Sport
ONLY NEYMAR IS PREVENTING HIMSELF FROM BEING THE BEST
ONLY NEYMAR IS PREVENTING HIMSELF FROM BEING THE WORLD’S BEST
The red mist descends once more
As Barcelona dropped three points against Malaga plenty of fingers were pointed in the direction of Andre Gomes and Jeremy Mathieu, both regular victims or passengers of Barcelona’s game, but the costliest error of judgement at La Rosaleda came from Neymar Jr.
Many have hastened to point out that Neymar received just his first red card as a Barcelona player last week, which is pointedly true. To say that a dismissal for petulance or off-the-ball incidents is unexpected, however, would be wildly stray of the mark.
At the age of 25, the Brazilian has been asked to do a great deal more than many of his fellow professionals. He has played regular top-flight football since 2009 and had to put his country on his back and run with them in a major tournaments as captain – before relinquishing his duties slightly. Neymar has been forced to mature at a rate almost unheard of in footballing terms.
Crucial for Barcelona
His style has always remained constant, but this ensures that the problems facing him have done just the same. Drifting in from the left-hand side, using his fleet of foot to unsettle opponents and neat pieces of skill to even embarrass, the Barcelona winger plays in a way that would irk others.
Powerless to compete on a technical level, his opposition resort to more physical measures, or funnel him into traffic as Malaga managed to do superbly in their surprise 2-0 victory. He is given close attention, pulled, kicked, frustrated. Anything to put him off his game, as when he’s on top of it, there’s few in world football who can rival what he offers to Luis Enrique’s side.
In LaLiga, he has just nine goals in 26 appearances, but his contribution has been so much more than just finding the back of the net this season.
In games where Barcelona have suffered, he is the outlet ball, the running-back that can be given possession to relieve pressure and earn his team some yards, as his mazy runs often find an end in the opposition penalty area or a free kick. In games where they dominate, he is a constant source of danger, whether linking up neatly on the end of the area or haring around the outside of his man to get to the byline.
Stumbling block
The only stumbling block which lies between Neymar and recognition as one of the world’s truly top players of the moment is his attitude. Many would argue that the best athletes need a nasty streak in them to transcend the norm, but football is a team sport where individual decisions or reactions affect the collective.
Partly, this is out of his control. Referees must look to try and protect the Brazilian wherever possible, given that his style of play is conducive to opposition players losing their cool in a similarly aggressive manner, but the bulk of the problem lies with him.
Back in October, Ruben Vezo was one of the players that Granada had tasked with disrupting Neymar’s game, with the frustrations of the Brazilian eventually boiling over to the point where the pair ended up tussling after the match and having a full-blown altercation in the tunnel.
For his country, too, he managed to see red for a headbutt against Colombia in the Copa America, with former domestic teammate Dani Alves claiming that the opposition had been trying to get a rise out of Neymar.
Costly decisions
Back then in South America, his dismissal was after the full-time whistle and after the fact, but two avoidable yellow cards at La Rosaleda has dealt Barcelona a tough hand for the coming weeks. Sarcastic clapping aimed in the direction of the fourth official on his way off the pitch last weekend earned him a further two-match suspension, counting the 25-year-old out of El Clasico later this month.
On the night, his absence cost Barcelona the opportunity to try and claw their way back into the game. Real Madrid had dropped points against Atletico that day and the window of opportunity had been opened, but a slow start from the Blaugrana ensured that it was slowly closed before Neymar’s actions bolted it firmly shut.
Frustration is natural, but the picture is far bigger than Neymar reacting in the face of intense provocation.
The situation is this: Barcelona are three points worse off than Real Madrid, whose advantage could have been cut last weekend, with their top-of-the-table title rivals having a game in hand. They can still complete a treble in Luis Enrique’s final season in charge, but they will have to triumph in El Clasico without the Brazilian to help turn the LaLiga tide.
The finest of details can define a player’s trophy haul, and just halfway through his career is threatening to tally up a veritable horde. Actions have consequences, and Neymar would do well to remember that and give his man a smile the next time that he is cynically fouled when galloping beyond an outclassed defender.
