How to Improve Your Soccer Dribbling Skills

Soccer is a great game to be played, but it’s also a great game to be watched. Someone that’s not familiar with soccer might wonder what exactly it is that makes it the most popular sport on the planet.

Just like basketball has its slam dunks and alley oops, baseball its home runs or boxing its knockouts, soccer has several key elements that make it a highly entertaining game: goals, passes, tackles and dribbling.

It’s the last one that I value most, since I believe that a good dribble is not only spectacular, but it can be extremely efficient in a game, so I’m going to dedicate the following article to explaining how soccer dribbling works, how you can train it, focus on a couple of special dribbling moves and see what soccer abilities affect your dribbling skill.

Soccer Dribbling – Introduction to the World of Ankle Breakers

By definition, soccer dribbling is a method used by the ball carrier to pass the ball past a direct opponent, without conceding possession. This may be a tight dictionary-like statement, but in truth soccer dribbling is as simple in concept as that: do anything you can (in the boundaries of the soccer laws) to get past your opponent and keep possession of the ball. But “getting past your opponent” needs a little explaining.

At a first glance, that might seem restricted to vertically surpassing your opponent on the pitch, when in truth dribbling can be done sideways, or even back towards your own half (when you want to avoid a tackle for example) and in many cases it’s just a means of clearing up the space to get a pass or shot in. This doesn’t necessarily get the ball on the other side of your opponent, but it does avoid him, allowing you to continue the play to your teammates.

Soccer Dribbling – Types of Dribbles

There are several types of dribbles that have different purposes in the game and by types of dribbles I don’t mean specific moves, or specific tricks, but rather game mechanics involving dribbles that have a certain end-goal.

Pressure Avoiding Dribbles – This is probably the most common type of dribble in the game and as a central midfielder almost every touch of the ball you get will have to be followed by a pressure avoiding dribble. This involves a quick flick of the ball in an area with some empty space when being under pressure from an opponent and its goal is to give you a few seconds to execute a pass, or in some cases a shot.

The most important aspect of pressure avoiding dribbles is knowing where you’re going to move the ball even before you actually get to it. Take into consideration that you will probably only have a couple of seconds to pass or shoot the ball after such a dribble, since the defender will be quick to position himself in front of the ball again, or try to tackle you decisively.

Great examples of players who use this kind of dribble effectively include Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf or Michael Ballack.

Speed Dribbles – Speed dribbles are mostly popular with wing backs, since the wings are usually more open and free and they allow a fast player to virtually throw the ball forward and run for it again, smoking one or two opponents in the process.

Speed dribbles aren’t very fancy in terms of ball control, however the dribbler needs to focus on pushing the ball forward just right so that he doesn’t loses possession to an opposing defender or throw the ball out of the playing bonds. A few examples of great speed dribblers include Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marc Overmars or Dani Alves.

Receiving Dribbles – This is probably one of the most effective ways to dribble, but it can also be the hardest: going around your opponent straight from receiving the ball. It can throw an entire defense off balance and create havoc for the opposing team, but you truly have to be a skilled player to produce great receiving dribbles.

First of all, you need to have impressive vision on the pitch, knowing exactly where your opponents are and where you can find some open space on the field, even before the ball gets to your foot.

Secondly, you need to be in perfect control of the ball receiving technique, since pushing it too soft or too hard will ruin the dribble. Last but not least, you need to use your body to trick your direct opponent off balance, allowing you to turn and push the ball into open space unhindered.

Soccer Dribbling – Skill Factors Involved in Dribbles

You’re probably tempted to say that ball control is the only skill involved in dribbling, but in truth there are a lot more factors that need to be added up for a successful dribble. Let’s take’em step by step:

Ball Control – Indeed, ball control is a general principle that is required for almost all types of dribbles. Ball control is the ability to move with the ball, without losing possession, so it basically requires you to know how hard to hit the ball when moving forward with it, as well as organizing your body movement in such a way that allows you to follow up and get the ball to your feet again.

Ball control also refers to being able to trap or receive a ball without pushing it too further away from your body, which, in our case, is extremely useful in receiving dribbles. Ball control is important for all types of players when dribbling, regardless of their position on the pitch.

Strength – Strength is a major factor in receiving dribbles and positional ones, since it allows you to use your body as a wall between the ball and your opponent, repositioning him or her so you create an advantage towards the enemy goal.

If you look at some of the players that are considered the best dribbles out there nowadays, such as Ronaldinho or Zinedine Zidane, you’ll notice that they very often use their body in dribbles, in order to surpass an opponent or relieve themselves of pressure and find a pass or a shot.

In what regards soccer dribbling, strength is mostly important for central midfielders, who are under constant pressure from the opposing team and for attackers who will have to use their bodies to shield the ball before they can unleash a dribble in the box.

Speed – Being faster than your opponent is one thing, but knowing how to get the ball past him AND gain back possession is the key to a successful speed dribble. If the speed difference is greatly in the favor of the attacker, he can simply push the ball forward along the pitch in an empty area and run for it.

If the space is limited, or if the speed difference is not so great between the ball carrier and the defender, the moment you start the dribble is extremely important.

You need to start upping the pace when the defender is off balance (possibly after you throw him off-balance with a movement from your body) and make sure you have enough space to maneuver around him.

Weaker Foot Ability – Dribbles often involve using both feet and various parts of the foot (the sole, the instep, the backheel, the front, the outside or the inside) in order to work properly and your weaker foot can often cause you problems.

Being unsure of your weaker foot will leave you very vulnerable in front of an intelligent defender, since he’ll know there’s only one direction you can dribble towards using your strong foot.

Soccer Dribbling – Training Your Dribbling Skill

You can train dribbling individually, with a teammate or in a group. Individually, you can set up an obstacle course, then wave your way through the obstacles like a skier would through flags. Make sure you use both feet, so you learn how to dribble in each direction and using your weaker foot as well.

Pairing up with a teammate is also a great way to practice your soccer dribbling. This method has two advantages: first of all, it allows you to train your dribbles against a real opponent, which changes quite some parameters in how you train in comparison to avoiding ground obstacles.

Secondly, assuming you change roles with your teammate every now and then, allowing him to become the dribbler, you will also act as a defender and will learn how defenders think when having to cope with an opponent’s dribble.

Knowing your “enemy” will help you read your match opponents like an open book and you’ll soon know what to do in any match situation where a dribble is required.

Group dribbling training sessions mostly focus on pressure avoiding dribbles rather than individually going around a single opponent. Practicing in a group simulates match conditions best and it’s a solid way to work out your dribbling skill naturally, rather than forced like you would have with individual or paired training.

Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players, soccer fundamentals and soccer conditioning.

Introducing the Windsurfing Guide That is Perfect for Both Beginning and Experienced Windsurfers

Windsurfing is the most dynamic sport you’ll ever know.

The feeling of capturing the wind, riding it across the water that splashes as a welcome relief from the melting sun is only part of a windsurfer’s daily thrills. Whether taking in the light smell of a lake or the rich smell of the ocean and its bay, there is no doubt that the surrounding majesty of the water is a primary incentive for windsurfing.

This is a truly young sport, born about 40 years ago in Southern California. It is the brainchild of an engineer and a businessman (a sailor and a surfer, respectively). It took about a decade for windsurfing to gain extraordinary popularity in Europe. The fever then spread back to its birthplace, and the sport hasn’t looked back since.

It’s still developing, with better equipment coming out each year. It’s truly cutting edge.

And did we mention that you can get up to 50 mph?

Pro windsurfers use the ocean like a skate ramp--spinning on a dime, riding tremendous curls, jumping 30 feet or more from the water’s surface. Sound like fun? Well, it’s a long way from here to there, but it’s also a very fun journey.

This is one of the things you won’t regret. There’s a certain feeling you’ll get from this sport; people define it in all sorts of ways--abandon, excitement, adventure. It boils down to feeling alive. Few activities can do it this well.

And for those who think it’s too complex, too athletic, too expensive, too…well, not them, I say this. You’re wrong. All of the above challenges can be surmounted.

If they’re challenges at all.

Unless you live somewhere extraordinarily dry, such as the deserts of the southwestern U.S.A., chances are you’re close to a body of water that can support windsurfing. And if you’re close, then the battle’s nearly won. Next, all you need to do is beg, borrow, or…well, procure, some windsurfing equipment.

You’ll be surprised how much used stuff there is out there. After that, it’s just you and the water. An instructor helps, of course, as does reading books on the subject. The first step, and the hardest, is believing that you can actually do it.

Once you’re out there, and you catch your first gust of wind while managing to stay upright at the same time, you’ll thank yourself. This is as good as it gets.

You’re riding the wind, and there’s nothing better.

Carl Solf is the author of Windsurfing Secrets including the Windsurfers Ultimate Extra Moves eBook.

www.windsurfing2.com

The 10 Best Arm Building Exercises for Beginning Bodybuilders

Everybody has fun with “Top 10” lists, and they sometimes contain information that you can actually use to improve your life or achieve a personal goal. If you’re serious about building big, muscular arms, then this is the list for you! But before I give you my Top 10 list for arm-building success, let me explain my selection criteria.

First, the exercises on this list are simple and for beginners who need to start with a solid foundation in arm-building fundamentals in order to achieve long-term success from their biceps, triceps and forearm workouts. Though I’ve said that these exercises are simple, this does not mean that they’re easy. Their simplicity lies in the intuitive benefits that come from each arm-building movement and the fact that you can do these exercises with a minimal time commitment. Getting the most from these exercises will still require careful attention to training technique and workout variety – the 2 keys to arm-building success that are not always easy for beginning bodybuilders.

In my experience, you’re a beginner if you’ve been training your arms once or twice per week for 6 months or less. You’re also a beginner if you been trying to build your arms for more than 6 months with exercises other than those provided on my list. Why? Because if you haven’t mastered the arm-building exercises listed in my Top 10, you’re not ready for the intermediate or advanced workout methods that you’ll eventually need to build truly Awesome Arms.

Second, to make my Top 10 list, the equipment needed for each arm-building exercise must be universally available. That means that you can do all of these exercises with dumbbells, an EZ-curl bar and a basic workout bench which you can find in any gym or health club. You can also do these exercises at home with a very small investment in this equipment for your home gym. There’s no need for fancy machines or trendy gimmicks here.

Finally, each of my Top 10 arm-building exercises will help you to simultaneously build mass, shape and power in your biceps, triceps and forearms. These muscle areas are directly targeted during each exercise to maximize growth and efficiency from your workouts.

Now that I’ve told you how I came up with my list, here are the Top 10 exercises for building the big, muscular arms that you desire! They’re not listed in any particular order, so there’s no reason to think that one particular exercise is better than another. You must decide what works best for you through experimentation with each exercise. But rest assured that any arm-building program that includes all of these exercises will definitely add inches, symmetry and power to your biceps, triceps and forearms.

1. EZ Bar Preacher Curls

The EZ bar preacher curl is one of my all time favorite biceps exercises. The preacher bench is a terrific training tool as it forces the biceps to work in relative isolation from the back and shoulders. Unlike standing barbell curls which usually involve biceps-cheating torso swing, preacher curls keep your arms at an angle that forces your biceps to provide the leverage needed to lift the weight. The EZ curl bar offers both narrow-grip and wide-grip hand positions. When you use the narrow grip, your hands are in a semi-neutral position and therefore increase involvement of the brachioradialis in the curling motion. If you have no experience with preacher curls, you should probably begin with the narrow-grip position.

As you become more experienced with this exercise you should move to the wider grip as it forces supination or a “palms up” positioning of your hands. Since the biceps function primarily as a hand-supinator, the more you supinate your hands the more resistance you will place on your biceps. If you’ve got the potential to build biceps peaks, EZ bar preacher curls will certainly tap that potential.

2. Dumbbell Preacher Curls

The dumbbell preacher curl is another one of my favorite biceps builders. This exercise really allows you to make the mind-body connection so essential to arm-building success. While many competitive bodybuilders use this exercise exclusively as a “shaper” during pre-contest training, the dumbbell preacher curl also works as a tremendous mass builder when used in a pyramid cycle. In fact, this exercise is the best high intensity bodybuilding movement for simultaneously adding size and shape to your biceps.

3. Dumbbell Concentration Curls

As the name suggests, this exercise places concentrated resistance on the biceps when performed properly. Besides building your biceps, this exercise also stresses and develops the brachialis. The brachialis is a true forearm flexor. It originates on the lower anterior surface of the humerus, ends on the anterior surface of the coronoid process of the ulna (the large bone on the inside of the forearm) and is visible on the outside of the upper arm between the biceps and the lateral head of the triceps. Development of the brachialis and biceps gives the front of your upper arms that thick, dense look that says “mess with me at your own risk!!”

4. Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curls

This exercise is one of the best biceps builders ever as long as you sit on a bench that has a back rest to prevent torso movement. Too many people do this exercise either standing or sitting on a bench without back support. In order to make sure that your biceps get the most work from this movement you must stabilize your torso so as to prevent any jerking motion. Also, remember to supinate your hands throughout each repetition to stimulate maximum growth for your biceps.

5. EZ Bar Triceps Extensions

This exercise, also known as “Skull crushers” is a terrific mass-builder for your triceps. For maximum growth, EZ bar triceps extensions require that you keep your upper arms in a position perpendicular (90 degrees) to the exercise bench throughout each repetition. If this position causes you any elbow strain or discomfort, you can lower the angle by moving your arms slightly forward to reduce the stress on your elbows. Don’t worry – making this minor adjustment won’t impede your ability to get the benefits of this exercise.

You should also place your hands in the narrow-grip position on the EZ bar which, when combined with proper arm position, ensures that each triceps head receives maximum resistance throughout the exercise motion. Lower and extend the weight in a smooth, continuous motion without jerking or swinging the bar with your back or shoulders. When done correctly, you can’t beat EZ bar triceps extensions for building big, muscular triceps.

6. Triceps Pushups

You’re probably familiar with standard pushups which are performed with your arms in a shoulder width position. While standard pushups involve the triceps, chest and shoulders in the “pushing” motion, triceps pushups are designed to minimize chest and shoulder involvement so as to maximize training resistance on the triceps. This exercise is deceptively simple in that it appears to the untrained eye as just another pushup. But like every exercise on my Top 10 list, technique is extremely important and proper hand position determines whether these pushups will add muscular inches to your triceps.

For proper performance, take a standard pushup position with your hands and arms extended and shoulder-width apart. Then slide your hands closer together until your thumbs nearly touch each other. This is the starting position. With your hands in this position, slowly lower your arms underneath you and then push yourself back up to the starting position as you would with regular pushups. Make sure that you keep your back straight and your head up for maximum resistance on your triceps. As you extend your arms, concentrate mentally on maintaining proper form and technique with each repetition. For added resistance or pyramid cycles, have a training buddy gently place a 5-10 pound barbell plate on your back to force your triceps to work harder and build greater mass.

7. Seated Triceps Dips

Seated triceps dips are another terrific triceps builder, yet I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen anyone doing them in the gym. Maybe people ignore them because, like triceps pushups, they look too simple to do any good. Well, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and seated triceps dips have certainly added considerable power and density to my triceps.

To do this exercise, sit on a workout bench with your legs together and extended on the floor in front of you. Your arms should be fully extended and shoulder-width apart behind you. Slide your body slightly forward to suspend yourself so that your arms are bearing your bodyweight between the bench and the floor. With your arms extended, lower yourself as though to sit on the floor and then push yourself back up by extending your arms and returning to the starting position. This exercise, when performed properly, will add tremendous power, shape and definition to your triceps – guaranteed!

8. Single-Arm Triceps Extension

The single-arm triceps extension, also known as the “French dumbbell press” is a triceps-builder that I recommend primarily as a shaping movement. Although it is possible to build mass with this exercise, the over-head arm position may prevent you from using sufficient weight to generate the type of power and mass-building potential available from Skull crushers and triceps pushups. You should experiment with this exercise and use it in a manner that gives you the best results. But remember, I do not recommend using heavy weight with this movement because of the risk of shoulder injury. Consistent use of light-to-moderate weight will provide the best results from this triceps builder.

9. Reverse-Grip EZ Bar Curls

This exercise puts primary stress on the brachioradialis and extensor muscles of the dorsal or outer surface of your forearms. Since your hands are pronated in the narrow-grip position, your wrists are extended which forces involvement of the extensor carpi radialis and extensor carpi ulnaris. This pronated or “palms down” positioning of the hands also takes the biceps out of this exercise, which isolates the brachioradialis as the primary forearm flexor. If you’re serious about building big, muscular forearms, reverse-grip EZ bar curls are a good first step.

10. Wrist Curls

Wrist curls work to develop the two large muscles on the inside portion of the anterior surface of the forearm. These muscles, the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi radialis, are the wrist flexors and combine to form a thick, muscular region from the elbow to the lower forearm. While these muscles do considerable work during your biceps curling movements, wrist curls isolate these flexors so as to maximize resistance on this section of your forearms. If you want to add thickness and power to your inner forearms, heavy wrist curls will do the job.

So, there you have it – my Top 10 list of arm-building exercises for beginning bodybuilders. Try them, have fun with them, and make sure that you use safe amounts of weight and proper training technique with every exercise. You'll be very happy with the results!

Scuba Diving The Coral Sea, Australia

The Coral Sea is one of the best scuba diving destinations in Australia if not the world. With top rating dive sites including the Cod Hole, Flinders Reef, Steves Bommie, Yongala Wreck, the Ribbon Reefs, The Outer Great Barrier Reef, Osprey Reef, Shark Reef, Holmes Reef etc, the Coral Sea is an absolute mecca for any scuba diving fan whether you are a recreational open water diver or an advanced or technical diver, you will find diving sites that you only dream about!

The Coral Sea is home to huge schools of pelagic fish and sharks in an undersea world of mountains, pinnacles and sheer walls laced with gorgonian fans and rising from thousands of feet below. From 1000m wall drop offs to reefs absolutely teeming with all sorts of marine fish, the Coral Sea is undoubtedly one of the greatest diving destinations in the world.

The Coral Sea lies off the coast of North Queensland in Australia. The best way to dive this area, you need to jump aboard one of the many liveaboard dive charters that operate in Queensland. There are many great charters including the Spirit of Freedom, Mike Ball, Tusa, and Pro Dive. Most charters will pick you up in the late afternoon & do an overnight cruise to the Coral Sea. It can be a smooth or a harrowingly choppy ride depending on the weather. Once out at the reefs within the Coral Sea, you will be protected from the swell amp so can expect to be comfortable both onboard the charter boat and in the water.

The best time to dive the Coral Sea is between May to August as these are the cooler months in Australia and offers beautiful clear days and great visibility, although there are some days of stronger winds. From September to December, the weather warms up and you can expect some days of over 35 degrees Celsius, which is great if you are in the water, but can be uncomfortable when suiting up onboard your boat. The nice part about this time is that many coral reef species breed at this time. January through April is considered our wetter season with amazing feeding and marine action following the breeding season, although depending on the rain, the visibility at some sites may be affected and the days are usually colder.

Retro World - Lowrider Bikes

I was just a little kid in the late 1960s, when the TV show The Munsters was on the air in Prime Time TV, young enough to feel that Eddie Munster (the werewolf son) was my favorite character on the show. I don't remember him riding the "converted Schwinn Stingray" which was apparently the first lowrider bike featured on TV, and which started the craze for the lowriders during the late 60s and 70s.

I do remember that I wanted to sleep in a bureau drawer as he did - I felt that would be nice and snug!

What I most remember about the show, in the technology department, was the car they drove - the converted hearse. Now that was a car!

Anyway, that's just a bit of historical interest. Most kids today have never even heard of the Munsters - or if they have it's the remake done in the 1980s which had none of the charm of the original - give me Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo and Al Lewis any day of the week!

It wasn't a TV show that brought the lowrider back into favor in the late 1980s, however, but merely the concerted creativity of people in the Chicano neighborhoods of Los Angeles, who began exercising their creativity by tricking out their bikes with chrome, paint, and all sorts of accessories. The hobby caught on and has spread through urban areas throughout the United States.

Lowrider bikes are not built for speed - they are built for leisurely rides along the beach (hence the fat tires), or through the neighborhood. The riders want to "see and be seen in style."

Lowriders are usually considered to be among the most comfortable of bikes. The "apehanger" handlebars extend up so high that riders are perforce forced to sit up straight - reducing the stress on the back which is one of the chief causes of biking discomfort. The tires are cushiony, the seat, whether banana or some other kind, are roomy and comfortable. Most of them have only one speed and a simple coaster break, so they don't break down that often.

With the new space age materials of which bikes are made, these bikes aren't as heavy as you might think, so if you're thinking of getting a new bike, and like to indulge in your creativity, you might want to consider getting a low rider. (Even if you don't want to trick it out, or "pimp it" as the slang goes, it is still a classic "retro" design and a fun ride.)

But if you do want to trick it out (a term I prefer to "pimp" frankly, as I would think that word would have unpleasant connotations) there are plenty of stores, both bricks and mortar and online, where you can purchase practically any accessory you can think of - from gold and chrome mirrors, rims and spokes, to hand-painted murals on the frame, to rows of mirrors on each side, to a baby spare tire mounted on the back!

So check out your local store or surf the web, and have some fun!

Soccer Fans

Soccer is a well-known sport practiced all over the world. People from kids to adults enjoy having a nice soccer game among them. On special events, such as tournaments and leagues, we are able to see how the soccer matches affect the whole community of soccer fans. However, each fan has its own way of expressing his or her passion for the sport. Among them we can distinguish the forced fan, the regular fan, and also the extreme fan.

First of all we have a very calm fan referred as forced fan. This kind of fan usually meets with his group of friends at a bar or at someone’s house to watch an important soccer match. They enjoy watching a soccer game, but they do it mostly because their friends do so. They watch the game if they do not find anything better to do. Usually as the game goes on, they get distracted and lose track of which team is winning.

Similar to the forced fan, there is also a regular fan. However, this kind of fan enjoys every single minute of the game, whether he watches it at home or goes to the stadium if possible. It wouldn’t matter if his friends cannot go with him; he goes because he wants to. In fact, he may make new friends at the stadium who also enjoys watching the game.

Finally and the most remarkable of fans is the extreme fan. As his name says, this fan takes watching and enjoying the games to another level. At home he does everything he can in order to watch the game with all the commodities possible, including foods and drinks. At the stadium, he cheers loudly for his team and boos on the other team. In some cases a group of friends paint their faces and chests with the color of their team. Another thing this fan may do is to get the football field, meanwhile the game is still going on, just to shake hands with his favorite player and get an autograph. Also, this may or may not have his clothes on when doing this.

Soccer is growing more popular over time, as well as the fans for this sport. Forced, regular, and extreme fans are the most common of all. If you are interested in this sport you may wonder on which of these categories you fit on, but remember that you can always be a fan in your own particular way.

Genius Football Players -Their New Role in The Game

As old favourites Skinner and Baddiel used to say on football’s finest ever TV show, ‘here’s a few things we noticed whilst watching football this week’. Well, in a similar vein, I’ve noticed this; what on earth has happened to my favourite role in football? Having always had a passion for the beautiful game on the continent, I grew up looking forward to James Richardson’s cheeky adjectives on a Saturday morning with Gazzetta Football Italia on Channel 4.

I took to Calico from the very start of the stations weekly broadcast (mostly provoked by Paul Gascoigne’s move to Southern Europe), when Gazza’s new side Lazio lost in a 5-3 thriller to the then all conquering Milan on the opening day of the 1993/94 Serie A season I was already hooked on this apparently ‘boring’ brand of football. Anyway, it soon became clear that Italian sides, and later I was to realise that this was the case on much of the continent; all had a ‘number 10’. The first to capture my attention was the great Roberto Baggio, then of Juventus. The divine ponytail (as he was nicknamed by fans) would drift in and out of the game, seemingly at his own whim, playing the game as if he was painting a picture.

It appeared that he was almost watching the game as an on field spectator, only ‘getting involved’ when he saw that the match required his presence, when it needed lifting to a higher level. As my footballing education developed I discovered that Turin’s favourite son was not alone. Milan had Gullit, Sampdoria had Mancini. Further afield there was Gheorghe Hagi, Hristo Stoichkov, Ariel Ortega. Ludicrously talented individuals who controlled the game, linking midfield and attack, both creating and scoring goals. They were the icons of their clubs and countries. And this trend continued throughout the nineties, until more recently something seems to have changed this.

Players that would previously given the freedom to wander the park are now put into more rigid formations, possibly to the extent that the idea of the ‘free role’ is almost deceased. Take Barcelona as a prime example. Ten years ago the string puller of the side would have been the great Ronaldinho. He would have slotted in wherever he saw fit and worked his magic as he saw fit. However, fast forward to today and you find the Brazilian out on the left wing and the football being dictated from another source entirely.

Watching the Catalan giants over the past year or so and it has become clear that it is Deco that actually controls the tempo, masterminds the play, and where from? He sits deep in the midfield, virtually the same position as you will find an enforcer like Claude Makalele at Chelsea. Ronaldinho may be the magic, but Deco is the brains.

If we go back to where we began in Italy, we visit Milan and see a similar trend. Although, like Barcelona, they have a magician in the shape of Riccy Kaka’, they also have a conductor through Andrea Pirlo. Kaka’ has found himself employed wide right, left and as a centre forward as Ancellotti attempts to bring a structure to the rossinieri. When dwelling on this idle musing it dawned on me that this has been in the water for sometime.

Zidane, the finest exponent of the ‘Number 10’ since Maradona, was being more regularly employed by Real Madrid on the left flank, del Piero, the natural successor to Baggio, now on the left or ‘up top’. So does this mean that the hugely iconic role is something that will leave us, only to be replaced by a cunning holding midfielder such as Deco, Pirlo or Carrick on these shores?