bulivye Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 i'm curious what we all really think this phrase/term means. we hear it tossed about all the time but it seemed to have been a sticking point in the 'ability' thread... so, what is it? i've always taken it to mean that a player is intelligent vis a vis football. the player w/ a good footballing brain, imo, has good vision--in the sense that he spots the open pass to make, or the open man needing to be closed down etc... but also vision in the sense that he has a plan to 'ask questions' of his opponents, or answer those asked. i'm sure there's deficiencies in my definition & it falls short... so, i'm askin'---what is a 'footballing brain'? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I would define it as being: 1) Not getting sent off for stupid 'beef' challenges (for example, see Emre vs John Eustace in Keegan's homecoming) 2) Having the ability to pick a pass that a spectator may not have spotted, or to read his team-mates run or idea and link up with them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I think anticipation is the key component of having a good 'footballing brain'. If you pin a good footballing brain on a defender, it's usually referring to watching a striker's runs, or cutting out a through ball and suchlike. Similarly with a striker, you only need to look at Michael Owen. You can detriment him by saying he's simply a decent goalpoacher; that's not true - he's a brilliant one. He knows where the wingers are going, knows where to go, knows when the keepers gonna fluff it. He's got a cracking footballing brain if you ask me. So yeah, anticipation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I often think that someone with a good footballing brain is someone who sees the game like spectators do. I know what I mean anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I would define it as being: 1) Not getting sent off for stupid 'beef' challenges (for example, see Emre vs John Eustace in Keegan's homecoming) 2) Having the ability to pick a pass that a spectator may not have spotted, or to read his team-mates run or idea and link up with them. Further to 2), it's also knowing when to attempt said pass, or when to knock it square six yards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 It's just being an intelligant player. They pick passes the average players don't see, they make runs the average players don't track and so on. So yeah I'd say a lot of it is down to awareness to a certain extent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulivye Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I often think that someone with a good footballing brain is someone who sees the game like spectators do. I know what I mean anyway. i understand you to mean they 'see' the game as from a spectator's point of view...? sort of a way of articulating 'awareness'... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minhosa Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Definition to be found under the following names in the Oxford English Dictionary; Beardsley, P Messi, L Maradona, D Butt, N Oh wait, one of them is wrong. Forget Messi, the rest stand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Players who play the game upstairs rather than using speed to get them out the shit...perfect example imo was Bobby Moore..don't think anybody read the game better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minhosa Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Players who play the game upstairs rather than using speed to get them out the shit...perfect example imo was Bobby Moore..don't think anybody read the game better. Tony Adam's was a fantastic reader of the game too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Players who play the game upstairs rather than using speed to get them out the shit...perfect example imo was Bobby Moore..don't think anybody read the game better. Tony Adam's was a fantastic reader of the game too. In later years yes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 It's about decision-making - reacting to every situation in the way that's going to do most harm to the opposition, even if that means doing something quite unorthodox. Kenny Dalglish had a fantastic football brain. Every time he got on the ball, he seemed to do just the right thing with it. Sometimes talented players don't possess the best football intelligence, because they can hang on to the ball too long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I think the ability to read the game - ebbs and flows, mismatches, how strengths match up... Anticipation A good first look. The saying that always comes to mind as a coach - Don't go where the ball has been, go where the ball will be. In order to do that you need all of the above. IMHO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 The ability to recognise and visualise concepts within the game, as they are happening, before they unfold or whether they even exist and then being able to react or interact to them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 http://www.1800-sports.com/images/zinedine-zidane.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I often think that someone with a good footballing brain is someone who sees the game like spectators do. I know what I mean anyway. i understand you to mean they 'see' the game as from a spectator's point of view...? sort of a way of articulating 'awareness'... Indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkeye Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Solano for sure has a footballing brain, you just had to watch how he played the game and talked to other players showing them where he wanted the ball etc. One player who without any shadow of doubt has not got a footballing brain, nor will ever, is Shola Ameobi. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo_11 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 When I used to play I was told this was one of my strengths. The ability to pick out the run of a team mate or a pass into space that triggers a movement before the other team can react to it (in the Professional game before the spectators see the play unfolding). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heron Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I would define it as; "Having the knowledge and ability to understand both the individual and team aspects of the game including tactics, positioning and players' roles." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Beardsley is the big one for me, Van Nistelrooy and Sheringham also notable Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 £ $ € etc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedro111 Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 A much maligned man off the park but Gazza had a superb footballing brain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheFunk Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 To me, having a footballing brain is just being someone who understands the game of football. to TRULY understand the game. Beardsley is a perfect example because he could pass, he could tackle, he could score and he could lead and have a psychological impact on a game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Bergkamp goal vs Newcastle defines football brain in itself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest quklaani Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 http://dnausers.d-n-a.net/dnetmQXk/playerpages/additionalplayerphotos/sheringhamcelebrates.jpg First thing that comes to mind. I think players who can keep playing til an age like Teddy are almost invariably great examples. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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