Nelly's Left Foot
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2009
- Messages
- 6,054
Vosey said:Listened to debate intently, McGarry was the only one to come out with any credibility - his point was endorsed by Mourinho - not a bad reference.
Savage claimed any player who has ever played professional football has a touch of genius - including him, Claridge and presumably Gerry Crainey, Alan Kernaghen, Barry Conlon and Ged Brannan. Enough said.
The thing with these pundits is they miss the most simple observations. We struggled to find a goal against Arsenal (the day before this programme went to air) - step in Mario to take on their left back to set up the rebound for Silva. Without that single action we could have ended up 0-0 or worse. He also made his own chance in the first half - even with all the talent on the pitch, I feel he was the only one to make such a good chance from so little there.
Likewise the FA Cup, despite dominating the game, it was Mario's back heel (as part of his MOTM performance) that created the winning goal.
That in my view is genius - in football terms - on a pitch full of some of the worlds top professionals, he can do something that others cant that often makes the difference in games.
Comparisons with Cantona are so lazy. He wasted much of his career being a loon. After sulking round France - rarely its national team - he was rejected by Sheffield Wednesday and rescused by Leeds. He did have a great impact towards the end of his career but wasted much of it being a tool or being banned for attacking a fan - now that is madness!
As long as we keep Mario off the booze - the peril of many a 'genius' footballer - we should be fine. There is no man better placed to manage him than Bobby.
Life would be pretty boring if we were only surrounded by Michael Owens!
If moving the ball to the right and having a shot parried to help create a goal is genius then there are a hell of a lot of them in this world.
Of course Mario is a quality player with a bit more flair in his game than most but,as yet,he hasnt earned the title of genius.The more sensible ones on that panel (and Claridge is not one of them) seemed to recognise that he has the potential to be a footballing genius but it hasnt really shone through yet.He needs to show his talent/flair a lot more often than he has done so far for me.
I would ask for examples of footballing moments for City that confirm his genius as I struggle to remember them.Based on your example though you would be able to find hundreds but I am sorry that just didnt fit the genius category for me. I saw Paul Dickov score that mega goal at Wembley but I don't think he would ever qualify as a footballing genius.Maybe you would?