(tried to post this in the Articles section but couldn't so here goes)
Celebrity vs. Ability/Skill/Aptitude
The crowning of Crisitano Ronaldo as player of the year, which was subsequently contrasted with his performance in the Champions League semi-final has brought the issue of celebrity versus ability into the spotlight. Are we, as humans, so easily led by the media that even footballers themselves are falling into the trap of believing the hype? Unfortunately, this seems to be very much the case.
It is a poor reflection on the Player of the Year award when a player such as Crisitano Ronaldo receives such accolades. There is no question that the boy has talent, but he has yet to prove himself against the toughest completition on the world stage and/or at the highest level.
To form a comparison, David Beckham is the best example of a proper balance between celebrity and ability. With Beckham comes huge media interest, and for much of his career, Becks was labelled as a mediocre player with great dead ball skills. To a great extent, the label was accurate. However, to produce the goal against Greece in the manner as it unfolded, Beckham proved that his skill could be summoned under the greatest of pressures. He therefore has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest strikers of a dead ball of all time.
In this regard, it is difficult to understand the motivation behind Ronaldo being awarded player of the year. He has yet to show his talents at the very highest level, which, if this season is the motivation for judgement, qualifies his position as being 'one of the best players in the world against weak opposition' which is entirely different. Being the best means proving oneself against the best, and this is something that the Portuguese player has so far failed to achieve. Great against Fulham, poor against Chelsea. Great against Newcastle, poor against Liverpool. The list goes on. However, the most obvious (and widely broadcast) example of this phenomenon was the Champions League Semi Final against A C Milan. The boy's desperate attempts at tricks in the first few minutes of the match set in stone that which many had been thinking all season; this player has a lot to learn before he can be considered great. His extrovert stepovers and flicks have made him a media darling, but those who really understand football realise that one swallow does not a summer make.
If Ronaldo can be awarded player of the year for his role in the premiership this season, then surely Daniel Agger deserves an equal award, if not one of greater value? While Ronaldo was performing his headless chicken routine in the San Siro, Agger was earning his team a place in Athens with a truly stunning goal. A goal which he scored under the greatest of pressure, a goal which he scored after a poor first leg where Drogba ran him ragged, a goal which he scored after an unforgiving media was labelling him as being immature and unable to cope at this level, again the list goes on. Why then, does Daniel Agger not justify the same headlines as the United midfielder? The answer is simple, Agger does not have any media value. His shyness and desire to avoid the spotlight means that he is overlooked by those searching for more sensational headlines. Solid performance after performance, clean sheet after clean sheet, and still his efforts go largely unrecognised by the media at large.
Be advised that this is not a Liverpool vs. United article, in that I could very well have chosen a number of players besides Daniel Agger to draw the comparison. Vidic, Essien, Fabregas and Finnan are all deserving of higher accolades than they have received this season. However, until the footballing media is infiltrated by those who actually understand the professional game, we will inevitably be forced to endure such obvious and blatant bias towards those with the biggest media footprint.
Celebrity vs. Ability/Skill/Aptitude
The crowning of Crisitano Ronaldo as player of the year, which was subsequently contrasted with his performance in the Champions League semi-final has brought the issue of celebrity versus ability into the spotlight. Are we, as humans, so easily led by the media that even footballers themselves are falling into the trap of believing the hype? Unfortunately, this seems to be very much the case.
It is a poor reflection on the Player of the Year award when a player such as Crisitano Ronaldo receives such accolades. There is no question that the boy has talent, but he has yet to prove himself against the toughest completition on the world stage and/or at the highest level.
To form a comparison, David Beckham is the best example of a proper balance between celebrity and ability. With Beckham comes huge media interest, and for much of his career, Becks was labelled as a mediocre player with great dead ball skills. To a great extent, the label was accurate. However, to produce the goal against Greece in the manner as it unfolded, Beckham proved that his skill could be summoned under the greatest of pressures. He therefore has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest strikers of a dead ball of all time.
In this regard, it is difficult to understand the motivation behind Ronaldo being awarded player of the year. He has yet to show his talents at the very highest level, which, if this season is the motivation for judgement, qualifies his position as being 'one of the best players in the world against weak opposition' which is entirely different. Being the best means proving oneself against the best, and this is something that the Portuguese player has so far failed to achieve. Great against Fulham, poor against Chelsea. Great against Newcastle, poor against Liverpool. The list goes on. However, the most obvious (and widely broadcast) example of this phenomenon was the Champions League Semi Final against A C Milan. The boy's desperate attempts at tricks in the first few minutes of the match set in stone that which many had been thinking all season; this player has a lot to learn before he can be considered great. His extrovert stepovers and flicks have made him a media darling, but those who really understand football realise that one swallow does not a summer make.
If Ronaldo can be awarded player of the year for his role in the premiership this season, then surely Daniel Agger deserves an equal award, if not one of greater value? While Ronaldo was performing his headless chicken routine in the San Siro, Agger was earning his team a place in Athens with a truly stunning goal. A goal which he scored under the greatest of pressure, a goal which he scored after a poor first leg where Drogba ran him ragged, a goal which he scored after an unforgiving media was labelling him as being immature and unable to cope at this level, again the list goes on. Why then, does Daniel Agger not justify the same headlines as the United midfielder? The answer is simple, Agger does not have any media value. His shyness and desire to avoid the spotlight means that he is overlooked by those searching for more sensational headlines. Solid performance after performance, clean sheet after clean sheet, and still his efforts go largely unrecognised by the media at large.
Be advised that this is not a Liverpool vs. United article, in that I could very well have chosen a number of players besides Daniel Agger to draw the comparison. Vidic, Essien, Fabregas and Finnan are all deserving of higher accolades than they have received this season. However, until the footballing media is infiltrated by those who actually understand the professional game, we will inevitably be forced to endure such obvious and blatant bias towards those with the biggest media footprint.
I feel sorry for you so...
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