The Binocular

There is something inherent in our nature that encourages us to compare the upcoming talent to the talent of the past. Whether it is the next Maradona or the next Pele, we continue in this vain in hope that they can re-create the same sort of legacy that comes around once in a generation.

So when Ryan Babel was labelled the next Henry, Giovanni Dos Santos the next Ronaldinho and Nani the next Ronaldo, were we delusional? I don’t think so.

Giovanni Dos Santos

Let’s start with the least likely to have his situation improved, Giovanni Dos Santos. When he was making his way through the Barcelona ranks, he was considered better than Messi. Now the main thrust of this was that Messi was slow, but now that Messi has built his legs he has world beating acceleration and is far from slow.

Ironically, Giovanni Dos Santos has failed to build his body as effectively and this is his main problem in the English game. He has plenty of flair, plenty of speed and he can finish, so the skills are still there for him to succeed. The question of whether he can break into the Spurs first team is a good one, and a very important one for his development.

If he plays an entire season, come what may, he will become the player I believe he can be. It may be a question of mentality with him. He has had a rapid decline in fortunes in this past year and will have to re-evaluate his path to the peak.

Nani

Next we have Nani, the player who followed a near identical route into the English game as Ronaldo and even followed the similar line of performances in Ronaldo’s first year at the club. So what went wrong in 2008/09? Well the answer is not a lot really.

If you look at the difference between Ronaldo’s run into the first team compared to Nani’s, you see that Ronaldo was part of a team that were improving, whereas Nani joined a team that were already winning. He had to reach a higher level quicker otherwise there were players to fill in so that United could maintain the level required to win the title.

Nani has the ability to score a wonder goal and for that he is always a danger in any game, with Ronaldo gone there is a gap for him to fill at a pace that will suit him more. My opinion of Nani has not changed much in the last 12 months, I still believe he will provide enough as a winger to make it in the football world, but will he be able to match the rate of goals that Ronaldo produces? I doubt it, Ronaldo could be one of those footballers that define a generation and, by definition, you don’t get two of them.

Ryan Babel

This leaves me with Ryan Babel. He has speed, and it’s the kind of speed that most bust a gut for, but somehow he makes it look completely effortless. He has the acceleration and strength, and he has the physique for a strong aerial game. If you are looking for a weakness then you are not likely to find one that easily.

His problem is confidence, pure and simple. He is the football equivalent to a Formula One car, and when he does not commit with his game and his skill set it all looks untidy, clumsy and just poor. However, if he had the confidence in his ability to just go and do what he can do then the results will be there for everyone to see. So when it comes to Ryan Babel, the responsibility lies with the staff around him.

I do believe that Nani and Giovanni Dos Santos will have good seasons, but it will be Ryan Babel who will provide the biggest breakthrough of the three stuttering pretenders.

However, the biggest breakthrough will come via Italy, where in the wings is Mario Balotelli. Thanks to a Mourinho masterstroke which has seen the perfect striking model for Balotelli enter the San Siro in the deal of summer, we may finally see Mourinho’s powers in play. The Nerazzurri have an improving team and a kid who might just become the next Samuel Eto’o.