I realized it myself. that is realy an awesome technique, it's poetry.. realy... great gift.
remember the breathtaker vs Chievo in 03/04 season? The ball simply floated on air!
Well, Here's another great article, Imo
The adventures of Andrea Pirlo
By Habi Assevero | Published 11/17/2005 | Soccer | Unrated
Pirlo is Italy's latest invention.
San Siro on a Sunday afternoon is full of infinite possibilities. On the 6th of November, there was an aura of expectation around the ground as fans waited to see if AC Milan would follow up their thrilling 3-1 victory over title rivals Juventus with another classy performance.
Milan didn’t disappoint. They thrashed Udinese 5-1 and it was arguably their best performance of the season. Unlike against Juventus, when they gave the reigning champions a taste of their own medicine, AC Milan played Udinese in their own typical style.
It was all about one touch passing and first class finishing. Milan were fast, fluent, elegant and effective. Grazie mille to Udinese, thank you for coming and enjoy the trip home. When Milan play like that they are impossible to live with.
The entire team played well and deserved credit for the victory, but there is one element that cannot be ignored. The best Milan we’ve seen this season coincides with the best Andrea Pirlo we’ve seen this season and that’s no accident.
Surprised? After all, AC Milan have bigger names that have come good in recent times. Alberto Gilardino scored twice against Udinese, Clarence Seedorf is showing signs of his former brilliance, Kaka continues to torment his opponents with his technical skills, what makes Pirlo so special?
Simple. The role that Pirlo plays and the way he plays it cannot be reproduced by any other player in Europe. It’s a strong statement to make but it’s the truth. You can put other players in that position, just in front of the defense but none of them will give exactly what Pirlo does.
He may not be the sort to attract attention, even when he’s on the pitch but if you watch Milan play without him, you’ll immediately notice the difference. He gives the team its fluidity and its technical mastery, the trademarks of AC Milan’s best performances.
Pirlo’s importance to AC Milan and now to the Italian national team is down to one man, Carlo Ancelotti. The AC Milan coach did what many others had tried and failed to do. He found a way to put Pirlo’s unique gifts to use. That Andrea was talented was never in question but as a trequartista he wasn’t expressing that talent.
His vision and passing will always make him one of the most creative players in any team but it wasn’t until Ancelotti placed him low in midfield that his influence on the game became marked and essential.
A casual eye will more easily be attracted to players like Kaka or Shevchenko or even defensive midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, but Pirlo is the one that allows his teammates to shine. He is the main brain of the AC Milan machine. He dictates the pace and adapts Milan’s game to whatever circumstances present themselves.
If AC Milan is a Formula One car then Pirlo is its pilot. He has all the elements of the machine committed to memory. He knows how to put each of his teammates in the best position to contribute to the team and they in turn trust him to drive them to victory.
It’s safe to say that Pirlo is one of the more intriguing innovations in the recent history of football. Usually, when a coach puts a player in front of defense, it’s with the idea of having more protection for his back four and ensuring the quality of the link between them and the midfield.
Pirlo provides that link but having him lower down on the pitch is really about maximizing his offensive potential. In that position he forms a sort of vertical tandem with Milan’s true trequartista, Kaka, allowing Milan to play with two playmakers, sometimes even three (if they only play with one center forward) and never unbalance the team.
Against Udinese, Pirlo was the orchestra leader and there wasn’t a false note to be heard in the 90 minutes of Milan’s opera. It’s no wonder they call San Siro the Scala of football. He even deigned to add his personal trademark to the match, a fantastic free kick from outside the area.
Once you understand how important Pirlo is to Milan, you’ll find that your eyes will drift to him time and again. Each time you’ll be astounded by his vision and intelligence, his technique and the subtly with which he pulls the team’s strings.
Pirlo is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating players in Europe and he is unique. Ancelotti has tried to find someone that could be his understudy but he hasn’t yet found a player with the same combination of talents.
In football, it’s the players that have something extra and different that revolutionize the sport. Franz Beckenbauer did it in his time, changing forever what being a defender was all about.
Andrea Pirlo is set to do the same by being a new variation of the modern midfielder. And what bigger adventure could there be than that?