I have been writing on this little blog for a while now and it just dawned on me that for the five or six years I’ve been your scribe. Seems like the other day I started this thing. In that time many topics were mulled over. Nations, goalkeepers, clubs, tournaments, video previews and even the odd jersey. I've ran the gamut but as I look back and I'm almost horrified that I didn’t give the full attention to a part of the game that means so much. The shame on my part has sullen me as if I loss a a true love or if I ran out of my revered Frosted Flakes and I do like me some Tony. Dramatics aside and I frankly can’t delay the topic any further because I may not have the writing skills to do so and I have to admit I am a bit rusty so pardon me. In all my time writing on this website, I don’t think I have ever done a solo, detailed piece on a defender. It never tugged at me to do it. Goalkeepers I see as heroes so I had no problem flashing a light on them plus I was a goalie back in the day. Forwards are the glamour boys of the game. The ones the fans come to see. So yet again that was a no brainer. In midfield there is so many ways to play the game as a result I had a wide cast to choose from. Defending is not sexy. Not in any sport. So forgive me for not hoisting the men of the back line in the limelight. I have tons of admiration for what defenders in this sport and what they have to put up with and I think it is high time we start to pay homage to the position.
Name: Layvin Kurzawa
D/O/B: 09/04/1992
Place of Birth: Fréjus, France
Position: Left Back
Height: 5’11ft
National Team: France
National Team Debut: France vs Albania (Nov.14 2014)
Club Team(s): Étoile Fréjus Saint Raphaël 1996-2005, Association Sportive Aixoise 2005-2007, AS Monaco 2007-present*
Layvin Kurzawa is not only the latest addition to the excellent French fullback brigade, he also has a name that I can not pronounce for the life me, so my chances of replacing the likes of Ian Darke on commentary look bleak. Kurzawa’s football career however looks far from dreary. Edgy, speedy, good ball control, a cerebral attacker from fullback and a young man with attitude. All tangibles that his country has benefited from at youth level and will certainly reap when and not if becomes a mainstay in the senior setup. These are bold claims I am making and I say simply that the crux of my argument for Layvin Kurzawa can be seen in his most recent performances in the 2014-15 campaign and prior to that in his youth career.
Kurzawa was born in the coastal city Fréjus in the southeast of France and naturally got his first involvement with football within the city’s borders. Etoile Fréjus Saint Raphaël is first port of call. The Frenchman spent his junior years there from 1996 to 2005 before switching to the Association Sportive Aixoise. While there he spent a further two years honing his skills before he made the biggest move of his career to date to the principality joining AS Monaco. Kurzawa landed in Monaco in 2007 and has already been through it all the French club. Successful debuts in Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue. Challenging the elite of France for the Ligue 1 title, going head to head with the likes of Paris Saint Germain, Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Marseille week in and week out. Let’s not also forget him flying up the flank in the UEFA Champions League every other Tuesday at 3pm on your television. Check your local listings. As glorious as that sound Kurzawa did suffer relegation with the ritzy Fontvieille side back in the 2010-11 season so it’s not all been rosy.
The fact of the matter is there isn’t much to write on a Layvin Kurzawa when it comes to the international scene. All I can basically say for now is he has represented France at various youth levels and as recent as 2014 he has become the full French international. France in recent times has had an amazing left fullback situation. Patrice Evra, Benoit Tremoulinas and Lucas Digne all threats to Kurzawa’s left back birth in the French national setup. Especially Digne, who is around the same age as our protagonist and is just as explosive and looks like he is more solid defensively. In the years to come I wanted to bet that these two will be dueling each other for French left back spot for a long time.
I think I’ve praised Kurzawa enough it's time to look at the situation that faces him. Colombians James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, players who he has played with while they were at Monaco both left the club, well in the latter’s case not completely but he did leave. These are world class players and there is still some good players left at the club but fact remains at least for now footballers of James ilk do not want to commit to place where the stadium is half empty. Which the Stade Louis II often is. They don’t want to play in a second tier European league, which Ligue 1 has become and mostly they want to play on a more grandiose stage. As beautiful as Monaco is she cannot offer fame these players seek. So my questions is how long will Layvin Kurzawa be content with his lot at Fontvieille? How long will it be before the clubs of Italy, Spain, Germany and the cash laden England come calling? It’s funny how Monaco are so heavily bankrolled by millions if not billions but yet there money can’t push them to the immediate success they crave. Kurzawa will go. Just a matter of time.
I could talk about how the 2011 January Transfer market has seen well over 100 million pounds been spent on players in England alone. Or I could comment and say that Andy Carroll the terrrific young talent that he is, costed Liverpool more money than Barcelona's capture of David Villa from Valencia. I could talk about it but I won't, I think it is hilarious that David Villa a World Cup winner and the spear head of the most dominate football team in the world costs less than a 21 year old Englishman from Gateshead on Tyne and Wear. I like to talk about things people tend to overlook, you know the little surprises. Snake Eye looks such things. The player who doesn't get that much mention in the papers or has that gigantic contract with some multicolored sports drink. The man who quietly goes about his business.
Name: Shane Patrick Long
D/O/B: 01/22/1987
Place Of Birth: Gortnahoe,Tipperary, Republic of Ireland
Position: Striker
Height: 5'11 ft/inches
National Team: Republic of Ireland
National Team Debut: Republic of Ireland vs San Marino Feb.7 2007
Club Team(s): Cork City (IRE) 2004-05, Reading FC (ENG) 2005-present
Fortunately the football fraternity were able to wrestle away this prime talent from the gaelic grip of Hurling. Shane Long before he became the mainstay in Republic of Ireland's frontline or that cult hero at Reading, Shane was a hurler. I don't know much about hurling and I don't want to offend anyone but to me it looks like a cross between rugby and lacrosse. It is quite interesting I have to admit. That is far from an insult in fact that is testament to the athletic prowess of this young Irishman. Hurling looks completely alien from football and to make the transition from on sport to the other is really impressive.
Shane Patrick Long born in Tipperary, Ireland. Quick, sturdy and aggressive, Shane isn't a household name to most but he over the years has really dug in there and is craving out a name for himself. In 2004 he made his first and only appearance for the Irish outfit Cork City before being snapped up my Reading in 2005 where at this moment he plies his traded.
It is quiet unbelievable that Shane to this date in the great year of 2011 has been at Reading for half of a decade. When he arrived he was the fourth choice striker behind countryman Kevin Doyle and the likes of the Dave Kitson and Leroy Lita but still he hung around and played the patience game. The three men that kept him bay have all been long gone and now Long finds himself at the apex of the Berkshire club's striking hierarchy. He is that guy. That being the one who puts the ball into the back of the net. A few years ago when Reading was relegated in that the season of 07-08 he had real no part in it, though it could not have been pleasant. Now his aim is to fire the Royals into the top flight of England.
One way he can do that is my his form in international play. Long is now a recognized Irish international. Once again like early in his career at club level he finds Kevin Doyle in his way and Robbie Keane giving know indication he is walking away from the international game anytime soon he has to lack for a better word up his game. Another Irishman that may debunk Shane's shot as the Irish's (#9) is the emergence of a one Leon Best. The Newcastle forward has a prime opportunity to show what he can do with Andy's Carroll's unexpected transfer to Liverpool.
What I can say though is that Shane is a way better footballer than he is a hurler I am confident in that statement. He really does have a punch about him a guy who gets in between defenders and chases down the ball. That is what he has do. He is an old fashion striker who uses his tricks to get him out of harms way and gives the defender the odd tackle to let him know he is there. Let's see how he gets on.
