Tottenham legend Hoddle doubts Messi would have been picked up by English club
Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle says Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is a true No10.
Hoddle says Premiership clubs are still ignoring talent like Messi because of his physical size.
In a column for the Daily Mail, Hoddle says: "He has electric pace, he's dynamic and unique. Funnily enough, he goes quiet for spells, but seems to switch on when he senses he can create some danger. He'll lend the ball to Xavi or Iniesta and then when it returns, he'll be alive and ready.
"He is an excellent player in a very good team, with the right platform and playing on a surface that allows him to dribble freely.
"In Spain, they seem to appreciate smaller players. In England, the clubs are still looking for giants, whereas the Spanish clubs appreciated Messi, Xavi, Iniesta... small can be beautiful. And Messi is the best example of that.
"Before him, Ronaldinho wore 10 at Barcelona and now it's the number for Kaka with Real Madrid and Wayne Rooney with Manchester United. The game has changed, but the tradition lives on. None more so than with Lionel Messi."
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| Home | Away | Score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun May 13th | |||
| West Bromwich Albion | Arsenal | 2 - 3 | 14:00 |
| Everton | Newcastle United | 3 - 1 | 14:00 |
| Sunderland | Manchester United | - 1 | 14:00 |
| Wigan Athletic | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 - 2 | 14:00 |
| Manchester City | Queens Park Rangers | 3 - 2 | 14:00 |
| Swansea City | Liverpool | 14:00 | |
| Norwich City | Aston Villa | 14:00 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Fulham | 14:00 | |
| Chelsea | Blackburn Rovers | 2 - 1 | 14:00 |
| Stoke City | Bolton Wanderers | 2 - 2 | 14:00 |
Tables
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 89 |
| Manchester United | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 56 | 89 |
| Arsenal | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 70 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 69 |
| Newcastle United | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 65 |
| Chelsea | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 64 |
| Everton | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 56 |
| Liverpool | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 52 |
| Fulham | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | -3 | 52 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | -7 | 47 |
| Swansea City | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | -7 | 47 |
| Norwich City | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | -14 | 47 |
| Sunderland | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | -1 | 45 |
| Stoke City | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | -17 | 45 |
| Wigan Athletic | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | -20 | 43 |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 7 | 17 | 14 | -16 | 38 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | -23 | 37 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | -31 | 36 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 8 | 7 | 23 | -30 | 31 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | 5 | 10 | 23 | -42 | 25 |
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Comments (2)
Glen Hoddle is quite right, my son was released from Crystal Palace and was told by paul holder assistant academy director (now a coach for the fa) that he was the best striker in his age group and one of the most technically gifted boys in the whole academy but he was too small and not powerful enough.
I'd like to point out to Mr. Hoddle that Kaka wears No. 8 at Real Madrid
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