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Assassin raised the age-old question about footballer's speed in another thread. It is that time again when nothing is happening in our football world while we await the start of the new EPL and the rest of Europe season. Karl, I thought you would be all over that thread. Anyway, I want to put forward my point that the first touch by a footballer is the most effective skill to have. Speed without a good first touch is absolutely useless - I give you Luton Shelton. During the England vs Germany game, I saw Jermaine Defoe (my baller that) allowed a 60/40 ball that he'd received from a beautiful pass from the midfield, turn into a 50/50 ball between him and the goalie because of his poor first touch. If he had done better with that ball, then England would have probably finished the game with a more respectable score against the Germans. The Germans, in that game, showed impeccable ball control. However, the game of beauty was Spain vs Germany. That game was skills of the highest magnitude. To be called amongst the best in the world....or even second or third best, then Jamaica has to get serious with its youth programs. You can't teach old dogs new tricks. Our youths need to be placed in an environment where they can be taught the finer points of the game and practise, practise, practise for hours to hone their skills.
I remember back in the eighties (I think) when I went to watch an Italian club team play our national team at the stadium. I was amazed at the Italians' "amazing" ball control. They were dribbling at full speed along the touchlines without letting the ball go out. Air balls were fired across field to players on the touchline and the receiving players brought those balls down with the greatest of ease. Ball control were second nature to these foreign players. At that time I had not seen that to any great level in our game. Granted, you did have the handful of players who possessed the skills - Tappa, Hector Wright and Caple Donaldson come readily to mind. However, I remember sitting in the stands and hearing spectators curse players who didn't play the ball for easy control. I remember that JDF player who seemed to only score goals with his head (correct me if I am wrong - Lincoln Taffe). People used to complain if, God forbid, a ball was played to him on the ground into the 18 yards box. His first touch was p iss poor and so were many others. I remember in the Simoes very early days with the team, many of those players could not control the ball on their first touch. The ball used to bounce about 2 or 3 times before the ball was brought under their control. The Pearl was a big exception though.
First touch is the most important skill a footballer should possess.
I remember back in the eighties (I think) when I went to watch an Italian club team play our national team at the stadium. I was amazed at the Italians' "amazing" ball control. They were dribbling at full speed along the touchlines without letting the ball go out. Air balls were fired across field to players on the touchline and the receiving players brought those balls down with the greatest of ease. Ball control were second nature to these foreign players. At that time I had not seen that to any great level in our game. Granted, you did have the handful of players who possessed the skills - Tappa, Hector Wright and Caple Donaldson come readily to mind. However, I remember sitting in the stands and hearing spectators curse players who didn't play the ball for easy control. I remember that JDF player who seemed to only score goals with his head (correct me if I am wrong - Lincoln Taffe). People used to complain if, God forbid, a ball was played to him on the ground into the 18 yards box. His first touch was p iss poor and so were many others. I remember in the Simoes very early days with the team, many of those players could not control the ball on their first touch. The ball used to bounce about 2 or 3 times before the ball was brought under their control. The Pearl was a big exception though.
First touch is the most important skill a footballer should possess.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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