Johan Cruyff’s key points.Is it any surprise that prompted Mourinho to ask for a new signing this winter rather than go for home-grown youths? Not me. It’s his philosophy. He is true to his own style.
I don’t know if Real Madrid will win some, a lot or nothing, but I know one thing: their coach wants to win something: whatever it is. That’s because they have brought him in just for that, and because of his prestige. So that is why he made the demand. If they don’t entertain his latest request – and that’s nothing new, on the contrary – he will always be able to say: “keep that in mind”, hiding behind the club’s decision, giving the excuse that he lacked a piece [of the jigsaw puzzle] to complete his work.
Is it any surprise the persistency on his part? Quite the contrary. He, better than anyone, can see what he has and what he lacks. And if he wanted another forward to fill in the position of a ‘9’, even when he already has Benzema and Higuain, his talk is unwavering in this regard and has not deviated one iota. The estimated down time of the Argentinean has reinforced his case in this matter. He made the request because he believes it is necessary and it has worked before – with Chelsea and Inter. Both clubs invested heavily and brought in a lot of people – with more players than necessary. This, combined with his talent as a coach, resulted in two very well made teams – [assembled according to] Mou’s style – in England as well as in Italy: never a small squad, big. And if he has to sign more during this early [transitional] period, he will sign.
Looking at the cantera
If it has worked well and has done more good than bad, it’s normal that he wants to continue with this line [of thinking]. This is what he was accustomed to: don’t go for home-grown youth players. It was not his business, because it has never been, and it would not be logical that he himself would propose it. If his job description, for now, is not to give youths the possibility of promotion to get them familiarised [with the Primera] in the medium and long term, less still is the chance that one will be promoted [to cover] for an urgency – they don’t merit an inclusion, let alone be the decider [of matches].
This goes back to the old argument of whether Madrid’s footballing base is not good enough, or if at the opposite end, that of Barca is simply better. The difference there lies with their first team coaches.
The base of a football club is only good if the first team coach utilizes it, and is bad, if not. It’s as simple as that. The football base of Barca is wonderful, yes [but] when in comes a coach tomorrow who looks at it with misgivings, who does not believe in it, it may go from wonderful to bad. And it’s just not possible that Madrid’s [canteranos] are that bad. One only have to look at the number of players who have gone through los Blancos youth system that are now part of Primera and Segunda teams. To the surprise of many, superior [in numbers] even to Barca canteranos.
No football base is that good or bad, in Barcelona or Madrid, but just first team coaches who believe in it or not. Barca has had two coaches in recent years, Rijkaard and Guardiola. In that same time frame (seven seasons) Madrid has had 10. Their obligations, from the onset, are exactly the same in the Camp Nou as it is in the Barnebeu: to win titles. The method used by them, is totally dissimilar, starting with the treatment and use of their respective youth players. Those of Barca, a week ago, are on top of the world.
The Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or award has attracted controversy. That’s no surprise. That’s what happens when three are nominated and there’s only one award – an individual award given to a team sport. Everyone has their favourite. Me too: Xavi, and [all sort] of arguments on why any of the three should win it. The mess is in understanding the criteria on which period the vote is valid for and who to vote for [in that period]. No one can deny that Messi is the best, and the most spectacular. What’s missing is the criterion on how to make the selection. If they give it for the number of titles won, there lies the contradiction. The coach who won more took the award (Mourinho for best coach), [while] the player who won more did not even made it into the top three (Sneijder) – he won five titles with his club, got into the World Cup final, joint top scorer (tied with Forlan, Villa and Muller) and he’s not even one of the finalist. Yes he’s first among journalists, but was booted off the podium when national team coaches’ and captains’ votes were included.
Where some give priority to titles, others reward other equally or more important values, such as the influence a player can have within his team. And for most, the explosive display of the best player.
A new award
Given the dispersion of the criteria and the votes made, Platini recently announced that UEFA is creating its own Best Player of the Year award. That is to say, there will be one more thing that they have not taken into account – something that will precisely provoke more controversy: the weight of the World Federation (FIFA). And even with this categorizing, who should they give the 2010 award to? Messi or Sneijder?
(source : totalbarca)