BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Ozil has the Bernabeu faithful roaring in admiration and dreaming of Zidane



Ozil has the Bernabeu faithful roaring in admiration and dreaming of Zidane
By Graham Hunter/ESPN

For all of us who recognize Mourinho is far from perfect in his ruthless desire for victory but appreciate that he's doing a pretty good job of improving Real Madrid, let's hope he stays for at least a second season.

But even if he doesn't, Mourinho has put a rich legacy in place.

Of the six players Madrid signed last summer, Mourinho specifically recommended four -- Ricardo Carvalho, Sami Khedira, Di Maria and Mesut Ozil. While all of them have been more successful than the two wonderfully talented Spaniards the club hierarchy signed, Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon, Di Maria and Ozil have been sublime.

Di Maria is an old fashioned winger who has that rare talent of being able to dance past two or three tackles and open up the tightest marking scheme. Perez debated long and hard with his new coach over buying the Argentinian, who was only in Portuguese soccer, for 25 million euros. But Di Maria has grown quickly and finds himself in an ever-decreasing band of top-level wingers across world football.

But it's the signing of Ozil for which Mourinho will be forever praised. The young German is smart enough to distance himself from nonsensical hyperbole when the Madrid press praises him as the "new Zidane."

"He was a world champion and a world class player, whereas I've won nothing yet," Ozil was shrewd enough to reply to reporters.
But the praise doesn't stop there.

"Ozil is a top-class player whose level has been superb for a first season at Real Madrid -- he's making the Bernabeu happy," Real legend Raul told Kicker magazine last week.

Even Mourinho's biggest enemy at the club, Jorge Valdano, told Spanish television, after the 3-1 win at Racing, "Ozil is going to be the star of the next decade at Real Madrid. He's so good that even his opponents enjoy watching him play."

Mourinho first spotted the young German-Turk days after having been sacked by Chelsea. The Portuguese-born coach was at home on his couch watching the Blues play Schalke 04 in the Champions League and immediately loved what he saw in the then-19-year-old.

When he was at Inter, Mourinho faced Ozil's Werder Bremen twice and jotted down the phrase "Buy This Guy Someday" on his notepad.

Because the midfielder was one year from going out of contract at Bremen (and leaving for free), Madrid got massive value for Ozil. His nine goals and 15 assists in 38 games emphasize what a terrific debut season he's enjoying.

"He used to have peaks and troughs when he'd shine then disappear," Mourinho told the press. "Now he has added power and consistency to his play and Ozil is absolutely fantastic -- there is no substitute for him."




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When Karim Benzema began to make a name for himself with Olympique Lyon, there were already comparisons to him and Zidane. The shaven plate, the Algerian heritage, similarities in their games, and then both went to Real Madrid. But clearly, Benzema has struggled with Los Blancos until of late and this season as a whole (he has scored 20 goals this year so far while Madrid is still on course for a treble). Interestingly enough, the Zidane comparison that might be a kiss of death for some is now levied towards Ozil. Quite honestly, I didn't see much of him until the last World Cup in South Africa but I hope that he stays healthy because he sure if fun to watch when he makes those runs in the midfield.

6 comments:

  1. Ozil is a fantastic player. But like Mourinho mentioned he does drift in and out of games. This is very evident when watching him live, quite similar to Robinho. The other thing you notice is his superb touch and silky movement. He is quite timid on the pitch, not sure if its because he is just an ultimate team player, but he does not demand the ball or command the flow of the game like he could or top players do.

    With maturity & confidence one can only hope he becomes more consistent and assertive. Too bad he plays for the merengues thus I will never cheer for him:)

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  2. Aww that's too bad, Paul because he sure has the makings of a very good player. I think you pegged it right -- maturity and Ozil being a team player. But he's gotta get that ball. I don't see that with Kaka though so Ozil might be cut from the same cloth.

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  3. When Zinedine Zidane was interviewed about the best player of his generation, people expected him to give names like Ronaldo, Beckham, Ronaldinho, or Henry. His answer though came as a surprised for he gave the name Paul Scholes. Ever since then I tried to watch the games of Paul Scholes. True enough, Zidane was right. Paul Scholes is a midfield maestro. Rooney, Hernandez or Berbatov do not even need to chase after the ball. Scholes' passes finds them. Scholes makes football look very easy. His composure is excellent.
    Mesut Ozil could have been the replacement of Paul Scholes for Manchester United. Unfortunately, the deal did not push through. Reports suggest that Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore will be the successor of Paul Scholes at Old Trafford. Let's just wait and see.
    I guess the most important thing that Zidane, Scholes and Ozil possess is the openness to hold on to the ball. For every possession, they want the ball in their feet. They make plays. It doesn't matter whether they score or not, they make the plays. They transfer the ball from the defense to the attack.
    Hope we have a real midfield maestro or a real number 10 in our Azkals. You know, someone who wants the ball, yet unselfish.

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  4. the best thing i like about ozil is his vision... with guti gone, someone like him is what real madrid really needs in the midfield.

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  5. That was some German team that had in SA. Muller, Khedira, Ozil, Neuer, and Boateng to name a few. I thought that in the last two WCs they'd had some exciting talent. Love the way the Germans have changed their style of play. Ozil for me was that tournament's Franck Ribery. breakout midfielder.

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  6. Yeah Ozil sure made a name for himself last WC. Funny you mention Kaka, because when he was playing at Milan he dictated the game along with Pirlo. It is sad to see him struggle through injuries and conflicting styles with Mourinho.

    The other player that caught my eye at the world cup and will make huge headlines this summer in transfer rumors is the Chilean Alexis Sanchez. He is classic attacking winger.

    Back to Ozil, its interesting to watch if he will ever hone his skills into one specific role or if he will continue to be a versatile cog for whatever team he plays for. He can play as an attacking central mid, a wide attacking player or a central mid in front of the defensive midfield battlers.

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