If only the lad was world class...
Hi, hope you are all well.
Unfortunately, as I am still on the injured list I was at a bit of a loose end this weekend. Notts County were away at Sutton United and with it being an overnight stay due to the travelling distance involved, I was left at home.
It has not been all doom and gloom for me, however. Firstly, we managed to grind out a victory at Sutton in the FA cup first round and secondly, I was lucky enough to witness top class football at its very best.
The game I am referring to, of course, is Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Manchester United at The Emirates. I have no allegiance to either side but I was completely in awe of the ability on display.
If ever there was a game to advertise the merits of the Premier League this was it - two teams crammed full of technical ability basically just going at each other. When watching and enjoying games like this it is easy to overlook the attributes of the players on display especially when we see them making the same things look easy week after week.
As a player plying his trade in the lower leagues I have nothing but admiration for them. Some people might think that those of us at a lower level would be jealous about these top players, but for me and a lot of players who I have spoken to, this is simply not true.
The fact is that these players are the complete package. They are fast, strong, technically gifted and 'game' intelligent. Players who maybe have only one or two of these attributes invariably don't make it to the top level or, like me, don't stay there very long.
I have lost count of the number of times I have heard one player say about another 'if he had pace he would be in the Premier League' or 'If his touch was better he would be in the Premier League'.
I am sure we can all mention some players like this - let me know if you can think of any.
What a lot of people tend to forgot is the work that the elite players put in to their game.
Take Frank Lampard for example. At West Ham he was classed as a good player but now he is 'world class'. How did he achieve this? There has been no secret formula, just hard work.
I know from experience the hours needed to improve aspects of your game or even maintain the attributes that you already have, and to improve to the extent Frank Lampard has is a wonderful achievement.
As someone who one day might like to go into the coaching side of the game, I have started to look at games in a slightly different manner.
The tactical side in particular is an aspect I have been paying a lot of attention to and the game at the Emirates provided plenty of food for thought.
What is becoming clear to me is that the rigid formations of 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 etc, are quickly becoming a thing of the past, especially at the top level. For instance, Manchester United tend to play with a back four, a midfield two and the rest of the attacking four are given license to go and do their own thing, constantly interchanging, playing in "holes" which make them hard to pick up .
It might sound simple but you can only do this if the players in question have an attribute which I mentioned earlier - game intelligence. They are trusted by the manager that they can make the right decisions - ones that will ultimately hurt the opposition.
My rehabilitation from the hamstring injury is coming on well. My puny little hamstrings have never been subjected to so much strengthening work but I am sure it will be well worth it in the end.
I am pestering the physio about bringing forward the date when I can re-join training but, quite sensibly I suppose, he is remaining cautious, especially - as he keeps reminding me - that he is the one who has studied physiotherapy for years, not me!
Hello, I'm Gavin Strachan. I describe myself as a "journeyman" player after 13 years in the game as a professional. I'm currently between clubs, having been released by Notts County. I'm also studying journalism and the aim of my blog is to provide an insight into the life of a footballer.
Here are some 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~48~RS~)
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Another good read, Gavin. Keep it up.
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Yes, I agree, good blog. My only comment is that I was enjoying the bit about tactics but then it stopped. Maybe you can develop it further another day?
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George Boyd.
Gavin you must have trained/played with him for a short time.
The lad is a genius
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Not such a great blog Gavin, and I have thoroughly enjoyed some of your earlier work.
Didn't really see the point of this. If you were going to compare tactics required at lower league level against that of the elite teams, then I could have understood, otherwise this is just you saying "weren't Arsenal and Man Utd great?".
I hope you take that as positive, I've really enjoyed your other blogs.
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I asked a while back whether you wanted to go into management and you just answered my question.which would you find better if you could turn back time being a great manager or a great player because nowadays the player has less years in the bag unlike a manager but its always great being the one kicking the winning goal of a cup final into the back of the net.its a question i find tough.
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post 2 and 4 . fair points and i will certainly take them on board . As i have said before all advice is greatly appreciated.
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One player who I think is an incredibly technically gifted but has never quite lived up to his true potential is Jason Koumas. If he had the same work ethic and desire to improve as Lampard did he would, in my opinion, be playing in a top four team.
Great blog, very good reading.
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post 5 . I have to go for the great player option . To be able to play in some of the arenas these guys play in and like you say possibly score a goal in a cup final wins every day.
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post 7 . I agree with you . I played against Koumas a few years ago when he was at West Brom and I was at Hartlepool and he was brilliant . I could not get near him but I suppose that doesnt say much!.
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Hi Gavin. I thoroughly enjoy this blog - as do most readers on here.
I play defensive midfield for my team (i try to play the Makelele type role), and the one thing that let's me down sometimes is my composure on the ball. Do you think attributes such this can be learned in the way that technical skills, such as ball control, can be learned?
I'm a Man U fan and am constantly amazed at how much space Scholes finds for himself, and how he can always find the right pass (like he is the the equivalent of an NFL quarterback).
Keep up the good work.
Fil
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Great post Gavin, can you tell me one of those players you played with who "never made it" as such i.e. Premiership.... Who you thought should of gone further?
Someone mentioned George Boyd - i'm a macclesfield town fan and we had a player called Chris Byrne and he was an amazing player who single handedly got us promoted to the Football League but hung around with the wrong people after some big moves and he never got to show his true promise.
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Post 11 . i played with Adam Boyd at Hartlepool . An unbelievably talented player who is now at Leyton Orient . There is no doubt with that ability Adam could have played at a higher level but as i said in the blog nowadays you need to be more than just talented to play in th premier league.
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Post 12 . Scholes is a great example of making the difficult things look easy . These attributes such as making space can be learned and if composure on the ball is not your greatest strength then making space to give you that extra bit of time on the ball coud help you.
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Excellent blog Gavin, I completely disagree with Post 4 - yes, you were saying 'weren't Arsenal and United great', and then you went onto explain why. Perfectly logical article.
As a United fan I actually felt we made a mistake in our approach, exciting as the game was. We took Arsenal on at their own game, and turned it into a 50/50 game, which we then lost through poor finishing. I would have preferred a more attritional game wherein we could have sat back and hit them on the counter, rather than taking the game to them and leaving ourselves vulnerable (i.e. we should have adopted the style we did vs Barcelona in the 2nd leg of the CL semi-final last April). Was a good advert for the PL though, I agree, and proves English football is neck and neck with the Spanish game as the best in the world.
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Looking closer to home ... what chance do you think Lewis McGugan has of making it to the top level? Seems to me he might lack a bit of pace?
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That was a great read Gavin keep up the good work.
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Hi Gavin,
Can i ask how do lower league players perceive the premier league? Obviously there is a nice mix of players who have been there, others hoping to reach it and most never having a shot.
Do you talk about it as we do in Sunday league football? Chatting about your favourite teams and star players as though it's a world away from your own?
Or do you see yourselves in a similar position to your premier league counterparts? A part of the same trade just a level or so below?
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Going on suggestions of what if, the player who didnt have the pace but in mind everyhting else he did was cute was Darren Currie (now at Luton). His free kicks and dead ball play were Beckhamesque, but he had no pace (maybe reverse) and unfortunately seemed to outwit himself - another one who i cant belive didnt make it was Ricky Otto, not sure what his missing "bit" was.
Really enjoy your blogs and being a Wycombe fan its nice to see someone giving League 2 a worthwhile mention.
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17.I cant speak for everyone but the general feeling is like it is another world and like you said we do chat about them and compare how our dream teams are getting on!
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Alright Gavin. Jermaine Beckford of Leeds United is one player who I think falls into your category of being just not quite good enough. He has the finishing, pace and movement of a centre forward who belongs to a lot higher level of football, but just can't find the consistency, composure and first touch to really take him there. Again good read and hope you recover soon.
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@18
I remember Ricky Otto. He played for us at Notts on loan. He definately seemed better than Division 3 standard, but he broke his leg I think it was and returned to his parent club.
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Heya Gavin. One of your Irish fans here. I'm really enjoying your blog. One of the main reasons I enjoy it is written from the perspective of the ordinary footballer. It reminds me of some of my favourite football books. Have you read "Left Foot Forward" or "Left Foot in the Grave" by Garry Nelson? Also a must read of this genre (if such a genre exists) is a book by an Irish journalist Eamon Dunphy called "Only a Game?: Diary of a Professional Footballer". A classic.
By the way Ricky Otto never made it because he had spell in prison for armed robbery. No big club was going to touch him after that.
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I LOVE YOU
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Gavin, great blog.
There's loads of players I've seen or even played with that on their day were amazing, but lacked the consistency to perform at that level regularly.
I remember Craig Ramage at Derby and Watford in the early to mid 90's. A world beater on his day, but inconsistent.
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Great read Gavin! Throughly enjoyed it.
I'm always annoyed when people whinge about the wages Premiership footballers are on. Those players are at the absolute peak of their profession and, while they have tremendous natural talent, they didn't get to the top accidently!
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There have been a few players that have not done as well as the trained eye would predict. Whenever I watch my best of "Matt Le Tissier" video, I am amazed he didnt manage even 10 caps for England. The guy was genius. His goal against Newcastle lobbing it over two players and side-footing it past Shay Given is in my top 3 of all time.
Lee Trundle too, no pace but great skill. Legend at the Liberty Stadium.
Peter Ndlovu from Coventry was special but always injured.
Lee Bowyer looked good for Leeds and at the same time, Michael Bridges looked a consistent England International.
Good blog Gav, keep it up. I do have questions, its about managers as prime examples would be Redknapp or Kinnear at the moment. Do new managers really make that much difference? Are they totally different? How much say do they actually have in how you perform? Do you have a favourite you have played under?
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I reckon Zinedine Zidane might have made it had he possessed pace.
Pace is, without doubt, an important attribute, but even the great Zizou was knocked back from Marseille for lacking blistering speed, considered as the most vital property at the time. It always amuses me when fitba fans whinge that a player has no pace, conveniently ignoring any other attribute that they bring to the game. I'm far more comfortable watching a match featuring players of great skill and technique (Zidane) than twenty-two headless sprinters (in the mould of Filippo 'Offside' Inzaghi). Therein lies the true beauty of the game itself.
I recall that Birmingham City fans used to malign their midfielder, Ricky 'The Statue' Otto; I think that perfectly describes why he never made it to the top - perhaps even more critical a fault it was than any criminal convictions he may have also had.
Great blog Gavin - always enjoy reading your thoughts, better demonstrating as they do the perspective of the fan than the self-appointed deities of the top flight.
Your Dad was my favourite player growing up, and has grown into a manager of repute and accomplishment. He was, however, far more amusing before he wandered into the humourless honey-trap of the Old Firm. I hope he is able to gain parole soon and becomes genuinely funny once more.
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Hi Gavin...
Hope you are well and in route of recovering from your injury...
Like you already said, the formula of achieving and mantaining good performance is hard work, and i think you are putting good effort in your writting skills. So this blog is getting better.
One just need to see posts like "The pressures of youth football" and see the amount of people who are interested. Congratulations and keep the good work!!!.
I want to ask, even if seems cliche: those who wanted to be playing top class football also need good contacts and people behind him???
Saludos!!!...
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i think robert earnshaw and freddy eastwood fall into that category players that are amazin in the championship (especially earnshaw). Good to hear you are thinkin about coaching side you could be a celtic boss in a few years :P
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The success of a blog can probably be judged by the dialogue it creates and the new or original thinking it suggests and provokes. I think you succeed at both levels with all your blogs.
Athleticism is more and more important in football and the days seem to have gone when a manager was prepared for his team to carry one or two so called lazy players in the hope that they could conjure a win out of thin air. Another contributor said that Matt Le Tissier should have got more caps, and I agree. Matt was exceptionally talented but never, to my knowledge, attracted serious or worthwhile bids from the bigger clubs. His undoubted talent was unfortunately overlooked because some observers regarded him as not the kind of player to give 100%. However Matt wasn't stupid and didn't chase balls he couldn't get just to impress cynical watchers. Instead he would conserve his energy and perform just as well in the 90th minute as the first. Even Glen Hoddle, a huge Le Tissier admirer, didn't pick him for England enough.
Your dad Gordon was an extremely fit and athletic player, for a short man. As you know, he continued to play top class football for ten seasons after Alex Ferguson deemed him too old at Manchester United and sold him to Leeds.
When it comes to tactics, little can be done to mark huge talents out of a game - unless the defender is Bobby Moore quality. Do you think continental teams are abandoning their traditional man to man marking for the more practical and effective zonal marking? Which defensive method works best in what situation do you think?
Finally I would like to say how pleased I was that County knocked out Sutton last Saturday and that I hope your injury continues to progress and you can get back to playing in the not too distant future.
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Great blog and a great discovery for an EPL newcomer! Your remarks and the ensuing exchange from your readers are educational for a Yank newly on fire with a love for the English game.
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Welcome cincyusa - a new friend and contributor. I have to say that the BBC sport website is invaluable and worth the licence fee alone. I am sure you will enjoy lots of good football and football chat. Although the Premier league does have the best teams, the Championship, one league below, has 24 more very good football teams. Most also have a 100+ year history. Gavin's current team was a founder member of the league in the mid 1880's I think.
So get stuck in and enjoy. You've got the FA Cup to come over the next six months too. But please remember it's football (not soccer) that we're talking about.
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One player who has successfully made the transition from " good championship player " to very good premier league player through sheer hard work is Everton's Tim Cahill . As a goal scoring midfielder , there's only Lampard and Gerrard who can better him , the added bonus is David Moyes only paid £1.5m for him .
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I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the blog, though it did end rather abruptly. It is the first time I have read this blog but I have to say that it is leagues ahead of Chick Young’s weekly drivel. So, you may be playing in the lower leagues of English football but you still outclass the chosen BBC journalist of the Scottish Premier League. I will, from now on, dedicate my hours skiving off work to reading decent blogs which produce interesting comments rather than continue to read parochial, mindless nonsense from other supposedly professional writers(?). Thank you Gavin Strachan for reassuring me that the BBC hasn’t completely lost its way in providing informative and entertaining opinions to be read and shared. Finally, all the best with the recovery and hope your back on the pitch soon.
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29. At 00:47am on 11 Nov 2008, McEwanwhosarmy wrote:
i think robert earnshaw and freddy eastwood fall into that category players that are amazin in the championship (especially earnshaw).
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I was gonna say Earnshaw. Definately didn't live up to his massive potential in the prem.
Personally I don't think he had the right players behind him, and his confidence just got worse and worse.
James Beattie should have excelled in the prem aswell but never did.
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Gavin, good blog mate!
Was an amazing game to watch and showed the world how football should be played. I hope now that people can get past their criticism of Wenger and the 'Arsenal Way' and just learn to love the beautiful game.
Unfortunately, not every team will come to Arsenal and try and play football. I don't say that as a poke at other teams, most realise that, if they do, they will be demolished. However, when we are lucky enough to see two teams go at it like these two did on Saturday, good news!
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As a Pro Footballer, can you please tell me why there seems to be very few Left sided players? I only ask because i have started playing with a team, and i'm the only one who is happy to play left wing?
Is this a just a hard position to play, or is it just people's attitude that makes this hard to find
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Hi Gavin - thanks for a good read.
You raised a lot of valid points - the "game inteligence" is an aspect I find particularly interesting - it does seem to be something that some players have or haven't got. If a player possesses it, a good manager can nurture this quality, and that player can then go on to be a great player. To be able to read a game and then do what is required on the pitch can turn zero or 1 point into 3.
Keep up the good work and keep recovering.
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Hi Gavin, I hope you will ignore post 4. You might have heard from the other BBC bloggers how some readers just can't wait to criticise - you've had a great response in general so far, but I fear the whingers will eventually find their voice. When they do, just ignore them!
Great blog anyway, I thought this was the best one yet. I got me wondering whether you look back at your playing career and regret making any decisions or not working hard enough on a particular attribute like those you mentioned? Do you ever think you could/should have played Premier League football for longer?
You also replied to somebody that you'd rather be a successful player than manager, but do you think the likes of Fergie and Wenger see it that way?
Finally, I remember seeing Jason Roberts as a 21year old playing for Bristol Rovers against Stoke - wow he was unbelieveable, his sheer strength on the ball, blistering pace and eye for goal - he was so direct and everytime he had the ball the Stoke defence were practically in disarray. I thought then that this guy will be a top, top player by the time he was 23, and whereas he did get his move to WBA initially, he was known there for his laziness. He's now at Blackburn of course but I feel he could have done so much more at a Spurs or even Liverpool.
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Gavin,
I don't know how much you may have seen of Aaron Ramsey, but I believe that he already, at the age of 17, possesses all of the attributes to become a world class player.
He always seems to have time on the ball, has a great range of passing, can score some nice goals, likes to get stuck in and is a very versatile player (although I believe that centre mid is his best position).
It amazes me that someone of this age should have such a natural ability, and surely the guidance and education he will receive from Arsene Wenger and Arsenal will only make him even better.
Have you seen him play? If so, what do you think?
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Hi Gavin,
Another excellent blog. I allways look forward to your writing and once again you havent failed to deliver an interesting piece.
I agree the game was very good, even from a United fan like myself, there were many positives to take from the game, number 1 being Rafael Da Silva's performance. He is one of the most promising young players i have seen for years. I can easily see him being the long term replacement for Neville, with Brown being back-up.
What are your views on the new United youngster?
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I have one.
Liam Ridgewell, if he could head, kick or generally defend we would be in the Premier League.
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Hi Gav,
Great blog I look forward to reading it every week. I have been on the bbc website for some time and I have always read the player blogs, Kevin Nolan's and Micah Richards.
Nolan's was pretty good he gave a really good insite as to what a prem player's normal week is like and he sounded really down to earth. Richards was terrible all he would talk about is himself.
Your blog is so refreshing and I really think you have a knack for it. Keep it going mate and I hope you get back to playing soon. I play football for a pub team (we lose every week) and recently had my acl reconstructed so i'm counting down the time before i can play again!
all the best
Lyndon
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David Nugent seems to be one of those players who's not quite Premier League standard. Maybe the move to Portsmouth has hampered his progression.
Blog was good read Gavin. I'll be looking out for further ones.
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Gavin I am a journalism graduate, and I am trying hard to get into sports journalism. How did you get the bbc blog job? Is there any advice you could give me to help me in my quest perhaps?
chris
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Hey Gavin
Registered just to post on your blog. Have been following this since you started, and is one of the first things I look out for early in the week (not the first to say that, eh). Top stuff, well written. Long may it continue.
My favourite so far - no question. Anyway…
Finally! Someone else spotting the way Man Utd are shaping up nowadays! THANK YOU! I’ve been banging on to anyone who’ll listen “look, can you see it: 4-2-3-1 (my take on it, effectively 4-2-4 going forward, as you say)!” Liverpool seem to be going this way too, as are others, although more defined and rigid than ours (am a Utd fan).
I fully believe SAF will eventually fit Tevez in with Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov making up that front four, with Rooney in the middle. Tevez has to be patient (bless him); this needs time, form and match practice against the right teams to make it click and develop for it to be used often. Don’t think SAF has had the opportunities he’d have liked so far to implement it with the desired personnel, although there are many, many options.
It will be devastating when he pulls it off with those four. I fear for the team that faces it properly first, but I’m licking my lips at the prospect. It will work best for us for this reason: flooding forward with blistering pace, we interchange like no other team (al la last season – I saw this coming, Berba is the missing link). Any of those four can take up any position at any time, incl Berba. Equally, they can slip back into a 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 or even 4-5-1 when necessary.
The new 4-3-3. Awesome.
Apologies for the length :)
Tom
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...On the game itself
It was a weird feeling as a United fan coming away as losers from this fixture; usually it's simple - complain blindly and in vain to the telly and your mates/missus/anyone in ear shot (whilst simultaneously shouting at the screen telling 'pundit' Jamie Redknapp to stfu and stop being so biased... oh wait, that's against Chelsea), have a massive sulk and get even more drunk.
However, in this one - even though you know you've been soundly beaten in a crucial game against your fiercest rivals of recent times that you really do dislike intensely - I came away significantly less miserable. We had a proper go, they had a proper go. Solidly for 90 mins! No tight, tense draw. Trully amazing stuff. No complaints. We just didn't take our chances, and if you don't do that...
If I wasn't so biased, I'd have enjoyed the second half a lot more.
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If Lee Trundle a few years back had more consistency and pace i think he would of made it in the premierleague, still would be interesting to see how he does as players like Marlon King and Ricardo Fuller have proved me wrong this season and have shown they can play at the top level.
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#29 Being an ex Southend FC season ticket holder, I can understand you mentioning Freddie Eastwood, great footballer, but lacks any real intelligence. Additionally, when did you last hear of a premiership footballer living in a mobile home, and trotting up the A127 with his pony and cart??
Anyway, a gunner fan all my life and thoroughly enjoyed the game at the weekend, was only disappointed not to have more ammo to fire at ManU fans afterwords.
Gavin, great blog and interesting insight into the lower leagues and the mindset in the dressing room, I've often wondered if premiership players have dream teams ...
Best wishes for your speedy recovery.
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----Hargreaves/Carrick---Anderson/Scholes--
----Ronaldo-------------------------------Tevez----
-----------------------Rooney------------------------
----------------------Berbatov-----------------------
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Nice article once again, Gavin.
Really liked how you described the viewpoints of your league-collegues towards PL-players; i'm sure there's another article in there...
Wouldn't put all my money on coaching after you've finished Gavin, Lawro and Hansen are getting so old and so boring now, surely the beeb could do with a solid new pundit. Fancy your chances!?
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#48
Trundle has been great for Bristol City since joining, and scored some crucial goals during the promotion attempt last season. But unless Bristol City get promoted, you wont see Trundle in the top flight, hes in his 30's now im sure of it. Then again with city having more than a few striking options at the moment, he might move for more first team football, though i cant see it being a Premiership team.
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Good to hear the views of Gavin, whoever you are!
I think the key components at the top of the game are fitness, fitness, fitness. I bet there's a great many amateur footballers who could hold their own in the Premiership for 5 minutes before they collapsed in utter exhaustion. Before that, their lack of fitness and subsequent tiredness would have led to their first touch being poor, inability to concentrate and thus losing posession when under no pressure and just about everything else that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong when you're knackered.
I take onboard Gavin's point about game intelligence to a certain degree, but these players are trained full time to play in a certain position, there's not much more intelligence needed to perform in some areas. But yes, some players like Fabregas, Scholes, Alonso, Ronaldo, Rooney, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kuyt, Anderson, Ballack etc can manage themselves on the pitch to a certain degree. They look around and fill in gaps when on the defensive, and they are also aware of how to make space for others when on the attack, and which spaces to exploit. Your cloggers like Carragher, Terry, Vidic etc and many strikers don't have that awareness of teamplay, they play to deal with situations directly relevant to them.
It's also very different when a player says " I can play in the Premierleague" compared with actually playing for one of United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham. Some very average players have made a career out of playing regular Premiership football for lesser clubs.
For every Torres there's a Mamady Sidibe.
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Someone who manages to ply their trade in the Premier League but should be so much better - Titus Bramble. Big, strong, can crunch tackles with the best of them and pass a ball 50-60 yards in to feet, but just can't seem to put it together and every mistake he makes seems to lead to a goal. Seems to lack the concentration required but must have some mental strength to keep coming back from all the derision he gets!
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Thefootyoracle - I think that's a very simplistic argument, fitness is important but by no means can you possibly say "fitness, fitness, fitness" as the key to being Premiership. I know people who are seriously fit athletes but wouldn't handle themselves in League 1 let along the Prem, because they don't have the other skills necessary.
Also, just because the likes of Carragher and Vidic aren't 'pretty' players does not for one second mean they have less 'game intelligence'. Both of these players are fantastic at reading the game and being in position ready to stop danger - which they've seen before it happens. Often this is against faster forward players, and so they have to use their brain to get there first. If you think some positions require little thinking, you really have little idea of Premiership football.
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Markadoi,
You have far too high an opinion of footballers in general. Just how many registered professional footballers are there in this country? Wow, what a unique talent these people must have!
No, it's luck, physique and ability that separates amateurs from professionals.
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#53 #55
Both make valid points but markaoi is spot on. Fitness is just one key attribute, but not the main one. Ive seen games where players are so exhausted yet still manage to dig deep and produce absolute magic (Steven Gerrard, Liverpool vs West Ham FA Cup Final for example). Game intelligence is one of the biggest attributes required, being able to read the game, know what space to slot into, know where your teammates are making runs to, what gaps might be about to open up and where the ball will drop. A player that has a fantastic game intelligence dosent even need to use as much energy to get results. Look at scholes and alonso, they are pretty slow movers, but 2 of the best readers of the game the EPL has to offer
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Gavin,
Just joined up, and really wanted to say it has been thoroughly entertaining to read your blogs so far.
It is good to see a different perspective on the professional footballers life, especially away from the glamour of the big clubs, nd the vast sums of money that most of us cant relate to.
In response to the views on players who we thought could have been good enough for the premier league, I have to say I was dissapointed you didnt progress further.
As a Coventry fan, I enjoyed watching some of your first performances and thought you looked a cultured intelligent player. I seem to remember you being keen to play in a 'Mcallister' style.
I was sad you didnt go further with Coventry, and dont think you had the best of luck with injuries, which perhaps knocked your confidence.
I can honestly say you are a lot better than some of the dross I have seen in a Sky Blue shirt since relegation!
Nest of luck with the return from injury
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BCChris,
Steve Gerrard WAS knackered at the time, but was still fit enough (both naturally and through training) to concentrate on the hit and to execute it.
Why is it that managers bring on 'fresh legs' towards the end of games? Because if you run at tired players then mistakes can, and do, happen.
Look at games in the FA Cup or Carling Cup, why is it that lesser teams can overturn bigger teams in one-off games? It's relative to the effort they put in mostly, lesser players may try harder than their more talented peers and force mistakes.
However, teams like United and Liverpool still maintain a professional approach and may struggle to break down a lesser team for 60 minutes but their superior fitness is the difference towards the end of the game, but only if the Premiership side has matched the lesser side up until then.
I'm not taking anything away from the Ronaldo's, Ronaldinho's and other technically brilliant players out there, they are a cut above everyone else through natural ability.
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mate excellent blog once again when is your moment gonna come on motd or football focus? also i really appreciate the time you spend in answering questions to your blog shows a great deal of courtesy to those who have read your blog
couple of questions 1) Firstly Do you think the way football is financed is going to change? many clubs especially below the premiership seem to struggle financially unless they get a backer which isn't sustainable and many of these clubs produce great players for which they don't receive the real money for. the point i am making is if these clubs were to go out of business the football pyramid could fall apart i personally believe the fa and premier league should redistribute some of this tv cash down the leagues
2) Do you reckon your old man will come back to the premiership he is a big character i think he derserves a chance at a top 6 club?
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Fitness is important at what ever level you play the game and if you are not fit enough then you are soon found out.
Pace is totaly different because it is not always esential to your game. Cantona for example had no pace but because of all his other skills it didn't matter.
It is when your missing a few other skills when your 'pace' is questioned. In truth even if your pace was better you would still not be good enough.
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"Gavin's current team was a founder member of the league in the mid 1880's I think."
1862, thankyouverymuch! :)
Another good read, Gavin - hope you're back to full fitness soon, and that the current stutter can be put behind us.
What's your favourite (and if you're allowed, least favourite) aspect of Notts so far?
You pies!
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Thefootyoracle - that's your opinion and so that's fine....however, as you say: how many professional footballers are there registered in this country? Why not tell me how many of these ever play premiership football? Of those, how many stay there? You seem to think I am glorifying the talent of these people, however I think that you are failing to appreciate just how good these people are at their jobs. You have missed the point that Gavin was making about these players, and I think he more than any of the people contributing here knows just how good the top players are. Fitness is essential, but I think you could find fit players all through the leagues. However, as you progress up the leagues it takes a hell of a lot more than that to be a half-decent player. I'm sure Michael Phelps could run around for 10 times as long as Steven Gerrard, but could he play Premiership football? No, because he does not have the skill. Fitness is almost a bonus on top of skill and/or hard work - it enables you to show that skill and to work as hard as you want. It is important but there's far more to Ronaldo's game than fitness. And look at Berbatov! Does he need fitness to run 2k in 90mins?! Yet he's world-class.
Have you ever played football with a non-league player? I can tell you they are far, far, far better than the average player yet they can't even get into a league team. My friend John captained Chasetown on their FA Cup run, whilst his bro Mark was player of the round in round 1 last year and scored a 40yard freekick at Port Vale. When I play with them, they are fitter but crucially they have more skill than me. Yet they can't even get into Leauge 2, the conference even! Imagine just how good a poor Premiership player would have to be?? Far better than you give the likes of Manade Sidebe credit for.
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Game intelligence as you put it Gavin is important in top level football. But Frank Lampard doesn't have it, for years he had the one man 'game intelligence' of Makelele behind him. His goalscoring effectiveness can be traced to Makelele's signing almost exactly. Whilst we as England had Sven the one man non 'game intelligence' trying to play four centrally minded attacking midfielders together. It's a real shame Lamps didn't go to Italy to learn how to play a responsible midfield role. The prem doesn't breed game intelligence for home grown players.
A lot of success in football comes down to luck. Lampard was at Chelsea at the right time to bed in. If he'd have signed in 2003/4 when they'd had money and played with his first two seasons' at Chelsea form, he'd have been sold very quickly. No doubt he had the talent to have a very good prem career wherever but he'd never have had been back in a top four side. He certainly has plenty of character.
As for someone saying about zonal marking, didn't Saachi revolutionise the 4-4-2 with this as it's basis? The difference being that Milan could play an incredibly hard working narrow team week in week out to grind teams down. But when needed a Gullit had magic and more space in Europe against lesser defences , or after that era a Savicevic could come into the side with a little bit more freedom in Europe.
The modern United team work in the model of the great French team of 98, just with a more potent strike unit. None of them are classical center forwards, all of them want to work in inside channels. Only Ronaldo can operate as a wide midfielder. When it works, especially with Berbatov, I don't think I've seen anything as great in English football. But for me this style of play needs exceptionally strong anchors in midfield, as Vierra and Deschamps did for France '98. Without Hargreaves I think Man U will struggle against the best Italian teams. 'game intelligence' is nothing unless the right blend of personnel is out there.
Quite often it is a case of luck and managers perception whether a player is perceived to have 'it' at the top echelons. Adam Boyd joined Luton at the wrong time, and was then perceived to not be a champ player; personally I don't think he is but the perception is now there without ever really having a chance to disprove it. I think what is unfortunate in the modern game is that there are countless Champ players who are better than the foreign dross in the prem but are never perceived to have 'it'. Lord knows the rubbish I've seen at Charlton like El Kakouri, Traore, and Faye. Fine atheletes but ridiculously rubbish footballers. But they're given chance after chance whilst we had Michael Turner winning rave reviews in the reserves. The list of quality footballers who never got a proper look in in recent times is endless. Perception, unfortunately most UK managers have very little of it.
What would interest me Gavin is an article on how much mental strength it's needed to reach the top, and by that I just mean pro football. How quickly a player can change his views on what level he can play at. For some lucky few it rarely concerns them. Some players take an active decision and choose to stay in lower divisions as they don't feel good enough to compete higher up, like Andy Thomson for Gillingham and the Wycombe forward who bangs goals in. Whilst Eastood is just coming to the realisation that his self-belief won't take him higher. It'd be fascinating to have an insiders view on this.
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Thank you Gavin.
Not only do I enjoy reading your blogs but I admire the fact that you take time to respond to contributors' comments. Nice touch.
As to the contributor who said that your father was funnier before he went to the Old Firm, that may or may not be the case, but can you confirm that it was indeed Gordon Strachan who responded to an interviewer's request for 'a quick word' with the priceless response 'Velocity'?
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Great blog.
I am a season ticket holder at Arsenal and was lucky enough to see the arsenal v utd game on saturday. On sunday I watched Team bath v forest grenn rovers in the FAC.
Both great games for different reasons, total state of the art stadium v grass roots stadium. same sport but miles apart in every aspect.
However FGr lost a striker Stuart fleetwood to charlton this season and I will be interested as to whether you think players can genuinally make such an upgrade or whether they really need top go in smaller steps.
Also with the scouting being so good now will a youngster totally miss out lower league football and go straight to the academy or is there still a chance that players could move from conference up the ladder ?
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Gavin, your blog is great, a refreshing insigh into the heart and sould of english football! and its good to see MOST of you lot havent embarassed yourselves by letting this thread deteriorate into a quarrel about whos a better player or club. also im interested in your ideas on the evolving formations, they always do, and its interesting to see it unfold.
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Marcus Stewart (yeah i know he played in the Prem for Ipswich and did score a lot of goals there) but..long term i think was hampered by a lack of pace..otherwise i think he would have been a top top player. The lad Mackail Smith at Peterboro possibly another who might not quite make it as high as would be expected to, great talent though.
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Marcus Stewart was a sublimely talented player. He was at Bristol Rovers in an era when they seemed to be producing strike partnerships every few years. Jason Roberts, Barry Hayles, Gareth Taylor and Peter Beadle; maybe not that one.
His career was stagnated by the rush for all things foreign in the premier league as well. In one of those quirky signings he was bought for big money by Huddersfield, after they'd sold Andy Booth. IMO he could have easily made prem standard earlier in his career, just that he signed for a good club in Huddersfield who'd lost the momentum that Warnock, Booth and Jepson had provided. Big money no doubt big contract, meant he wasn't to other clubs interest until he started baging the goals in, way into his Huddersfield contract. Pace? Not needed if your team's got other pacey vibrant outlets.
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One question:
what's the biggest FA Cup shock in history???...
i ask this because i'm reading the news about Real Madrid being beated by Real Irun (first level vs third level) in Copa del Rey competition...
thank you all...
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Hi Gavin,
Best wishes for your recovery and keep nagging the physio. We need you back in the black and white stripes!
The fame of your blog is spreading - please see for example, http://www.pinkun.com - a web site for Norwich City FC. Some praise for you there.
I hope Myles Weston has the 4 qualities you mention - certainly he has the pace and seems to be learning all the time. Teams are putting 2 defenders on him at the moment to try and keep him quiet!
Really enjoy your blogs and look forward to the next one.
(Re post 62 - Notts were formed in 1862 AND were founder members of the football league along with 11 other clubs in 1888).
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Just to add - you'll have to go to the message board on the pinkun site and find the'Gavin Strachan's unusual blog' post.
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Michael Chopra is a player that I believe is class but will never make it in the Premiership.
I believe that his lack of physical strength, as a forward, will always lead him to play at a lower level.
The Premierships loss is my team Cardiffs gain. He is a legend down Ninian and I am so glad that he is back with us.
Welcome home Chopra.
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Talking of top level FA Cup games,i remember you playing for Coventry against Aston Villa in about 1998,you had a really great game,i thought after that you would push on that.What happened mate ?
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Myles Weston
has the skill, pace but just lacks the final ball his crossing needs to be improved.
However, he is young and has time to improve this. He will end up at a higher level in my eyes whether its with us or a different club.
Get fit soon buddy.
COME ON COUNTY!!!!
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Re: 69
Another off that list of ex-Bristol strikers was Jamie Cureton. At Reading I kept expecting him to finally put some effort in and become the class player he could. that said, I've never seen anyone else below Premiership level with his eye for a goal and unerring ability to always be in the right place at the right time.
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