So, one blog down and I'm keen to ensure this doesn't become one of my usual flash in the pan Idea's that lasts as long as an awkward teenagers first amorous encounter. So I thought it best to get number 2 on here sharpish to gather momentum before the anti climactic shudder kicks in, and Paella 'n' Chips is but a solitary distant memory.
Now when I first ranted about starting a blog (something I usually do for a while before I start doing anything) I categorically stated this would not just be about football, but include anything I felt like talking about, had been thinking about, or indeed fancied repeating. Alas, one football related blog down I find my self once again engulfed in the warmth and security of the loving arms of my Mistress Football once again.
This has been born out of a bit of a frustration of mine, and it stems from the admiration of one of the finest footballers on the planet right now, and arguably, potentially one of the greatest footballers that has graced the game. Mr Lionel Messi stand up and take a bow. Now, I know what you're thinking, where's the frustration? What could I possibly be frustrated about having built the little man up so in my intro??????????
well..............It's as simple as this.........
CHRISTIANO RONALDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I seriously the only one who looks at the adulation that Messi receives and is gobsmacked why Ronaldo isn't mentioned in the same breath stood shoulder to shoulder, well, actually it would be more like elbow to shoulder, but that's by the by. Chistiano Ronaldo has been at the top of his game for a number of years now, he is a phenomenal fre kick taker, superb in the air, has quicker feet than the sexual exploit of the earlier mentioned teenager, has fantastic close control, can score from range and has more tricks up his sleeve than Dynamo.
Now I'm not attempting to discredit the wee man, he is also an amazing dribbler of the ball leaving defenders feeling dazed and confused by his mazey runs, has an incredible goal scoring record and has a great temperament which should be applauded in today's game. That said, is there anything he can do that Ronaldo can't? And more importantly, would he do it to the degree he currently does if you took him out of la liga, and took him away from Iniesta, Xavi, villa etc. Lets not forget that Ronaldo already has, banging in 40+ goals in his final season with Man Utd, and now regularly doing the same for Madrid.
Not to labour the point too much, they are both amazing players, and stand head and shoulders above most you could pitch them against in the modern game. I'm not saying one is better than the other as they are completely different players, different physiques with one commonality, they're both winners. They both would be sorely missed by any team unlucky enough to lose their services, and will both be talked about by analysts for years to come long after they have retired. I'd just like to see more parity when commentators begin to wax lyrical.
They say finish on a quote, well can't think of any but I will leave you the following link, a crude comparison of the abilities of the two. As you'd imagine following suit from what I've been saying, Messi just shades it, but you may find the scores closer than you'd think, and certainly closer than most commentators would have you believe.
http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/players/a/Lionel-Messi-Vs-Cristiano-Ronaldo.htm
My point is this, there doesn't have to be a 'best player in the world', unlike Highlander there can be more than one. They both bring such amazing talent to the table, and for once I'd like to hear punditry that recognised this, instead of it all getting a little too Messi.
I am Spaffmonkey, hear me roar.
Friday 25 November 2011
Friday 18 November 2011
Paella & Chips
And so it begins.........
Having contemplated the art of blogging for a while, enthused by numerous witty and amusing posts by the Magathon, Darth Meerkat and many more, I have decided to unleash my ramblings on an unsuspecting blogging community. This is in no small part due to the fact I have a lot to say about most things, and it has now come to the point where my usual sounding boards have been suckled dry of the milk of human kindness, and are now not even pretending to listen!
I have therefore decided it is better (for both my ego and self esteem) to have a faceless critic ignoring my every word, than it is to stare at those I love knowing they're just waiting for me to finish.
So what to write for my first stab at this, bar mundanely explaining why I'm here in the first place obviously. Well, I may as well begin where I am most comfortable, most passionate, and at times the most ignored (by Lisa anyway)............Football!
Being a Bradford City and England supporter, some may argue that my cross is slightly bigger than most, and I've been dragging this hefty piece of wood around for the best part of 30 years. I've sen the good, the bad, the ugly and the completely f****** hideous, and yet I still watch. The kind of masochism that can only be attributed to sport. That said, there comes a game every once in a while that deserves mention, and dare i say a little cause for hope.
Watching the England Vs Spain game last week was certainly one of those games. The expectation before hand was certain defeat, but if we played our absolute best and Spain rested half of their team we may possibly scrape a draw. Oh yes, Optimism was at a high, the taste of Africa still bitter in our mouths. That said, I saw a side to England that night that I'd not seen in a long while, I saw an England hat didn't want to lose, nay REFUSED to lose!
This was no delight to watch, we did not play Spain off the park nor did we peg them back with new found attacking flair or bullish tactics...............we played like England, but an England of yesteryear. An England that threw bodies in the way, an England that ran until they could run no more, an England that finally showed that magical ingredient that we all remember so fondly from Italia 90 and Euro 96............BALLS!
Now one can not win world cups on Balls alone, but it's a bloody good start and will certainly make the inevitable crashing out at the quarter finals a lot more bearable for the downtrodden England support.........and it's a platform to build upon. We do have to take a slight reality check before getting carried away and remember that Spain rarely turn up for friendlies, but this was certainly no B team we were playing. Spain created chances however, particularly in the last 15, and on a more clinical day would have stuck a few past us. That said, they didn't. We stifled them in midfield not allowing them to cast their wand as they have done so majestically over the last few years, and forced them into playing out of character, and this shocked them
It's obviously far too early to get carried away, We were very sloppy in possession and as expected chased he ball for large parts of the game, and it could be said that had we been limited to 3 subs as per, then fatigue may have undone all we had worked for. But it does raise a very interesting point, and one that will be my parting shot on this matter. Many teams over the last 2 years have studied Spain attempting to emulate them, perhaps in the same way teams and players did with the Brazilians and the Dutch in years gone by, and sadly we have also fallen into that trap. My point is this, clearly there are grass roots issues in English football and these have been highlighted by the continental game. In fact to compete in the future I believe we must look at the basic building blocks of 'the Spanish game', but not copy it in its entirety. There are aspects to be taken from this way of playing, but not at the expense of some of the forgotten aspects of the English game displayed in the performances of Parker and Lescott. It was a strangely promising experience watching last weeks game, and I for one believe there's room for a Little Paella and Chips.
I am Spafmonkey......hear me roar.
Having contemplated the art of blogging for a while, enthused by numerous witty and amusing posts by the Magathon, Darth Meerkat and many more, I have decided to unleash my ramblings on an unsuspecting blogging community. This is in no small part due to the fact I have a lot to say about most things, and it has now come to the point where my usual sounding boards have been suckled dry of the milk of human kindness, and are now not even pretending to listen!
I have therefore decided it is better (for both my ego and self esteem) to have a faceless critic ignoring my every word, than it is to stare at those I love knowing they're just waiting for me to finish.
So what to write for my first stab at this, bar mundanely explaining why I'm here in the first place obviously. Well, I may as well begin where I am most comfortable, most passionate, and at times the most ignored (by Lisa anyway)............Football!
Being a Bradford City and England supporter, some may argue that my cross is slightly bigger than most, and I've been dragging this hefty piece of wood around for the best part of 30 years. I've sen the good, the bad, the ugly and the completely f****** hideous, and yet I still watch. The kind of masochism that can only be attributed to sport. That said, there comes a game every once in a while that deserves mention, and dare i say a little cause for hope.
Watching the England Vs Spain game last week was certainly one of those games. The expectation before hand was certain defeat, but if we played our absolute best and Spain rested half of their team we may possibly scrape a draw. Oh yes, Optimism was at a high, the taste of Africa still bitter in our mouths. That said, I saw a side to England that night that I'd not seen in a long while, I saw an England hat didn't want to lose, nay REFUSED to lose!
This was no delight to watch, we did not play Spain off the park nor did we peg them back with new found attacking flair or bullish tactics...............we played like England, but an England of yesteryear. An England that threw bodies in the way, an England that ran until they could run no more, an England that finally showed that magical ingredient that we all remember so fondly from Italia 90 and Euro 96............BALLS!
Now one can not win world cups on Balls alone, but it's a bloody good start and will certainly make the inevitable crashing out at the quarter finals a lot more bearable for the downtrodden England support.........and it's a platform to build upon. We do have to take a slight reality check before getting carried away and remember that Spain rarely turn up for friendlies, but this was certainly no B team we were playing. Spain created chances however, particularly in the last 15, and on a more clinical day would have stuck a few past us. That said, they didn't. We stifled them in midfield not allowing them to cast their wand as they have done so majestically over the last few years, and forced them into playing out of character, and this shocked them
It's obviously far too early to get carried away, We were very sloppy in possession and as expected chased he ball for large parts of the game, and it could be said that had we been limited to 3 subs as per, then fatigue may have undone all we had worked for. But it does raise a very interesting point, and one that will be my parting shot on this matter. Many teams over the last 2 years have studied Spain attempting to emulate them, perhaps in the same way teams and players did with the Brazilians and the Dutch in years gone by, and sadly we have also fallen into that trap. My point is this, clearly there are grass roots issues in English football and these have been highlighted by the continental game. In fact to compete in the future I believe we must look at the basic building blocks of 'the Spanish game', but not copy it in its entirety. There are aspects to be taken from this way of playing, but not at the expense of some of the forgotten aspects of the English game displayed in the performances of Parker and Lescott. It was a strangely promising experience watching last weeks game, and I for one believe there's room for a Little Paella and Chips.
I am Spafmonkey......hear me roar.
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