Eschew The Obvious

For the longest time the art of defending in the sport of football in Britain has been considered a facility of brute strength and dogged tenacity. These bloodied, sweaty and mud caked stalwarts who are prepared to put their bodies on the line have forever been the epitome of true Brit grit.

However, this image enduring and endearing (to some) though it may be is far from what essence of defensive football really is. A true defender, in the purest sense of the art; relies firstly on intelligence, timing, and judgment to read both the game unfolding and the attacking player approaching. Without those subtleties all that athleticism does is get you to the right spot for an attacker to beat you time and time again. This was evidenced very clearly this week when Robinho of Brazil and David Villa of Spain took advantage of some stodgy defending and scored the sweetest of goals.

Of recent the argument for less is more has been ever increasingly compelling. The financial woes and political morass that has been unfolding in recent times has really demonstrated the dangers of excess and greed. From the politician who claims expenses where none are incurred to financiers who believe that being part of “profitable” arm of a failed and insolvent institution is no deterrent to bonuses a lack of honour and integrity seems to be the code by which we live nowadays.

Integrity should mean the eschewing of ostentation and flamboyance for the maintaining of the basic principle of things. In other words, promoting the greater and common good. Not the greater good as determined by a so called GOAT (government of all talents) as it suits its narrow self interests.