SENTINELCELTS

On a slow news day, I’m more than delighted to ramble on about my favorite type of player.
The street footballer.
 
He is the rarest of breeds, especially in the modern game where being technically sufficient in all areas trump’s being above average in certain ones.
That, my friends, is a crying shame.
But it’s not all bad, the game itself has come to somewhat recognize an entertainer or ‘the X factor’ can draw crowds and enhance the overall supporter experience.
Special talents are wanted, but the truth is they must offer more than tricks to succeed these days.
 
The street footballer is the reason many of us fell in love with the game. They don’t adhere to the usual unwritten rules of football that most professionals have drummed into them from day one.
They are unpredictable, perhaps their most glorious feature. At times breathtakingly so, their touch allied with a no fear approach can lead to moments never before seen in the game.
Their control of the ball is above average, at times embarrassingly so. Making a professional football look completely foolish is rare, doing it repeatedly is the street footballers speciality. You will understand that at a certain level most defenders are of the mindset ‘he’ will do this or that, because 999 out of 1,000 will. The street footballer has the gallus to try something, usually a simple trick, that befuddles, because that move is considered below that level of play, and usually never attempted at the top levels of the game.
Boyhood tricks are usually left behind on the playground and trained out of nearly everyone, you almost never witness them at the elite level.
But when you do, it’s special. It makes football special. It’s the magic of the game, which was in danger of becoming flat due to negating tactics and a don’t loss rather than let’s win mentality becoming the norm, thanks Jose you wee bassa.
You took the ‘beautiful’ out of the game with your instructions and will to win at any cost (even the sport itself) replacing the will to entertain.
Again, a crying shame from a man who should have made a much better impact on the sport.
Special my arse. I’ve no respect for him, want him nowhere near my club ever, and look forward to his retirement.
 
Anyways, as three’s the magic number, let’s look at three street footballers who have made a real impact on the modern game. You might have others in mind, please remind us of those men below, they do deserve to be remembered by those fortunate enough to witness their talents on the field of play.
 
We all know Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone was voted Celtics best ever player.
I wasn’t involved in the selection, but that’s to say I disagree. In fairness, when it comes to these types of things, beauty is very much in the eyes of the beholders
The question isn’t who was the greatest Celt ever? Billy in my book.
It’s not which player was truly Mr Celtic?
It asks who was the best, ie the best with the actual football.
When viewed through that prism, I can fully understand why the wee redhead got the nod.
 
Our greatest was a pure street footballer, dazzling feet with silky skills that had the crowd drooling, especially in the world famous Bernabeu stadium where the best soon looked semi professional to the chants of ‘OLE’!
And of course he conquered all. I can’t recall reading Jimmy was completely instrumental to our famous European triumph, but I imagine defenders worrying about his tricks, his presence as the perfect outball a constant threat and niggle to be dealt with, at ones hazard.
 
One tale stands out. When facing the mighty Leeds in a huge tie, Jock repeatedly told the team to get the ball to Jimmy because he would ‘tear them apart’. He hadn’t bothered to speak to Jimmy about this, it came as news to him.
Apparently he appreciated the huge level of confidence placed on those slender shoulders, and subsequently proceeded to tear them apart en route to a famous scalp. It was clever of Jock, and events like that helped him earn the greatest player accolade.
 
He could have played for Brazil, and that’s as large a compliment as can be paid in some eyes.
He would be worth two hundred million in today’s market, and a YouTube sensation.
Paddy McCourt was a big hit because he was a street footballer, but one of the best ever graced the Hoops, and for that we should all be thankful.

The actual best ever produced his best football when he didn’t train. The Napoli chairman at the time knew he didn’t need more time to get familiar with the ball, he had almost Godlike control of that sphere already.
He wasn’t part of the week’s tactical drills, as that risked losing the street footballer style that had propelled Diego Armando Maradonna to the summit of the sport.
His mind and body were to be kept fresh for real battles only.
Two legendary Scuddettos followed, a masterstroke by the southern Italians.
 
The goal of the century against England is almost the perfect embodiment of the street footballer (Messi would have tried a chip at the end) and I shall speculate that’s why it was successfully pulled off.
You’re not supposed to directly run at ten players with the ball at your feet,,ffs pass and move like everyone else.
 
His relationship with the ball was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before. He could do with an orange or a tennis ball, what Zidane could do with a football.
Jimmy’s skills brought him to the top of club football, but Diego literally conquered the world. Thanks to being the ultimate street footballer.

So Scotland and Europe succumbed, then Italian and world football was rocked to the core. It should be no surprise England and the biggest league in the world fell victim to a modern street footballer.
 
Wayne Rooney burst upon the Premiership scene as a 15 year old in a man’s body, and he knew how to use that extra strength the aforementioned never possessed. Within two years everyone knew he was too good for Everton, a big club in their own right.
When Sir Alex heard Newcastle were sniffing around, he made his then record move realizing Wayne was a special talent.
He wasn’t wrong.
In his Champions League debut he bagged three to become the youngest ever hat trick scorer in that competition.
Just joined, only 18, playing at the level for the first time ever,,,let’s break a record why not.
 
Sir Alex certainly has my footballing respect, he was the best of his generation, and it’s to his credit he protected and cajoled the player to maintain his exciting style, to keep his street footballer streak alive on the pitch.
He soon became the best striker in the league, taking that mantle from Thierry Henry, and for a decade was the mainstay of the biggest club in the land under the best manager in the land who didn’t suffer fools.
They cornered the EPL market, almost embarrassingly monopolizing it.
In 2008 he conquered Europe, lifting old big ears.
 
Wayne was far from perfect though, not a patch on the previous two players. He wasn’t a natural athlete, with a penchant for putting on weight if left unchecked.
He’s nowhere near any greatest ever conversation, unlike his left winger Ronaldo despite being similar ages.
Neither was he a very skillful player, having easily the worst touch or ball control of today’s trio.
He wasn’t extremely pacey either. Despite these disadvantages, the boy made it bigtime.
 
To these eyes, and my dads as he was an admirer, it was the fact he was still a street footballer in the modern game that carried him soo far. He terrorized that leagues defenses for a decade, too powerful to dispossess, too unpredictable to prepare for, he scored some outrageous goals including three from the halfway line. His movement up front helped clear a path for CR7 to destroy teams from the left wing and become the world’s best player.
Wayne Rooney was the best English striker of his generation.

It’s true Leo Messi can be classed as a street footballer, however despite being settled with play going through him, he lost his personal duel with Cristiano, the athlete technician leaving the skillful behind. This may be a sign the street footballer cannot be the best anymore, but that will never stop them trying to be.
To lose that type of player would be to the sports detriment, on that I’m sure we can all agree.
The beautiful game needs some beauty, not 22 robots.
Long live the street footballer.

By Mahe