A post from @foreverheady
If a week’s a long time in politics then ninety minutes is certainly plenty enough time for football fans to realise that most players are only human after all. I was listening to Darren Gough talking about Lionel Messi on the radio yesterday, and he was very much of the opinion that he hadn’t had the greatest of World Cup tournaments thus far and that his four Man of the Match awards were based more on reputation than actual achievement. In fact, Argentina’s latest game, where they seemed to take forever to dispatch Switzerland, showed another of the game’s greats, the exotically named Angel di Maria to be not so special after all. And yet, as the clock ticked inexorably towards another high stakes penalty shoot-out it was Messi and di Maria who stepped up to win the game. Gliding past two players in trademark style Lionel drew the final defender on to him before slipping the ball to Maria who passed the ball into the net with all the nonchalance of a training ground move, rather than the nerve-jangling coup de grace that would secure a quarter-final spot and, indeed, the promise of far more than that. It was a sublime moment of footballing genius, and future views of highlights and vine clips will ensure that it lives long in the collective footballing consciousness. In short, those few seconds wiped out the ordinariness of the previous two hours, and proved that when it really mattered Messi was the man. If you had only seen the goal you would have thought Dazzler mad.
And yet, despite the almost universal agreement that this has been the greatest and most exciting World Cup ever (at least since the last one) a lot of players have seemingly failed to shine on the greatest stage of all. While reputations may not be completely in tatters, it does seem that many of those who were so eagerly anticipated have struggled to be at their very best, and various reasons have been put forward to explain this. The impossible heat, the makeshift nature of the national teams, the refereeing, the tactical acumen of the opposition managers, the desire that the footballing ‘minnows’ show when pulling on their national strip have been among some of the more popular pieces of punditry, and as with all theories that masquerade as sensible each contain enough truth to be plausible. But I wonder if it isn’t something far more obvious than all of this and that Ronaldo’s feet of clay are just another symptom of the truth so wearily acknowledged each Saturday afternoon by the long suffering denizens of the football League’s terraces. And that truth is, and whisper this quietly or the sponsors will take offence, that football is actually quite a boring game, and that most players, for most of the time, struggle to do anything out of the ordinary; it is sadly true that most sides find it well-nigh impossible to breach a well-organised defence. When explaining goalless performances, managers euphemistically refer to a lack of quality in the final third, when what they actually mean is “none of my players were capable of doing anything unexpected, and my offensive tactics were rendered impotent by my counterpart’s defensive strategy. “ If you watch some games you quite soon begin to wonder if either side will ever be good enough to actually score a goal, so laborious are their efforts. The score-lines give it away, of course: 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, , 2-0, 2-1 are by far the most common, and any tally more than that is a rarity unless the teams are hopelessly mismatched or defensively incontinent.
I am guessing here, but I suspect that the vast majority of football watchers don’t often watch whole games, making do instead with recorded highlights on Match of the Day or various Youtube compilations. When much of the tedious dross is edited out, football comes alive with end to end stuff, goalmouth action a plenty, tantalising and sumptuous moments of artistry and wonder goals repeated endlessly and from all angles. They all look good on the telly, unless of course it is the turn of some hapless defender to have his limitations cruelly exposed by the forensic unpleasantness of a bitter analyst blessed with hindsight, technology and supported by full blown media bias. There will be few regular and actual game-going supporters who haven’t experienced the frustration of seeing their own attackers huff and puff impotently for ninety minutes that afternoon, only to catch Match of the Day later that evening and see a United or City star pirouette on a sixpence before dispatching it venomously into the top corner. And if you have had a couple by then and your reason and your judgment are momentarily suspended, it’s hard not to at least imagine what it would be like to have him leading the line for you next week. Infidelity, you see, is born out of over-exposure to the commonplace and a momentary glimpse of the exotic.
The problem with this World Cup is that the exotic has become commonplace and the likes of Darren Gough, not to mention many teenage boys, are having to watch whole games in their essentially dull entirety, perhaps for the very first time. Watching Messi being shackled by Johan Djouru for two hours is a little like (and I’m guessing here, Your Honour) watching Linda Lovelace condemned to a perpetual diet of lukewarm and unseasoned Shepherds’ Pie. It is, at best, a disappointment. And I wonder too if this isn’t the problem with people’s perception of Mesut Ozil . When he signed for The Arsenal I wonder how many had watched him play that often, or whether they just remembered flashes of brilliance from Bloemfontein and countless effortless assists in various “Ronaldo’s Greatest Goals” compilations. His first few Arsenal matches were like that too: a beyond brilliant assist for Giroud, a wonder strike against Napoli, a brace to see off Norwich. This was pornography made real and all that golden autumn we were drowning, stingless, in honey- bliss was it indeed in that dawn to be an Arsenal fan. It didn’t last, of course – or rather, it didn’t last quite like that. The everydayness of things all too soon kicked in, and shamefully the fans got used to his brilliance and no longer noticed when he had done something quite exceptional. Unless every touch turned to gold immediately, he was no longer accorded special status and all too soon he became merely human and nothing like his Youtube alter ego: just another ordinary player, in fact.
Except Mesut Ozil is not just another player, just as Lionel Messi is not having an ordinary tournament. Games are not twenty minutes long (football has yet to go down cricket’s route and pander to today’s short attention spans, although I suspect it is only a matter of time before that happens) and the proof of a player is his contribution over the whole game. It is no surprise that Messi and Ozil made their recent match winning moves deep into injury time, just as it was no coincidence that The Arsenal’s player of the season, Aaron Ramsey, scored the winning goal in the Cup Final long after most had cried enough. Cream rises to the top, they say, and so too do great Sportsmen, and if they think it is worth playing until the final whistle is blown then perhaps the pundits might also try concentrating for long enough to see what is really going on. Not every move they make will come off, not every shot will score, and for much of the time we should expect them to be shackled – after all, it would be almost match-fixingly strange if tactics were not drawn up to nullify the most dangerous players – but rest assured, class will out and they will find a way, and that is why they are, as Arsene would say, top, top quality, and why I am looking forward to seeing them play again this weekend.
Positively Arsenal 
Lloris, poor reactions.
Woj would have saved that.
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i agree 100% with the content..not so much with the title though…
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for example….ozil can be neutralised easily in a game…messi? very very difficult…when messi gets kicked he loves it cause it gives him an extra motivation to ridicule defenders when he next has the ball….when ozil gets kicked he looks for sympathy. im no way excusing kicking them but just judging their reactions……its like say henry vs suarez….both unbeleivable strikers but one would sulk and look in the heavens and crap his pants when we needed him the most ( 3 1v1 valdez paris…score it ffs! for wenger) and the other will just tear everyone apart in quest for victory/trophy/success
as for understanding football ….well football is not a sport/game anymore but a show ..the only constant that remains from the game of old is the anonymous crowd’s addiction to their teams/heroes. the fans will slice their wrists for their clubs and pay and pay and pay while the players and people who rule/govern/operate football are in it for the money ONLY. very few can combine the romance for the game with the pragmatism of the industry it has become ( in fact only arsene can combine it as nicely)
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you can still love god ( football) but hate his representatives/priests ……. ??? makes sense????
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and for the love of…. god…hehe …no debuchy please…
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This game is screaming for Giroud.
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Incredible move from Özil just now to create the half chance. I guess some don’t see that his style makes it looks so effortless? Hope you are enjoying the game FH, thanks. Gough was a very good bowler but I can’t listen to him nodding and bobbing along to the other one, a sad end.
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Gains
I’m happy he didn’t start Koscielny if he is carrying an injury.
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Özil creates the chance to seal the game but the Gazprom player makes a poor effort with the attempted finish.
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And the German manager takes him off for Goetze. Seven minutes to go, so he’s probably just done it for fresh legs.
Followed by Giroud for MV.
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The only quiet games that I have seen this season from Özil have been when he was not fully fit. Same as Messi, who also had injuries this season.
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Well, that was a bit of a damp squib.
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It sure was a damp squib. I’d rather have seen Algeria or Nigeria taking it to the big European countries like last round than watch this drab affair that came down to who was worse on the day.
Poor tactics from Deschamps, I thought. Kos should have been starting, especially if you are going to waste a change on a semi-fit Sakho and have to bring him on anyway. Kos is better in the air than either Varane or Sakho in my humble Gooner opinion! But the real problem was his failure to bring on Giroud earlier when his team started long passing over the top and crossing from the sides. Boateng and Lahm were vulnerable on that side (mistake not to start Merts though it didn’t cost them–biased? Of course! But a good case can still be made…). And I would NEVER take off Valbuena. Griezmann or Matuidi instead though I wouldn’t have brought on Remy until the end, so it could have been OG for Cabaye in the 60th minute. He didn’t have anytime and no genuine crosses or hold up play for him.
But I wasn’t very impressed with Low either–playing Ozil out wide on the left ahead of Howedes. At least put him on the right to combine with Lahm’s overlaps if you refuse to play him centrally with runners ahead of him. Dropping Merts–why?? I thought his subs were better and Schurrle was energetic and a threat even though he didn’t finish anything.
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Let’s hope the next game is better! I expect it will be.
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As far as the post, foreverheady, nicely written and interesting points. I disagree that Ozil is some meek guy who can just be physically pushed out of the game. He is principally a creator for others, so he doesn’t compare with Messi in that regard. He needs other players to work with. He should be more decisive and aggressive himself in front of goal and take more shots, but he loves to create for others. That’s why I don’t think he should be played wide or as a forward but as the number 10 or creative attacking midfielder centrally. That’s where he is best. And he is better than Kroos. Give him more runners like Poldi and Schurrle so he can create chances for them to finish, I’d say.
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I do agree with you Hunter about Debuchy. I’m not excited about that possibility…
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“Its like say henry vs suarez….both unbeleivable strikers but one would sulk and look in the heavens and crap his pants when we needed him the most ( 3 1v1 valdez paris…score it ffs! for wenger) and the other will just tear everyone apart in quest for victory/trophy/success”
Dude, would you mind jumping off Suarez’s cock for a minute? Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers the game has ever seen, Suarez is a cheating cunt who happened to score a lot of goals one season because his manager played an all out offensive formation. I’m cracking up over your Henry sulking comment. You know what Suarez did? He bit his opponent and fucked his team out of the world cup.
With regard to Ozil, his assists record seems to indicate that he is actually very difficult to shut down.
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What an awful post. I bet this guy can make fucking sound banal.
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What is an Awful post Gains?
Hunter, are you suggesting Suarez>Henry?
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I agree with Gains. Again.
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I think it is more than a suggestion, George.
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Fantastic article. Well said.
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What do you agree about LG?
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I agree that Henry was one of the greatest strikers ever, that Ozil is not easy to shut down, and that Suarez doesn’t compare.
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Oh, I see,
Saurez is a great player too. Horrible , but great.
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Gainsbourg69 July 4, 2014 at 7:47 pm
well youre entitled to believe that all you want but it does not change the fact that suarez is more of a shark. then again you consider hummels/luiz average and djourou better than them so………. aurier for sagna? LOL… anyway… suarez has scored tons of goals at ajax and liverpool and he will score tons of goal for barca too … suarez may have bit his opponent but its the hysteria of the media that got him out of the world cup and the mad hypocritical world/stage of fifa and generally the “morals of football” … dont forget these same cunts kicked maradona out of football……hybris…..as for ozil being difficult to shut down it was in comparison to messi and in terms of man marking which is near impossible to do to the argentinian…
secondly henry is more of an all round forward …even in that epic french team trezequet was the killer and henry playing either left or right……. plus suarez would have nailed it in paris. and please show me what bothered you that much in my comment as i call both of them unbelievable …i just give the edge to the uruguyan..
hey george actually yes …ive seen both and suarez as a striker is a tick above henry purely in terms of being more of a “killer” ..thierry might curl them in a nicer way but luis will chase and harass and chase again will do whatever it takes…and for me the biting is a ridiculous thing to use as the sole thing to describe him…all top athletes have nerve…once one understands what suarez brings to a team its easy to dismiss the circus surrounding his biting….. robben is also a disgusting cheat ..that does not take away from him the fact he is a very dangerous footballer and an excellent winger…
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I can never tell when Hunter is taking the piss. I’m just going to assume always…surely.
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Limestonegunner July 4, 2014 at 7:34 pm
so basically ozil has an eye for a pass …..fair enough …i give you following video
not only passing…weight, long, short..vision..but also a unique ablity to dictate play and tempo
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oh and id take howard over schezhny too…….
dont bite….
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Risky starting Maicon. Already suffering lack of creativity. But maybe more solid defensuvely with Gustavo suspended.
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Hunter,I loved Fabrefas’ game and even posted that video on ACLF before the split when many denizrbs of this parish were deriding and denigrating Fabregas’ game after his Barca move. No need to compare. AW has chosen to go with Ozil now. And he is terrific. Don’t hold his Turkish descent against him, my Greek friend!
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Well Howard is a wonderful and mature GK. hard to compare with a 24 yr old still learning the craft.
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put it this way gains ….if i had 30 million and had the option to get either suarez or thierry id go for suarez and the same applies for ozil/cesc…but thats just me …dont judge me…..cause if i start judging you according to (what i consider) your ridiculous selections on players you wont like it either…youre always so agitated….just roll one and chill amigo…. look at your fingers ..are they same? same goes for people/preferences….
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This is already a better game than France Germany!
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Limestonegunner July 4, 2014 at 9:05 pm
lol..his nationality has nothing to do with it mate….for me he lacks nerve…of course he has great qualities as a deliverer of final balls but i dont see him as the type to icatet a game like say other tens would. ..wenger wouldnt spend 42 million on him just like that nor because it was fans pressure ( haha) ….im just saying what id do if i had the option..i dont see why others would get mad about it.
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Enjoy the match fellas. I’m off to a public house to watch.
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I know Hunter, just joking with you as you take it in good humoured fashion!
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humour is the best character feature of all…its why i dont get this hatred on luis…and if you can ignore the hypocricy on the morality of biting on a football pitch lol… ( especially when you have scum hooligans going on the pitch with intention to ruin careers) one can only laugh.., i laughed my arse off when i saw him bite chielini…shocked initially in terms ” shit that guy is crazy” but immediately i started laughing…especially when he was holding his teeth…genius….
and to later hear/read the hysteria ..now that made me sad…it was jealousy and sour grapes that he had humiliated england coming back from injury in such short notice and then saying what he said about revenge….well when a nation starts calling you a cunt racist cheat diver etc etc the only thing on your mind is to punish them, no? what would you or anyone else do?
the media here and public opinion had him on the black list just because of the evra fiasco which lets face it was two kids fighting in a playground trashtalking eachother and when it got serious one of them went and told the headmaster….imo ..dont start what you cant finish….and dont play the racism card when you ve started insulting mothers and whatever else….mothers are holy… and if you really that offended from the comment and have had your integrity/dignity/personality/heritage trashed to pieces then as a man you take care of matters right there and then……. its why i praise zidanne and get angry when i read articles starting with ” he will always be remembered for that headbutt…”…bollocks …..i remember his pirouetes and his outrageous calmness and technique. and io also remember that materazzi has always been a bastard in his career… not many can do a chip-penalty on boufon in a world cup final
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im sorry but thats no yellow for thiaggo…ospina is just stupid… come on ref…
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the average luiz……
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hey gains….i say we sack boro and hire you instead mate ….. ahahaaaa
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shhhh dont complain…..you insult, i humour …
subuteo
pro evo
fifa
the wooden table
fm
5×5
8×8
11×11
i chose luiz cesc and luis …come with your djourou your ozil and whoever else you want …..
oh and you can have joel…i ll take the overrated hamez…… ahah
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shit that was intense… everyone for doping control….
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So Suarez is about to sign for Barca! Thank fuck for that.
Maybe we won’t hear anymore about him on this Arsenal blog now
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You’d have Suarez over Henry? Hahahahahahaha!!! Wait, wait. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Yeah, keep complaining about the media hounding Luis Suarez. Hopefully he doesn’t end up with a permanent ban for losing his balance and crunching someone with those humongous chompers off his.
As far as Hummels and Luiz are concerned, they’re both over hyped donkeys whose athleticism makes them look better than they are. If you want to shit on Djourou to big up these two, be my guest, but don’t ignore Djourou’s stats and don’t ignore how he performed for Arsenal.
If you had thirty million you wouldn’t be able to buy a pack of fucking chiclets. Want to know why? Because every dumb ass with a little bit of dough is willing to pay a hundred million pounds for a Garreth Bale or fifty million pounds for David Luiz.
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“The problem with this World Cup is that the exotic has become commonplace and the likes of Darren Gough, not to mention many teenage boys, are having to watch whole games in their essentially dull entirety, perhaps for the very first time. Watching Messi being shackled by Johan Djouru for two hours is a little like (and I’m guessing here, Your Honour) watching Linda Lovelace condemned to a perpetual diet of lukewarm and unseasoned Shepherds’ Pie. It is, at best, a disappointment. ”
George, this is like saying sex is boring until someone climaxes. FH is an awesome writer, but football is more than just a brilliant flick or a beautiful pass.
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Gains; you have made the point I was trying to make. Of course it is more than a brilliant flick etc. I know that, you know that, so do the wonderful people who comment on this site know that. Linda Lovelace must have distracted me.
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I didn’t see the Fra/Ger match, but I’m surprised how easily the former went out of the competition. I really thought they might do it against the German’s. But having seen part of the Bra/Col match, I think the former are definitely riding the lucky train and just hope their luck runs out soon. I can’t believe how poor this Brazil team is, it’s like watching chelski and I really do not want to see this lack of ambition/talent squeak it’s way to victory
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“So Suarez is about to sign for Barca! Thank fuck for that.
Maybe we won’t hear anymore about him on this Arsenal blog now”
I wish!
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P.S. Great article as usual
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