At
Rovers we have always prided our selves (even if others haven’t) on our long
history of discovering and nurturing players from teen years through to
becoming greats at the club. It is something we think is essential for the
survival of any top team, and is a practice we will carry on into the future.
Below we will list the discoveries we think defined/define the club but first
one must define exactly what one thinks a “discovery” is.
Whichever way we answer that will only be in
our humble opinion, but I would like to think of that opinion as an educated
one. Some people would say “my discovery“ on a player who everyone already
knows about but no one has taken for one reason or another. At Rovers we do not
deem this as a discovery.
Case in point
Ronaldinho was already known before he joined Rovers. Rovers was His first club
but was discovered by the wanderes manager even though he never joined
them. Likewise Peter schmeichel Joined
Rovers and only played at rovers his entire Thia career. However At Rovers we
would not count that as a discovery because everyone and their Grandad knew of
peter so to claim “I discovered Peter schmeichel” is folly. One could argue I saw the value in Peter
where others didn’t but to claim discovering him is a non-sense in our minds.
Like wise
discovering a player and then selling them on quickly or loosing them before
them having an impact on the team like, winning silver ware, or having a long
run of influence over the team would in my mind disqualify them from being on
the list of our Greatest Discoveries.
There have
been so many Great players Discovered by our Elite scouting team like Samuel Eto
who we discovered at 15 playing for Real Madrid, Francesco Totti who we
discovered at 16, Owen Hargreaves who we saw playing in his first games for
Bayern Munich, Pepe was discovered playing in a friendly for porto against Man
U. Lucio, Huntelaar, Van Nistoolroy, Dida, Conceicao, Almeyda, Robinho, Paul scholes,
Emerson , Ze Roberto The list goes on and on.
Sometimes
we can get it wrong of course. The names Freddy Adu, Wampeta, Fabio Junior, Gil
and Kerrison still haunt the clubs history.
There are
though also players who’s talent was worthy of more praise, but timing , injury
and or circumstance stopped things from progressing. Players Like Nilmar, Alex
and Felipe come to mind. With Felipe in our minds still being one of the most
talented players to ever play for the club. In Brazil he is still held up as
one of their great talents to not make it to Europe.
However Below we
list the our best 11 of them. The players who’s names will forever be connected
with Rovers and who have defined what we are were and will become.
11. Clarence Seedorf.- One of the early signings to
our club in the “paper” era. We saw a young Seedorf playing for Sampdoria and
straight away saw the talent, energy and passing ability. He was signed along
with Aldier and Christian Karembu, but the powers that were at the time ruled
that Rovers were discovering too many Players and we had to choose between
them. Angry as that rule made us we were used to being cheated and took it on
the chin opting to keep Seedorf. His career after justified what we saw in the
young player.
10. Javier Mascherano.- Part of the famous team of 06
that won the inaugural Easter Bash. Mascherano was discovered by our scouts
playing for Corinthians in Brazil. His tenacity, ruggidness but smarts in the
tackle and midfield were what struck us, but more so was the fact that he was a
20 year old Argentinian playing in brazil. A tough ask if you know anything of
Brazilian/Argentinian relations. This was the selling point for us. He won a
trophy in his first season with our club then went on to spend a large part of
his career at United.
9.Karim Benzema – We discovered Benzema in a big
stroke of luck. That day was luck for us and for Benzema. At the time we tuned
in to watch Lyon play as our striker Fred was in the team and in good form. An
injury to Fred meant Lyon were short a striker. In place of Fred came 18 year
old winger Karim Benzema. Having not played upfront before at this level, Benzema
scored two goals in that game. In the following weeks he carried on the scoring
run and pretty much ended Freds Career at Lyon.
8. Andres Iniesta – Another member of the team of 06.
Iniesta was a discovery of ours that had little fan fare apart from the
confusion on our part that we didn’t understand why no one saw the talent in
him that we saw. Going on in real life to become one of the most decorated
players in history.He won the easter bash with us a played a big part in that
team before moving on to united and then spending the large bulk of his career
at City. Now back at the Rovers and an integral member of our championship
winning side this year. He plans to finish his career where it started.
7. Arturo Vidal – The story of Vidal is still in the
writing. He’s been an important member of the squad for the last 4 years, proving
irreplaceable, and has captained the team to many a victory. Discovered playing
for Leverkusen, Vidal embodies everything Rovers has asked of our midfielders
historically in the mold of conceicao, ze Roberto, Hargreaves. Vidal will be a
part of the Rovers story for years to come
6.Carlos Tevez – A favorite at Rovers, discovered
along with Javier Mascherano at Corinthians over 10 years ago. One of the most
important memebers of the team of 06 Easter bash winners. Played many games and
scored so many goals for the club. Always welcome in the club house. His Career
again has proven the eye for talent our club scouts have.
5. Thiago Silva – What can be said about this man? He
is everything the club stands for. Captain, Leader, Winner. Discovered just
after our easter bash win and a consistant member of the new Era at rovers.
Lifted the Champions cup for us this season and still has a few more years of
greatness in him. Along with Pepe he forms a formidable homegrown defence the
club can be proud of
4.Fernando Hierro. – This is the man that Thiago Silva
must emulate. Multiple cup winning captain of a team that dominated the last 2
years of the4 years of “paper era” Hierro revolutionized the way we approached
the game. Following on form a role started by Hoddle at our club and moved
forward by Gullet. Hierro perfected the job of Anchor man forming a base with
Davids on one side and Conceicao on the other that made our Midfield pretty
much impenetrable. Will go down in Rovers History as one of the greatest ever.
3. Neymar. Discovered at the age of 15 at Santos, Home
to Pele and another club discovery Robinho. We new from the start that this was
the player to take Rovers into the future. An old school Brazilian full of
magic. At 24 Neymar has already been part of two championship winning Rovers
sides and showed his worth dragging the club through their last semi final with
genesis with 2 goals of his own. A once in a life time player and future Balon
D’or. Never Leaving, Lifer.
2. Kaka When we discovered Kaka we couldn’t believe
what we were seeing. The speed and ball control of this 18 year old belied his
lanky frame. We knew we had a winner. Other members of the Pep knew nothing of
him but they would soon. Last Balon D’or winner before the Messi and Cristiano
era, world player of the year, World cup Winner to name a few. Will forever be
connected with Rovers.
1. Ronaldo. The greatest player to ever wear the
Jersey, the greatest Player of the era before Messi, the greatest Pes sprite of
all time. 3 time world player of the year, 3 time world cup finalist, two time
world cup winner, 2 christmas bashses won, Captain of the team of 06. Top
scorer in the paper era, greatest player of the paper era, youngest world
player of the year of all time, youngest Balon D’or of all time. The accolades
can go on and on. Ronaldo is our greatest player of all time. Our greatest
discovery and a player that will forver be connected with the club. I remember watching
Brazil play Ghana in the 96 olympics and seeing Ron score a goal from an
impossible angle. I declared to the united manager who was watching with me. “This
boy will be the best player in the world one day.” We were absolutely sure. And
we were proven right. The only reason he came to the fore at our club is for
the fact we were repossessed and had little resources to work with. We had to
turn to a 17 year old Ronaldo who kept our club afloat with 20 goals that year
along side Roberto Baggio. He then grew to become our greatest player and
arguably the greatest player the Pep has ever seen. Now in a metorship role at
the club helping Neymar and the like achieve their goals.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment