Hearing the comments from Marc Albrighton last week about the technical abilities of Barry Bannan and how he was the most gifted player at Aston Villa got me thinking; does size matter on the pitch?
Well leaving certain politicians, wearing their colours in the bedroom to one side, I don't think that size is such an important factor in football. Basically if you are good enough you are big enough.
Hypothetically, could anybody say that Maradona would not have been good enough for Aston Villa, or for a more modern day example; Lionel Messi?
Here is a short list to prove my point:
- Maradona - 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
- Messi - 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Bannan - 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Arshavin - 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
- Modric - 1.74 m (5ft 8 in)
The question is, if you were the Villa manager, when would you dare to risk playing this youngster with so much talent?
Would you wait until we were 3-0 up before unleashing him or would you bottle it and tell him to bulk up because he is not yet strong enough?
I personally think if he is that good then he has to have some game time this season. Go for it Mr Houllier.