The Multicultural Pitch

by Mohamed Haniff

Sunday, the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, home stadium of the football club Sevilla, witnessed two historic events.  Firstly Athletic Bilbao under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa, who is being vindicated on a weekly basis, won their first game in this stadium for 18 years; and secondly the spectators got to see the first black player to ever suit up for Bilbao, in the form of youngster Jonas Ramalho.  This may seem like a strange fact for those who are not aware of the fact that Athletic Bilbao only select players who are born or raised in the Basque region of Spain or France to play for their team.

Ramalho holds a Spanish passport having been born in Baracaldo, Vizcaya to an Angolan father and a Basque mother, and his case helps to shine a light on the increasingly multicultural look of the football pitch.  A country like Spain who's history is not littered with tales of immigration is now most recently starting to see the byproducts of the immigration wave that countries like France and England have had for quite some time now.  This could prove to be  a turning point in a Spanish game which is often accused of being one of the most culturally backwards in the European leagues.  Incidents of racism in the past have tarnished the name of the Spanish game and the increasing rise of these multicultural players could be a step in the right direction in terms of shedding this image.  The Spanish federation however like many of the footballing organizing bodies in my opinion need to reassess the way in which they punish these vile acts if we are to see true change; but that is a story for another day.

A player like Jonas emerging at Bilbao is also important because as Sid Lowe mentions in his piece this week for Sports Illustrated it helps to dispel the myth that Athletic Bilbao is one of these hardcore racist clubs in Spain attempting to preserve some kind of fervently racist culture.  As the world grows smaller and smaller we are beginning to see nations that we do not historically associate with multicultural values emerge as proponents for the multicultural game.  A fine example of this is the German national team who have been playing some scintillating stuff at the moment, with a team that some ignorant people in the past may have accused of not being innately German.

Players such as Khedira, Ozil and Boateng all consider themselves to be truly German and rightly so, but they certainly represent a new image for the team, reminiscent of the French team of 1998.  The rise of multicultural Spaniards such as Jonas and Thiago will certainly do wonders for the profile of the team which has often been hampered by accusations leveled at a fan base which is perceived to be inherently racist.

I still have vivid memories of the night in the Bernabeu when England visited Spain only to have their black players ambushed by a group of hooligans in the
stands who had found themselves stuck in a world where fascism still reigned supreme.  Some may argue that this incident opened the eyes of the world to some of the more unseemly aspects of Spanish football which players like Eto'o were dealing with on too regular of a basis.  The hope is that not only will the emergence of a player like Jonas help to shed some of this negative imagery but also help to educate the minds of the young fans who can now be exposed to more racially diverse players and not become embroiled in this world of ignorance.

In Barcelona we have the Alcantara brothers who are both highly rated amongst the Barcelona supremos and are both eligible to represent the Spanish national team, with older brother Thiago having already won the European U-21 Championship with Spain over the summer, going on to win his first cap for the senior team.  In the youth levels of Spain we also have the burgeoning striker Rodrigo who recently managed to grab himself  a hattrick against Estonia; a player formed in the Real Madrid cantera, who is also helping to break the stereotype of what a Spanish player looks like.

Some harsh movitation? Just racism.

It must be said that the Spanish national team in modern history has never been a code name for the SS of the Nazi regime; they have in fact had black players represent them.  Most famously Brazilan born Marcos Senna donned the red shirt and played an integral part in guiding the team to a Euro 2008 Championship.  Senna was not the first either, as the Spanish national team has seen players such as Catanha and Donato represent them at that level; however the actions of a few, including former national team coach Luis Aragones who famously told Jose Antonio Reyes that he was better than that “black piece of shit”, in reference to colleague Henry, has certainly tarnished the Spanish name in recent history. 

As has been mentioned previously Spain is a country which is truly inexperienced when it comes to the issue of immigration.  It is something which has only recently become a topic of conversation in the footballing sphere itself; however with the emergence of Spanish players who hail from multicultural backgrounds such as Thiago and Jonas, one can hope that there will be a fostering of these multicultural values amongst the younger generation, thus helping to eliminate some of the racism that many argue still prevails in many stadiums around Spain.  We can only hope that these new Spanish players are able to break some of the stereotypes which outsiders have formed of the climate in Spanish football.

England vs. Spain - How it was won and lost

By Joshua Rogers

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       DON'T MISS

• Progression or Regression - by Mohamed Hanif

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La Furia Roja has been elegantly unleashing their anger on any footballing foe almost foolish enough to think of disrespecting them for the better part of 3 years now.  First they conquered Europe in ’08 and as the world watched on, flamboyantly passed the world to death in 2010 with a brand of football so mesmerising, the great Brazil teams of the past would have substituted Samba for Salsa.  

England, in contrast, have endured a humiliating 3 years in failing to even secure a place at Euro ’08 and, more recently, spanked by the swashbuckling Germans at the World Cup.  The English national side has managed to disgrace a very proud footballing nation and managed to replace the grittiness, determination and spirit that once personified the personality of English football with laziness, carelessness and despondency.  Their dismal record has even lead to the ridiculous questioning of Fabio Capello’s capabilities as a manager. 

With both teams having secured their places at Euro 2012, in yet again, totally contrasting fashions, a friendly between the two should only have one outcome as England hosted Spain at Wembley.  However, Spain have had an uncustomary past few months in losing friendlies to Argentina, Portugal, Italy and by the end of the night, shockingly England, as a Frank Lampard header from close range gave the hosts a 1-0 win and the opportunity to brag the flattering statistic of being unbeaten in 2011.

Vicente del Bosque gave starts to the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and David Villa with a clear intention of engineering a possession-filled away win.  Fabio Capello announced prior to the match that he had no fear for Spain.  If this were to be true, the starting IX he named showed if not fear, then a certainly endearing respect for the world champions in naming a 5 man midfield containing the likes of Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott and Phil Jones with Darren Bent on his lonesome up front (Playing for a draw then Fab?).   

If Capello had sent out his team to simply not lose, then at halftime he was achieving it as Spain had dominated the ball but were yet to register a shot, while Frank Lampard had strangely enough notched up a very optimistic attempt on target for England.  The second half was more eventful with good ol’ Captain Lamps (yes, I am quite hard on the guy) nodding home from a yard as he profited from a good leap and header from Darren Bent.  This proved to be the match-winner as England produced a stellar defensive team display, with a little help from inaccuracy and bad luck on the part of Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and David Villa and a man-of-the-match performance from Scott Parker in defensive midfield.

How England Won It

Fabio Capello named a team with intent to restrict Spain and capitalise on any counter-attack or set piece.  He admitted before the game this England team is not as talented as others of the past and a man as tactically astute as he is was not going to intentionally send out a team at home to be slaughtered.  Therefore, it was no coincidence that the team named contained a lack of flair but made up for it in industry in the likes of Milner, Parker, Jones and Lampard, as well as arguably England’s best finisher, Darren Bent.  The midfield contrived with the defence containing a much improved Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and experience in Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson to negate Spain’s desire to hypnotise England with their movement.  England were very efficient in defending as a team and, with more composure on the part of Jones, could have capitalised on opportunities when they broke down Spanish attacks.  However, they did make the most of a set piece as Milner earned the freekick which he lofted in for Bent to do what Bent does and make the most of a half-chance as he provided a sitter for the skipper.

In a rearguard display, England have no better player than Scott Parker.  Now here is a lad that’s gone from strength to strength and benefitted from being a top class student of the game for years (probably, from single-handedly playing virtually every position for West Ham for 2 seasons).  In my opinion, he deserves any positive achievement that  comes his way.  He proved in this match that he has the legs to chase down the best and England could not have shut out Spain without his timely interceptions, textbook tackling and neat distribution.  England have been provided with a gem from their capital city in this hardworker who epitomises determination and grit and he deserved the MOTM plaudits for this display.

How Spain Lost It

For all the positives England can take away from this match for Spain it was more a question on how they had nothing to show for their efforts.  Surely in a match where Xavi ticked up another A+ Pass Completion Percentage, Xabi Alonso pinged the 60 yarders for fun and Iniesta, Villa and Silva shared passes so intricate, that it could have lead one to believe that God could have been performing a surgical procedure on the field, subsequently ensuring that the Spaniards would head home with inflated egos. The answer to how they lost is simple, in bragging 71% of the possession you have to work the keeper more than 3 times and make the most of the chances you do make.  This may sound as a callous criticism, but possession in your own half is as much good as a sexy nun, and I’ll be harsh as Spain should have, and ought to have won this one.  However, apart from David Villa’s sublime touch and volley which rebounded off the post, Spain fluffed their lines in front of goal and fell victim to a lack of cutting edge and conceding to a set piece.

To analyse Spain’s chances, they had four.  The first of these was when Villa was released by a perfect through ball as his run caught Jagielka out.  However, it would be tactless to call this a chance but more a half-chance as Joe Hart did well to come off his line and not go to ground, sending the striker away from goal at full tilt to attempt and audacious finish from an acute angle.  Secondly, Villa can feel hard done by that he was not rewarded for an awesome display of technique as his volleyed shot rebounded off the woodwork. And England soldiered on.  The third chance fell to Fabregas as he was through on goal and should have tested Hart, but opted to cut it back across the face to allow Parker to make another decent interception.  Finally, Fabregas really ought to have scored their final chance, as he found space with a good advanced run on the break but got his feet into a muddle and scuffed it wide.  On another day he would have easily stuck the ball in the back of the net and pumped his fists like a mad raver on a high dose of ecstasy as he celebrated.  However, on this day he was made to rue the mistake of leaving his better boots in Catalonia.

Verdict

In a match where both teams could take several positives away from their performances, Spain may have more of a concern heading into the Euro’s as holders and favourites.  If they fail to find a cutting edge they may struggle to break down the more organised defences with teams like Germany, Netherlands, France, Portugal and Italy all staking a serious claim for this tournament.  

All this team needs to cap of their unerring class, is that ruthless finisher who continues to be searching high and low to find a vein of goal-scoring form (a certain “el nino” perhaps?) and possibly then they would be more than able take the continent by storm once more.  England, on the other hand, could capitalise on a new “underdog” status and a lowering of expectation on them to win.  Fabio Capello has unearthed some good talent in youth such as Jack Rodwell, Danny Wellbeck and Phil Jones who are all hungry to play for their country.   He has also shown his team that they are capable of shutting out the best, but he also has to teach them to play against the best.  However, with the potential additions of Jack Wilshere and Wayne Rooney, providing he goes to the Euro finals, they have a group that is certainly competent of a conjuring some formidable displays.


We'd like to give a big thanks to Josh Rogers for taking time out of his schedule to write this article for theRYGOchannel, bless up.  Join the discussion, share your views and opinions in the comment section below!

Progression or Regression?

By Mohamed Haniff

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       DON'T MISS

• England vs. Spain - How it was won and lost

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In the wake of Spain's latest slip ups on the international friendly front there have been various sectors of the media lamenting the fact that since the all conquering Euro 2008 win; Spain have slowly been regressing.  It must be said that I have witnessed many a changing of the guard in the Spanish national team having grown up supporting La Furia Roja, but the current state the World Champions find themselves in is a tricky one; do they grow and truly master their art?  Or do they slip into the ever familiar sea of mediocrity. 

Representing the two sides of the coin are two vastly different personalities who setup their Spanish sides in two vastly different ways; the fiery Luis Aragones who often set out his stalwarts in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Senna as the lone holding player and the reserved Vicente Del Bosque who plays with both Alonso and Busquets in the centre of midfield.  Since the “dour” displays many cried out against at the World Cup, there has been in my mind a misguided feeling of nostalgia towards Luis Aragones and his side.  In my opinion the detractors of Don Del Bosque are being quite short sighted and are not analyzing the entire picture on view. 

When we take a look at Aragones' reign at the helm of the Spanish national team there are two distinct differences betweeen the man from Hortaleza and his successor Del Bosque.  Firstly, prior to Euro 2008 Spain were seen as nothing more than darkhorses, a side which France had comfortably dispatched in the round of 16 two years prior and who failed to get out of their group four years prior at Euro 2004.  They had also not won any major honours since Euro 1964, held on home soil and as such there were certainly no expectations for the side heading into the tournament.  This meant that teams were far more open against Aragones' side, more willing to take risks; as a result Spain were able to exploit more space on the field. 

           

Under Del Bosque's reign however teams are far more pragmatic in their approach when facing La Furia.  Even sides with rich footballing history like England set up their teams with two banks of four protecting the goalkeeper, and hope for the breaks on the counterattack. In this way Spain are not only a victim of their own success, but a victim of the success of Barcelona.  In many ways Barcelona's dominance on the continent reflects on the way many teams at the international level view Spain, since the Spanish national team's core consists of a very Barcelona-esque philosophy.  Thus Del Bosque is faced with a completely different challenge, it is up to him figure out a way to break down the organized barriers he will come up against.  This is where much of the criticism towards Del Bosque comes in, he is often cited as being clueless on a tactical level and more gifted at managing egos; this is a criticism he has faced for his entire coaching career.  In my opinion, it is true that Del Bosque is a magician when it comes to managing players and making everyone feel important but is it possible to win a World Cup without any tactical nous?

           

Beyond the surprise factor which Aragones harnessed at the 2008 European Championships, he also had Senna, a midfielder who was maybe not as gifted as Busquets or Alonso, but was more complete.  Senna could not only cover a remarkable amount of ground on the field, but he could also play short or long, and possessed a ferocious shot.  Del Bosque doesn't really have a player like this, and in order to compensate he has chosen to field two such players.  Busquets has that ability to cover a lot of space on the field, while the innate attribute of being able to play short, intricate passes without dwelling on the ball for too long.  Alonso however, brings to the team an unrivaled view of the field, with the ability to play breathtaking long passes, coupled with a hell of a shot as well; and a world class ability to read the game defensively - though he may not be the most mobile or robust. 

           

Spain national coach, Vicente del Bosque

Fielding these two players together has been one of the most critiqued elements of Del Bosque's reign, as many believe this hampers the side attacking ability by forcing them to bench players such as Mata and Fabregas.  What then does Del Bosque do about this?  I will not pretend to be some form of tactical expert and offer up a solution, as it all depends on the subtle stylistic differences Del Bosque may employ.  If he favours to go for a more direct and fast paced team in the final third, then maybe Busquets should be sacrificed, if it’s more patience and possession he is banking on Busquets may be better suited for this game.  The other criticism of fielding both of these players is that it forces Xavi, a player who is most suited when observing the game from deeper positions, to play in an almost “false ten” role ahead of them; thus limiting his impact.  It is an issue which Del Bosque will certainly have noticed against the English , as Xavi is not really a vertical player suited for a “false ten” role; the highly talented footballer that he is, he will always perform well for the most part, but one gets the feeling that it is not utilizing his full strengths nor the full potential in the Spanish team. 

Some have even been calling for Fabregas to replace Xavi as he is a far more vertical and direct player who can open up the play better for the Spanish; but dropping Xavi at this time is an act that is frowned upon more than first degree murder.  This is a tough situation that Del Bosque finds himself in, as there is no easy fix, and it will be interesting to see which direction he goes by the time the Euros kick off; though having known Del Bosque the coach for over a decade I don't see radical change being employed.

Another pressing difference between the two reigns is the form of Fernando Torres; the hero in Vienna on the 29^th of June 2008, a man who will always be one of my heroes because of this goal, is woefully off the pace at the moment.  This means that Spain automatically loses one of their most potent attacking weapons, and it has made their play slightly less direct, as there is very rarely anyone looking to move off the shoulder of the last centreback, with David Villa often shunted out on the left.  What does Del Bosque do in this situation, does he give one of the other strikers a chance or go a different route?  So far he has chosen the latter utilizing David Silva as a false nine in the same way Messi is utilized for Barcelona, as fantastic of a player as Silva is, unfortunately he is not Messi.  In that way Spain often lose a goal scoring reference against the bigger teams, and the biggest challenge for Del Bosque will be finding a way to manufacture the most goal scoring opportunities possible out of a team that is built for possession. 

Having grown up seeing the Spanish fail at almost every hurdle, the last three years have been like a dream for me, something that I must admit I never thought I would ever witness as a supporter of Spanish football.  I had become comfortable with quarterfinal runs, but these memories will never be forgotten, strange as it may seem, as I am in no way of Spanish descent; but this is the reality for a person who grows up in a culture whereby football is not the number one sport; a topic which could surely warrant an entire article of its own.  For now I will just say that in my eyes there hasn't been a regression in the quality of the Spanish team, but I believe that Del Bosque will have to figure out a way in which to bring out the more expansive qualities of Spain. Stretching the field must be the number one priority in order for there to be proper exploitation of space which the Spanish thrive on. 

The fortunate thing for Del Bosque is that he has time and a wealth of options to choose from, now all that is left is to figure out a combination which may not necessarily field the best players in the squad but that will bring the most out of the squad.  I will leave the decision making and headaches to Don Del Bosque and simply sit back and hopefully enjoy what the boys bring, even if they go home empty handed, the supporters can never be robbed of the memories we have been given.

How do you rank the Bavarian Giants?

by Reem

In recent years Bayern Munich has endured a couple of indifferent seasons to say the least. In a league where the overall quality and standards of the game were once questioned, the power of Bayern Munich reigned, and continuously cruised to glory as they displayed some incredible football and absolute dominance in the previous times, swooping the Budesliga in 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08.

Therefore it was bewildering to notice the poor form the Bavarians experienced in the domestic competition, as they even struggled to even qualify for the Champions League at one point. The fact is that this is testament to a growing league with quality sides that can compete against any German powerhouse.  Finally Bayern Munich have a league to fight for.

Slapped back into reality by the relentless pressure thrown on them by other competing teams, Bayern Munich has established usual proceedings in the Bundesliga this season as they continue to thrash their opponents - whether playing at home or away.  It is obviously a bonus to have the assistance of the German goal scoring junkie, Mario Gomez - who has been in immense form for the past two seasons, finishing last term on a respected 28 goals and is currently seated at the top of the goal scoring charts thus far this season, with 13 goals from 12 games, making goal scoring look the most simple of tasks at times.

Bastian Schweinsteiger sheilding Samir Nasri.

Being flanked by two renown wingers in the modern game, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, Mr. Gomez will be in no short supply of chances as these speed-frenzied wing demons annihilate almost any defenses they face and they are absolutely  crucial to Bayern’s attacking exploits. Continuing the trend of world-class talent Bayern have an outstanding enforcer on their books in the name of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who plays the classic box-to-box midfield role.  He is a 90-minute player that contributes comfortably to both sides of the game and is debatably Bayern’s most important player. Bayern Munich should hold their heads high as it is their home grown talent that continues to dictate their games in very casual and levelheaded flow, picking the right pass and making superb footballing decisions.

With these four world-class players Bayern are filled in with decent to great players in all positions with an excellent wing back in Philip Lahm and an upcoming, highly talked about goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, who hopes to repeat the heroics of Bayern’s goalkeeping great Oliver Kahn.

Bayern also has an extremely young football team that still obtains the vital bags of experience since these players have been playing together for several years now. The Bavarian lads are in a great position in terms of their peak form career wise (Robben, Ribery, Lahm, Bastian, Gomez), and the management and directors at Bayern need to fully exploit their form, before the cycle is restarted. The blend of experience and youth is superb and it allows the team to be full of energy to blow teams away yet provide the know-how on taking down difficult opposition when faced with challenging fixtures.

Arjen Robben revels in his glory

Based on their start to the season, Bayern Munich should be considered one of the favourites for the Champions League as they have almost dismantled the so-called "group of death" by schooling each opponent with relative ease. Let it be known the money hungry Manchester City and the great Italian team in Napoli has felt the wrath of the Bavarians attack, especially in front of their incredible home fans at the Allianz Arena.

They play with the flair necessary to be considered favourites, score goals a plenty for the neutral to enjoy and have a certain swagger about their play as of  recently.  Despite the glitz and glamour, they do need to refocus their attention to defensive duties.  This has been the cause of many frailties of late and has always been a downfall for the team in the past 5 years. With a top defensive signing in the January transfer window, Bayern’s chances of a final appearance in this year’s Champions League final can only be enhanced, as they are definitely contenders for this season.

Despite the one or two blips that all football teams eventually encounter, this Bayern side has steam rolled their fixtures and currently have all the ingredients for success. Don’t be surprised if they knock any of the other European giants out of Europe's most prestigious club competition, as this team is here to make a definitive statement, both for Munich as a club, and Germany as a whole. Bayern play defending league champions Borussia Dortmund this weekend and they are expected to put them to the sword.  It has been a recent trend so far this season.

Paul Scholes: 18 Quotes That Define A Legend

Bringing a close to his glittering twenty year Manchester United playing career at the end of the 2010/2011 season; whilst accumulating a total of twenty four club honours, Paul Scholes is now a name nestled within the club's all time greatest players.  His uncanny ability to disperse the most perfectly weighted and inch perfect 60 yard pass to one of his flying wingers, or to simply dismantle an entire defense by his cinch short passes; coupled with his intelligent off the ball movement, supreme touch and lethal shots, it is quite easy to understand why many regarded him as the best midfielder of his generation - including myself.

On September 21, 1994, Paul Scholes made his senior debut for Manchester United in the League Cup against Port Vale, scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory.  He would be handed further opportunity that season by the omnipresent and all wise Sir Alex Ferguson, as he saw the quality that brewed within the ginger hermit.  Rightfully so, Scholes continued to play for another 17 years at the highest level in the United shirt, amassing a total of 676 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, splitting defenses, dictating the pace of nearly every game he was present in and scoring some vital goals along the way.  No wonder he is a footballing legend.

It is not often in this modern generation of football that one player stays true to one club, but Scholes was a Manc, and always will be a Manc.  He will stay in the hearts of many football fans across the globe, not only those situated at the club, and this is because of his simple style of play.  I have never seen a player that made the game look so easy in even the most difficult of conditions.  Scholes would take no more than three touches on the ball, but always seemed to have the ball at his feet.  It was simple logic for him, pass, move and receive - and this rhythm was repeated throughout the game, while creating some enticing attacking plays and distributing the ball like no one else on the field.

He was probably one of the most under-rated players in the history of the game, due to his austere lifestyle and timid personality;  Scholes was never one to seek attention.  He simply did his job to perfection and was content with just that, shunning interviews and praise from pundits.  This is probably why many would over look his name when it comes to listing the all time midfield greats.  But he was the best!

Hailed from across the globe, many footballers within his generation, including Zinedine Zidane and Edgar Davids; before his generation, Sir Bobby Charlton and Arsene Wenger; and after his generation, Xavi and Fabregas all agree.

Trying to write an article on Scholes was exciting, but then I realised how much there was to say, and how little I would be able to.  What better way than to allow the stars of football do the talking?

Here are 18 quotes that summarise and defines his legacy better than any article really could:


1. Alonso

“Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount. To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years.”

2. Berbatov            

“Nobody else in the world can play the way Scholes does. The passes he produces all over the field and the way he changes the game is brilliant. Every manager would like him. But luckily he is here and playing with us. Paul practices that all the time. When he has finished training he always goes out and shoots.”

3. Best                      

“The boy can play”

 
4. Davids                 

“Every one of us is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes”

5. Henry
     
“Every time we used to play against Manchester United, we always used to be scared of Paul   Scholes.  His vision, the way he sees the game, his goal ratio... he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor.”


 6. Fabregas             

“He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League.”

7. Ferguson            

“He’s one of the great players to come through the ranks here.”

8. Figo                      

“I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears.”

9. Guardiola           

“He is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.”

10. Lippi                     

“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team.”

11. Maradonna       

“His technique is unique.”

12. Messi                   

“At La Masia, his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.”

13. Mourinho          

“Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him.”

14. Pele                      

“If he was playing with me, I would score so many more.”

15. Pique                   

“One of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life! Spectacular on training!! Playing with him was a joy!”

16. Viera                    

“The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes”

17. Xavi                      

“In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.”

18. Zidane                 

“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get."

The Enigma of Nuri Sahin

The Enigma by Mohamed Haniff

               

On Sunday the Bernabeu hosted for the first time in its history a match at noon; it was strange to see the Fondo Sur bathed in sunlight, but it was decidedly less intriguing to see Cristiano Ronaldo bag his fourth hat-trick of the campaign; moving his Liga tally for Madrid to an astonishing 79 goals in 75 games.  However, as much as they enjoyed the goals, the Bernabeu faithful were possibly most interested to see the debut of former Bundesliga star Nuri Sahin.  Since the young Turk joined from Borussia Dortmund he has spent an astonishing amount of time in the medical room, making many doubt his existence in the first place. On Sunday November 6^th  Nuri was greeted with a warm ovation from the often skeptical and tough to please Bernabeu crowd; the very same one who had dubbed Gonzalo Higuain as 'shite' nine minutes into his own debut.  What makes Sahin special?

 Sahin does not exactly bring the goals or glamour of a Cristiano Ronaldo but in Madrid many view him as the secret weapon they can use to finally topple the mighty Barcelona.  A quiet bargain at only 10 million euros, since his injury, Sahin has been elevated to a status that may prove to be a bit unreasonable by the time the first Clasico arrives.  He has been wrapped in cotton by the whole staff of Real Madrid, who had him play in a secret match in order to test his fitness; reports emanated from that match which sent the impatient Bernabeu aficionados into a frenzy.  The report leaked by an unknown member of the Madrid coaching staff stated that Sahin had been played in the 'Xabi' role and had completed the game with aplomb; linking up tremendously well with Bernabeu favourite and Nuri's own best friend, Mesut Ozil.

           

The handling of Nuri can only be likened to the treatment of the crème de la crème that celebrities receive, this only serves to enhance the myth.  Throughout the summer there was a feeling amongst the Madrid faithful that it was okay for Barcelona to get Cesc, “we already have Nuri.” What is it though that they expect that he will bring to the team?

Sahin is a tremendously gifted midfielder blessed with all of the traits that many perceived to have been lacking in the Real Madrid midfield last season.  Essentially, Nuri Sahin provides Real Madrid with an alternative exit strategy, something that is becoming increasingly important in modern day football.  What exactly do I mean by exit strategy?

Well, it's something that Barcelona have an abundance of and something Brazil lacked in the last world cup - also something England have been lacking for quite a long time.  Basically it describes the distribution of the ball from the backline through the midfield and up to the forwards.  Barcelona is a squad riddled with ball players and as such, they have more than one person who can spot a pass which will ultimately open up the field for the other players.  In Madrid for a long time Xabi has been the only man capable of doing so, with Ozil stranded further up the field; many times teams have exerted ludicrous amounts of pressure on Xabi, subsequently killing Madrid's exit strategy and as a result stifling their play.  What Sahin brings to the table is another option for Madrid to play the ball to once they have it in the backline.  The shift of Sergio Ramos to centreback also plays very well into this theory, as he is quite capable of spotting a pass.  Adding Sahin to the ranks makes Madrid's play a bit more fluid and a bit more patient, which has often  been the downfall of this squad in the tougher games.  Sure, they have the power to batter teams in a matter of seconds, but do they have the ability to slow things down and look for the right pass when a team is parking the bus? Or to even regain control and dictate the game when a team like Barcelona is overrunning them?

Nuri Sahin is gifted with a rare kind of ability to set the pace of a game; it has often been mooted that Alonso is gifted at setting the direction of the game but not necessarily the pace, which is an entirely different skill-set in itself.  Nuri also has an eye for a killer pass plus the ability to seemingly make the right pass at the right moment in every situation he finds himself in.  He also has the engine to move between both boxes for 90 minutes and is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet, making him a highly mobile player; something which is not one of Xabi's strengths and has been missing from the Madrid midfield for quite some time.  In the Turk, the Los Blancos faithful see a player who can be the perfect foil for Xabi or an ideal replacement when Alonso is given some much needed rest. 

However, Nuri still faces many challenges on his road to Bernabeu glory though he has been lofted to this position of saviour. His early injury was surely unjust as this not only robbed him of the opportunity to properly settle into the squad and the playing style but has given him the unnerving tag of Bernabeu hero.  The one who is going to come in and fix all of the problems in the current squad, more importantly the one that is going to come in and be the final piece of the once scattered puzzle to finally dethrone Barcelona.  Stronger men have come before him and failed in this quest, leaving as a broken shell of their former selves; until recently many would have placed Kaka in this category.  Things may not go as peachy for Sahin as everyone would hope, and a question to ask is whether he would be able to recover if the fickle Bernabeu crowd brand him a waste of money should things unravel poorly, We will see.  His positive and determined attitude during his spell on the sidelines indicates that he is a man of strong character; but the Bernabeu crowd has reduced a grown Drenthe to tears.  For the moment he has the full support of all of his teammates who were congratulating him enthusiastically after the game, also the presence of best friend Ozil and former Bundesliga comrade Khedira, may make the difficult moments easier for young Sahin. 

Another issue which he will have to face is simply breaking into the first team squad, Jose Mourinho generally likes to reward those who perform in his starting eleven and is also noted for erring on the side of caution.  Thus with the team in blistering form, it is unclear whether or not Jose would be willing to change things around now.  When Sahin was initially bought it was believed that the team would be shifting to a 4-3-3 but they have stuck by the 4-2-3-1 formation, even in the SuperCopa when playing the almighty Barcelona; and they have reaped positive results.  So where does Sahin fit in the 4-2-3-1?  He can be a replacement for Xabi, but many want to see the duo paired together; however there is the real possibility that Mourinho may see this as too defensively brittle.

The Portugese tactician has refused to play Granero with Xabi for this very reason, and he is often vindicated with the stability which Sami Khedira brings to the Real Madrid midfield intercepting countless balls.  Will Sahin be able to fulfill these kinds of duties when asked to do so?  In my personal opinion I believe that it is within Sahin to play where Khedira plays but in a different manner. He may not go bundling into players, but his anticipation and reading of the game could serve him well in this role.  However against the tougher sides will this midfield be too weak?

Evidently, they are many questions surrounding the enigma of the grand Turk, but one should think that by the time the first Clasico rolls around in December, we may have a better idea on where Nuri Sahin stands in Jose Mourinho's plans.  It may be that he is saved for a second half push and thus used sparingly until the new year, or he may be thrown into the fray right after the international break in a bid to get him into some kind of form for the first Super Clasico.  At the moment Nuri Sahin remains a mystery within the realm of Spanish football, he has been touted as the saviour, the “crack” Madrid need in the midfield to overcome the Barcelona hurdle.  Will the pressure be too much? Or will he fulfill the promising role that has made the fans fueled with angst and impatience? It really is only a matter of time before we all find out.

Ballon d'Or Madness

We can speak about who the best footballer in the world is, and I am quite positive that most opinions will be strongly based on the undoubted ability of a certain attacking player.  But have we forgotten that this sport is a game with eleven different positions on the pitch? We're all aware of the astonishing offensive statistics both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo possess; subsequently granting them to be the underlying impetus; the ultimate force, throughout world football.  The pair have highly influenced this modern generation of football, taking it to a whole new level of unbelievable feats, goals, and twists and turns.  But does that automatically single them out to be the best players?

Eye on the prize - Messi hopes to reclaim the award

Critics suggest that Messi wouldn’t have been gifted the opportunity to bag a large portion of his goals, or even acquire the space, were it not for the quality of the majestic duo, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.  But when we analyse this star studded Barcelona squad, players that play a less flamboyant role; the guys who execute all the dirty work, are never really granted the same appreciation or praise - while the similar argument can be applied for Real Madrid, as for years their goalkeeper Iker Casillas, has many a time been their best player, saving his teams blushes time and again.  Yet the likelihood of these different types of players in these positions to win the highly revered Ballon d’Or award is bleak.  As far as I am concerned, it's a clear indication of how the game is geared towards the flair and swag of attackers. Even the the persistance and determination of Eric Abidal, stalwart Carles Puyol, gladiator-like Nemanja Vidic and absolute class of Alessandro Nesta cannot even be guaranteed a place in the top three.

Many will recall the 2006 ceremony that saw Fabio Cannavaro - a defender, claim the award, with Gigi Buffon the runner-up.  But that was solely based upon their phenomenal World Cup performances, where they lead their team to the coveted World Cup trophy after a catastrophic scandal that disgraced the sacred name of Italian football, not even the entire playing season. In the end, the award committee still got the decision dead wrong, as if a defender were to win the trophy, Nesta should have been the recipient.  He had a better year statistically and performance-wise for A.C Milan than Cannavaro, despite him missing the World Cup Finals due to an unfortunate injury. So it begs the question of how players should be fairly nominated for the award; do they give it to a player who had be consistently incredible throughout an entire season, but failed to make an appearance on the biggest front, or to the player who shone above the rest on the biggest front?

Goal scoring forwards have usually won the award

Before that, the closest that a goalkeeper ever came to trumping the award was third, in 2001 and 2002, and that was the legendary Oliver Kahn.  By no means am I suggesting that the numerous attacking winners haven't the talent nor provided the performance to win the award, but rationally speaking, what makes them more worthy winners than the defenders and goalkeepers in their respective teams?  Does this then mean that some positions are more favourable in football than others? Perhaps.  FIFA is presuming wrongfully that the knack for scoring goals and being able to dance around the ball makes one footballer more worthy than their defensive, hard-tackling counterpart.


If we analyse the past winners of the renowned Ballon d'Or, before 2006 the last defender to win the award was Matthias Sammer of Borussia Dortmund and Germany a whole decade prior.  We'd have to go a further six years back before we find the next gritty-typed player that acclaimed the award. 

  

This award should be specifically for attacking players if FIFA is going to be skeptical when honouring a player who isn't an offensive minded one.  It highlights what the majority of people who watch football (I dear not call them fans, as true fans of the sport know and appreciate the variety of different types of playing styles that comes with different positions) think of the sport.  Changing the status quo on this award by implementing a much needed even approach to the prize giving is desperately needed.  Awards of this magnitude bear deep sentiment to these world-class athletes, but it also synonymously limits and singles out specific types of players without having a predisposed criteria for fairly judging each and every one in their own aspect.

 

Do not misunderstand the gist of this article, Lionel Messi is the most talented footballer currently playing on the international stage and it's difficult to object that he rightfully deserves the award this time round based on his spectacular performances. However, I do not believe that the there is a fair measurement or assessment of who the best player for the previous year was, as the criteria for making such assessments are usually based on how many goals a player has scored or how much they had bedazzled defenders with their fanciful offensive play, vicariously ignoring the hard work of defenders and goalkeepers alike.

2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist:

Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Dani Alves (Brazil), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay) David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

*Note that they are few defenders despite many solid performances by Vidic, Thiago Silva, Lucio and a few others.

What are your beliefs on the Ballon d'Or?