Today was my first day of full-time work, and I am absolutely knackered. Many of my readers have suggested that the blog is fantastic because I had so much spare time to focus on it, and once I started working new material wouldn’t be able to be published as frequently. Taking this into account, even though I would much rather put my feet up and lay in bed right now, I am making a superhuman effort to keep my readers happy. I hope this piece is as good as the previous ones I have been able to post.
Being a massive Liverpool FC fan, the little criticism I have received about the blog (dearly appreciated by the way) is related to my sole focus on matters relating to the Anfield Club. Therefore, this piece is going to be based on and take a closer look at the latest Manchester City Signing, Edin Dzeko.
Player Name: Edin Dzeko
Age: 24
Place of Birth: Sarajevo
Club: Manchester City
Height: 6’ 3” (1.91m)
Nationality: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Position: Forward/Striker
It may be a surprise to few, but Dzeko actually began his football career playing in midfield. Unsurprisingly, his height and at the time poor technical ability didn’t bring him much success in the role. A player who has previously stated AC Milan and Andriy Shevchenko being his favourite club and player (unconfirmed), was on the radar for many top European clubs. In the end, it was the Eastlands club who prized him away from Wolfsburg for a fee of £27m, on a four-and-a-half year deal. Edin Dzeko was born in Sarajevo, and faced a very traumatic childhood, unordinary for any modern day top-level footballer I know. He was brought up in a war surrounded environment. When he was the age of 6, his home was destroyed, forcing him and his relatives (about fifteen of them) to live in a small house with his grandparents. Many of his admirers have suggested this upbringing provided with him a mental toughness that is one of his greatest attributes. "I was very afraid every day," Dzeko has said of his upbringing. "We were always having to hide when shots rang out or bombs fell. You could get shot at any time. I cried a lot in those days. "A lot of footballers start by kicking a ball in the street. For me, that was impossible."
Edin Dzeko possesses very good statistics for a front man since joining Wolfsburg in 2007.
2007/2008 – Wolfsburg
Games 28(11) Goals 8 Assists 6
2008/2009 – Wolfsburg
Games 33(3) Goals 30 Assists 6
2009/2010 – Wolfsburg
Games 42(1) Goals 28 Assists 9
2010/2011 – Wolfsburg/Man City
Games 21 Goals 12 Assists 4
After signing for Wolfsburg for an initial fee of €4 million, Dzeko proved his worth and beyond by a succession of performances while alerted the football media around the world of his quality. His exceptional performances in the Bundesliga also earned him personal accolades in 2008/2009, the year he helped Wolfsburg win the title. He was awarded the Bundesliga Players’ Footballer of the Year, and if previous media attention had been nothing more than hype, this award and shock title win had all clubs around Europe monitoring his every move. Even with little experience at the top-level, he has also become a national hero, captaining the nation on a few occasions and becoming the first UNICEF ambassador for Bosnia. Not only that, but his three and a half season with Wolfsburg saw him earn legendary status as he became the highest scorer in the clubs history (78) goals, surpassing Diego Kliowicz who scored 57 goals.
Strengths: Powerful and strong, he has the talent to score from almost any situation and has great movement as well as physical prowess.
Style: Dominant, powerful, and agile.
So moving on to City, like with any new signing for the Eastlanders, many question the players craving for money rather than their focus on football goals as to the reason for the transfer. I believe with Dzeko it is different. In his debut game against Wolves over the weekend, it was visibly clear that he just fits in. He has this swagger about him that oozes class. It is not easy coming to the premiership and doing so well in your first game, adapting so well to the physical and fast-paced nature of the league. Nor are City used to playing with two strikers, albeit Tevez prefers to drop deeper than a normal striker would. Dzeko developed a near-telepathic partnership with Grafite at Wolfsburg which flourished for both club and individual. Maybe Mancini is aware of that and is ready to compromise his “defensive approach” to games to get the best out of Dzeko and to win more games.
Let’s be honest, the title is in the hands of United, it will take something special for them to mess it up, but if they did, the likes of Man City, Arsenal and Spurs would be hot on their heels. Arsenal and Spurs may not have the courage or spending power to match city and go and buy a £25m+ centre forward in the January transfer window and that’s exactly what separates Manchester City’s title challenge to their rivals. United may have the luxury of not having lost a game and having “sufficient” back up in Hernandez to Rooney and Berbatov, however, City have the luxury to call on a number of quality in all areas of the pitch. It will be interesting when Balotelli is fit how Mancini plans to incorporate him, Dzeko and Tevez into his plans. On paper it’s nothing less than a frightening combination. I know many clubs are sceptical about buying in January, but I am certain Edin Dzeko provides another dimension to Manchester City, and I am glad to see him in the premiership. As a neutral, football manager fan, FIFA lover, I have been waiting for so long to see him in action week in and week out.
Many argue the title can’t be bought but if it could.. City may have just gone and purchased it for £27m with postal delivery in May.
Truth Or Flair Verdict: Edin Dzeko will be a massive hit for Manchester City
No comments:
Post a Comment