Pampered Piazon sums up football's next generation

Expert Opinion

17Dec

Pampered Piazon sums up football’s next generation

by Mike Calvin

The majority of the football world was blissfully ignorant of the life and times of Lucas Piazon until he took it upon himself to criticise his elders and betters at Chelsea for “lacking guts” during their loss to Corinthians in the final of the Fifa World Club Cup.

For the benefit of those who have never heard of him, a thumbnail sketch: Piazon is, like Kaká – a player he resembles physically and technically – a product of the São Paolo club. He joined Chelsea’s academy in March 2011, but was unable to obtain a work permit until his 18th birthday, on 20 January this year.

Chelsea have invested £10m in his potential, which has been glimpsed at first-team level in two cameo appearances in the Capital One Cup. I’ve seen him in youth and developmental matches; he is neat on the ball and capable of playing as a striker or an attacking midfield player. He has a good range of passing and is effective from set pieces, but he doesn’t make you catch your breath.

The fact he felt entitled to condemn players who have won the Champions League – “the team went to the pitch with no desire. It’s unacceptable” – tells us everything we need to know about the mindset of an emerging generation of young players, who are treated as commodities before the angst of adolescence fades.

The balance between the necessity of self-confidence and a sense of entitlement is increasingly difficult to maintain. Piazon typifies the new breed’s ignorance of the conventions of their trade. He has been pampered since the extent of his talent became apparent, at the age of eight. He wants it all and he wants it now.

Once upon a time, young footballers, like Victorian children, knew their place. They were seen and not heard. They cleaned boots, scrubbed the dressing-room floor. They began to understand the privileges of their profession and the underpinning principles of mutual respect. Now anything, and everything, is at their disposal.

This produces a Daniel Sturridge, who seems destined for a nomadic career of lucrative underachievement, but the problem is by no means restricted to Chelsea. A senior professional of my acquaintance had to be pulled off one ingenue, whom he considered to have ideas above his station.

I happened to be with one of Piazon’s advisers on Sunday evening, when news of his indiscretion filtered through. He was appalled and anxious to limit the backlash. Key figures in the Chelsea dressing room, such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and David Luiz, will doubtless tell the young Brazilian his fortune.

He is a very lucky boy – and an apology would not go amiss.

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Follow Mike Calvin on Twitter @CalvinBook

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Watch Chelsea live on BT Vision:
Leeds v Chelsea, 7pm, 19 December, Sky Sports 1 (Capital One Cup)
Chelsea v Aston Villa, 3.30pm, 23 December, Sky Sports 1

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Comments

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KP rules.

I’ve watched PIazon several times and he does make me ‘catch my breath ‘. The fact I’ve gone out of my way to watch clips of him playing is proof of the impact he has had on me. Perhaps Mike just hasn’t been paying attention or is just too battle weary. With regard to any statements put down to PIazon I would be the ‘battle weary’ one as I’ve seen so many lies and misconstrued out of context remarks that really it’s better to take this sort of thing with a pinch of salt rather than trying to drag a humble mild mannered young guy into a mire !
paul

Lucas Piazon was quite correct when he slated the rest of the squad.

He did not criticize the players for how they played in the champions league but for how they played in the club world cup final!
Nartinez

It is sickening how,it has become a bad thing for someone in the inner circle not to be entitled to an honest opinion.Piazon words are true,the players yesterday showed no character whatsoever they clearly showed they didnt care.Only Hazard and Luiz can hold their heads high as they gave their all,the players need to be told the truth especially from one of their own.How in the world does this show Piazon is pampered.Modern day journalism clearly you have no idea what it took Piazon to reach where he is right now,yet you are quick to critisise and draw conclusions after an honest backlash.All I can say is what a shame!
sam

What a stupid article, the club world cup means alot more in Brazil, piazon’s Brazilian so naturally feels the same pain as his Brazilian team mates who were the only ones to put any effort in rather than their overpaid comrades who don’t care.You are coming at this from completely the wrong angly, the sad thing is that youngsters are annoyed at their elders because their “role models” dont care if they win or lose as long as they get their pay check.
john

stupid mike.. what piazon said was 100% true!
http://www.facebook.com/padi.tapa Padi Tapa

mike calvin, are you nuts?
Mike

This article is a complete joke a typical thing that would only come from a moron’s mouth and someone that doesnt understand the game .
I have watched Lucas since his arrival at chelsea and he looks apart and above what chelsea already have , he is young with a lot of desire to win , chelsea player did have the heart to win that game , i dont think lucas said anything wrong ,but should have kept it to himself .
Players like lucas can have an impact at a team like chelsea or other prem clubs look at liverpool’s Rahim sterling , Jack wilshere , alex chamberlain . What is wrong with wanting to show what he has .
I am a chelsea fan and i get very upset with bad taste articles like these! We have enough problems as it is now people are making a big deal out of this , shall we talk about torres’s lack of contribuiton instead that would make more sense .

Mike calvin you have not got a clue what you are talking about
Amos

Mike, sorry but this is sensationalism!
Peter

You are a complete joke of a journalist.
FreePawn

Awful, uninformed article.

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