As we know, every major league as well as the Champions League is on hiatus until further notice.
Thus, as I have no new material, so will this blog until the matches return.
See you then.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 105: Juve's Late Bloomer
Not every player emerges onto the scene with a bang. Some take their time to truly blossom and only have the best season of their career at a relatively late age. One such player added another standout performance to his breakout season; it was also one that came in a high-stakes rivalry match.
In the latest edition of the Derby d'Italia which saw Juventus and Inter Milan fighting for not only bragging rights but also a crucial victory which would aid their respective Serie A title chances, Juve emerged victorious by a 2-0 scoreline. Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals which gave the Bianconeri the win.
Ramsey had probably his best match since his off-season move to Juve from Arsenal. The Welshman not only scored the first goal but also assisted on Dybala's and was lively and active throughout the match. His performance in midfield served as the catalyst for Juve's victory which took them back to the top of Serie A. The Turin club now lead Lazio by one point.
Many had previously expected Ramsey to have a breakout season in the 2016-17 season on the heels of a series of excellent performances for Wales in their underdog run to the semifinals of Euro 2016. After leading the tournament in assists, Ramsey was named as part of the team of the tournament. However, his play for his country did not continue into the club football season; thus, he did not make the leap which many expected of him. Although he proved to be a solid contributor for Arsenal from that point until his departure in 2019, he never even came close to his level of play during Euro 2016 while playing for the Gunners.
Ramsey's departure for Juve was notable for the fact that it was a free transfer; that said, Juve were also required to pay additional costs totaling €3.7 million. In hindsight, it was a laughably low price for a player of Ramsey's level. Just to rub it in for Arsenal, Ramsey is in the midst of the best season of his career at age 29. He is now playing at his highest level since his Euro 2016 run with Wales.
One important reason why Ramsey has been able to reach the level which he has this season is the team which surrounds him. Ramsey has never had the privilege of playing with this many players on the same team who are either true superstar-level players or close to that status. Certainly, one would find it much easier to play alongside the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo than it would be to play with Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Matteo Guendouzi.
Of course, simply playing with better teammates is not the only reason for Ramsey's improvement this season. His tackling and positioning on offense have noticeably improved when compared to last season, and he also seems more comfortable with the ball than he has in a long time. When combined with his already excellent off-ball movement, it can be seen why Ramsey has been such a weapon for Juve this season.
The system in which Ramsey plays at Juve also suits his style of play. Ramsey is perfectly at home within the system created by head coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri's tactics which prioritize a high press and a quick pace of play have allowed Ramsey to play farther forward than he did at Arsenal, thus allowing him more space to operate within the final third of the pitch where he is able to do the most damage. Ramsey's strngstre are being better utilized by Sarri than they ever had been by former Arsenal head coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery.
Not many players have the best season of their career at the age of 29. However, a confluence of different factors have allowed Ramsey to truly flourish at Juve and have a breakout season at this stage of his career. If Juventus are to make a successful push for the Serie A title, the Champions League title, or perhaps even both, they will need their late-blooming Welshman to continue delivering for them as he has throughout the season thus far.
In the latest edition of the Derby d'Italia which saw Juventus and Inter Milan fighting for not only bragging rights but also a crucial victory which would aid their respective Serie A title chances, Juve emerged victorious by a 2-0 scoreline. Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals which gave the Bianconeri the win.
Ramsey had probably his best match since his off-season move to Juve from Arsenal. The Welshman not only scored the first goal but also assisted on Dybala's and was lively and active throughout the match. His performance in midfield served as the catalyst for Juve's victory which took them back to the top of Serie A. The Turin club now lead Lazio by one point.
Many had previously expected Ramsey to have a breakout season in the 2016-17 season on the heels of a series of excellent performances for Wales in their underdog run to the semifinals of Euro 2016. After leading the tournament in assists, Ramsey was named as part of the team of the tournament. However, his play for his country did not continue into the club football season; thus, he did not make the leap which many expected of him. Although he proved to be a solid contributor for Arsenal from that point until his departure in 2019, he never even came close to his level of play during Euro 2016 while playing for the Gunners.
Ramsey's departure for Juve was notable for the fact that it was a free transfer; that said, Juve were also required to pay additional costs totaling €3.7 million. In hindsight, it was a laughably low price for a player of Ramsey's level. Just to rub it in for Arsenal, Ramsey is in the midst of the best season of his career at age 29. He is now playing at his highest level since his Euro 2016 run with Wales.
One important reason why Ramsey has been able to reach the level which he has this season is the team which surrounds him. Ramsey has never had the privilege of playing with this many players on the same team who are either true superstar-level players or close to that status. Certainly, one would find it much easier to play alongside the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo than it would be to play with Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Matteo Guendouzi.
Of course, simply playing with better teammates is not the only reason for Ramsey's improvement this season. His tackling and positioning on offense have noticeably improved when compared to last season, and he also seems more comfortable with the ball than he has in a long time. When combined with his already excellent off-ball movement, it can be seen why Ramsey has been such a weapon for Juve this season.
The system in which Ramsey plays at Juve also suits his style of play. Ramsey is perfectly at home within the system created by head coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri's tactics which prioritize a high press and a quick pace of play have allowed Ramsey to play farther forward than he did at Arsenal, thus allowing him more space to operate within the final third of the pitch where he is able to do the most damage. Ramsey's strngstre are being better utilized by Sarri than they ever had been by former Arsenal head coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery.
Not many players have the best season of their career at the age of 29. However, a confluence of different factors have allowed Ramsey to truly flourish at Juve and have a breakout season at this stage of his career. If Juventus are to make a successful push for the Serie A title, the Champions League title, or perhaps even both, they will need their late-blooming Welshman to continue delivering for them as he has throughout the season thus far.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 104: Here Comes Father Time
El Clásico is a truly incomparable rivalry - the most iconic in world football. Ordinarily, one would expect each edition of this clash to be a hotly-contested affair. However, the latest El Clásico was not so.
Real Madrid had absolutely no problems in defeating arch-rivals Barcelona, winning 2-0. Vinícius Júnior and Mariano scored the goals for the new La Liga leaders as they gained the advantage in their quest to deny their Catalan adversaries their third consecutive league title.
It's not often that one would say this, but the bulk of the blame for Barça's loss has to fall on the shoulders of none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend had a dismal performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. He had no answer at all for Real's defensive duo of Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos who were his direct opponents. Messi even picked up a yellow card for a completely unnecessary hard tackle on Casemiro.
Messi has been nowhere near his usual level of play since the turn of the year. His touch has become less sure, his shooting accuracy has declined, he has become more prone to turning the ball over, and he has generally not been playing with the same fluidity and crispness which we have come to expect from him. Although Messi has scored 19 goals and handed out 12 assists thus far this season, these impressive statistics somewhat mask the drop-off in his overall level of play.
The impact of this drop in form has been severe. Barcelona have surrendered first place in La Liga to Real, been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, and face the prospect of being knocked out in the Champions League's round of 16 after a first-leg 1-1 draw against Napoli. Had Messi been playing up to his usual standards, it is not only possible but highly likely that Barça would not find themselves in their current situation.
Some might assume that this is just a temporary slump and that before long, Messi will bounce back and return to his usual otherworldly self. However, consider the following: Messi is now 32 years old and has over 900 matches' worth of mileage for club and country amassed over his career. As they say, Father Time is undefeated; in this case, it could very well be that Father Time is coming for Messi. This recent slump might be the first sign of a terminal decline.
If one takes a closer look at the vast majority of footballers, both those who are all-time greats and those who are not, the start of their age-related decline usually depends on their position. Goalkeepers and defenders are usually able to keep going for the longest. On the other hand, wingers and centre-forwards often begin their decline in their early 30s - the age group in which Messi is right now. His decline may seem imperceptible at the moment because of the extreme height from which he is falling, but do not be surprised if one or two years from now, many are wondering just what happened to him.
This is no knock on Messi or on his incredible career. I consider him to be the second-greatest player of all time, only behind his compatriot Diego Maradona. The statistics, accolades, and achievements speak for themselves. Apart from winning the World Cup, there is virtually nothing which he hasn't done. However, at some point, age catches up to every player. As has been mentioned, players in more offensive positions age more rapidly than those in more defensive positions. Thus, should we really be all that surprised if we are now seeing the beginning of the end of a legendary career?
At this point, Barça must now start preparing for the future. During the upcoming off-season, they ought to spend what they can to sign younger players who will have the toughest of acts to follow.
It's understandable that many fans would be in denial about this. Nobody, especially fans of the Blaugrana, wants to see one of the five best players who ever lived begin his decline as the years begin to take their toll. However, it has to happen at some point and the signs seem to be pointing towards that point being now.
Real Madrid had absolutely no problems in defeating arch-rivals Barcelona, winning 2-0. Vinícius Júnior and Mariano scored the goals for the new La Liga leaders as they gained the advantage in their quest to deny their Catalan adversaries their third consecutive league title.
It's not often that one would say this, but the bulk of the blame for Barça's loss has to fall on the shoulders of none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend had a dismal performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. He had no answer at all for Real's defensive duo of Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos who were his direct opponents. Messi even picked up a yellow card for a completely unnecessary hard tackle on Casemiro.
Messi has been nowhere near his usual level of play since the turn of the year. His touch has become less sure, his shooting accuracy has declined, he has become more prone to turning the ball over, and he has generally not been playing with the same fluidity and crispness which we have come to expect from him. Although Messi has scored 19 goals and handed out 12 assists thus far this season, these impressive statistics somewhat mask the drop-off in his overall level of play.
The impact of this drop in form has been severe. Barcelona have surrendered first place in La Liga to Real, been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, and face the prospect of being knocked out in the Champions League's round of 16 after a first-leg 1-1 draw against Napoli. Had Messi been playing up to his usual standards, it is not only possible but highly likely that Barça would not find themselves in their current situation.
Some might assume that this is just a temporary slump and that before long, Messi will bounce back and return to his usual otherworldly self. However, consider the following: Messi is now 32 years old and has over 900 matches' worth of mileage for club and country amassed over his career. As they say, Father Time is undefeated; in this case, it could very well be that Father Time is coming for Messi. This recent slump might be the first sign of a terminal decline.
If one takes a closer look at the vast majority of footballers, both those who are all-time greats and those who are not, the start of their age-related decline usually depends on their position. Goalkeepers and defenders are usually able to keep going for the longest. On the other hand, wingers and centre-forwards often begin their decline in their early 30s - the age group in which Messi is right now. His decline may seem imperceptible at the moment because of the extreme height from which he is falling, but do not be surprised if one or two years from now, many are wondering just what happened to him.
This is no knock on Messi or on his incredible career. I consider him to be the second-greatest player of all time, only behind his compatriot Diego Maradona. The statistics, accolades, and achievements speak for themselves. Apart from winning the World Cup, there is virtually nothing which he hasn't done. However, at some point, age catches up to every player. As has been mentioned, players in more offensive positions age more rapidly than those in more defensive positions. Thus, should we really be all that surprised if we are now seeing the beginning of the end of a legendary career?
At this point, Barça must now start preparing for the future. During the upcoming off-season, they ought to spend what they can to sign younger players who will have the toughest of acts to follow.
It's understandable that many fans would be in denial about this. Nobody, especially fans of the Blaugrana, wants to see one of the five best players who ever lived begin his decline as the years begin to take their toll. However, it has to happen at some point and the signs seem to be pointing towards that point being now.
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