Harry and Jamie Redknapp recently revealed that in their estimation, Wilshere can be England’s Pirlo but he was absent from the European Championships. Both father and son are guilty of issuing pre-mature judgements on the
Arsenal midfielder who has not shown any consistent flashes of brilliance to merit such a comparison...
Andre Pirlo’s performance against England in Italy’s quarterfinal triumph over the English national team has indeed raised some eye brows in the British press. A player who was seen as at the end of his club career just three years
ago when Manchester United knocked out A.C Milan in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages is now central to Italy’s hopes of doing well at the 2012 EUROs. Not only that, Pirlo was pivotal to Juventus’ undefeated run towards capturing the Serie A title
last season as well.
For England, Pirlo is the new ego-ideal and there is a drive now towards finding a player who can be England’s “Pirlo”. Whilst such an approach is counterproductive to a certain extent as players like the Italian midfielder can
hardly be found “ready-made” available for use in the starting line up, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749’s favourite footballing family the Redknapps have taken things a bit too far.
In the aftermath of the Three Lions’ exit from the EUROs both Harry and Jamie Redknapp came out and compared http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463 to Pirlo. Such a comparison is not only unmerited but also dangerous for a player such as Wilshere as England
has a history of pinning down unwarranted expectations on youth stars and then watching them disintegrate as a result.
Jack Wilshere is undoubtedly a fine talent in the limited stock of talent that English football currently finds at its disposal. The question that needs to be asked is that has Wilshere done to merit such a comparison? There is
no denying that the young midfielder has shown signs of brilliance but those sings have not been frequently enough. Unfortunately for Wilshere and for the Redknapps as well, the Arsenal playmaker impressed against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League
tie against the Catalan giants.
Wilshere held his own against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta but failed to build on that in the second leg at the Nou Camp stadium. Furthermore, it is already evident that the Arsenal man has some serious injury problems. Wilshere
was supposed to be fit by the end of 2011 according to Wenger but his recovery suffered setbacks and he was unable to play a single competitive match for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 in the 2011-2012 Premier League season.
In light of such a shaky fitness record, is it fair to Wilshere to compare him to Pirlo? Moreover even if we take this comparison as a given and unquestionable, is it wise to undertake such an approach? In the past, English press
has touted up http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 star failed to live up to the expectations
that were pinned on him.
A more cautious approach is warranted in this scenario. Wilshere is undoubtedly talented but it is best that things are allowed to take their normal course of action with the Arsenal man and these extra additives are hardly needed
at the moment, a moment where Wilshere has done nothing to prove himself so far.
Tags: