09-22-2014, 12:43 AM
So funny reading all the posts.
To be honest, I pretty much ignore so call youth players bc the game is changing at a rapid pace and due to technology, formations, injuries and work ethics, players might just suddenly become a super star, as long as eh work hard and smart off the pitch and given chances.
When Man U signed Ronaldo and Rooney, Rooney was praised as the better player, the future...while Ronaldo got gifts but needs to fine tune his game....to some extend, that was true. Then you at them now and you can clearly see who was worked harder off the pitch. Another player is Bale. Was never a fan of his and never understood the hype around him at Spurs. If you go back, you can probably still find my comments about him as an overhyped player after the hat trick against Inter. But now, he is very close to a complete player and arguably a top 5 attackers in the world. Yes some did predict he would been a superstar but I doubt anyone would think he would become the type of player that he is now.
Then there is Robben, who is a completely different player than he was when he first broke through.
Pato was scoring goals and got pretty good stats and actually grew a few inches and pounds of muscles at Milan. yet, he struggled partly due to injuries but mostly bc he can't as a team.
I think a lot can change in the course of a players career. Unlike 20yrs ago where players can somehow get away with great talents alone, in the modern age great players need to work hard on the pitch and work even harder off the pitch.
To be honest, I pretty much ignore so call youth players bc the game is changing at a rapid pace and due to technology, formations, injuries and work ethics, players might just suddenly become a super star, as long as eh work hard and smart off the pitch and given chances.
When Man U signed Ronaldo and Rooney, Rooney was praised as the better player, the future...while Ronaldo got gifts but needs to fine tune his game....to some extend, that was true. Then you at them now and you can clearly see who was worked harder off the pitch. Another player is Bale. Was never a fan of his and never understood the hype around him at Spurs. If you go back, you can probably still find my comments about him as an overhyped player after the hat trick against Inter. But now, he is very close to a complete player and arguably a top 5 attackers in the world. Yes some did predict he would been a superstar but I doubt anyone would think he would become the type of player that he is now.
Then there is Robben, who is a completely different player than he was when he first broke through.
Pato was scoring goals and got pretty good stats and actually grew a few inches and pounds of muscles at Milan. yet, he struggled partly due to injuries but mostly bc he can't as a team.
I think a lot can change in the course of a players career. Unlike 20yrs ago where players can somehow get away with great talents alone, in the modern age great players need to work hard on the pitch and work even harder off the pitch.
