Right, but still, the majority of their international success has come with this generation only. If you consider success being actually winning trophies. Of course, they have consistently put out great players.

What I've been trying to say when this topic comes up, basically, is the Spanish style is not the only way to do it. Other clubs and countries that have had bigger, stronger, better athletes than their opponents, can win, and have won more often historically. Really, this generation of Spain and Messi are the outlier. In terms of teams winning with tiny, intricately passing players/teams. It also helps that the entire Spanish team, or at least the players who were on the field the most, came from 2 out of the 3 or 4 best club teams of this generation. Familiarity with your teammates being incredibly beneficial, that is.

All of this kinda goes back to the myth that clubs/countries comprised of the biggest, fastest, strongest, most athletic dudes a nation (or checkbook) can offer, don't win as often in soccer, and how it relates to America's success/lack of success/future success internationally. Look at this Bayern team for example, very good athletes across the board. This seasons Real Madrid team is another example. They are crazy athletic. Ronaldo, Bale, Di Maria, Isco, Benzema, so much talent. I hadn't seen much of Isco until recently, but man, he is nasty.

Kinda rambling here, sorry.

This post was edited on 12/7/13 at 9:50 pm

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Posted by Dandy Lion

Member since Feb 2010

50255 posts

Posted on 12/7/13 at 9:33 pm to mynamebowl

quote:

Right, but still, the majority of their international success has come with this generation only. If you consider success being actually winning trophies. Of course, they have consistently put out great players.

But Spanish football was not based upon this premise previously, in spite of having isolated great footballers.

The ball has always been treated with reverence in Spain, but pure athleticism and size, were of a much higher qualification. There have been myriad maestros lost in the previous configuration, myriad. In fact, that was the problem with Spain, as some were irrefutable for some reason, and others not. Always, on subjective criteria. Luís Aragonés did a lot of good for the country´s footballing scene. Albeit, he did it based upon what he had in his hands (not designating from base what need be done).

In the North, I can say, people are still looking for size and strength, but technical ability is more important than ever. On the Mediterranean side and the South, it´s really a great concern with technical capacity.

In short, and simplifying tremendously:

North. Big, fast, can he play? Find the most technically proficient.

Mediterranean and South. Technical, OK. Let´s see who´s the fastest and the biggest.

Very generalist, as the technical capacity required is probably of a higher level than in other countries (not that Spain is better than others, but Spain looks for technical proficiency as a base, as opposed to athletic capacity in general).

This post was edited on 12/7/13 at 9:43 pm

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Posted by SlowFlowPro

Simple Solutions to Complex Probs

Member since Jan 2004

423365 posts

Posted on 12/8/13 at 12:08 pm to mynamebowl

quote:
All of this kinda goes back to the myth that clubs/countries comprised of the biggest, fastest, strongest, most athletic dudes a nation (or checkbook) can offer, don't win as often in soccer, and how it relates to America's success/lack of success/future success internationally. Look at this Bayern team for example, very good athletes across the board. This seasons Real Madrid team is another example. They are crazy athletic. Ronaldo, Bale, Di Maria, Isco, Benzema, so much talent. I hadn't seen much of Isco until recently, but man, he is nasty.

historically, just look at brazil. they have great skill and a ton of big/fast/strong guys, too

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