Death of the Playmaker?

[Geo V]

Being an old sod at 35, I have been lucky enough to be a football fan for years and one of my first jobs saw me having to build up knowledge on European football and I got to see and enjoy the ability of players who played in this so called "playmaker" role. Over the years this role was common place in all South American teams and most sides in leagues like Serie A and La Liga but it seems that this position has become a dying breed.

Years ago you could afford to have players who sat either infront of the midfield and linked up play with acurate passes to the forwards but today it seems that if you arent great in running back and defending, most clubs dont want you! It seems that you have to be an all round player to play anywhere near the middle of the park.

The likes of Juninho, Scifo, Zico, Baggio, Bergkamp, Zola from yesteryear would now struggle to get into some teams. There are some exceptions to the rule as players liek Kaka continue to play in the role behind the striker but it seems that this role is only allowed to materialise with one lone striker and not the two that some teams used to play alongside the so called playmaker.

The reason for the thread is that I have been watching a bit of the Copa America and have seen that even the South American squads seem to be steering away from using this time of player. Soem have but even Brazil havent got one in this squad. The best one on display at this years Championships IMO is Juan Riqulme for Argentina. Ive always though of him to be world class but Barcelona didnt want him and sold him to Villareal and even they didnt risk playing him and loaned him to Boca Juniors for half a season! I would have thought that at 29yo`s that clubs would be fighting over his signature but I dont think that many clubs want to take the risk in a position that many now see as a luxury position.

I may be getting on but I miss the creativity that this role allowed and the amazing range of passes that the playmaker or attacking midfielder would always seem to create. This 4-5-1 style of football with one attacker that the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd seem to be playing is going to load up midfields and make crap football in years to come. Strikers are next to beceome extinct IMO.

Anyone old enough to remember some class playmakers or is it just me????!!

[Bryn]

I know what you mean about strikers becoming extinct, I've thought this for a while. It'll end up with loads of attacking midfielders who get into the box, supported by wide midfielders and holding midfielders, with no strikers at all.

[Geo V]

I didn't want to start a whole new thread on one player but does anyone know what the ghastly secret that Juan Riquelme is hiding??! It must be something bad? Maybe he is just a Stevie Walsh and bones all his team-mates wives? Im fooked if I know but I still cant work out why one of the better players in the world IMO still cant get a club side to play him. He hasn't played for 3 months for Villareal after spending time at Boca on loan and failed to get a move away in the summer.

Yesterday he was outstanding for Argentina with his passing and set-pieces and is still "only" 29. Is he just too much of a luxury player for anyone to sign? I know if I was a manager at any top club I`d have signed him years ago! What a player!

[The Reverend]

I didn't want to start a whole new thread on one player but does anyone know what the ghastly secret that Juan Riquelme is hiding??! It must be something bad? Maybe he is just a Stevie Walsh and bones all his team-mates wives? Im fooked if I know but I still cant work out why one of the better players in the world IMO still cant get a club side to play him. He hasn't played for 3 months for Villareal after spending time at Boca on loan and failed to get a move away in the summer.

Yesterday he was outstanding for Argentina with his passing and set-pieces and is still "only" 29. Is he just too much of a luxury player for anyone to sign? I know if I was a manager at any top club I`d have signed him years ago! What a player!

Totally agree. How he is not playing regular football i dont know.

[Tommeh]

The best I always remembered was Juninho at Filbert street in a 3-1 defeat, he was amazing that day.

The best playmakers for me in the prem currently are:

Arteta at everton even though he's usually positioned on the wing he'll come inside and really makes things happen for them. Infact without him they would be a 12-17th premiership club instead of a 5-10th.

Fabregas who constantly makes things happen for Arsenal again without him they'd be more 3rd - 6th as opposed to being top as they are currently. His range of pasing is immense and footballing brain quite brilliant. He's still young and will only get better.

Elano - don't want to be like every frigging commentator and arselick him as much as possible but he has been very impressive for Man city and the formation suits him playing right in behind the attacker with two solid, combative midfielders in behind him in Hamman and Johnson.

[David Villa]

Im not sure if you call this player a "Playmaker" but he is excellent either way Luis Garcia. In 2005 he did it in most of the Knock-Out games Bayer Leverkusen(both legs), Juventus(at home) and Chelsea(at home). He also did it in the 2006 F.A Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea, but im still not sure if he is a playmaker.

[Father Ted]

Im not sure if you call this player a "Playmaker" but he is excellent either way Luis Garcia. In 2005 he did it in most of the Knock-Out games Bayer Leverkusen(both legs), Juventus(at home) and Chelsea(at home). He also did it in the 2006 F.A Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea, but im still not sure if he is a playmaker.

Not really, He's one of those players who performs in the big games but just can't be arsed at other times.

[Thracian]

Being an old sod at 35, I have been lucky enough to be a football fan for years and one of my first jobs saw me having to build up knowledge on European football and I got to see and enjoy the ability of players who played in this so called "playmaker" role. Over the years this role was common place in all South American teams and most sides in leagues like Serie A and La Liga but it seems that this position has become a dying breed.

Years ago you could afford to have players who sat either infront of the midfield and linked up play with acurate passes to the forwards but today it seems that if you arent great in running back and defending, most clubs dont want you! It seems that you have to be an all round player to play anywhere near the middle of the park.

The likes of Juninho, Scifo, Zico, Baggio, Bergkamp, Zola from yesteryear would now struggle to get into some teams. There are some exceptions to the rule as players liek Kaka continue to play in the role behind the striker but it seems that this role is only allowed to materialise with one lone striker and not the two that some teams used to play alongside the so called playmaker.

The reason for the thread is that I have been watching a bit of the Copa America and have seen that even the South American squads seem to be steering away from using this time of player. Soem have but even Brazil havent got one in this squad. The best one on display at this years Championships IMO is Juan Riqulme for Argentina. Ive always though of him to be world class but Barcelona didnt want him and sold him to Villareal and even they didnt risk playing him and loaned him to Boca Juniors for half a season! I would have thought that at 29yo`s that clubs would be fighting over his signature but I dont think that many clubs want to take the risk in a position that many now see as a luxury position.

I may be getting on but I miss the creativity that this role allowed and the amazing range of passes that the playmaker or attacking midfielder would always seem to create. This 4-5-1 style of football with one attacker that the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd seem to be playing is going to load up midfields and make crap football in years to come. Strikers are next to beceome extinct IMO.

Anyone old enough to remember some class playmakers or is it just me????!!

None of the players you mention would struggle to get in my teams if they were in their prime today - and Bergkamp remains probably as good a creative player as I've ever seen.

Johnny Giles, John White, Davie Gibson, Rodney Marsh, Alan Hudson, Jim Baxter, George Eastham, Tony Currie, Glen Hoddle ... the list is endless.

[Geo V]

The strange thing about the so called playmaker position is you would have thought that with more and more sides abandoning playing two out and out forwards, they`d be more chance of the likes of Riquleme playing in this modern day 451 formations that the likes of Arsenal and Man United are playing.

I know I go on about Riquleme a bit too much but I think his art of being able to pass the ball on a sixpence and creating great chances is a dying one.

On another thread we are talking about Liverpool and how hard working a striker like Kuyt is despite the fact that he doesnt score goals and working hard seems to have overtaken the importance of actually doing your job. In Kuyts case it should be to score goals and set up chances for his strike-partner but more and more all round players like Sissoko, Diarra, Gilberto Silva, Hargreaves, Mascherano etc are en vogue because they can tackle in midfield but at times their passing is dodgy (although Mascha has more ability than the others). Its a safer option to play midfielders who can tackle too but very few can actually tackle and pass to a high standard like say a Steve Gerrard and even he is guilty of what I call "Hollywood" passes which are passes that come off one in 20!

Come to Leicester Juan, we`ll accept you

[Ultra]

Can't believe he's not featured in this thread yet.

Probably the best current example (even ahead of Kaka) of a playmaker in world football. Wasn't so great on his return to the Brazil side last night though.

[Manwell Pablo]

He doesn't play just behind the strikers though, which seems to be Geos definition of a play maker for some reason, he plays on the left side of a front three.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Riquelme fell out with the directors at Villarreal, that's why he doesn't get a game there.

[Kilworthfox]

The strange thing about the so called playmaker position is you would have thought that with more and more sides abandoning playing two out and out forwards, they`d be more chance of the likes of Riquleme playing in this modern day 451 formations that the likes of Arsenal and Man United are playing.

I know I go on about Riquleme a bit too much but I think his art of being able to pass the ball on a sixpence and creating great chances is a dying one.

On another thread we are talking about Liverpool and how hard working a striker like Kuyt is despite the fact that he doesnt score goals and working hard seems to have overtaken the importance of actually doing your job. In Kuyts case it should be to score goals and set up chances for his strike-partner but more and more all round players like Sissoko, Diarra, Gilberto Silva, Hargreaves, Mascherano etc are en vogue because they can tackle in midfield but at times their passing is dodgy (although Mascha has more ability than the others). Its a safer option to play midfielders who can tackle too but very few can actually tackle and pass to a high standard like say a Steve Gerrard and even he is guilty of what I call "Hollywood" passes which are passes that come off one in 20!

Come to Leicester Juan, we`ll accept you

David Beckham went to L.A Galaxy!

On playmakers

Gary Parker or Muzzy Izzet was a close as i can remember for Leicester

Ginola

Campo although he is behind the midfield but does the same job

Maradonna

[Ultra]

Riquelme fell out with the directors at Villarreal, that's why he doesn't get a game there.

That explains a lot.

It's a sad state of affairs if no other European team wants him..

[Finnegan]

That explains a lot.

It's a sad state of affairs if no other European team wants him..

My brother's sister in law's step father is the kit man at Oadby Town. He heard from the board of the union of kitmen in Leicestershire, that Riquelme's a dead cert for us in January.

[Fez of Mahrez]

My brother's sister in law's step father is the kit man at Oadby Town. He heard from the board of the union of kitmen in Leicestershire, that Riquelme's a dead cert for us in January.

Our reserves are going to be AMAZING.

[Geo V]

My brother's sister in law's step father is the kit man at Oadby Town. He heard from the board of the union of kitmen in Leicestershire, that Riquelme's a dead cert for us in January.

I used to love watching players like Enzo Scifo and Michel Platini play in the 80s. Passing, goals and flair. Players are too much like robots these days and the skill factor is hardly seen. What really winds me up though is when you watch the players having a pre-match kick about and realize that most players actually do possess the skills but are too frightened to attempt something as if they give the ball away it could lead to a goal! At least the likes of Joe Cole try but skill is becoming extinct.