MCFCinUSA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2008
- Messages
- 5,299
- Team supported
- City since 1977
a couple of things to add here:-
one is to pick-up on Damo's only stated 'weakness' concerning Mario in his post - his tackling...
in Alonso's interview (I think with either the Telegraph or Guardian) prior to the England game he laughs at why in England we rate tackling as part of our skills game; his point is that tackling is only a last resort (in football) and is an inalienable 'English' thing and peculiar only to the more physical and powerful English style of play. He may have a point. The really pertinent stuff that makes good football (I guess unless you're a defender) is everything other than tackling. I'd stress that tracking back and being on the six yard box to help defend corners etc is a tactical element, but I think Alonso makes a valid point from a different perspective, even though another of his main thrusts is that Spanish players have benefited from playing in the UK...
(ah, here it is: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/11/xabi-alonso-spain-england-interview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... -interview</a> )
the second is Ancelotti said immediately after we signed Mario that he could see us winning the league - that Mario was the missing piece and such was the quality of his play City could now do it.
as the Italian-American expression goes, Mario was a 'made man' when we got him, but he's still climbing the ranks.. when he got his first goal for Italy it gave me a very warm feeling and it's hard not to feel for the guy who has an abundance of everything, including character.
;o)
I hope he's with us for a long time to come, and am certain he'll pick up a lot more admirers and fans than he already has - as Damo and others have already stated.
one is to pick-up on Damo's only stated 'weakness' concerning Mario in his post - his tackling...
in Alonso's interview (I think with either the Telegraph or Guardian) prior to the England game he laughs at why in England we rate tackling as part of our skills game; his point is that tackling is only a last resort (in football) and is an inalienable 'English' thing and peculiar only to the more physical and powerful English style of play. He may have a point. The really pertinent stuff that makes good football (I guess unless you're a defender) is everything other than tackling. I'd stress that tracking back and being on the six yard box to help defend corners etc is a tactical element, but I think Alonso makes a valid point from a different perspective, even though another of his main thrusts is that Spanish players have benefited from playing in the UK...
(ah, here it is: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/11/xabi-alonso-spain-england-interview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... -interview</a> )
the second is Ancelotti said immediately after we signed Mario that he could see us winning the league - that Mario was the missing piece and such was the quality of his play City could now do it.
as the Italian-American expression goes, Mario was a 'made man' when we got him, but he's still climbing the ranks.. when he got his first goal for Italy it gave me a very warm feeling and it's hard not to feel for the guy who has an abundance of everything, including character.
;o)
I hope he's with us for a long time to come, and am certain he'll pick up a lot more admirers and fans than he already has - as Damo and others have already stated.