Don't you just love how the British soccer media tends to obsess over things, eventually beating any rumor or story into the ground?
Maybe a lot of this has to do with the fact that unlike their brethren across the pond, Brit journos don't exactly have unlimited access to players on a day-in, day-out basis. Granted, it's not as if most pro athletes have anything interesting to say. In fact, the best quote of all time in my mind comes from noted basketball philosopher Rasheed Wallace, who boycotted the Portland media and would only provide this soundbite -- "Both teams played hard."
Getting back to the topic, it seems over in England any statement made from a player is treated like is Moses speaking from on high. Count that double when it's a player's "agent." (Agent, hanger-on, you tell me.)
So this boils down to Carlos Tevez, who earlier this week made statements about how he wanted to leave Manchester United after the season because he didn't feel quite like "family."
Ironic, or is just coincidence, that ol' Hulk Hair scored perhaps the most important goal of the Red Devils' season, with an audacious, back-to-the-goal flick that got Manchester United level 1-1 with Wigan Athletic, where they eventually won 2-1 to take a six-point lead over Liverpool with two matches remaining.
Lately I've been thinking about Tevez and what his game brings to the table, since it's likely somebody is going to pay him and his handlers a ton of loot (perhaps in large sacks labled "$$$" for full effect) over the summer.
My wonder is in a big-time, physical European league is Tevez capable of being a No. 1 striker? The kind of player a club can count on for 20+ goals across all competitions. Not to knock Tevez, but could he carry an elite team against other teams of that ilk, or would he make his hay against the bottom feeders and also-rans?
We did see him single handily keep West Ham United afloat a couple seasons ago with a string of stunning displays down the stretch. Then again, would be able to keep the intensity and energy level high in a starting role for 40-odd matches?
If you boil it down, Tevez wouldn't be the most technically gifted player of all time. Yet he ruthlessly effective as a high-energy, never-stopping player -- a wild boar if you will. (Note, a highly underrated killing machine in nature.)
I just wonder at the highest level of the world game, can you place your eggs in the basket of a grinder like Tevez, or do you need a player, who might not show up every game but has that special touch of god-given class?
Given all this, isn't his role as the third choice/do-it-all substitute at Manchester United the perfect place for the Argentine? Does Sir Alex Ferguson see that instead of chasing after Karim Benzema, or whomever the hot striker prospect is over the summer, he has the perfect compliment for Wayne Rooney and Dmitar Berbatov right under his nose? (SAF, did say he wants him to remain at the club following Wednesday's win.)
Maybe the question is the opposite -- doesn't Tevez realize that he's in no better situation that at Old Trafford? He's played in 29 games this year with 17 starts, that's not exactly riding the pine like say, Eddie Johnson at Fulham.
Players always want to head for greener pastures and as they say, 'the grass is always greener'. Yet, doesn't Tevez realize what he has at Manchester United? It is, after all, sort of the biggest club in the entire world, you know.
It's sort of like if midway through the run of 'Seinfeld' Michael Richards (try to forgot the tragic fork comments) decided to play hardball and bolt to start his own show. Was there anything wrong with playing behind Jerry and George? There were already plenty of laughs to go around, just like there are always goals to be found at Old Trafford.
Tevez and Manchester United are the perfect fit. Why don't both parties see this?
Now, I just wonder if Tevez would be Kramerica Industries material?
***
One other thing, big ups to Steve Bruce for unearthing Hugo Rodallega. Every time I've seen him play I walk away impressed. How is it that Bruce is the only manager in the Premier League able to get quality from players from non-Big Two South American and Central America?
Rodallega was plucked out of the Mexican League for peanuts and seems like a quality player.
Guess when you're Wigan you have to show at the proverbial $1 store and hope to get lucky.
Maybe a lot of this has to do with the fact that unlike their brethren across the pond, Brit journos don't exactly have unlimited access to players on a day-in, day-out basis. Granted, it's not as if most pro athletes have anything interesting to say. In fact, the best quote of all time in my mind comes from noted basketball philosopher Rasheed Wallace, who boycotted the Portland media and would only provide this soundbite -- "Both teams played hard."
Getting back to the topic, it seems over in England any statement made from a player is treated like is Moses speaking from on high. Count that double when it's a player's "agent." (Agent, hanger-on, you tell me.)
So this boils down to Carlos Tevez, who earlier this week made statements about how he wanted to leave Manchester United after the season because he didn't feel quite like "family."
Ironic, or is just coincidence, that ol' Hulk Hair scored perhaps the most important goal of the Red Devils' season, with an audacious, back-to-the-goal flick that got Manchester United level 1-1 with Wigan Athletic, where they eventually won 2-1 to take a six-point lead over Liverpool with two matches remaining.
Lately I've been thinking about Tevez and what his game brings to the table, since it's likely somebody is going to pay him and his handlers a ton of loot (perhaps in large sacks labled "$$$" for full effect) over the summer.
My wonder is in a big-time, physical European league is Tevez capable of being a No. 1 striker? The kind of player a club can count on for 20+ goals across all competitions. Not to knock Tevez, but could he carry an elite team against other teams of that ilk, or would he make his hay against the bottom feeders and also-rans?
We did see him single handily keep West Ham United afloat a couple seasons ago with a string of stunning displays down the stretch. Then again, would be able to keep the intensity and energy level high in a starting role for 40-odd matches?
If you boil it down, Tevez wouldn't be the most technically gifted player of all time. Yet he ruthlessly effective as a high-energy, never-stopping player -- a wild boar if you will. (Note, a highly underrated killing machine in nature.)
I just wonder at the highest level of the world game, can you place your eggs in the basket of a grinder like Tevez, or do you need a player, who might not show up every game but has that special touch of god-given class?
Given all this, isn't his role as the third choice/do-it-all substitute at Manchester United the perfect place for the Argentine? Does Sir Alex Ferguson see that instead of chasing after Karim Benzema, or whomever the hot striker prospect is over the summer, he has the perfect compliment for Wayne Rooney and Dmitar Berbatov right under his nose? (SAF, did say he wants him to remain at the club following Wednesday's win.)
Maybe the question is the opposite -- doesn't Tevez realize that he's in no better situation that at Old Trafford? He's played in 29 games this year with 17 starts, that's not exactly riding the pine like say, Eddie Johnson at Fulham.
Players always want to head for greener pastures and as they say, 'the grass is always greener'. Yet, doesn't Tevez realize what he has at Manchester United? It is, after all, sort of the biggest club in the entire world, you know.
It's sort of like if midway through the run of 'Seinfeld' Michael Richards (try to forgot the tragic fork comments) decided to play hardball and bolt to start his own show. Was there anything wrong with playing behind Jerry and George? There were already plenty of laughs to go around, just like there are always goals to be found at Old Trafford.
Tevez and Manchester United are the perfect fit. Why don't both parties see this?
Now, I just wonder if Tevez would be Kramerica Industries material?
***
One other thing, big ups to Steve Bruce for unearthing Hugo Rodallega. Every time I've seen him play I walk away impressed. How is it that Bruce is the only manager in the Premier League able to get quality from players from non-Big Two South American and Central America?
Rodallega was plucked out of the Mexican League for peanuts and seems like a quality player.
Guess when you're Wigan you have to show at the proverbial $1 store and hope to get lucky.
Labels: carlos tevez, manchester United, Premier League, Soccer
One of the main reasons (at least IMO) that United is going to defeat Liverpool and the other 18 teams for the title is the flexibility of the team. SAF has a wide variety of USABLE options at most every position - much more options than most other teams have.
Torres is a great striker and Liverpool's strategy is to play him as much as possible. Ferguson changes and cycles through all kinds of attacking talent - arguably generating better results even though none of the United players up front is 'better' than Nando. (Side note - the one guy SAF plays every match, despite his jack-assery, is CR7, so that ought to tell you how valuable Ferguson thinks the Portugeezer is.)
Tevez and his wild boaring can be complimented/replaced/alternated with the deft wizardry of Berbatov, the Visigoth-like assaults of Rooney or the relentless grinding and omnipresence of JS Park. This variety rests players, acknowl;edges the reality of injuries AND makes it harder for opponents to prepare for United since they can't be sure exactly who will be coming after their goal.
Every player faces the question confronting Tevez. They want to play all the time and be a featured star, but they also want to be on the best possible team. For the *vast* majority of players - those things are a contradiction. Do you want the solo love and the headlines? Or do you wanna lift trophies? Kobe in '06 scoring 81 in a game, or sharing the limelight and the parade with the big Twitterer?
Even for a guy with world-class skills like Hulk Hair - going to a team where he is THE (or one of the pair of) star strikers would undeniably make that team not as good the current United. Is that what Tevez wants? Or maybe this whole thing is just a plan to get him an extra 10k per week out of SAF for next season.