The last time I checked there was Pedro who does the same thing for Barcelona.
Even before Pedro came to the fore, we already had the likes of Tevez and Park doing the same.
Thomas Muller
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The last time I checked there was Pedro who does the same thing for Barcelona.
Even before Pedro came to the fore, we already had the likes of Tevez and Park doing the same.
Except Park and Tevez arent the most intelligent of footballers. Especially compared to Muller, it's on another level mate.
I'd reckon Parks "FI" is actually one of his best attributes. That & his 3rd lung is probably what got him to play (& excel) at a super club like United.
It wasn't exactly his technique, shot, cross etc... So Park IMO was a very, very intelligent footballer.
It wasn't exactly his technique, shot, cross etc... So Park IMO was a very, very intelligent footballer.
Parks tactical intelligence was one of his best assets, saying he wasn't a smart footballer is ludicrous.
I've been a Muller fanboi for several years and am pleased to see the recognition he richly deserves. He was absolutely Germany's best player in WC 2010 before he was ridiculously booked for a handball in midfield, which tossed him out against the match v Spain.
As for the body check to free up Robben, it was an act of instant pure genius but the referee should have called it a foul. You cannot set what we in the US call a pick in open play in football. Basketball, yes; American football, yes; but not in association rules football. You can sorta, kinda, maybe get away with it on free kicks if you conceal it enough. But Muller got away with one there.
The man is a complete footballer. Not the fastest, not the most powerful, not the slickest on the ball...but the total package is ridiculous and he's well on his way to becoming a Bayern and Germany legend. Soon to be a CL winner and a World Cup winner, unless my beloved Mexico has anything to say about it!
I don't see why he's getting praise for the foul. Seemed to me that Robben was past Alba anyway and he could have lost Bayern a goal there if the ref made the right call.
He's a very good player but I don't see the need to praise him for that moment, especially when he scored two goals in the game.
He's a very good player but I don't see the need to praise him for that moment, especially when he scored two goals in the game.
I'm not so sure about Robben being clearly past Alba. Robben's finishing was weak over the last month and Alba at least would have put a lot of pressure on him releasing the ball quickly instead of having time to make the best decision. The angle wasn't great either. I'd say Müller's foul increased the probability of Robben scoring significantly.
Agreed. But for the pick, which was clearly a foul, Robben would not have had the clear path.
And yet Nani gets sent off with a straight red for a legitimate play on the ball while the man comes in from behind. Crazy, arbitrary fukk refereeing in football, which apart from corruption at FIFA, is the biggest blight on the sport.
The praise on body-check on Alba is truly overblown. Its as if people just discovered the footballing "dark arts".
Yep, especially as opposed to Muller getting praised for the block, the ref should get slated because it was kind of a obvious foul. There for 99% to see.
I once watched a Heineken cup rugby match. Last set piece of the match, scrum on the opponents 5 yard line. They score, they win. The refs standing on the other (blind) side of the scrum (so too the lino) & as the scrum half is about to put the ball in - the opposition scrum half taps it out of his hand
Team wins it. Kicks it out. Game over. Ref missed it.
Now that's smart & praiseworthy
The Bayern ******** is truly underway, people overly praising Mullers piece of cheating and calling him the most intelligent player in the world.
God help me.
God help me.
He has had a great season to be fair.
50 games, 23 goals, 19 assists.
50 games, 23 goals, 19 assists.
Recognition of a cheating play should not be confused with "praise", properly understood. Muller put on what would be called a screen in basketball, which is completely illegal in football/soccer. That's possibly even a bookable offense as he made no attempt whatsoever to make a play on the ball. But it was not a serious foul in any way and there was no threat of injury to the opposing player. And if the foul were called, as it should have been, the resulting free kick in no way would have put Bayern under threat. And getting away with it allowed a goal scoring opportunity.
The real issue is why the referee allowed such an obvious offense to go unpunished. I hate to cast a wide net, but European referees are generally very poor. And getting worse season after season.
The real issue is why the referee allowed such an obvious offense to go unpunished. I hate to cast a wide net, but European referees are generally very poor. And getting worse season after season.
That's Bullshit and you know it too.
By watching football and concentrating on the tactical side of what happens during the game. Managers and coaches do it all the time frankly
You clearly imagine I've declared him ''the greatest football brain ever'' judging by your question.
He's fantastic. Thought he was when he really made his mark for Germany and I still think he is. If you want your team to play fluid football he must be such an asset to have. Not to mention hes a goalscorer too.
He's fantastic. Thought he was great when I first noticed him for Germany and I still think the same. Such a clever football brain and a finisher to boot. Must be such an asset for the fluidity of any team he plays in.
Still pissed off at whichever mod deleted my original Muller thread from 2009. My find, none of you lot are allowed to like him.
The greatest footballing brain in the world you said. Was just curious as to what he does differently that displays more footballing intelligence than the likes of Xavi, Pirlo or Scholes for example. Bit of a random statement just, wasn't having a go.
Football hipsters 
Seriously? I said for me he has the best football brain of player's currently playing. I'm suprised that translates as having the greatest football brain to you . And to answer the later part of your question, for me I don't beleive the Xavi's and Pirlo's over come as much natural weakeness to make the impact they do to multiply the tactical strengths of their teams like he does. I also don't know anyone else who regularly keeps out more technically gifted and very intelligent players out of the team's he plays for simply because of the attribute I described. I've seen him keep players like Ribery, Kroos and Goetze, Reus on the bench as long as he is on form. Yet technically he isn't in their league even though his technique is good. But that's just my opinion.
He doesn't have a better footballing brain than Pirlo IMO, and certainly not better than Scholes.
Wasn't he rumoured to be available last summer? I'm sure City turned down the chance to sign him at one point.
Bayern don't sell.
Except when the feckers sold us Hargreaves. They knew something was up with him.
I think they were looking to get Dzeko (according to reports anyway) and Muller had been out of form and on the bench for parts of the season. It's probably bullshit anyway but I remember reading it a few times over the summer.
Yeah Hargreaves is why I edited out the 'never' but aside from him I don't recall them selling a player they cared about in the past decade.
Müller never really was a candidate for the striker role, so I don't think he would've competed with Dzeko. The latter was rumored to be a signing for squad depth, because they only had Olic to replalce Gomez, but in the end they went for Mandzukic and Pizarro.
Müller never really was a candidate for the striker role, so I don't think he would've competed with Dzeko. The latter was rumored to be a signing for squad depth, because they only had Olic to replalce Gomez, but in the end they went for Mandzukic and Pizarro.
Yup
I sure can't think of anyone they've sold to a top team. Who have they sold in the last 5-10 years to a rival, either domestically or in Europe?
Hargreaves and Ballack.
Ballack was not sold, he didn't extend his contract and left for free.
They did sell Lucio to Inter, but that was down to van Gaal not really wanting him.
They did sell Lucio to Inter, but that was down to van Gaal not really wanting him.
Yep, you are right. Always thought that he was sold.
If we can get half of that from Welbeck.. would be marvelous.
Well on paper Barca and Ajax look like the perfect match for such an agreement. I don't think the same can be said for United and Ajax.
posted in the wrong thread :<
Perhaps I have a lack of footballing intelligence myself, but I have never rated Muller as that special myself. I've heard so many professional analysis and assessments of his game that insist he is some sort of genius, but when I watch him, I don't really see one.
He is incredibly productive, I must say, and mature beyond his years.
He is incredibly productive, I must say, and mature beyond his years.
I wouldn't say you lack footballing intelligence, but it's not exactly easy to see why he's good because he doesn't do anything particularly conspicuous - other than the assists and goals. But what makes him so good is why he gets so many goals/assists, and that's through intelligent movement and very good on the pitch awareness.
I don't know about being the most intelligent player in the world, but he's pretty intelligent.
I don't know about being the most intelligent player in the world, but he's pretty intelligent.
Isn't that pretty much the indirect definition of football intelligence? Playing mature (=smart) and being productive/effective without having to rely on flashy stuff?
Sounds like Gary Neville or James Milner to me!
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