is where AJ has problems. He lacks the decade or more of being schooled in good, team-oriented passing play that Silva and co take for granted. It's not like he lacks the vision or ability, he can play a superb through ball. But it's like he hasn't quite clicked that the work, the circulation in the final third, pulling around the opponent, creating angles and movement, it never ever stops. It's a task that require ninety five minutes of concentrated creativity. If you do it well you can create chances the whole game through. Just running at people is a hit and miss affair.
Not that I want to stop him from running at people, but I hope he works hard and unlocks some more of his potential as an all round 'final third' player'. With practise he ought to be able to do it very well, and with experience he ought to be able to learn when to switch from one mode to the other.
That's why I hate to read about him being unsettled. Really, is it just because the goals have dried up? Because fewer runs are coming off? This stuff always comes and goes. He has so much more to give, as long as he can resist the temptation to listen to the media's (and some of the fans') misguided ideas.
In terms of outright technical ability, AJ would always be a step behind. BUt he's still very gifted. What he can do, what he needs to do, is learn how to play that game.
English 'flair' players are mishandled, misdirected. We say, we'll field 10 grafters and you go out on the wing... when you get the ball, just go for it and score. The Argentinians, Dutch, Italian, French and of course the Spanish have a different attitude to their most technically gifted players. They put them at the centre of the team, they play everything through them, instead of viewing them them as the end point. They train them to become team players, not in terms of their work rate and 'chasing back' (although that's rarely missing), but in the way they are always involved in optimising the general play, moving the opponent about, and in the way they are always looking to create magical play by combining with other players.
This is where AJ has problems. He lacks the decade or more of being schooled in good, team-oriented passing play that Silva and co take for granted. It's not like he lacks the vision or ability, he can play a superb through ball. But it's like he hasn't quite clicked that the work, the circulation in the final third, pulling around the opponent, creating angles and movement, it never ever stops. It's a task that require ninety five minutes of concentrated creativity. If you do it well you can create chances the whole game through. Just running at people is a hit and miss affair.
Not that I want to stop him from running at people, but I hope he works hard and unlocks some more of his potential as an all round 'final third' player'. With practise he ought to be able to do it very well, and with experience he ought to be able to learn when to switch from one mode to the other.
That's why I hate to read about him being unsettled. Really, is it just because the goals have dried up? Because fewer runs are coming off? This stuff always comes and goes. He has so much more to give, as long as he can resist the temptation to listen to the media's (and some of the fans') misguided ideas.