"Footballer's Intelligence" - getting the blend between Athlete and Intelligent Footbaler

Swisdom

I acknowledge this is an oxymoron but I want to make a couple of observations.

I'm sure I am not the only one here who played football to a pretty decent standard so I think this could be quite an interesting debate.

Lloyd Sam

Starting with Lloydy. This is nothing to do with him being the so-called scapegoat for the club.

I am so frustrated at him because he has the physical ability to be a truly great player. Pace, tricks, good first touch. One thing he completely lacks though is intelligence. How many times does Richardson get the ball - look up and want to pass to the win and he sees Lloyd Sam standing 5 yards from him calling for the ball.
With his speed he should see we have the ball and immediately burst for the halfway line on the touchline. Unfortunately this doesn't happen.
If I were coaching him i'd tell him to get his head down and hit the wings - then, beat his man and smash it in low and hard (like last night). So difficult to defend against that ball (I speak as a former goalie)

Sam Sodje
I like the guy - he is infectious and always tries his heart out. Sadly he has no brain cells between his ears as was displayed several times last night. That was a blatant block and therefore a penalty. He nudged the striker on the edge of the box that could easily have been another penno. And his misjudgement caused their 2nd goal.

On the other side of the coin you have players like Andy Reid who is not the most amazing athlete but has such a good footballing brain. He can see what pass to play. He can see what causes defenders trouble when whipping a ball into a box.
Paul Gascoigne had it too - the delivery into the box was always first rate whether it's whipped into the no-mans land or smashed in at head height. It's just impossible to defend. Basey is an example of a player with a great brain but without the physical excellence.
Whilst there are not many who possess attributes to be a great player (Ronaldinho, Beckham, Ronaldo) and certainly not many at this level, I do feel we have too many with none of the necessary attributes!

I think what annoys me most of all is that when I am at The Valley or watching on TV I can see when a pass is on or what to do seemingly seconds in advance of the players - whilst I appreciate it'sa different perspective on the pitch - it can't be that EVERY time!

Is it just me...?

Athletico Charlton

I sit in the north upper and can always spot passes before players but know if i was on the pitch with them I would not have spotted it - much easier from an angle!

However I do agree with you to a point - our players do not seem to have football savvy, at this level i would not expect the sort of football brain a Sheringham, Reid or Gazza had but I would expect them to stop and wait for the likes of SOdje etc to get in the box before taking a freekick in a good position with 10 mins left at 0-2 down rather than taking a quick freekick to no where like they did last night.

carly burn

All footballers should have a certain amount of atletisism or they would not be playing at the level they do.It is also something that can be worked on quite easily.
But making them intelligent is a big big ask.

Swisdom

I just think if I had the gift of their athleticism i'd have been an awesome player.

Instead I am a fat bastard keyboard warrior :-)

east terrace peanuts

Jonjo clearly has that 'football brain' which was evident when he first appeared but I fear that it is gradually getting 'unused' due to the quality that's around him and for his own sake he needs to move on to the next level.......he aint going to get it here for some time!

oohaahmortimer

what east terrace peanuts said .... in recent years we've turned into a footballing graveyard for careers