Eto and Essien are seriously good footballers with very intelligent football brains. They had brilliant work and team ethic. Saido Mane is a terrific footballer and his work and team ethic is elite level. For me he is one of the worlds best players. All three were educated in their homeland academies until the ages of 16-19. Most African footballers playing in Europe will have moved at similar ages. Its no barrier to having tactical awareness, natural footballing brains in my opinion. There are maybe less produced due to poorer coaching standards but I think its wrong to say they don't produce any.
A football brain in comparison to who ? Shola Ameobi? None are on the sane level as bergkamp, pirlo, messi or xavi just a few examples If you draw up lists of players from South America, Europe and Africa you'll see what I'm saying Even over the past 20 years just to make it fair
So the Chinese club pipped Arsenal to his signature then? I believe the transfer fee was £0. We've had their eyes out there.
Not sorry to see him go but... I have watched this goal 1000's of times! Use to sit and just click between him striking the ball and CHEICK TIOOOOOOOTE!!! One of my favorite all time goals! Gone but never forget(ten) - that goal!
What about Drogba, Jayjay Okocha (I'd say they had excellent footballing brains) or even Zidane, Desailly or Viera whilst we're at it... How quickly you all forget Geremi!!
No one really cares. **** player, clumsy, hasn't had a good game in years, scored a great goal in a great game ages ago but that doesn't justify keeping him.
