Giovani

[mil1lion]

We shall call him "mini Ron"

 

[Dharmabum]

The various descriptions you guys are giving about dos Santos reminds me of this metaphor:


It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation Might satisfy his mind

The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!”

The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”

The Third approached the animal, And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!”

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!”

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

Moral:

So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!

 

[michaelden]

Gio has very strong legs. Clearly he's spent a lot of time in the gym bulking up, and Barca's doctors are experts in strengthening young players, the obvious example being Messi.

But, crucially, Dos Santos has an explosive burst of pace. Juande has commented on this. He also can shoot very powerfully with a short backlift - like Defoe. Put that together with excellent technique and an outstanding football brain, and he has the potential to be quite a player.

Ramos has already commented on Gio's ability to operate in various positions, (right, left and centrally), and he's perfect for the superfast, counter-attacking football that typified Juande's Sevilla side.

:rofl: You are a bit wide of the mark there I fear. Not all of Barca's youth are similarly built.

Messi suffers from growth hormone deficiency and has daily injections. In any other sport this word be considered doping. It boosts testosterone levels etc... As much as I admire Messi I have to wonder just how much like Maradonna is he?

I'd heard he was more like Messi in build and playing style, hence part of the reason he left Barca, knowing that he would seriously struggle to get regular starts with Messi in the team.

I believe most people thought this too

 

[yanno]

:rofl: You are a bit wide of the mark there I fear. Not all of Barca's youth are similarly built.

Messi suffers from growth hormone deficiency and has daily injections. In any other sport this word be considered doping. It boosts testosterone levels etc... As much as I admire Messi I have to wonder just how much like Maradonna is he?

Yes - I know all about Messi's growth hormone injections, thank you very much. However, look at Bojan - he's seventeen and very strongly built. I'm sure that is in part down to tailored fitness training, gym work and special diet.

A lot of the top Spanish clubs hire nutrionists who prescribe both diets, hormones and other exotic substances to players. Ramos & Alvarez have hired Dr Antonio Escribano to continue his Sevilla nutritional work at Tottenham on a consultancy basis.

My point is that if you look at Dos Santos' stature in youth team football vids and compare him with the Dos Santos we saw play for Barca last season, it's clear that he's spent a lot of time in the gym building up his legs. And has probably had a lot of nutritional help too. I'm not suggesting he's been forcefed human growth hormone.

 

[michaelden]

Yanno - I was just questioning your assumption that the Barca doctors are experts at building up their youth. Messi is on HGH; Dos Santos and Bojan (although I don't think he's that big TBH) might be endomorphs but the rest of the youth squad don't like brick shithouses.

Think about this instead, they have loads of free time and spend it at the gym cos it's a hassle going anywhere else cos you get mobbed by fans. No need for Dr. Feelgood in that theory.

 

[yanno]

Yanno - I was just questioning your assumption that the Barca doctors are experts at building up their youth. Messi is on HGH; Dos Santos and Bojan (although I don't think he's that big TBH) might be endomorphs but the rest of the youth squad don't like brick shithouses.

Think about this instead, they have loads of free time and spend it at the gym cos it's a hassle going anywhere else cos you get mobbed by fans. No need for Dr. Feelgood in that theory.

michaeleden - fair point.

However, when Terry Gibson made his Spurs debut as a 16- or 17-year-old, he was skinny as a whippet. When he reappeared as an 18- or 19-year-old, he was built like the proverbial brick shithouse. I had some schoolfriends who knew him, and they claimed Spurs had made a big effort to bulk him up so he couldn't be muscled off the ball so easily.

When players are gifted but not very tall, and expected to be fasttracked from youth team football to a fast, physical, league - like Bojan and Dos Santos - then I'm pretty sure the coaching staff will look to build up their strength rapido.

Watching Dos Santos play for Barca this season, it was clear that as well as his explosive burst of pace, he's pretty strong. He may be smallish of stature, but imo he has been putting in serious time in the gym.

Or perhaps he's built up those legs boogying the night away in Barcelona nightclubs.... :wink:

 

[michaelden]

I agree, he is a strong little shit. Stronger than that Vela chap playing for the pikies ;-)

 

[Rupstoh]

To answer the questions, I had the pleasure of watching him at The Lodge after the pictures were taken.

My comparison with Maradona was simply based on his ability with the ball at his left foot, his appearance (he is short and very stocky) and his sheer power (I watched him do a few shuttle runs and he is very quick.)

 

[tottenham4life]

And the typical spurs over hyping starts, new Maradona now, one misplaced pass and he's the new Jenas

You are so right

 

[si_yidarmy]

I've seen him in the flesh now.

He looks very small and stocky and I can't help thinking that the liking towards Ronaldinho is wide of the mark.

Just watching him play with the ball makes me lean more to someone else.

Maradona.

expect more yellow cards this season then with all the hand balls!