- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Messages
- 32,074
- Reaction score
- 53
- Location
- Johannesburg
- Fav. Players
- Nesta, Maldini, Buffon, Rino*Pirlo*Clarence, Sheva, Totti, Ibra, Pippo, Giacomo, Carlo, Il Dottore
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1510?cc=4716
Michael Cox' tribute to Van Bommel.
I agree with several points, including the timing of teams signing Van Bommel (when they have no creative alternatives and need his grit).. But overall, he misses out on MvB's good points as well. And attributes teams going into a match in an aggressive mode (Portugal vs Netherlands) to just poor MvB.
Michael Cox' tribute to Van Bommel.
The death and subsequent re-emergence of the deep-lying passing midfielder has been a fascinating and deeply enjoyable development. AC Milan carried the torch throughout the mid-2000s by incorporating the wonderful Andrea Pirlo in their side -- "the exception," as Pep Guardiola termed him at the time -- as the rest of Europe concentrated on scrappers.
Guardiola had replaced Pirlo at Brescia, and later Guardiola's own Barcelona side took the theme further. Barca, of course, have now been superseded by the Bayern Munich side preparing to welcome Guardiola as their next coach, and the Germans are set to dominate the next few years in Europe. Javi Martinez's performance against Barcelona in Bayern's 4-0 first-leg victory showed how to blend physicality and technique wonderfully.
Peculiarly, Van Bommel played for all three -- Barca, Bayern and Milan. The Dutchman, however, never featured when those clubs were showcasing spectacular, era-defining football. He was instead the awkward alternative they reluctantly turned to during more desperate, cynical moments. He's the antithesis of proactive football.
I agree with several points, including the timing of teams signing Van Bommel (when they have no creative alternatives and need his grit).. But overall, he misses out on MvB's good points as well. And attributes teams going into a match in an aggressive mode (Portugal vs Netherlands) to just poor MvB.
Last edited: