Riquelme, the Classical playmaker Denied by European Football

"Number 10 Boca Juniors is mine," said a Juan Roman Riquelme when he had received the refusal of officials to return to Boca Juniors club.

"When there are other players who can get more than three Libertadores Cup with Boca, only then they can claim the number."

Riquelme is not Diego Maradona. However, in matters numbered jersey commemorate legendary often identified with a reliable playmaker, not less fragrance Riquelme name in Latin America.

His features are often run at a slow speed, as if refusing to go with the flow of modern football that requires that it should be played by the super fit athlete that can play high pressing, running as fast as possible, or a super-power cruising.

Among other playmakers, especially those in Europe, Riquelme does look like a classic playmaker who came from an era when enjoying a cigar and drinking wine is still the norm for most players.

But what exactly is a classic playmaker and what distinguishes it from the "modern"?

Playmaker itself is often defined as a player who has the power of high creativity. Some football observers mention playmaker is a player who plays in central midfield. This theory is true because the average playmaker is a midfielder.

However, there is a flow of a playmaker, that he was not a position but a role. Playmaker is the most decisive player game with many did touch the ball and shall have skills Individuals with or without the ball.

One of them is the issue of football tactics of action and reaction, which is constantly changing and evolving in the innovation game. Then when the game method appears to have taken over the world, revered, and sometimes considered can beat anything, then one can change playmaker role.

Famous while playing with Boca Juniors and Villarreal, Riquelme also played for Barcelona and Argentinos Juniors. First figure "appeared" in public because of its action on the football World Cup in 2006 when Argentina was under Jose Pekerman.

The former Villarreal player is key in the order of 25 passes were performed when the Argentine player Esteban Cambiasso scored the second goal in the match against Serbia.

Jonathan Wilson through his book mentions Riquelme as the latter as a classic playmaker and he differed with Luka Modric is often called similar to Riquelme. Modric tend to be busy. More often ran to and fro and with the game and do not always rely on him. Riquelme often make itself the center of the game.

The players who became a classic playmaker really have to think (especially in Argentina), as an artist who produces individual genius without having to use the speed and without much physical contact. But, they are also expected to be the most consistent players in the field.

As the development of tactics and formations, typical player like Riquelme eroded. It could even be said to be difficult to grow and eventually become extinct.

How many classic playmaker ever to play for a big club in one of the top leagues in Europe to be successful? Kaka would be one of them when he was still with Milan.

But Kaka is not the only game in the club's creators. At that time, Milan still have Andrea Pirlo who was also at the center of the game. Kaka is not the only source of creative in the middle, and Milan still played well even when Kaka had a bad game.

Diego Ribas da Cunha into the next example singularly talented players, but not be in the best position since signing a contract at Juventus. Meanwhile, Francesco Totti while playing can be transformed, from being a false 9, attacking wing, attacking midfielder, and he also has instinct as a striker without merely as a trequartista.

Wesley Sneijder has evolved as No. 10 and he can also play on the wing if needed, as well as Pavel Nedved. Another player who played as a playmaker is Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

But, they are all the more complete as a player. The players were busier than people like Riquelme.

Yoann Gourcuff is probably the closest to the style of a classic playmaker. But he must do it in a better league without intent to shrink Ligue 1 or in an International tournament before he actually considered a world-class player.

Distinguishing Playmaker Playmaker Control and Feed Key Maker

Basically there are two types of playmakers:

• which control the course of the ball playmaker who usually plays deeper.
• playmaker who organize to attack the opponent's penalty box.

The first type is usually position themselves to be more backward and role set the tempo and attack patterns. Meanwhile, the latter is usually more to the front, or is between the midfield and the back of the opponent, and more often then release snaking through pass or passes sharp.

There are two players who can play this role, even some that it combines both these roles. What must be remembered, playmaker, one word, but it has two different functions.

A little easier to tell if someone is a playmaker type of controller or key feedback providers.

A playmaker first type relates to the balance of the game. Perhaps you immediately think about Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) because it symbolizes balance. This player is deeper, moving slowly to the edge of the field and strive to provide accurate feedback to colleagues at all times.

The difference between him and a playmaker Mesut Ozil as such, is Ozil looks like keeping possession but can provide feedback that penetrate the heart of the defense is shutting down. No wonder if Ozil contributed the most assists for Real Madrid in the final season.

Unfortunately, the second type of playmaker often receive unfair criticism as required to give more than his role.

For example, Kaka. While in Madrid, the Brazilian star is easily criticized for not being able to control the game. In fact, he is not a playmaker controllers.

However, during in Madrid Kaka successfully recorded 23 goals and 23 assists from 85 appearances in La Liga. Things to prove if he is worthy categorized as a key playmaker feedback providers.

The same thing happened on Riquelme are often asked to do things that are beyond his ability as a classic playmaker who perform both roles, set up the game while providing key feedback.

The reason, almost no more words a specialist in modern football world today, especially in Europe. All players are required to provide something more than it should.

A fullback will be asked to attack and provide a cross, while an attacker could be prosecuted to restrain movement of an attacking midfielder.

A key feedback providers are required to have good dribbling skills while the regulator game midfielder asked to have survived a deeper awareness.

In other words, a Riquelme who was in Europe will be required to go down deeper and defended well. Or, he could remain in the area of the final third of the field yet developed the ability to eliminate the opponent's possession when one on one duel.

But Riquelme can not do both then returned to Argentina, Boca Junior.

At least this is what is seen when he left Europe in 2008 at the age of 29 years. Still relatively prime age for a midfielder as not mean that the physical abilities him out, but because he could not adapt easily to changing function playmaker.

In his article in The Guardian, Jonathan Wilson said that when he was in Argentina, he saw many teams that use the classic playmaker. Playmaker who operates alone behind two strikers. And be the right decision if Riquelme decided to return to Boca Juniors.

Ozil and Kaka are fully able to dribble left their opponents, while Xavi and Modric can play defense and set up the game. Riquelme? He only became a loyal player becomes a classic playmaker. Trying continue to care for the style of play the first he knew.

And do not be surprised if in the era of modern football we will not reinvent the New Rui Costa or New Riquelme. Now there is only the New Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.