Least technical top footballers?

[khalifa]

Who do you guys think are the least technical footballers at the highest level? ( premier league, bbva, serie a.....)
I cant really think of one but im going to say roy keane as his game wasnt really about his skill...

[panchester07]

I would agree that england has the least technical players of the leagues you mentioned. England manages to produce top footballers like Gerrard or Rooney, maybe even Wilshere, but thats why they are so good, because its strange.. but there are a lot of players around that are just good for slide tackling and long balls in england. England focuses less on technique and skill, i've never known why. Most likely cultural. Spaniards are much more technical, and tactical, and so are italians, a little less technical than the spaniards, but maybe more tactical. That being said, Spain's tactic is pretty amazing and they produce top footballers by the dozens to play with this style, so they rape everybody. The most technical players in the premier league, are most likely imigrants from other european or south american countries almost everytime.

[bsc]

I'm going to name a few off of the top of my head so I'm probably going to be completely wrong

Jonathan Woodgate, Tony Cascarino, Carlton Cole, Richard Dunne

[heiky0711]

Hello khalifa, firstly thank you for the question.

Relating to the above posts. I think the least technical top footballers are most likely to be under the range from central defenders to defensive midfielders with the exception of wing backs.

The reason is because they are likely to be functional type of players whereas the technical player are upfront from central midfielder to the forward/striker range. This is because their creativity serves important for the team to penetrate into the defense and thus creating goal-scoring opportunity.

So, in general, anything that serves to protect the goal line tends to be less technical whereas the opposite applies in order to score against the opposition.

Hope, that helps

[expert]

Great posts by panchester07 and heiky0711 coming from 2 very different perspectives.
Another factor that could be mentioned is age. If you look at very young players (under 13) it's usually the biggest and fastest among them tend to dominate. During puberty, between 13-18, it's mostly about skills and being technical. After that point, the best players are usually the most tactical and determined to win.
It seems to me that being a 'technical' player is relative thing. For example, a super-skillful 14 year old has no chance against an adult non-technical player.

So, in general, anything that serves to protect the goal line tends to be less technical whereas the opposite applies in order to score against the opposition.

I agree although I think it might be a little more accurate to say that players who have to fight for 50/50 balls are less technical vs players who distribute and move the ball. There are some strikers who aren't technical at all, they just fight for the ball and work really hard.

[heiky0711]

I agree although I think it might be a little more accurate to say that players who have to fight for 50/50 balls are less technical vs players who distribute and move the ball. There are some strikers who aren't technical at all, they just fight for the ball and work really hard.

Yeah, agreed and relating to your quote. An example would be a soccer or football player like Ruud Van Nistelrooy where he is clinical and deadly when it comes to finishing inside the box.