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How highly do you rate... Robert Pires?


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Guest Howaythetoon

So you're saying that the second striker is now the main striker... which is my whole point. I'm not claiming it's something brand new in football.

 

Eh?! Have you even read my post?! All I'm doing is refuting the modern forward idea which you seem to be peddling. Again, there has been no evolution of the striker/forward/centre-forward or whatever label you want to throw at them.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Well clearly we're not going to agree. You think there's no such thing and I do.

 

You've named players that were second strikers (Beardsley), which today are more or less the forwards leading the line for teams - the Modern Striker. If you don't think there's been a change in football/forwards at any point then I'm not sure how you've came to that understanding.

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Guest Howaythetoon

Well clearly we're not going to agree. You think there's no such thing and I do.

 

You've named players that were second strikers (Beardsley), which today are more or less the forwards leading the line for teams - the Modern Striker. If you don't think there's been a change in football/forwards at any point then I'm not sure how you've came to that understanding.

 

Which Beardsley type (or second striker) is leading the line for his respective team then? There has been many changes in football but there has been no change in the type of forward/striker other than physical attributes thanks to dietary and fitness improvements.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Beardsley 'type' - Smaller, Dynamic, Creator, Agile, Balanced, Robust, between the lines, finisher, quick feet.

 

Tevez/Aguero - Man City.

 

So you don't believe players have improved their technique at all?

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Guest Howaythetoon

Beardsley 'type' - Smaller, Dynamic, Creator, Agile, Balanced, Robust, between the lines, finisher, quick feet.

 

Tevez/Aguero - Man City.

 

So you don't believe players have improved their technique at all?

 

First of all, for me a Beardsley type would be someone more akin to Wayne Rooney, the creative link up pay forward, the second striker as you put it. Neither of which are Tevez or Aguero. They do possess the attributes you listed but that doesn't make them a second striker or whatever, that just makes them good forwards/strikers. Types that have been around forever.

 

As for technique,  I believe there hasn't really been a large leap in the advance of technique. Players today are faster, stronger and fitter but technically are no better than players of past. If anything there is a big argument to say players today are less skilful and less technical than players past.

 

I think the biggest shift or change in football has obviously come in the shape of tactics, style of play and systems and formations which has allowed for the diversity of forwards to play a more prominent role in their team these days. For example you can have 2 second forward types playing up top alongside one another given the right formation and tactics. In fact you can even get away with a lack of striker up top these days, but then that also applies to other positions. Barca can play with no recognized centre-backs for example.

 

In previous eras, due to 4-4-2 you had to have a central striker and a second striker as you like to call them, but that didn't mean each side lined up with the same kind of forwards or a target-man each. Like I have said repeatedly, there has always been a diverse variety of strikers, especially in our own game, and that will never cease to be. This modern forward you talk of is basically a turn of phrase, no such thing exists, however.

 

Just because an Augero type player plays higher up these days or leads the line doesn't mean there has been a change in the striker, all it says to me is that systems, tactics and styles of play have evolved so that such players CAN operate right up there or are trusted to lead the line. Beardsley today, despite being a playmaker type forward, could play anywhere up front just as Rooney can. Our very own Ben Arfa could easily play the so-called second striker role and I dare say even at the very top of the attack if we packed the midfield enough and built a system for that. Di Canio and Carbone played at the very top of the attack for both Sheff Wed and later for Di Canio, when he was at West Ham. Neither were strictly centre-forwards or strikers were they?!

 

If anything, the actual role of the centre-forward is dying out, even if that type of player still exists. Same applies to the winger sadly. That's more down to the change in how we play the game or rather want to play the game, the managers and coaches etc. than the players themselves.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Well we clearly have very different views on football, especially if you don't believe the standard of technique has improved, but regressed. You say there is a big argument - where is this big argument?

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Guest Howaythetoon

Well we clearly have very different views on football, especially if you don't believe the standard of technique has improved, but regressed. You say there is a big argument - where is this big argument?

 

Grassroots football, England vs the world etc.

 

By the way, I didn't say I believe it has regressed, just that a debate exists asking such a question. For me, it hasn't advanced to any real extent, however. I think our defenders are generally technically better today but our midfielders and strikers are much the same as those before them in terms of technique.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

I'm sorry, did you give any examples for this 'big argument' that players are less skillful today or am I suppose to find them myself based on 'England v The World'?

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Guest Howaythetoon

I'm sorry, did you give any examples for this 'big argument' that players are less skillful today or am I suppose to find them myself based on 'England v The World'?

 

Its a huge debate especially at grassroots level. Again though, nowhere have I personally stated that I believe our players to be less technically gifted today. Stick to the points. Or maybe lets just call it a day regarding this debate as its going nowhere :lol:

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi
As for technique,  I believe there hasn't really been a large leap in the advance of technique. Players today are faster, stronger and fitter but technically are no better than players of past. If anything there is a big argument to say players today are less skilful and less technical than players past.

 

No, I'm interested, you keep saying it's a huge debate, but you've not actually provided any information for me to read up on it!

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Guest Howaythetoon

As for technique,  I believe there hasn't really been a large leap in the advance of technique. Players today are faster, stronger and fitter but technically are no better than players of past. If anything there is a big argument to say players today are less skilful and less technical than players past.

 

No, I'm interested, you keep saying it's a huge debate, but you've not actually provided any information for me to read up on it!

 

I'm out, do your own research.

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  • 3 weeks later...

In Italian football he was one of the best players to watch. Brilliant passing range, long shooting and general all-round play.

 

Thankfully, when he signed for Man Utd, he fucking flopped! Whatever Ferguson was playing at playing him on the left. (Although, I wouldn't necessarily say that's the sole reason to why he flopped.)

 

Edit: Brilliant but wouldn't include him in the class of Scholes, Zidane, Xavi, etc.

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But, but, he was a left mid on CM 97/98!

 

Played his best football for Lazio in the middle. Slightly higher up but would also get back and help in the final third every now and then.

 

Can't say I really saw a great deal of him tbh, he was just class on CM :lol:

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He was a great playmaker, Argentina could use someone like him now tbh.

 

SAF couldn't use him properly but that isn't a surprise practically every attacking midfielder has failed under SAF.

 

But my god what a team they would have had if Veron had adapted.

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