Davide Lanzafame (35 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chazz
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But weren't Hungary pretty good in football (back in the 50's or something)? 
hungarian football is in freefall since '86, though. and although the country never spent so much on academies and on the first league, the domestic matches are shittier than ever. players' wages are too high, and that spoils the performance.
I always wonder how many of these "talents" could have had different career paths if some things had fallen differently for them. Or if they just had stronger mentalities. Or if they worked harder on their weaknesses, always did their best in training, etc.
You can judge players on talent but there is a lot more to being a top level footballer, or any team sportsperson. We've all seen players who seem to have modest talent in comparison to others, and go on and have strong careers, whilst their better teammates in the youth levels fail.
I used to be up on youth players based on just perceived talent and learned the hard way like most others, but I find it just as interesting following the trajectories of players now, as much from a social perspective as sporting.
There are a few players you see who come along maybe every 5 or so years who you know will have good careers. Lanzafame wasn't one of them, but he had good potential, maybe even better.
This is a selection from around 2004 to 2017 that I have tried to grade from their time with the Primavera;
Tier 1 - Giovinco, Kean
Tier 2 - Spinazzola, Palladino, Criscito, Marchisio, Immobile, Marrone, Rugani, Audero
Tier 3 - Chiumiento, Lanzafame, Pasquato, F. Rossi, Mattiello, Clemenza, Cassata, Kastanos, Muratore
The rest you could say they might make it, but they were probably never destined to get out of Serie B. Giovinco and Kean were the only two I was convinced about, and neither may totally prove it. Some internationals here, some total flops, but from my memory this is how I would grade the players I saw.
From our current crop up to 19 years old I'd probably pick Fagioli between tiers 1 and 2. But with him, as for Ranocchia or Dragusin, it's harder to judge now because if these players were still playing U20 Primavera level, as all of the above did, we'd think they were the next Pirlo, De Rossi and Gica Popescu. The U23 team has been an important step to grow these kids faster.
Usually by U21 international level you can see more of who is a potential player and who isn't, but after that it comes down to some of the things I mentioned at the start.
You can judge players on talent but there is a lot more to being a top level footballer, or any team sportsperson. We've all seen players who seem to have modest talent in comparison to others, and go on and have strong careers, whilst their better teammates in the youth levels fail.
I used to be up on youth players based on just perceived talent and learned the hard way like most others, but I find it just as interesting following the trajectories of players now, as much from a social perspective as sporting.
There are a few players you see who come along maybe every 5 or so years who you know will have good careers. Lanzafame wasn't one of them, but he had good potential, maybe even better.
This is a selection from around 2004 to 2017 that I have tried to grade from their time with the Primavera;
Tier 1 - Giovinco, Kean
Tier 2 - Spinazzola, Palladino, Criscito, Marchisio, Immobile, Marrone, Rugani, Audero
Tier 3 - Chiumiento, Lanzafame, Pasquato, F. Rossi, Mattiello, Clemenza, Cassata, Kastanos, Muratore
The rest you could say they might make it, but they were probably never destined to get out of Serie B. Giovinco and Kean were the only two I was convinced about, and neither may totally prove it. Some internationals here, some total flops, but from my memory this is how I would grade the players I saw.
From our current crop up to 19 years old I'd probably pick Fagioli between tiers 1 and 2. But with him, as for Ranocchia or Dragusin, it's harder to judge now because if these players were still playing U20 Primavera level, as all of the above did, we'd think they were the next Pirlo, De Rossi and Gica Popescu. The U23 team has been an important step to grow these kids faster.
Usually by U21 international level you can see more of who is a potential player and who isn't, but after that it comes down to some of the things I mentioned at the start.
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It's something I wonder about too. How much of a player's potential depends on "talent" (don't mention Pegi) or natural technical ability and athleticism versus the right attitude and work ethic (plus environmental factors and opportunities).
How many kids of average ability with the right mentality and given favourable circumstances can make it to, say, a top 7 European League? I figure many of the players in these leagues aren't especially talented.
How many kids of average ability with the right mentality and given favourable circumstances can make it to, say, a top 7 European League? I figure many of the players in these leagues aren't especially talented.
Gio had a looot of talent on the ball, but he lacked just as much in physical area, guy was a freaking midget and there's not much you can do about it, he probably did most things right. I think the maximum for him was a career like Papu Gomez and even that guy is considerably bigger than Gio was, we just expected too much from Seba.
I sympathize with the small guys, but these days where everything is more and more data driven, guys with Gio's characteristics might not even get on the U teams because of the obvious disadvantage. you look at Cuads and think "yeah, that guy looks fragile", but in Gio world Juan is the Mountain lol and that's a guy that doesn't lose a single thing to Seba when it comes to acceleration or speed, the only advantage being as small as Seba was is that you can try to nutmeg larger defenders in a brand new way.
I sympathize with the small guys, but these days where everything is more and more data driven, guys with Gio's characteristics might not even get on the U teams because of the obvious disadvantage. you look at Cuads and think "yeah, that guy looks fragile", but in Gio world Juan is the Mountain lol and that's a guy that doesn't lose a single thing to Seba when it comes to acceleration or speed, the only advantage being as small as Seba was is that you can try to nutmeg larger defenders in a brand new way.
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I'm a simple man. I see a juvejay long post, I read.
For me, success is made of three components: talent, hard work, conducting oneself in an intelligent manner or good decision making. I'm not sure what % to attribute to each.
Tbh tier 3 talent isn't much to write him about (if you meant those players making it at top level and not mid-lower serie a level).
For me, success is made of three components: talent, hard work, conducting oneself in an intelligent manner or good decision making. I'm not sure what % to attribute to each.
Tbh tier 3 talent isn't much to write him about (if you meant those players making it at top level and not mid-lower serie a level).