What Pirlo has done in the last two decades has transmogrified the way Italian football treats deep-lying playmakers. Previously, perhaps fuelled by famed journalist Gianni Brera’s beliefs that Italians were naturally a physically weak race and should thus focus on defending, Italian coaches have found fitting grace into their systems a struggle and, as such, have found limited value in playmakers. Traditionally the idea that the playmaker could sit in front of the defence, a la Pirlo, was thought of as inherently risky, for his type were considered foppish when what was needed in this area was brute strength and unflinching tenacity.
One example of this perspective in action came when Fabio Capello took over at Real Madrid and considered Fernando Redondo to be too elegant a player to play in front of the defence. Capello had always preferred a strongman in the position; he used Marcel Desailly at the base of midfield while at Milan, and felt Redondo’s skill set was better suited to a role further up the pitch.
Capello left Madrid a convert with a much better understanding of Redondo as a player and his usefulness as a deep-lying playmaker. This perception seems to have permanently changed in modern Italian football, for there is now plenty of room for the likes of David Pizarro and Mirko Valdifiori. Enforcement remains a valued commodity when it comes to sitting in front of Serie A defences, but those who prefer having the ball to chasing it have found opportunity too, and Pirlo continues to lead the way in that struggle at the age of 35....
The regista rages against the dying of the light, fighting to prove that there remains a place for pause, poise and unhurried, rhythmic passing in the modern game. In this fight they are given solace by some coaches who see the benefits in having them. Guardiola knows these benefits more than most because he was once one of them. Now more than ever, with the advanced playmaker becoming crowded out by double pivots and defensive midfielders, there is a strong case to be made for their retreat.
For some the case is not strong enough, however. Gerrard is an example of a player who was moved back out of necessity but failed to totally adapt to the new role. This is an indication that the regista isn’t some utopian fantasy concocted by the believers to add aesthetic beauty in a sport increasingly conquered by the tall and forceful, but is in fact a role with its own genuine subset of specific skills. It isn’t a mere excuse to include ageing greats; if they lack the required attributes, they will fail in the role. Consequently, although the best registi in the world are, generally speaking, in their thirties, advanced age is not a prerequisite but a coincidence.....
We remain in what Arrigo Sacchi saw to be an era of specialism in the sense that the regista must still be helped out by those around them. Sure, playmakers are sitting deeper now, but they must still be balanced out by more destructive players. The only difference is that while advanced playmakers required a destroyer in behind them, registi require those players in front of them.........
Naturally in such circumstances, the regista becomes more important. Their calmness on the ball and ability to play out of tight situations is more of a necessity when attackers are more willing to pressurise and harangue and more organised in doing so. The evolution of the game therefore calls for specialists in the regista role, not simply the adaptation of other midfielders to it. While the role is still seen as a retirement home for ageing icons, the trend seems to indicate that; in future, players like Carrick won’t have to wait until they are in their thirties to enjoy the adulation their unique talents deserve.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2015/apr/24/age-position-football-michael-carrick-andrea-pirlo-xabi-alonso
― LMAO. GOLD Chrisso. regards, REB (nakhchivan), Monday, 27 April 2015 14:19 (nine years ago) link
MARTIN SAMUEL: Gerrard back to Liverpool as boss? For him to return, they must build a home fit for heroes
― This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by (nakhchivan), Monday, 18 May 2015 02:10 (eight years ago) link
hard to think of a current Prem darling less likely to be capable of big league management than Stevie G
― eremitic brid (Noodle Vague), Monday, 18 May 2015 06:03 (eight years ago) link
Graham Hunter's latest ESPN column even more unhinged and pompous than his Revista appearences http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/2455130/barcelona-la-liga-title-is-more-than-just-lionel-messi
― pandemic, Monday, 18 May 2015 11:44 (eight years ago) link
His record may fall but Sir Bobby Charlton will remain greatest British sportsman
― Fields of Fat Henry (Tom D.), Monday, 7 September 2015 12:45 (eight years ago) link
Martin Samuel dropping Wiley 'Bow E3' in his debate column today.
― pandemic, Thursday, 24 September 2015 16:06 (eight years ago) link
lol
― nakhchivan, Thursday, 24 September 2015 16:08 (eight years ago) link
The increasing influence of analysts, young men who have no experience of scouting or recruiting players, has meant the end of the road for good football men such as Mel Johnson. He was the scout who recommended Liverpool sign talented young winger Jordon Ibe from Wycombe but was sacked, shamefully, in November 2014. Former academy director Frank McParland has also left.
Instead a new breed sits in air-conditioned offices, cutting up videos from matches all over the world and burying their heads in the stats.
― noɪˈɣiːələx (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 7 October 2015 10:02 (eight years ago) link
*By Neil Ashton for the Daily Mail
― noɪˈɣiːələx (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 7 October 2015 10:06 (eight years ago) link
society is in the editing suite
― twunty fifteen (imago), Wednesday, 7 October 2015 10:23 (eight years ago) link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/managers/jurgen-klopp/12076010/Soft-German-Jurgen-Klopp-v-Old-School-Brit-Sam-Allardyce-maintains-a-proud-Liverpool-tradition.html
― Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (nakhchivan), Saturday, 2 January 2016 17:54 (eight years ago) link
maybe enough for pands to recognise a new leaf being turned in the bascombe oeuvre
― Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (nakhchivan), Saturday, 2 January 2016 17:55 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWIEmOvXAAAqHDB.jpg
― Number None, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 20:18 (eight years ago) link
ugh, who?
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 20:30 (eight years ago) link
Jamie Jackson?
― Cuombas (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 20:36 (eight years ago) link
bingo
― Number None, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 20:39 (eight years ago) link
fairly sure we clowned an excerpt from that book that appeared on the guardian a few months ago concerning man united's tour to australia(?) under moyes but I can't find the thread
― Cuombas (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 20:57 (eight years ago) link
ah, found it
thread of terrible football journalism
― Cuombas (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 21:00 (eight years ago) link
rob smyth headlines/bylines most depressing thing on internet
― oppen gangland style (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 22:32 (eight years ago) link
simon barnes is just appalling
https://twitter.com/FraserNelson/status/692605119368667136
― smoothy doles it (nakhchivan), Thursday, 28 January 2016 10:30 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/RKEbMrn.png
― smoothy doles it (nakhchivan), Thursday, 28 January 2016 10:36 (eight years ago) link
Innocence. Meaning. Belief. Trust. Faith.
― The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Thursday, 28 January 2016 10:45 (eight years ago) link
Thesis. Antithesis. Synthesis.
― The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Thursday, 28 January 2016 10:47 (eight years ago) link
Dave Dee. Dozy. Beaky. Mick. Tich.
― The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Thursday, 28 January 2016 10:48 (eight years ago) link
Henry Winter @henrywinter 2h2 hours agoCaptain, Leader, Legend, Leaving.
― smoothy doles it (nakhchivan), Sunday, 31 January 2016 20:42 (eight years ago) link
Henry Winter is the John Terry of football journalism.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Monday, 1 February 2016 00:26 (eight years ago) link
Like he literally commentates live on games saying "shot, Ramires, wide" as if the dead in the water "live updates" of his peers simply can't be trusted, like he's sending news by post from another continent in 1931.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Monday, 1 February 2016 00:29 (eight years ago) link
bascombe at it again with another spiteful little club pr job masquerading as an 'article' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/12138423/Daniel-Sturridge-is-exhausting-Liverpools-patience-and-his-absence-is-killing-the-team.html
especially enjoyed how he brings up the idea that sturridge decides whether to play or not depending on what God tells him, then dismisses this as far fetched, then suggests it's probably true anyway
Again, there is no suggestion Sturridge believes he has a direct line to the Almighty determining whether he should put his body on the line, but it must be tough to change a player’s mind on his fitness 24 hours before a game if he thinks his creator is sending him a message his destiny is to watch from the executive box.
also thinks the player should feel guilty for being injured and costing rodgers his job.
― pandemic, Thursday, 4 February 2016 15:28 (eight years ago) link
the latest example of Jurgen Klopp heading into a gunfight against one of the quickest draws in the west armed with only a pocket knife.
Liverpool’s attackers play like they’re being guided by a faulty sat-nav
It’s rather like waiting for Superman to come to the rescue, only to realise he is incapable of getting out of the phone box.
discussing the prolonged absenteeism of the England striker often feels like ballet dancing on eggshells.
as if a room of Harvard professors have convened to ensure each full-stop is in the right place for fear of misinterpretation or litigation.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 4 February 2016 15:42 (eight years ago) link
ikr?
― pandemic, Thursday, 4 February 2016 15:44 (eight years ago) link
just risible
― pandemic, Thursday, 4 February 2016 15:45 (eight years ago) link
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03189/chris-bascombe_3189184j.jpg
― Number None, Thursday, 4 February 2016 19:37 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbVcAsdUEAA5KnM.jpg
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 16 February 2016 14:28 (eight years ago) link
Now we're talking. Back when an opening para was an opening para.
― pandemic, Tuesday, 16 February 2016 16:22 (eight years ago) link
an attempt at trolling so transparent and moronic that they couldn't even find a journalist to put their name to it http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/zlatan-ibrahimovic/12162472/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-would-flop-at-Man-Utd-heres-why.html
― pandemic, Friday, 19 February 2016 13:09 (eight years ago) link
Distance covered per game - Premier League 2015/16
Interesting table. Seems to demonstrate that running around a lot makes no difference to your league position.
― Ad h (onimo), Friday, 19 February 2016 14:12 (eight years ago) link
Hugh Mcilvanney retires. His writing on football and boxing is among the greatest sports journalism I've ever read (he also wrote on horse racing but I think it's vile and stupid so I haven't read much of it).
― Cornelius Pardew (jim in glasgow), Saturday, 5 March 2016 22:15 (eight years ago) link
Can't fucking wait till "Gary Neville's Valencia" becomes "Valencia" again.
― onimo, Tuesday, 22 March 2016 17:46 (eight years ago) link
there's a crowdfunder for a Scottish equivalent of the blizzard that has just about reached it's 10,000 pound target : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1406994286/nutmeg-the-scottish-football-periodicalsome decent names on there. but also bill leckie.and the sample articles are not that promising.
― trickle-down ergonomics (jim in glasgow), Tuesday, 22 March 2016 17:48 (eight years ago) link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3519872/Marcos-Rojo-pays-visit-Post-Office-defender-deliver-Manchester-United-Argentina-smoking-storm.html
― r|t|c, Saturday, 2 April 2016 09:56 (eight years ago) link
really liked sid lowe's interview with Monchi https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/17/sevilla-monchi-liverpool-europa-league-final
― pandemic, Tuesday, 17 May 2016 11:56 (seven years ago) link
"Negotiations come next, where you have to know the market, have an alternative, and be realistic. “The guy selling a Seat Leon will claim it’s a better model,” Monchi says. “Kanouté wasn’t the first option; we were going after Fred, the Brazilian. We wanted [Kevin-Prince] Boateng before Keita. And if a player says: ‘Chelsea want me,’ I say: ‘What are you talking to me for, then?’ But if Swansea or Spurs want you, let’s talk. I sell the city, the club: a serious club that pays as promised, which sounds trivial but isn’t.”"
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 17 May 2016 12:00 (seven years ago) link
:)
― “bad” mothers, rebel mamas, and other radical/transgressive moms (nakhchivan), Tuesday, 17 May 2016 14:29 (seven years ago) link
https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/status/732665863497650176
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 17 May 2016 23:55 (seven years ago) link
What Ancelotti lacks in fire, he more than covers with deep, deep sanity.
― “bad” mothers, rebel mamas, and other radical/transgressive moms (nakhchivan), Friday, 20 May 2016 17:18 (seven years ago) link
https://next.ft.com/content/720cae92-1c32-11e6-a7bc-ee846770ec15?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Flife-arts_lunch-with-the-ft%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct
― “bad” mothers, rebel mamas, and other radical/transgressive moms (nakhchivan), Friday, 20 May 2016 17:22 (seven years ago) link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3628180/Roy-Hodgson-football-man-course-England-thankful-manager-that.html
― nakhchivan, Tuesday, 7 June 2016 01:21 (seven years ago) link
He has been to the opera but would rather listen to Sixties pop and soul
― the unbearable jimmy smits (jim in glasgow), Tuesday, 7 June 2016 02:47 (seven years ago) link
Translating the piece, the 22-year-old said: “Today is the birthday of my princess.My love I wish you a happy birthday, good health, peace and that God always blesses and protects you.Thanks for everything you do for me, thank you for making me so happy. I feel so loved.It is good at the heart of the people when you have someone to share a great love.Like the breeze of the morning, so you arrived.A perfect optical love, a bridge on a river of pain, in my life a beautiful dream came true.A gift sent by my Lord.Congratulations my great love.”Coutinho and Aine have been married since 2012 and the pair seem very happy.
My love I wish you a happy birthday, good health, peace and that God always blesses and protects you.
Thanks for everything you do for me, thank you for making me so happy. I feel so loved.
It is good at the heart of the people when you have someone to share a great love.
Like the breeze of the morning, so you arrived.
A perfect optical love, a bridge on a river of pain, in my life a beautiful dream came true.
A gift sent by my Lord.
Congratulations my great love.”
Coutinho and Aine have been married since 2012 and the pair seem very happy.
― ogmor, Monday, 13 June 2016 23:02 (seven years ago) link
Kevin McCarra gone missing in Avignon. Worrying.
― The Nickelbackean Ethics (jim in glasgow), Friday, 17 June 2016 18:39 (seven years ago) link