This piece is written with the aim to present a new definition and perspective to modern football. It should be a walk in the park to those who know their basics about music and soccer. Alright, so let’s roll.
A Football Team is like a well composed song.
1. The Introduction – The goalkeepers, Joe Hart , Stuart Taylor, who guard the goal and distribute the ball forward ( The same way a song begins sometimes slow and steadily and other times with aplomb ).
2. The Bridge – The defenders , Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Micah Richards, Stefan Savic, Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy, Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov, who not only hold the fort at the back but also distribute the ball effectively to the midfielders ( The same way a song escalates to the best part ).
3. The Chorus – The midfielders, Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson, Nigel de Jong, Yaya Toure, James Milner, David Silva, Shaun Wright-Phillips, who spray passes, play through balls or burst into space to create openings for the strikers to score a goal or some who even go through all the way and score themselves ( The same way a song hits its peak point at its most creative part ).
4. The Closing – The strikers, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, who put the finishing touches to all the hard work and finish with a wonderful goal ( The same way a song ends and when it is a good one, you have this immense craving to listen to it again and again ).* Point to note- Reserves, players that have been loaned out or don’t play regularly have been omitted.
5. The Composer– The Coach and his assistants, Roberto Mancini, Brian Kidd, David Platt, Attilio Lombardo, Fausto Salsano, Ivan Carminati, Massimo Battara, who draw out the strategies and guide the team with all their heart and soul ( The same way a great composer uses his team of drummers, guitarists, bassists, orchestra and sound engineers, to create an album of chartbusters ).
6. The Producer – The financial backing, backbone and spine of the team, Mr Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan ( The same way a record label produces an album ).
The results that the team produces are like the different tracks in a music album. It is not a divine right that all these tracks or songs must be successful or instantly liked by its listeners. For example,
1. Track no. 1 – May be a draw. ( Some may or may not be contented with it )
2. Track no.2 – May be a thrashing on the opposition. ( Instant billboard or Top 10 hit )
3. Track no.3 – May be a loss. ( Flop song )
4. Track no.4 – May be a scrappy 1-0 or 2-1 win. (Again , some may or may not be contented with it)
Each season is like a new music album. Overall, the album will be judged on how well it sells and how many copies are received well, worldwide. ( This is tantamount to the end of a roller coaster of a season where a team is judged to have performed based on its league position as well as number of trophies won.
Only difference is, a music composer is not going to be sacked for a flop album or even a couple of them. Sacked coaches or as most teams put it subtly, those relieved of your duties, I feel for you.
The Producer may pump millions of dollars on a good recording studio, guitars, drums, synthesizers, mixers and musicians but that alone will not guarantee a hit album or a couple of hit albums for that matter. Likewise, spending millions on players and infrastructural enhancements are not going to result in success being served on a silver platter for any team. Hard work, determination, luck and support from all quarters including passionate fans are needed in abundance to achieve massive success.
The loyal fans who go tirelessly to watch every game, spending their hard earned money as well as time and cheer the team on even when the team doesn’t win every other match. They truly believe that success will come to those who keep the faith. This is similar to the millions of fans of a certain composer, who keep buying and supporting their favorite artist even if he/she has given a couple of bad albums.
One bad music album is always going to be compared to another one by some other composer. Likewise, one soccer team that does not do so well as another team is always going to be used as a comparison by critics who have a field day with their so called constructive criticism columns. The point that goes missing in translation is the fact that a team or critics that slam a team without any conscience seem to overlook the past achievements of that team itself.
Third place in the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season, FA Cup winners 2010/11 and qualifying for the Champions League 2011/12, without having to play in any of those dreaded and draining qualifier games. Has this team improved or reinvented itself? You be the judge.
I rest my case.
Yours Musically
A Manchester City Fan ( For those who didn’t get which team I was referring to, this line clears that doubt I hope )