Re: The truth about Kolorov
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.surrealfootball.com/2011/06/14/kolarov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.surrealfootball.com/2011/06/14/kolarov/</a>
City fans have a banner which reads: “We dream of playing in the shirt. Today God chose you. Play like we dream”. No player had followed this literally, not until Aleksandar Kolarov.
How would you play if you played for City? Badly, if you’re reading this. But how would play in your dreams? By maximising your chance of personal glory, and kicking the ball as hard as you can. Principally achieved by shooting; shooting on sight, shooting from distance, shooting from angles, shooting from corners, shooting when no-one else would. And when even he can’t see a shot on, crossing with too much power to result in a goal, merely for the simple joy of belting the ball.
And that’s how Kolarov does. There’s a difference between success and glory and Kolarov knows where he stands. The strongest claim on his abilities comes not from the needs of the team but from a desire to capture for himself as many memorable and enjoyable moments as possible.
People will call him a ‘YouTube player’, as if he only looks good on highlights reels. But he’s more than that: he plays for the sole purpose of his compilations.
People will call him a ‘FIFA player’, as if he is only looks good on consoles. But he’s more than that: he plays as if he were in a video game.
He is the spiritual successor to Roberto Carlos, and shares his commitment to the law of averages: shoot as often, and as hard as possible, and you’ll get lucky enough. He scored three goals for City this year, all from outside the box, and wasted enough good positions to create at least twice as many good chances. But I wouldn’t want it any other way.
If you want productivity, go and watch Leighton Baines. But if you want playing for the fun of it, it’s all about Kolarov. Note his one trick. He skips and flicks the ball with his left foot onto his right side. It’s as redundant as Roque Santa Cruz; his right boot is useless, and he either gives the ball away afterwards, or meekly rolls the ball back onto his strong side. It’s pointless, yes, but that’s not the point.
Take the FA Cup final: one minute into the second half, Kolarov was played in, on the left, by the byline. He should have crossed to a team-mate, but he thumped a ludicrous shot wide. The most important decision of Kolarov’s time at City, and he sneered at the percentages and did what he wanted. After the timidity of Wayne Bridge and diffidence of Javi Garrido that sort of selfishness is emboldening.
Of course, I’d like a left-back that could defend. I’d like one who could tackle, head, pass, mark – who didn’t have to get mercifully dragged off after a 12 minute chasing from Matt Phillips. But there are more things in heaven and earth than usefulness: there’s doing what you want, because you can, and because you want to. There’s shooting on sight, on repeat, for the thrill of it. That’s what we dream about.
