Cannavaro Is Nothing?
By: Corey | February 5th, 2008
Im A Ballon d’Or Winner?
Paul Breitner, ex-Real midfielder, has said that he thinks Canna is nothing. Here is the exact quote, I am sketchy with German to Spanish to English translation though:
“The one thing I don’t like about this Real Madrid is Cannavaro. He does not do anything, he does not take part in the game and they cover his failures.”
“I can’t believe he was awarded the Ballon d’Or. He does very little for a champion of the world. Madrid must reinforce this position. (Bernd) Schuster knows it and already he will be looking at things.”
-Warning, the rest of this post is not suitable for children-
Okay, fair enough, everyone has an opinion. I was in Mr. Breitner’s position all of last year and the beginning of this year. But Canna has won me over, he had some good performances around the end of the year and to start this year. But it has to be said he was pretty crappy against Almeia, he couldn’t handle the physical presence of Negredo, who is jacked all of a sudden.
Bammm Banana Hammock!
Does this mean Canna does nothing? Well now, he slips and heads the ball to the other team or gives away shoddy penalties, but most importantly, he just seems lost out there a lot of the time. Things look to have improved around late October when his performances were improving, but he had the more physical Pepe by his side.
Can he survive with Sergio Ramos, who although being a physical presence, is more of a speed and skill defender than physical and positional? The two seem incompatible, while Pepe and Canna look just fine. What’s your take on it? Is Canna a flop, should he return to Naples, or should we do our utmost to extend his contract another year?
Category: Team News
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Comments
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With Real’s luck in the central defense, I absolutely cast my vote for resigning Cannavaro for at least another year, with the same confidence I voted for Obama today (I know, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up politics, but the analogy was irresistable).
I still think we should take advantage of our first refusal on Garay, and keep our eyes on other options as well.
As for rating Canna? I think he’s quality. Is he the best in the game? Certainly not. Did he deserve the Ballon d’Or? I think not. But is he crap? Don’t be ridiculous. He has bad games, as do a majority of athletes, and he needs support, not a rubber band and sticky-tacked together defense, where a fullback is playing center, and old man with no defending skills is playing rightback, and a young man with relatively little experience is at leftback. Our defense is makeshift right now, at best. It would be nice to have a sole centerback who could play savior and make up for the rest of them, but we don’t.
Bear in mind, Puyol needs a Marquez/Milito, Ferdinand needs a Vidic, et cetera.
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I will preface my comments by saying that I too was not in Cannavaro’s corner last year, but he’s really turned a corner this year. His awareness in defense is UNPARALLELED, at least on this squad, so without him, you could say that we’d be in far worse shape.
Pepe looks good with him because he’s still primarily a defensive centreback. Sergio Ramos almost seems like a Gago-type midfielder stuck in the back line. That works sometimes, but when Cannavaro has to cover for slowpokes like Salgado or for other defenders who like to go forward, well, there’s not much you can say about that, right?
Sure, Cannavaro slipped on Juanito’s goal, but let’s face it, he wasn’t the only one who had trouble on that pitch. Second, he was marking Negredo on that play, and he at least had the presence of mind to try to head the ball away whilst he was falling. Third, where was the guy marking Juanito? Surely whoever that was supposed to be deserves some of Breitner’s bile.
Cannavaro’s defense about different playing styles between Italy and Spain are valid. Italian defenders are renowned – witness Zambrotta, Maldini, Nesta, Materazzi, etc. Good Spanish defenders? Hierro and… I can’t think of another one with the same kind of reverence. Maybe Puyol, but even he’s starting to lose a step, hence the Milito and Thuram signings.
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I think it silly to act like Canna is crap. He’s very good. I agree with John that he’s not the best but he’s certainly very good. One thing to keep in mind is that when Pepe is there, Sergio Ramos is also still there, on the wing, being a really good player. So that just helps, makes the back line more solid. I mean hell, the guy’s a Spanish international, so of course having him out there will make a difference. Pepe is a good player, probably not as good as he’s going to get, so obviously adding him to the mix helps too…
Canna is certainly not “nothing”…I suppose that’s my point. One bad game, even a string of bad games does not a player make. Look at Ronnie…
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I expected such a response, as I think the willy ole German Brietner was, like Schuster, known for making outlandish proclomations in his playing days. Cannavaro had a bad game, but he has had a good season, I think no one can discredit him there. If Brietner’s comments were made last season, I would have to agree with them, but now, he isnt watching games obviously.
As for Sergio Ramos, although I agree that his speed and skill dictate he is probably more worthy of a central midfield role, and I use to play him there in FIFA where he matured into a 95, I think that he will only truely shine as a right back. His abilities as a central defender are not great, likewise I think in the center of the midfield he may look a little out of depth. Could he be a right midfielder? Yeah probably, but right back allows him to do a little bit of everything while hugging the touch line. I just have this problem which is Torres, who I like even better as a right back, so if Sergio Ramos is to move from right back it has to be because Torres is a starter there. Certainly I wouldnt try Ramos anywhere else on the field if Salgado was the preferred backup….gives me shivers.
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Breitner’s statement is hardly worth answering, it’s so ridiculous to anyone who has watched Real Madrid this year. With the injuries and the constantly changing backline, Cannavaro has been the only constant to hold together the mix of inexperienced, over-the-hill, and out of position defenders this club has fielded.
If Real Madrid is smart, they will try extend his contract and have him remain to teach these defenders to organize and lead without him. But I certainly wouldn’t blame him for returning to Napoli instead, where at least he’ll get some respect.
Oh, and John–great voting today!
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Send his ass back to Italy! I agree with Breitner, Cannavaro doesn’t deserve the Ballon d’Or, nor does he deserve to even be on Real Madrid’s bench for that matter!
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This debate is a bit of a storm in a tea cup and Brietner is just being sensational. It’s true Canavaro hasn’t reached the level we would expect, he’s played better than last season and he’s still made some nasty individual errors this season. Some of the mistakes he has made are only his fault.
I don’t know exactly why he hasn’t played as well as expected in Madrid, but it could be due to all sorts of reasons, nothing to do with how the reast of the team play. Sure the Spanish don’t consider defenders as special, maybe that’s effecting his mind, becsaue he doesn’t feel as loved. Maybe he doesn’t like the food, I don’t know.
My point is, last season Canavaro was worse than this season, but we had an italian coach who had everyone tracking back to defend. So I don’t buy this business about the Spanish game being to blame.
Persoanlly, I’m glad we’ve had Canavaro, I don’t want him to leave, he can pass on great experience to new players and can slide tackle and read the game better than anyone I’ve at RM. Yeah – sure, it’s all a bit last ditch and that might be the Spanish way partly to blame. But he hasn’t got grounds to blame Spanish football, just as he shouldn’t be critised by ex-players.
Incidentally, on the Ramos front, for me I’m for him at RB. It’s because of Ramos that we don’t have to play a proper right midfielder. Robinho and Sniejder float around the middle or the left, rarely do either act as a right sided midfielder like Beckham, unless they are right on the edge of the box perhaps. Ramos is capable of holding the right side alone with occasional support. He can cross the ball better than most, he can run with the ball and he can tuck inside and deliver a shot or cross with his left. He should stay in RB and we should fix our centre back problems.
I agree Salgado’s days are really starting to show up badly now.Posted from
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I agree with you Evo on the Cannavaro front, and partially on the Sergio Ramos idea. But Torres is a more solid right back then Sergio Ramos, he does not go forward as often but he has better defensive skills. Sergio Ramos owns the right side of the pitch much like Roberto Carlos use to own the left, but its a huge liability for the center backs if he can not get back in time. Dont get me wrong, he hustles his ass off to get back, but he can only do so much if he is in the opponents box. As a defensive midfielder he would be able to move more, but he would still be bound to a position. Putting him at right midfield with Torres behind him creates this double defense type thing that will keep attackers at bay and allow Sergio Ramos to run as much as he wants. It may funnel attacks to the left were Marcelo is weak, but then the center backs can cover better because they have Torres staying back most of the time and Sergio Ramos a more then adequate defender. But thats just crazy talk, its not very applicable, although Lyon did that with Revieller and Clerc a few times and it worked well…
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Well, I was going to blog about this, but felt lazy and kept my mouth shut.
I really thing Paul Breitner (or whatever) is the one who is nothing!!! Cannavaro is nothing? WTF he is talking about? He is the best defender in the world, with no doubt. You play him with two stupid defenders (Salgado and Torres) and then criticize the guy? I think it is nonsense
Canna deserved to be the best player in the world and he was one of the reason Italia won the world cup.
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yeah considering everything the criticism is unmerited that’s a general consensus
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Waste of space. Typical British sensationalism.
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he is a good player and i agree that without him they might not have won the world cup. it was down to him that del piero scored against germany in the 2006 world cup as he did 2 smashing bits of defending in a row. he took it from the penalty area to the half way line. it’s a bit harsh to say he is crap. he’s one of the best defenders in world for hecks sake! don’t focus on the occasional bad points, cause most of his appearances are great. he is a fantastic player and should be given a chance. keep him for another year and o my he is good looking!! and italian like me! forza italia.xx and real madrid!!.xxxxxxx
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i think the cannavaro is the best player in the world….
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his ass is yummy and delicious
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he’s very sexy boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Italy
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