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kopzone · 7 years

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The past, present and future: Ben Woodburn in his own words

There are few things Ben Woodburn hasn't been able to master during his fledgling career so far, but asking him to summarise the last 12 months of his life is most definitely one of them.

“I can’t really sum it up in one or two words, there are loads of things I could say about it,” he manages, his facial expression offering an insight to the overtime his brain is putting in to find the right words to answer the question.

But Woodburn is in good company as there are few who’d manage to put together the words that would successfully do justice to effectively explain how much has changed in the past year.

He tries again: “My life has obviously changed a lot and I do get the odd few people recognising me and asking for photos or autographs.

“The first time someone stopped me, it was a bit weird for me because I wasn’t used to it at all. A year is quite a long time, so I’ve gotten used to it now.

“All my friends and family still treat me the same, though, so it’s not a massive difference other than the couple of people asking for autographs, but I don’t mind it. It’s all part of it.”

Woodburn is startlingly modest and humble in his answering as he sat down with Liverpoolfc.com at the team hotel in Hong Kong last week, but the truth is things are drastically different now for the 17-year-old.

For starters, when his now full-time teammates were on their tour of the United States in 2016, the forward was with Liverpool’s U23s at a pre-season tournament in Germany.

Since then, nine appearances have been achieved with the first team. Oh, and a call-up to the senior Wales national side.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it so much,” Woodburn states. “It’s been a massive learning experience for me, especially alongside the players we have in the squad. Having those people around has made learning easier for me.

“I wouldn’t say I get nervous about anything now, I get excited because I just love playing football.

“Being in the squad, it’s kind of become normal for me. The other lads, they treat me like a normal player – it’s not like I’m a young kid and so I’m different. It feels normal. They make it easier for me to interact with them and ask for the ball in training and matches.”

Of course, there was also that goal against Leeds United that etched him into Liverpool’s history books as the club’s youngest ever scorer. Netted at the Kop end, no less.

“My phone just blew up with messages, WhatsApps, tags, likes… everything,” he says, smiling at the memory of turning his mobile phone on in the dressing room afterwards on that November night.

“All of my family and friends got in touch, it just went a bit mad. I managed to reply to everyone who’d messaged me, but it took a while!

“At the time it was obviously an unbelievable moment for me and everyone around me. Those things happen in football, though, so you can’t allow yourself to get caught up in it. That said, I’ve probably seen it back a few times! It is nice to watch.

“Before I went onto the pitch, the manager told me to go and enjoy myself. I tried not to dwell on it, I just wanted to go out and try and play my game, and show everyone what I can do.

“The next day, I was training and it was straight back to normal. The lads who’d started the game were on a recovery session and I was training normally, so it was just back to my usual routine.”

That sense of remaining grounded extends beyond the perimeter walls of Melwood.

Woodburn – who doesn’t turn 18 until October – still lives at home with his parents and his younger brother, where there is certainly no ‘superstar treatment’.

In fact, despite his football achievements, there’s been no let-up from Mum in making him muck in with household chores.

He smiles: “They don’t treat me any differently or anything. I still have to do the odd thing around the house for my mum – I have to tidy my room and put my dishes away!

“They’re the same with me. They obviously know my life has changed, but they keep my feet on the ground.

“It means I can just switch off when I go home; chill, watch TV, play FIFA with my friends. I am always doing stuff at home – I don’t stay in my room. Either that or I’ll be out doing something like playing golf or round at a friend’s house.

“I actually got into golf by playing a little bit when I was younger. A few of my friends like to play it and there’s a golf course right next to where I live, so we try to go when we can when it’s sunny. It’s a nice day out. It takes your mind off things and it’s good to chill out with my friends.

“But life at home and with my friends is the same as it used to be, it hasn’t changed for me.”

If life at home remains unaffected by Woodburn’s progress, the sight of numerous ‘Woodburn 58’ jerseys on display in Hong Kong last week shone light on his growing stature within the game and served as an indicator of how his progress has not gone unnoticed.

“The first time I saw my name on the back of someone’s shirt was when my friend took a photo when he was on holiday and sent it to me,” he recalls. “I just started laughing… it was really surreal and I didn’t know how to feel. I told my family and they also laughed and were really pleased for me.”

Woodburn featured in both matches during Liverpool’s trip to Asia and was deployed in a deeper midfield role in the encounter with Crystal Palace last Wednesday.

Afterwards, Jürgen Klopp outlined his belief that Woodburn’s tender age means it’s too early for him to be pigeonholed into a position on the field permanently.

It’s a sentiment the player himself fully concurs with.

“It’s obviously nice to hear when someone like that says something like that about you,” Woodburn reflects. “He’s right in what he is saying – I am only young and I don’t want to put one position to my name. I still don’t know which my best position is… I don’t think anybody does at the moment, so I’ve just got to keep showing what I can do in different positions. In time, it’ll show which position I should be playing in.

“I like playing in centre mid, but I like playing on the wing as well… I just like playing anywhere, really!”

By the same token, Klopp also revealed part of his thinking in placing Woodburn in midfield was to enable him to gain some crucial experience alongside his more established colleagues, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana.

“It is good to play in midfield, especially with Henderson and Lallana because they’re top players and they make it easier for me when I’m alongside them,” Woodburn continues. “They talk to me throughout games, they’re good like that.

“They’re both captains in different ways – Hendo is the captain, but they both speak to me, give me advice and praise and it just makes it a lot easier.”

An appetite to learn and an eagerness to seek advice from his senior counterparts are staple parts of Woodburn’s plan for improvement.

The recently-departed Lucas Leiva was one such source of experience he used to attempt to tap into on a regular basis.

“They all give me advice, but I have to say Lucas gave me a lot of advice because there was a time when he played for the U23s at Arsenal last year,” explains Woodburn. “From then on, he gave me a lot of advice and really helped me to settle in when I first came to Melwood. He was a big personality and big influence on me.”

One man providing constant guidance to Woodburn comes in the form of his manager, Klopp.

The pair converse daily on areas for improvement and it’s something the Wales U19 international is looking to reimburse.

“I feel like we’ve got quite a good relationship,” he says of his dialogue with Klopp.

“He will tell me if he thinks I should be doing something else, he will praise me. He has been really good with me and since I’ve been with the first team, he’s helped me a lot.

“I think the first hug I had off him was after the Leeds game. He gave me a big one then! But it makes it special when you get advice from someone like him. He is one of the best in what he does.

“I just hope I can repay him with what I do on the pitch.”

‘Improvement’ is a word that comes up frequently during the course of our chat at Hong Kong’s Ritz-Carlton hotel.

So what are the main facets of his game Woodburn is currently working to enhance?

“There are a few things I am looking to improve on right now. A big difference between youth and senior football is that you’ve got to be mature in how you play, so that’s what I am trying to do.

“There are decisions within games you can get away with in the youth teams, but in the senior side you can’t – how quickly you pass the ball and not risking every single pass. Keeping the ball.

“I also want to improve my fitness levels because obviously here at Liverpool, pressing is one of the main parts of our game, so I want to get good at that because that’s how we play.”

It’s clear Woodburn is a youngster with an eye firmly on the future and what it’ll take to help him achieve his dreams.

But he’s eager to state that none of this would be possible without the solid footing and groundwork that was laid down for him by the staff at Liverpool’s youth complex in Kirkby.

“Everyone at the Academy has played a massive part in how I’ve progressed and I’ll never forget that,” Woodburn expresses with conviction. “They helped me so much and made the step to Melwood so much easier with the way they train you and how they are with you.

“It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for that, they helped me a lot. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

It was at the Academy where a friendship with Trent Alexander-Arnold was forged – a bond that has made the step up to first-team level.

Their close relationship was evident from the moment they celebrated Woodburn’s Leeds moment and the pair share a mutual delight for the career progress the other has made.

“It makes it easier when one of your mates is with you in the squad,” Woodburn says with a laugh. “I can chill with him all the time.

“It’s not like going into the squad and not knowing anyone… if you’re with your mate, it’s a lot easier. It is great to see when someone who you know and who you’ve basically grown up with is doing well as well. It’s so nice to see.”

Woodburn was part of the Liverpool squad that jetted out to Germany on Wednesday for the second leg of their summer tour, having enjoyed every minute of the trip to Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, though, he and some of his other teammates will have to find something else to fill the void of a popular reality TV show that came to an end on Monday…

“There was a few of us watching Love Island,” Woodburn reveals with a grin, confirming a post Lallana made on Instagram regarding the show’s popularity among the squad while in Asia.

“It’s funny to watch. I also watch Netflix and films on there. I’ve just watched one… I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s got Rocky and Arnold Schwarzenegger in [Escape Plan] – it’s where they break out of prison. It’s good, I like it.

“I’ve also been listening to bit of Post Malone. Drake as well, but everyone listens to him don’t they? There are few different artists, I’ll just put shuffle on. We’ll also play FIFA, pool or ping-pong among the lads, but Love Island was the only TV I was watching!”

As we prepare to wrap up our interview to head to the day’s first training session in the sweltering Hong Kong heat, there’s time for one final poser.

Given the upward trajectory of his last 12 months, in an ideal world what would Woodburn like to be reflecting on if we were to sit down again on Liverpool’s summer tour of 2018?

“I’d start off by winning our next game!” he says in a manner that contradicts his tender age. “After that? I’d like to have played a good amount of games and hopefully the team had won at least one trophy and done well in the Champions League and Premier League.

“I’m just taking things as they come at the moment. I set myself a few targets, but ultimately I just want to play some games, hopefully score some goals and win matches.

“I sort of feel like I am establishing myself in the first-team set-up, but I know there is a long, long way to get to where I want to be. I am happy with what happened last season, but there’s so much hard work still to do and a long way to go for me.

“I just want to show everyone what I can do at the moment and show progression from last season.”

#liverpool fc #lfc #ben woodburn #m: article

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ultrasfcb-blog · 6 years

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Josh Adams: Wales wing swaps fan seat for a starting spot v Australia

Josh Adams played in both of Wales’ wins in Argentina in June, scoring a try in the second Test

When Wales last played Australia, Josh Adams was sat in the stands as a fan at the Principality Stadium.

When the two sides renew their rivalry on Saturday, he will be in the thick of it – starting on the wing, opposite the great Wallaby back Israel Folau.

“It’s a bit surreal,” Adams says.

“Twelve months ago watching it as a spectator and now I’m getting an opportunity as a player. I’m looking forward to it.”

It has been a transformative year for Adams, who started it in prolific form for his club side Worcester but still passed under the radar for many followers of Welsh rugby.

There was a sense of being out of sight, out of mind for the 23-year-old from Hendy, near Llanelli, who had started his career with the Scarlets but left Wales after failing to secure a contract with the region.

Adams joined Worcester in 2015 and, after a hardy apprenticeship including a loan with lower-league club Cinderford, he eventually forced himself into the first team.

He seized his opportunity by finishing 2017 as the Premiership’s top try scorer, and his reward was a place in Wales’ squad for this year’s Six Nations, starting in the opening win over Scotland.

“Obviously with your first cap there’s a lot of feelings flying around nerves, excitement and whatnot,” he says.

“Even when you’re driving to the game as a spectator you can feel a bit of a buzz about it because it is a special place when it’s full.

“So it’s something I’m looking forward to doing again, and hopefully we can get the right result this weekend.”

Saturday’s match against Australia will only be Adams’ second appearance for Wales at home and fifth in total.

Two of those caps came on the summer tour of Argentina, in which Wales won both matches with Adams scoring an excellent first try for his country in the second Test.

That form has convinced Wales head coach Warren Gatland to pick Adams ahead of British and Irish Lion Liam Williams for the encounter with Australia.

“It’s great to hear he thought I went well in the summer,” Adams says.

“I thought as a squad we did really well in Argentina to get two tough wins out there, and the boys who played in Washington did really well to beat South Africa as well.

“As a tour, it was positive. I think we created some depth with inexperienced boys playing and, off the back of that now, a few have had another opportunity this autumn as well.”

Facing Folau

George North hoisting Israel Folau was an abiding image of the Lions’ tour win in Australia in 2013

After their opening win over Scotland last weekend, the intensity will increase for Wales on Saturday when they take on Australia.

The Wallabies have won the past 13 meetings between the two sides, a sequence of results stretching back to 2008.

One of Wales’ chief tormentors in recent years has been Folau, a prodigiously skilful back who has played the majority of his Test career at full-back, spent some time at centre in the summer but finds himself on the right wing this weekend.

That pits him directly against Adams.

George North, on Wales’ other wing, found a novel way of combating Folau’s threat during the Lions’ victorious tour of Australia in 2013.

The Welshman was actually in possession when Folau tried to tackle him, only for the Wallaby to find himself lifted in the air by North, who marched onwards carrying his opponent like a rucksack.

“I’m nowhere near the size of George so I don’t think I’ll be carrying Israel Folau on my back this weekend,” Adams says with a laugh.

“He’s a top quality player. I know his threats, we know his threats. He’s proven time and time again at international level how good he is.

“It will be a test for me but it’s something I’m looking forward to. It’s a good opportunity for me to see where I’m at, playing against probably one of the world’s best wingers.”

It will be a formidable test for Wales as a collective too.

Less than a year before the World Cup begins, this would be a good time to end their losing run against an Australian side who will be in their pool in Japan next year.

“It’s been very close so often and I just think it’s small margins, maybe not concentrating for the full 80 minutes, maybe a slip in concentration in the last five minutes,” says Adams.

“So it’s a big emphasis on a big 80-minute performance this weekend. I think the feeling around the place is good at the minute.

“We’ve had six wins on the bounce and a hit-out in the autumn already. Obviously we’ve got to respect Australia – it’s going to be a tough match without a doubt, and I’m sure they’re expecting the same.”

BBC Sport – Rugby Union ultras_FC_Barcelona

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thornburgrealty · 6 years

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Similar send backup catcher and relay

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allthepiesblog-blog · 6 years

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2018 Super League Preview (ish)

Super League 2018 starts this week! So naturally I thought about writing a season preview. The only thing is, I'm rubbish at predictions (yes I've finally accepted the truth!), so this year I'm steering clear of the usual league ladder stuff.

Instead, I thought I'd take a very early look at a few potential contenders for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award. So here goes...

Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)

A Superleague stalwart, Gale had an impressive season last year, guiding the Tigers to League Leaders Shield success, a first ever Grand Final appearance for himself and the club, and bagged himself the Man of Steel Award in the process. He was one of the key cogs in the Cas structure in 2017, but time will tell if the loss of a key ally in full back Zak Hardaker, will hurt both Gale's performance and the team's. He'll be sporting a new hair line this season, but I think his chances of taking the top award again have probably receded a little.

Ben Barba (St Helens)

Barba is the 6-1 favourite to win the MOS this year. Perhaps not surprisingly as he is a previous winner of the equivalent Dally M Award in Australia, and looked lively in his handful of Saints appearances at the end of last season. I have no doubts about his ability, but the one question mark I have is whether or not the rest of the team can adjust to his game and make the most of his talent. Combinations are key to any team's success, and that's one area that will be challenging for Saints this year.

Tyrone Roberts (Warrington Wolves)

I must confess to not knowing much about the former Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast half back, but at only 26 years old, he clearly still has plenty of rugby left in him. Roberts is one of four Antipodean's brought in by the Wolves, in something of an overhaul that has also seen former St George Illawarra player and head coach, Steve Price, take the healm. Lots of unknowns then for the season ahead, but it surely can't be as bad as last year for the Wolves.

Alex Walmsley (St Helens)

The big prop has been something of a hit on both the domestic and international scenes over recent months, and is thought to be considering a move down under after the 2018 campaign, with several NRL clubs interested. Arguably the best prop in Superleague, and at 6ft 5in and over 18 stone, if he said he was the best, I for one wouldn't argue.

Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)

Ben has quickly grown in stature and prominence since making his Warrington debut back in 2014. Despite missing most of last season with a knee injury, he came back in time to win his first England cap in the end of season World Cup tournament in Australia. A pacey forward with an eye for the try line, I see no reason why he won't be up there for consideration for MOS towards the end of the year.

Matt Parcel (Leeds Rhinos)

Matt is another Australian currently giving the prime years of his career to the Superleague. And after a couple of problems with his particular position in recent seasons, Leeds finally look to have found a quality hooker who is happy to stick around, for the time being at least. After tasting Grand Final success last year, I'm sure Matt will be keen for another big year in 2018.

Outside bets:

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors)

I've included Sam under the outside bets section despite him being currently available at the same odds as Alex Walmsley and Matt Parcel. The reason is that Sam has struggled to regain the form of his pre-NRL days (in no small part due to injury), since returning to the Wigan side in 2016. And if you speak to many rugby league fans outside of the Wigan Metropolitan Borough, his best days are behind him. But I'd beg to differ. A full pre-season now under his belt for the first time in years will have helped, as will Shaun Wane's promise to play a more exciting brand of rugby this year. He showed glimpses last year, but I think we'll see him impose himself on games more consistently throughout 2018.

Jake Mamo (Huddersfield Giants)

Jake Mamo was tearing it up in Superleague last year before a foot injury in July ended his campaign three months early. Prior to that, he scored 12 tries in just nine games, including a hat-trick against Castleford and four against the Catalan Dragons. If he can recapture that form in 2018, he'll definitely be part of the conversation.

Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)

A proven try scorer in the domestic campaign, Jerry cemented his place as one of the best wingers in the world with an impressive seven tries in five World Cup games at the end of 2017. He also led the way with more metres then anyone else in the tournament. If his Huddersfield side can mix it with the big boys this year, then Jermaine could be in with a shot of making the MOS shortlist.

David Mead (Catalan Dragons)

Papua New Guinea captain Mead shone in the 2018 World Cup, racing to an impressive hatrick in the Kumuls opening game against Wales. He's now put nine years in the NRL behind him and opted for the South of France. But can he shine in Superleague?

Morgan Escaré (Wigan Warriors)

Shaun Wane took a punt on the French full back ahead of the 2017 season, to cover the injury absence of Sam Tomkins, and Morgan didn't disappoint. His form was so good that many questioned whether Sam would be able to dislodge him on his return from injury. Sadly we were never to find out, as Morgan suffered his own season-ending injury just weeks before Tomkins returned. With both players now fit and raring to go, the question has returned. The likelihood is that Morgan may not start the first game of the season this week, but it may just be a matter of time before we see Tomkins move to half back to make room for Morgan at full back. If that's the case, and especially if Wigan are a little more fluid this year, then this little Frenchman could excel.

Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves)

At 66-1, Big Ben is the longest odds of all my picks this year. A barnstorming couple of seasons at Salford, and a good showing at the World Cup turned a few heads, not least amongst a few NRL clubs, but the Tongan forward is very much a Warrington player for the 2018 season. If he can keep his form for his new team, he could be worth a quid or two for MOS.

#Super League #Man of Steel #MOS

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guillembalague-blog · 7 years

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WhCristiano's reinvention: his stats are worse than ever at Real, but he is for sure one of the greatest ever

Comparisons, as Miguel Cervantes correctly asserted, may well be odious but they are 'Nirvana' to football's statistics and information gatherers currently working overtime as Cristiano Ronaldo hones in on the all time league scoring record. Has he reached 400 goals in the colours of Real Madrid, or is it as many say 399? Can we count his free kick strike in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad or was it deflected in off Pepe? On such minutiae, friendships founder, families fall out. More importantly, does it matter? As if the experts didn't have enough data to work on with the constant comparisons that sally back and forth between Cristiano and his main rival for football lovers' affection, Leo Messi, now the names of former greats, Gerd Muller and Jimmy Greaves once again enter the spotlight they adorned with such distinction in the dim and distant past. And the problem is of course with facts, figures, stats and records is that very often they depend on the criteria you work with and - depending on who you believe - Cristiano is already the greatest scorer in League football history and not as the stat men would have it, one behind Das Bomber (Gerd Muller) and two short of Jimmy Greaves. The five leagues that qualify as 'top' apparently - and might I add at this point, says who?? - are in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France and NOT in Portugal where Cristiano scored three goals for Sporting before his move to Manchester United, goals that would already have seen him lauded as the number one scorer in league history. This is one stat that will certainly provoke puzzled disbelief from a league that has, in Porto and Benfica, historically two of soccer's great sides and a country that, lest we forget, currently holds the European Championship. But I digress. What is most important is that in goal scoring terms at least, Cristiano and Messi and Greaves and Muller are/were the best - the very very best - and to make comparisons between one and the other bearing in mind they played in different times, in different conditions, on different surfaces with different equipment and a different approach to the rule book is ultimately to demean their greatness. A while back I incurred the wrath of Ronaldo fans across the world when I said he had declined physically. The reason I said it was simple - he had. A chronic knee injury - and I use the word in it's literal meaning which describes an illness or medical condition characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence - meant that he no longer had the blistering pace that would regularly destroy defences. And he knew it. I never said he would stop scoring and in fact it was the nature of the injury that compelled him to re-invent himself purely as a striker and bring him in from the flanks. He lost his speed, his electric bursts of pace and replaced them with even more of what he already had in abundance namely, a voracious hunger, an unceasing desire to be the best and a competitiveness and dedication to adapting to his new role. As he says himself, "With dedication and hard work things happen naturally", to which I might add that if it was that easy then we'd all do it. In the process he realised that to become the greatest striker in the world - and there is no greater at the moment - he has even strived to change his body shape to make him even more lethal in and around the penalty area. He is now around three kilos lighter, has less muscle development on his top half but has increased his muscle power and strength in his legs in his transformation purely as a striker. He has also for the first time realised that as the sands of time begin to run, then sometimes less is more and so consequently is far more prepared to be rotated and/or occasionaly substituted by Zinadine Zidane who he clearly trusts implicitly. At a time when many players of his age - Ronaldo is 32, and a battered and bruised 32 at that - are looking towards retirement, media work, cameo appearances and perhaps a bit of coaching, he will be hoping to plot the downfall of probably the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonard Bonucci as Real and Juventus makes their almost inevitable journeys to Wales for the Champions League final next month. Real Madrid's third final in four years and one that should they win will make them the first side since the tournament changed into the Champions League format to win the trophy in successive years. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who has scored 50 goals or more every season at Real, has got the worst stats of this time at Real (35 goals 'only') but he has scored more goals than ever from the quarter finals of the Champions League. Another proof of his re-invention. The hunger and motivation that forced the change comes from a desire and a motivation to be the very best and a psychological toughness that is difficult to fathom but probably has its roots in the tough lonely road both he and Messi trod on their way to the very top. It there are to be comparisons made about the relative greatness of the four players then it is in this psychological department that we should pay most attention. As mere boys both Messi and Cristiano climbed aboard boat, trains and planes in search of their fortune while the likelihood is that players like Greaves and Muller used to go home to their Mums for tea after training with their local clubs. Much against his better judgment Greaves did take the plunge and travelled aboard although, in truth, he never wanted to go and did his level best to get out of the deal. He hated every minute of his stay with AC Milan in Italy. Muller to be fair had more success on the road in the twilight of his career though at a much lower level scoring a goal every two games more or less over three seasons with Fort Lauderdale in the USA Both Greaves and Muller succumbed for whatever reason to the demon drink post-playing and both are now in poor health. Greaves suffered a severe stroke in 2015 and is now looked after at home by those who love him now as they have always done, for better or worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. In 2015 Bayern Munich chairman Karl Heniz Rummenigge confirmed that Muller had been diagnosed with Alzeimer's disease adding by way of tribute that: “Gerd Müller is one of the all-time greats of world football. Without his goals, Bayern Munich and German football would not be what it is today." “He was a fantastic team-mate and is a friend. Gerd will always enjoy a place in the Bayern family. And when the cheering, the success and the adulation stopped, the drink and depression kicked in. Thankfully both despite poor health, gained redemption. We live in a different world today. Players have more therapists, counsellors, advisors, assistants, coaches, trainers and general Svengali's than you could shake a stick at. But even accounting for that, the impression that the likes of Crisitiano and Messi spend their life cushioned and protected from the outside world is illusory. The fact is they are probably mentally, and certainly financially, better prepared to deal with the pressures that will come with facing the end of the road than perhaps Gerd and Jimmy were but only time will tell us how they will cope with retirement when it comes along. But ignoring comparisons, tinder dry statistics, and boring facts that never really tell it like it is or was, I'm reminded by what I once heard the brilliant radio and television presenter and football nut, Danny Baker say which, for me, kind of sums it all up. "The thing about great players is that what makes them great is that when you watch them play, they make you gasp," he said. And when we are pulling mere numbers, sterile figures, impersonal stats out of the air to justify our arguments this is what we should remember above everything else. When Cristiano and Messi play, as when Greaves and Muller played we all gasped as they showed us, week in week out, just why we love - and occasionally hate - this magnificently flawed game so much.

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ultrasfcb-blog · 6 years

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BBC Women

Lucy Bronze wins the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2018 award

Olympique Lyonnais and England defender Lucy Bronze has been crowned BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2018.

Thousands of fans from across the world cast their votes as the 26-year-old beat second-placed Netherlands forward Lieke Martens and third-placed Australia striker Sam Kerr.

The other nominees on the five-player shortlist for the BBC World Service award were Denmark’s Pernille Harder and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan.

“It’s really special,” Bronze said.

“I’m still a bit surprised – I didn’t know why everyone was clapping at first. I was very grateful to even be nominated. The people who’ve been nominated alongside me are really great players and had really great years.”

Bronze, who headed Manchester City’s opening goal as they beat Birmingham City 4-1 to win the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in May 2017, was presented with the award by her aunt, Julie Tough, in front of her cheering Lyon team-mates including last year’s winner Ada Hegerberg.

Move to ‘best team in the world’

Bronze is enjoying a successful first season with Olympique Lyonnais

Right-back Bronze signed for European champions Olympique Lyonnais last August from Manchester City, saying she wanted to improve her technical skills and was seeking a new challenge.

She has since helped them to the French league title and the verge of a third successive treble – with Thursday’s Champions League final against VfL Wolfsburg and the French Cup final against Paris-St-Germain a week later still to play.

“Coming to Lyon meant everything to me,” said Bronze. “It was Ada [Hegerberg] who actually said ‘oh are you going to come and play for Lyon’ and I was like, ‘no a team like Lyon wouldn’t want me’ and she was like, ‘you never know’.”

“They win everything they are the best team in the world.”

Bronze’s brilliant volley sent Lyon into the Champions League final, sealing a 1-0 aggregate win over her former club Manchester City earlier this month.

“It’s a goal that I think I shocked my team-mates and myself with by scoring it, and the opposition,” she said.

“And I really want my hands on the [Champions League] trophy. It’s the reason I came here and I don’t want to go home without it.”

Another reason for her move to France was next year’s World Cup, which is being hosted by the country with the final being played in Lyon.

“I feel like it will be an advantage for the English team that I am in France,” she said. “I can speak un peu [a little] French so that’ll be nice and to know the city and to know the French way of life how things work.”

England are top of their qualifying group, with 13 points from five matches and are two points ahead of second-placed Wales. Their next qualifier is on 8 June in Russia.

Bronze celebrated her Champions League semi-final goal with last year’s Women’s Footballer of the Year winner and Lyon team-mate Eugenie le Sommer (left)

Doing it for defenders

Bronze is the fourth winner of this BBC World Service award, following Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala in 2015, Scotland midfielder Kim Little in 2016 and Norway forward Hegerberg in 2017.

Netherlands forward Martens was second in this year’s vote after helping her country win Euro 2017 on home soil, while Australia forward Kerr was third after becoming the all-time leading scorer in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States last year with 43 goals.

“Being a defender it’s harder to get recognised,” Bronze said. “All the other girls that have been nominated, it’s predominantly for scoring goals and being the attacking forces in their teams. And rightfully so, they are great players.

“I don’t think I’m the most technical player in the world, I’m probably not the most tactical, smartest, but I probably am one of the ones who works the hardest to get where I am and to have done what I’ve done.”

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