5 footballers who are almost always in the right place at the right time
In a game like football where quick decision-making or a change in strategy often has the capability to work wonders, intelligent application of the mental faculty is not subservient to physical prowess. It is not debatable at all that the legends of the game have all had that particular quality innately embedded in them.This intelligence is most effective when it works in tandem with perfectly placed positional sense, the latter being a definite hallmark of the ideal way of playing the beautiful game. It takes more than mere blind luck for a footballer to arrive at the right place. A lot of movement and tactical awareness, most of which happen ‘behind the scenes’, are key factors in a player being positionally sensible.It may not just be strikers, but midfielders, defenders and also, goalkeepers who can also be deemed to be in the right place at the right time. Here is a list of five modern-day footballers who fit the bill.
#1 Thomas Muller
The primary characteristic which distinguishes Thomas Muller from his other contemporaries is his versatility. Over the years he has been deployed by managers in a range of positions; from winger to second striker, attacking midfielder to striker and false nine – Muller has been there and done it all.
Known for his inimitable positioning, work rate and team spirit, Muller is someone who has been a consistent source for goals, be it for club or country. With his stellar performances in both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively, Muller has earned the right to be called a force to be reckoned with on the international circuit.
Germany manager Joachim Loew once said that Muller is impervious to pressure and heaped praise on the Bayern star for his maturity, pace, eye for goal and positioning. Never quite a playmaker, in no way a striker, not a winger or a pure technician blessed with speedy bursts, Muller is indeed the Raumdeuter – German for ‘interpreter of space’, as he has christened himself.
He does possess in abundance a higher degree of instinct and anticipation than the rest of the crop of players. His positioning sense is equally flawless for he goes seamlessly into pockets of space by drifting into little runs around the defenders, sending them scurrying around. It is almost as if his only concern in life is how best to get into space and score, and he does that and much more in quite an immaculate manner.
As far as his positioning is concerned, it is almost as if only he is aware of the gaps and finds them with ease. Muller is really the full package when it comes to positional awareness, and it comes as no surprise when he simply falls at the right place at the right time.