Many football players I know are stuck playing club level football and they have great potential to go out into the world and really make a name for themselves. The problem here is that they don’t play their natural game on the field, because they will either tense up and get really nervous, or be extremely casual towards the events that occur during the game. This comes about from a little bit of arrogance, laziness and even lack of fitness. The main point of this post is to hit home that when you go out onto the pitch, play your natural game, no fancy stuff when it’s not needed and definitely don’t act casual when you go after the ball.

Have Hunger When You Run

Hunger for the ball, not in the stomach sense. It is rather underrated and not drilled into kids these days, but the best players in the world have an undefined hunger for the ball which lasts even after the game is done. I personally can’t stand to sit there while I watch someone else playing with a football, I just always want to get up and join them. I know that many times during high school I have really made myself uncomfortable by playing football and then sweating like a hog in class, all because I had a hunger to play and essentially score goals. A good way to see if you really have hunger for the ball, is when the opponent takes the ball off you, do you run after him to get the ball back or do you leave it up to the defenders? If you are the latter, work on it and make sure that the ball is yours again, because where would you rather see it? At your feet or your opponents feet?

Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images

Great news for Barcelona fans, as Thierry Henry has signed a contract with Barcelona, who have been after the Frenchman for quite some time now. Barça paid Arsenal 24 million euros and signed a four-year deal with Henry with a release clause of 125 million euros. Pretty steep, but they really wanted him. It was really great to hear the news and it was almost surprising for me in a way, because it was only a couple of months ago when Henry downplayed suggestions that he was to call the Camp Nou his home ground. Nevertheless it is great to hear and I hope that Henry brings a new found joy and synergy to Barca’s game. It will be very interesting to see how he plays with Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Messi at the front of the pack. Here is the video of Henry’s presentation at the Nou Camp.

Interview With Thierry Henry

This interview was once again conducted by the FC Barcelona website and it reveals the feelings and emotions Henry felt that day, plus we get a good look at how he feels to be wearing the Barca shirt, like so many other Frenchman have before him.

Conducted by Sandra Sarmiento on 26/06/2007

Sarmiento - What have your first impressions been on the welcome that you have received at Camp Nou?

Henry - “I think that I will remember this day for the rest of my life. It has been very special. I knew that there would be a few people, but I was surprised when I turned around and saw all those people, really amazed. I even felt a little ashamed. Do not take that the wrong way, it was truly incredible. It also made me realise the size of this club.”

Sarmiento - Have you ever experienced anything like that before in football?

Henry - “No, to be honest. Just for me, coming to a new place. When I have been with other teams, part of the squad, when have won a trophy or something, then the fans have come out and shown you their support. But this welcome for only me has been a huge shock.”

Sarmiento - Do you now realise that the fans have a new idol?

Henry - “I can only try to do my job well and that is to play football. Sometimes I can do that and other times I cannot, but that is part of the game. When I was presented I quickly began to realise what the people here are expecting. The welcome was absolutely crazy. I will always be thankful to the Barcelona fans that came along to see me being presented. I have come here to try and help Barça win titles, but I have never seen myself as an idol. It has been a magnificent day.”

Sarmiento - You have said that one of the reasons that you chose to join FC Barcelona was because of the style of play. How long have you admired the way that Barça play?

Henry - “For as long as I can remember. It was a long time ago that I first saw them. I think that Barça is the only team in the world that has not varied their style of play over time. They play attractively and always go out to attack and to try and score…that is what the fans want to see. That is the reason why everyone knows about FC Barcelona. It is simply great to watch when you are on the outside and, fortunately, I am now here and can see it from the inside. Perhaps that is one of the most important aspects for me; that Barça are great to watch.”

Sarmiento - Who have been your favourite players at FC Barcelona?

Henry - “I don’t know. There are so many. I could say Cruyff or Maradona, but I remember when I was 14 or 15 I really liked watching Hristo Stoichkov and Romario. The team that you watch when you are growing up is the one that you always remember more vividly than any other. Also the season that Ronaldo was here. Then there is Luis Enrique, (Josep) Guardiola; really, there are so many.”

Sarmiento - The forward line at FC Barcelona already contains players such Samuel Eto’o, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho. Do you have the feeling that you will have to work hard to earn a place?

Henry - “Before coming here I knew very well what to expect and how things would go. It is normal that a club like Barça have these types of players. It will be a decision for the coach to make about which players are chosen. One of the most important things is that we work as a team to move forward so that the club can win trophies. At the end of the day, although is it true that people remember specific players, they remember the team’s victories more. If you win, then afterwards people think about the players. I think that the most important thing is that Barça wins, independently of who plays.”

Sarmiento - Thuram has said that there is no other club in the world to match the forward line that Barça will have this season. Do you agree with that?

Henry - “Yes, I agree. It is not a great thing to say as I will play up front. The most important thing is that we are capable of playing as a team. As regards to the quality, I do not think that there is any doubt about that. It will also be a basic thing that whoever plays up front has to help out the defence and the midfield, which is key to winning games. It is great to play attractive football, which I enjoy a lot, but we also have to make life easy for the rest of the team. When you see the names of every member of this squad, which now includes mine, it should strike fear into the opposition.”

Sarmiento - Have you talked to Lilian Thuram since arriving? What did you say to him?

Henry - “I have not talked to him since arriving, but before I came I did. I also spoke to Ronaldinho, Gio (Van Bronckhorst) and they all told me the same thing: ‘If you have the chance to play for Barça, do not think about it; do it’. When someone says something that clearly to you, there is little else to be said. Thuram is one of the greatest players in the team, like he has been in so many teams. He has a lot of experience and he told me the same thing. I have certainly paid attention.”

Sarmiento - You have said that you have come to Barcelona to learn. What does someone like Thierry Henry need to learn?

Henry - “What I said shows how I like to live life. Now I am here I can say that I know lot about the club from the outside, but not from the inside. I think that when one joins a new club you have to watch and listen a lot. I am 29, almost 30, and do not know everything about the club. I need to talk to Carles Puyol, the captain, and also with Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Oleguer, (Andrés) Iniesta and Xavi; players that have been here for many years. They are the ones that have to teach to the best way to adapt in a simple manner. People that have been here a long time have to be respected. When you come to a new club these are the people to go to.”

Sarmiento - What do you think that you can bring to FC Barcelona on the football front?

Henry - “I think that everybody knows what I am capable of doing and also what I am not. I am joining an incredible team and it would be pretentious to say what I can and cannot bring. The only thing that I want is to give 100 per cent, which for me is the most important thing. As I have said before, whatever happens the key thing is that Barcelona wins. That is the most important thing of all.”

Sarmiento - You have stated that Arséne Wenger has been very important in your career. What do you think about Frank Rijkaard?

Henry - “What can one say about Frank Rijkaard. One Champions League, two league championships. He is a magnificent coach, a man who has truly earned respect. I am really looking forward to working with him. I cannot wait. The evolution of the first team since he arrived has been great.”

Sarmiento - Does the way Arsenal play have anything in common with Barça? Do you think you will adapt quickly?

Henry - “For me, the priority now is to learn Castellano or Catalan because being able to communicate is very important, not just in the dressing room but day-to-day too. I want to know the culture, the Catalan people and the city. People say that Arsenal play good football and, as I have said before, I did not have to think to hard about this. I am just delighted to have come here and to be part of this great team.”

Sarmiento - Normally you like to play out wide. Do you have any preference where you play?

Henry - “I will play where the coach puts me because he will always do what is best for the team. When you play for a club like FC Barcelona, nobody can specify whether they want to play here or there. You have to think about the team. It is not about how one player plays in a certain place. In the last World Cup the coach asked me to play up front on my own and that is not something that I like to do, but I understood that it was for the benefit of the team and I did that. What is really important is the situation and to ensure that what you do on the field benefits the team.”

After a long day of fixing up the website it’s time I got back to doing what I do best, giving helpful advice about football. Keeping balance on the football is one of the most important things you could ever possess when playing football. It is the ability to keep your centre of gravity in any situation you might find yourself in. This means when you go off on a run down the sideline and you need to switch the ball back on the inside, your balance on the ball begins to kick in. This is what allows you to keep on your feet and adjust your body to the direction of the ball.

Ronaldinho Shows Us An Example

By watching the video above you can see how Ronaldinho realises the need to bring the ball down into the corner to attract the defenders and then send it back into the middle of the park. What I want you to take notice of here is how Ronaldinho makes a constant effort to keep his body over the ball and in control. Running where the ball goes and changes the direction of his body in conjunction with the direction the ball goes. He makes around four different changes in his stride and direction, which he quickly adapts to and then sends the ball back into the centre.

So How Can You Improve Your Balance On The Ball?

The best way to improve your balance on the ball is to dribble it on an open field. Yes it seems simple but it is very effective and can also help your ball control at the same time. The following are steps you need to take:

1. Start by dribbling around the field at a comfortable speed, where you are in complete balance and control. Later on when you get better you will need to increase your speed.
2. Immediately push the ball in a different direction and then sprint after the ball, making sure your body gets behind the ball and once you do this repeat. Try and mix it up, keep yourself guessing and your body will need to adapt each time to a different direction.
3. Another great way to improve your balance on the ball is to constantly try step overs and swipes at the ball. These techniques tend to make good use of your balance. Once again you can put this into the routine outlines in Step 2 to really mix things up.

Practice This Because It’s Important

Much like all different techniques, this is fundamental to help you become a great player like Ronaldinho. The great man can really keep his balance given any situation, with a trick to constitute with every change in direction. It goes to say that this is an hard skill to develop because there aren’t many different exercises to help you practice, but hopefully, by following the routines I’ve outlined above you will be hard to knock over when your dribbling the ball to the goal.

Finally it’s here, the new version of Be Like Ronaldinho. There are still many more little things that need to be fixed with this new look, but overall I am very pleased with the way it has turned out. Many hours of fine tuning and production have gone into this so forgive me if I seem a little on edge. All the same features are part of this new layout and I have plans to bring more.

In a few hours I will be putting up a new post about one of the most important things a footballer player can possess, so stay tuned for that.

It was nearly a week ago when I talked about the interview Ronaldinho had with IGN and the expertise he passed onto EA for their upcoming game, FIFA 08. I came across the video on YouTube which shows Ronaldinho playing football in his Mo-Cap suit surrounded by red lights and several $20,000 video cameras, all in the name of realism. There is something the host says at the beginning of this video that doesn’t sit well with any Ronaldinho fan, something along the lines of:

The top superstar bill is non other than the world’s probably second greatest football player, after Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, is Ronaldinho…

Time To Get Defensive

Now, I’m not one to get into arguments and so forth, but I just don’t believe that Ronaldinho comes second to C. Ronaldo. Now don’t get me wrong, Ronaldo is a flamboyant, exciting player to watch, but Ronaldinho is a totally different dynamic and in my opinion, blows everyone else out of the water. So I commented this on the YouTube page saying:

Explain why EA and Nike are willing to put down millions of dollars to have Ronaldinho’s face on their merchandise… C. Ronaldo is better looking, but still they go with the uglier Ronaldinho… because he is the best in the world

Since when did C. Ronaldo win any FIFA Player of the Year Awards and other accolades to give him the title of Greatest Player In The World? Nevertheless I hope you enjoyed the video and gave you an insight into the game. Like I’ve said before, FIFA 08 is going to be exciting stuff!