Monday, October 29, 2007

The undercover playmakers

The notion of football as a game of chess on grass long ago entered the realm of cliché, but the intricate tactical battles that characterise the modern game have given the concept new meaning. Nevertheless, the analogy has its limits: the rook or castle is condemned to move in horizontal or vertical lines and the bishop to running the diagonals, whereas total mobility, limited only by the confines of the playing area, is an increasingly prized attribute for footballers today.

Nowhere is this development of the modern game more marked than in the ever-evolving position of full-back. Where once a workmanlike defensive display, a turn of pace and a few decent crosses was all that was required even at the highest level, today's right and left-backs have become pivotal figures in their sides' attacking efforts, complementing their defensive skills with abilities normally reserved for creative midfielders. Unsurprisingly, full-backs often top the match stats for number of touches of the ball.

Now that the players traditionally wearing the numbers 2 and 3 have evolved into all-round utility performers, it is by no means too far-fetched to describe them as the clandestine playmakers of the latest footballing generation. The full-backs are in a position to call the offensive plays as they usually initiate their teams' attacking moves. They are also responsible for supplying the passing midfielders with possession.

Italy's Facchetti may well have been the first conventional full-back to grasp the attacking possibilities. Before his untimely death at the age of 64 in September 2006, Facchetti's pace, dribbling ability and slide-rule crosses were the stuff of nightmares for defences in the 60s and 70s. Decades later, the Italian legend's successors have come to embody the blend of physique, pace and technical excellence demanded by the modern game.

Brazilians were pioneers when it came to developing the attacking range of the full-back position. Many rate the 5-times FIFA World Cup winners as the ultimate practitioners of wing-based attacking play, with the wide men cast not merely as participants but also instigators and finishers of offensive moves down the flanks. 1980s stars Jorginho and Branco and their successors Roberto Carlos and Cafu provided the Brazilians with a vast range of options and alternatives, often initiating the match-winning move in tight situations.

Europe long ago woke up to the critical influence exerted by the full-backs, and it is notable that many of the leading nations favour converted midfielders in the position. Willy Sagnol of France, by common consent one of the best full-backs in world football, worked his way through the national youth ranks as a midfielder. His Bayern Munich team-mate Philipp Lahm was similarly a holding midfielder at youth levels. When injury robbed Germany boss Joachim Low of his usual midfield enforcers for a recent friendly, it was the diminutive but mobile Lahm who stepped in as an alternative.

No-one would deny that modern full-backs are considerably more skillful than their counterparts of yore, and are thus perfectly capable of operating in midfield when the occasion demands, and vice-versa, as the examples of Germany aces Torsten Frings and Bernd Schneider show. Recognised as midfield players, the pair frequently help out at full-back should the need arise.

Looking more closely at modern tactics, it is clear that the range of wing-based options allowing today's defenders to open up the play means the full-backs have become an integral part of the midfield, providing the extra man or offering another passing option. The full-back commands a range of alternatives including a diagonal pass, a short ball into the hole, or tracking his own forward to provide an overlap. Full-backs are required to take split-second decisions, usually under pressure from the opposing defence, but they are often central to the to the direction and nature of the next attacking move.

Italy star Fabio Grosso provided the decisive edge for the Azzurri in both the semi-final and Final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ as his team advanced to claim the trophy, while Lahm was hailed as the embodiment of the hosts' new commitment to flowing offensive football.

Modern football is grounded in wing play then, where the new covert playmakers ply their trade. It is an area of the field where matches are increasingly won and lost.

AQUARIUS MAN

Hot-hearted man who likes to do thing his way. He can suddenly decide to do something without thinking of it's outcome. He is the type of guy with an inside energizer, so if you fall in love with this type of guy be "patient", even if you have to follow him a bit. His creative mind could create fantastic idea any time.

He moves very fast and very energetic, and he has a very self confident in himself. He is not the type to sit down and feel sorry or regret anything for long, especially with "Love". He loves justice. He dares to show his opinion or even argue about certain subject even he knows it might bring him problems. A straight forward type of guy.

He hardly lies except if he think it is necessary and he is not a good liar. He will not lie to you about serious matter, but if he lie he will lie only a small little thing. He is gifted with the ability to be a very social person. He could talk even about subject that he has no knowledge of.
Many times he feels hurt because of reality, but he will not run away and he will overcome that difficulty.

He is the type who feels sorry if you remember bad things he said to you that he had already forgotten,but you did not. Believe him that he is very sorry and give him another chance.
Once he decides to do something, he will put all his mind and energy in it. He is the type who gamble anything in the casino, so do not even take him there. He does not like pessimistic, low energy, and depressed person. Strangely he like to overpower this type of people to assure that he is more superior.

You can see sparkling in his eyes, once he meet a new target or new lover. Once he is in love, he will act as if he never has love like this before. This minute he could be real sugar sweet, and later he could also be an icy cold, but do not blame him for that will only chase him away.

He could fall in love again with another girl and act again like he never has this kind of love before.He could really love someone, but not a heart broken type for he thinks love is"excitement" and "Love goes on".

If he is quiet not because he is shy, but he is only quietly thinking. If you have a chance to ask his X-girlfriend, she will tell you that he is not a shy or quiet type. If he is really and truly in love with you, he will never lie to you at all. How do you know if he loves you, bet on your faith! Love him and treat him steadily and do not try to find anything to argue with him, he will be with, go and say it out loud because he hate long boring story. He hate to play games, chasing for love or being chased, so let him call you first. He likes a confident woman who also a good follower.

If he gets mad at you, let him be for only a short time he will be normal again. You have to like and be able to get along with his friends, but he does not have to do so with all your friends.
Don't ever think you could make him jealous by flirting with other man, he will just leave instead of making a scene because he is a confident man and has to be the first in everything.

Every time i see you my heart flutters. every time i talk to you my mouth shivers. every time i think of you im glad to know tat u r e perfect person in dis world. We love because it's the only true adventure, its the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart(and body).

I jus duno wat is holding mi back from talking to you. i beginning to develop feelings for you seriously. its like the image of u keeps appearing in front of mi. den my heart will race faster.let fate decide everything ba. its so esy to fall in love,when u are concerned my heart can learn. i trying to sleep without thinking of u.

Here is a quick structure you can use for meeting a woman anywhere:
1.Approach her confidently.
2.Make a humorous comment about something that is relevant to the situation.
3.Talk to her as if she is already somebody you know.
4.After a few minutes, mention that you are busy and tell her it has been nice talking to her.
5.Walk away as if you are leaving, but turn around and mention that it would be nice to continue the conversation again.
6.Get her phone number.

Even thou physically u are so near to me yet it seems so hard to get near to u. however seeing u from afar,looking at your cheery smile,sweet voice and those charming,enchanting eyes of yours,u bring mi so much happiness. yet whenever i see u, i let shyness overcome mi.i do not have e courage to approach and speak to u and to know u better.i cant even master e courage to say a simple hi to u when u r just in front of mi. im willing to remain in dis fantastic dream to stay close to u.let mi be ur guardian angel and watch over u. let mi watch u in silence. i wish i could hold u close to my heart,watch u smile.i dowan to miss any time tat im able to see u. e sweetest of all dreams never go, every moment i will truly treasure. wondering if its me u r dreaming of,hoping tat time will stand still for e two of us, for mi to admire and indulge in ur sweetness and beauty.i wish i could hold ur hands and never let go.

u r e only one tat can make my heart go faster, make my palms sweat. my heart doesnt just race for anyone- its for u only

When You're Gone


I always needed time on my own
I never thought I'd need you there when I cried
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie
Is made up on your side

When you walk away
I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?

When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it ok
I miss you

e video and song is so emotional rite,expressing e love and missing of her loved one. so touching...

I realised something when i was sitting at bishan bus stop this morning. girls are so fortunate that guys look after them. u see, it was raining and e guy was taking the umbrella for e girl and shielding he rfrom the rain. its like so romantic u noe. den in e bus e guy was wiping off e rain drops on e girls face. den she smiled at him, they made eye contact and he smiled back. e girl was leaning on his shoulder all e way and he put his hands ard her,seemingly to protect her. i feel like falling in love is such a nice feeling, so warming. the joy,happiness and sadness shared is so magical. its like two souls are merged as one, so inseperable. love is born with e pleasure of looking at each other, fed with e necessity of seeing each other, concluded with e impossibility of separation.

Some people think tat romance is easy, that anybody can be romantic with very little work. This is so false. to be romantic there r alot of things u mus know abt romance and alot of situations you must prepare for. Because romance is a nebulous thing with e curious property of being describable but not definable.

Elbert Hubbard once said: Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.

I still waiting for e right girl to appear....

Valentines Sentiments

10. I admire your strength, I admire your spunk, but the thing I like best, is getting you drunk.

9. Our love will never become cold and hollow, unless, one day, you refuse to swallow.

8. I bought this Valentine's card at the store, in hopes that, later, you'd be my whore.

7. This feels so good, it feels so right, I just wish it wasn't $250 a night.

6. You're a woman of style, you're a woman of class, especially when I'm spanking your big-round-fat ass.

5. Before I met you, my heart was so famished, but now I'm fulfilled... SO MAKE ME A SAMICH!

4. Through all the things that came to pass, our love has grown but sos your ass.

3. You're a honey. . . and you're a cutie, I just wished you had J-Lo's "booty".

2. I don't wanna be corny, so right to the point, let's do it, I'm horny!

1. If you think that hickey looks like a blister. You should check out the one that I gave to your sister!