Has strenght become secondary?

Only a few years ago It was common to refer to players as featherweights and dismiss them because of their small built. Now Since Spain and Barcelona successes it's becoming less and less common to see things like that. And even more so small players now are praised for their agility (a trait that was completely ignored only a few years back)

What do you think, Is it a trend? Is it related to contemporaneus tactics that reward atlethicism less? Or was it always unimportant and only now people are beginning to realize it?

No, strength is extremely important. Trust me dude, xavi and iniesta aren't body builders but they aren't weaklings. Even di maria has a degree of strength.

They may be stronger than those with similar builds, but they are quite weak for sportsmen standards.

No they aren't bro, you'd be suprised how much someone like messi can bench.

Strikers and centerbacks need it the most, but that doesn't mean other players don't need it at all.

On the other hand its not like football players were ever bigger then handegg or rugby players, so don't get how they are "weak" for sportsman.

Strength isnt important for most players. Because they rely on their head first, not their bodies.

The Franchise wrote:Strength isnt important for most players. Because they rely on their head first, not their bodies.

I agree dude, but its always a very nice thing to have as long as it doesn't weaken your other traits.

Giggity5313 wrote:No they aren't bro, you'd be suprised how much someone like messi can bench.

Strikers and centerbacks need it the most, but that doesn't mean other players don't need it at all.

On the other hand its not like football players were ever bigger then handegg or rugby players, so don't get how they are "weak" for sportsman.

I didn't mean Messi who is relatively strong.

But xavi, iniesta, Di maria, Silva, Muniain, Ozil, Nasri, Cesc, and many others are quite weak and seem to be doing quite well.

Sure, but its not even secondary as the op asks. Its lower than that.

Brain, technical ability/skill level and speed are all most important than strength.

Yeah, basically it depends where you play on the field and what your role is.

The Franchise wrote:Sure, but its not even secondary as the op asks. Its lower than that.

Brain, technical ability/skill level and speed are all most important than strength.

You are taking the word "secondary" too literally. I meant not very important.

Body Control is far more important than just pure strength.

I'm sure Blatter wants football to be a non contact sport one day :lol!:

It's not really that important. All ball and body control, as well as technical skills etc. can easily make up for not being as big. If you have the ball and can control it, bigger players shouldn't be able to get it away from you unless you screw up or they foul you (or you are pressed enough that you just have to give it away, naturally)

Either way, as a pro, you don't screw up with that stuff very often, which is why Xavi and Iniesta and Godric have no problem. And the other way, you get a foul.

Bigger players will have an advantage when two are running at the ball, unless the smaller player is a lot faster.

But the advantages of being big aren't huge. The best reason for getting bigger is not injured as much. Everything else isn't really as important as technical skills etc. as said it's more useful for CB's and perhaps strikers.

It used to be that players with lack f intelligence could get away with being strong and aggressive but seeing as FIFA is trying to make the sport as non contact as possible, it doesn't really have a place. Except in the premiership.

Strength is overrated, Messi and Ronaldo have become worse players by putting on muscle.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Strength is overrated, Messi and Ronaldo have become worse players by putting on muscle.

Not true, messi is only getting better.. I should try getting whoppers some time.

striker and midfielder relies on their technical ability its defender who needs strengh more. But strengh always been secondary, if not then kanu would be the best player. did you see how he grabbed fabregas with one hand

Nirgal wrote:

The Franchise wrote:Sure, but its not even secondary as the op asks. Its lower than that.

Brain, technical ability/skill level and speed are all most important than strength.

You are taking the word "secondary" too literally. I meant not very important.

True, I am.

But yeah, it isnt very important.

people are getting it wrong

small does not equal Weak

sila and iniesta might look small but they ain't weak or skinny

wilshere has also proven that small British mids can also make it

but when ur skinny, that can cuz some problems..

anyone remeber Traore bouncing off Drogba 2 years ago?

Di maria is skinny and he does quite well. The rest are mid to small built, not really strong.

About Wilsher, i didn't mentioned him because he didn't cross my mind. But I wasn't saying that small brits don't have a chance. Why wouldn't they? Other than bad teeth and a girly accent ( ) they are no different from anyone else

If someone gets offended by my friendly joke I'm labeling them as sensitive

Strength is a nice thing to have for defensive players and some types of strikers. It's not at all something mandatory, though.

IMO, strength is nothing without balance. You could be built like a tank, but if you have bad equilibrium or just shoddy nerves and you constantly fall over, all that strength is useless.

For defenders, it's nice having a physical advantage when covering the ball or tackling. The stronger you are the easier it is to take the ball away, naturally. Same thing goes for strikers, they can take more punishment while waiting to open up space for their teammates, or can sometimes bulldoze through weak defenses by pure force of strength.

Skill > all, though. Just look at how skillful guys do in the extremely macho donkey physical king kong Premier League

When was it ever super important?

BarrileteCosmico wrote:When was it ever super important?

There was a phase in the late 90's early 2000 when, at least in argentina, some players were considered to small to play in first division or to move to europe. Remember that being said about Aimar, Saviola, D'alessandro, etc

They say that about Nerman too