Thomas Müller - His time is now

Appearances can be deceptive. Don’t judge a book by its cover. All of us have grown up hearing them, these pearls of wisdom, to the point where they have lost all meaning.

Even in the world of football, where scouts are forever on the lookout for the Next Big Thing, appearances have proved to be very deceptive. With clubs reduced to paying obscene amounts for players who are, at best, mediocre (no, no, Stewart Downing, you aren’t the only one), one can see the appeal in the unearthing of talent from the unlikeliest corners of the globe.

But while everyone was on the lookout for the next Lionel Messi, there came a boy who, quite simply, tore up the rulebook. Curiously, for someone who has accomplished far more than most for a lad of 24, the name of Thomas Müller is not one that is discussed with much trepidation amongst the fans of whichever side it is that is unfortunate enough to take on the Bayern Munich juggernaut next.

Not that you can really blame them. Upon first glance, Thomas Müller does not inspire much confidence. It was always marveled that players like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry were so elegant on the ball despite their long frames. Müller is about as far away from that exalted pair as is humanly possible, at least in this respect.

The 6’1’’ German is gangly and awkward when in possession of the ball, completely at odds with the grace and finesse one expects of a man who plays where he does. Arms flailing about uncoordinated as his feet try to get used to the ball’s presence, the big man looks like an ungainly vulture that has finally got its claws on an unsuspecting prey.

Perhaps the reason why I have painted such an unflattering picture is because this sight is at such odds with the end product that follows. Whether he is galloping into space and collecting the ball from a willing teammate, or hounding the opposition fullback for the ball with a tenacity that can only be described as Nadal-esque, Müller’s intelligence on a football pitch shines through unfailingly.

His athleticism and drive accomplish what his footballing intellect brings to the table – the ability to interpret the game for what it is. A crucial feature of the modern game, the ability to think on your feet (literally, in football) is one that has traditionally been more associated with the defensive side of the game.

Attack-minded players are expected to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and beat it into submission with their craft and guile. The ability to invent the game will always remain the most sought-after element in this beautiful game, as it should be.

And this is where Müller has turned the tables on everybody. Much like Mel Gibson is what the average guy would call a man’s man, the German international is what one would call a defender’s forward. He takes the attributes a defender prizes the most, that of tenacity, intelligence and an eye for the game; and applies them to an area of the pitch where his passing and touch come together to give a complete package that is as unique as it is effective.

Remember that this has been an era that has been fortunate enough to see the most aesthetic football on view, courtesy a magnificent Barcelona.

In the aftermath of a dour Italy lifting the World Cup in ’06, the footballing world was under the impression that it was about to usher in an era of discipline and rigor, after the glory years that saw the likes of Nedved, Ronaldinho and Zidane, to name a few.