When you look at players like Rossi, Huntelaar, Falque, Liorente, Hulk, Suarez, etc, they are not exactly kids, and I dont really see them in the same vein. I just remember being in awe of way more players before than I am now.
The standard has increased, but so has the hype. Look at Torres. I bet people thought he was going to be a legend, and rightly so. But its the same with alot of guys today, their name and reputation and price tag is replacing the reality.
You look at Torres, and I think we're going to have to put him in the "What if" category when he retires. He was sensational for Liverpool to begin with but looks like he may be finished as a top contender. I hope not, but you never know.
As for Hulk, that bloke is just brick. He's going to be the greatest pants pulled down moment of this decade imo.
For me, I think the very top is missing the artistic genius. Christiano arguably has/had it, but a lot of the flair has been trained out of him to make him into a more complete player. Is that the answer? That managers and back room staff are pointing kids in the direction of industry?
Look at the Spanish national team, they know how to win a game of football and you have to say they are brilliant... But exciting? No way, and it's because they are so well drilled.
Maybe to highlight it best, Bale has some good tricks in his locker, but how often will he apply them on the pitch? Is that his decision or has he been told to rein it in? Nani, when he first arrived at Manchester, I remember him humiliating I think maybe Clichy? He was full of beans and always wanted to use a trick. Look at him now.
I think it's a very managed pragmatism from the top down that seems to be reducing the amount of "sensational" football. It's why I liked watching Arda Turan so much when he was at Galatasary, they let him play. As it is, it seems that only an uncontrollable idiot savant like Taraabt or Balotelli, who goes against orders, is going to give us the pleasant looking trickery that we used to thrive on. Unless the player gets bigger than the manager or you get a rare manager who will really let his players express themselves.
