Flat-track bully!
by Herr Ed
There are some players who have a big reputation that is incommensurable with their actual talent. These flat-track bullies are the sorts of players who will bulldoze inferior opposition, but are nowhere to be seen when the chips are down.
Portugal’s Pauleta is one such player. Playing for the host nation as striker at Euro 2004, Pauleta was touted to score a hatful of goals. He managed to score none, and looked sluggish and unimaginative in the process. He started the quarter final against England and posed no threat whatsoever: it was disappointing to see him withdrawn for the more menacing Nuno Gomes.
Pauleta is again tipped to perform well at this summer’s footballing showpiece. He scored plenty of goals against the likes of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein in the qualifiers and has also been finding the back of the net for his club side Paris St Germain. Pauleta will find life a lot more difficult in the World Cup finals however, and Herr Hippo will eat a hat for every goal he scores.
Other flat-track bullies not to bother keeping an eye out for: France’s David Trezeguet and Spain’s Fernando Torres.
April 27th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Torres?
Bit inexperienced to level this criticism at methinks. La Liga also provides a much sterner weekly test for a striker than Ligue 1. I think Hippo should eat one of his own body parts for every goal that is scored by young young Fernando…
April 27th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Perhaps I have been a bit rash vis-a-vis Torres. However, I understand he scored a hat-trick against San Marino in the final group qualifier, and think this might intimate a flat-tracker! A great striker would surely score just once against such lowly opponents, then jog around languidly for the rest of the match.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:58 am
Big reputation that is incommensurable with actual talent = Deco.
I can count on the fingers of Mickey Mouse’s right hand the worthwhile contributions the supposed Portuguese genius has made in his career.
April 28th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Personally, I’m not too fussed with that Swedish chap Ibrahimowic.
April 28th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
The entire Spanish team in every tournament there has ever been is a perfect example of the collective flat-tracker
April 28th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Does Clarence Seedorf qualify for this?
April 29th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Ronaldo, Raul, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Figo, Gascoigne, Colin Hendire and Puskas.
May 2nd, 2006 at 1:59 pm
How about Vieri?