ENTER TONI KROOS
Toni Kroos joining Real Madrid was only a matter of time. Yesterday, Super Flo (Perez) basked in glory as he presented Real Madrid’s new number 8 to the media. 10, 000 or so Madridistas flocked to the Bernabeu to catch a glimpse of the latest addition to the Galactico family. Super Flo did indicate to Kroos that “This shirt is very demanding. Dear Toni, welcome to Real Madrid”.
The shirt is demanding, so are the insatiable Real Madrid fans. Madridistas will expect a lot from the 30 million euro rated super star. From the very first time he officially steps foot onto the hallowed turf of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to his very last performance, hopefully in 2019 and beyond.
Coming to Real Madrid on the back of a world class performance for Germany at the world cup and frequent sterling performances for Bayern Munich over the past few years, Real Madrid have in their books a highly rated top class midfielder. The 24 year old will definitely replicate his previous performances for Real Madrid. He is expected to Kroos-ify opposition teams but in what capacity?
STYLE OF PLAY -- KROOS CONTROL
The problem I have with Toni Kroos is that, he is a versatile player and has no particular position that he really excels at. It is not a problem with Kroos per se. It is a general problem with versatile players. Whilst most pundits describe him as a centre midfielder, Toni feels he thrives more in attacking positions. He opines:
“I think I’ve said it often enough I feel better in a central attacking role rather than any other position. I can move around the pitch more easily, be more creative and produce my best performances. I try to touch the ball as much as possible and get a shot away if I can.”
Between January 2009 and the summer of 2010, the East Germany born midfielder plied his trade with Bayer Leverkusen on loan where he mostly operated from the left wing and occasionally as the number 10. During his only full season there, he bagged 12 assists and scored 9 goals, an outstanding feat for the youngster. Earlier, he had shone at the Euro Under 17 tournament and also the 2007 Under 17 World Cup and was adjuged the best player in both tournaments. His immense talent had been evident since childhood. It is worthy to note that the midfield maestro played in a more attacking position in those tournaments.
Upon his return to Bayern Munich, he was forced to play in a less stellar, less favourable defensive midfield role, alongside Schweinsteiger under Louis van Gaal. That partnership never materialised.
Kroos, frequently referred to as “the next Michael Ballack” played in more advanced positions, especially under Jupp Heynckes circa 2011.
When Bayern Munich won an historic treble in the 2012/2013 season, Toni Kroos was a first team player and played in left central midfield alongside Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Pundits largely describe this trio as leg, brain and heart combo. Javi Martinez as the legs, Schweini as the heart and then of course, Kroos as the brain.
Probably, Kroos’ worst game in a German shirt was against Italy in the Euro 2012 game. Poor Kroos was moved to the right wing and tasked to mark Andrea Pirlo. This decision ended in cataclysm and as expected, Low received some sticks for this decision and rightly so.
Kroos is the most technical player in German football, no doubt. He is adept at taking set-pieces (corner kicks and free kicks) and has an eye for goal with his long range shots. His strength is definitely his wide range of passing and the accuracy that accompanies it. He averaged 92 per cent pass accuracy in the German Bundesliga last season. A statistic that will particularly intrigue Xavi Hernandez. Also he completed 544 passes, more than any other player at the World Cup. Ball retention, vision and concentration are but a few of his other laudable attributes. Toni Kroos never stops running. He was the second player to have covered the most distance at the 2014 World Cup.
FITTING IN AT REAL MADRID
For me, I think it is still not clear where the former Bayern Munich star player will play at Real Madrid. But in Carletto’s 4-3-3 formation, trust that Kroos will slot in seamlessly on the left as the more attacking of the three central midfielders (Di Maria role). For balance to prevail, he should be accompanied by one other central midfielder (Modric) and then a typical defensive midfielder (Khedira and NOT Alonso). Ancelotti favoured a 4-4-2 formation in big, big games. Kroos can play in central midfield alongside, AGAIN, a typical defensive midfielder (Khedira).
In a DOUBLE PIVOT, it is suicidal to play two central midfielders. Anytime Schweini and Kroos (both central midfielders) played in central midfield for either Germany or Bayern Munich, it never augered well. The latest episode was when an unforgiving Real Madrid thumped Bayern 4-0 at the so-called fortress, Allianz Arena, in last season’s Champions League semi-final game. In this light, playing Modric and Kroos in central midfield as a DOUBLE PIVOT will be a recipe for disaster. Khedira (assuming he stays) and Kroos will be a perfect combination.
Further up the field, playing Kroos just behind the main striker, Benzema also has exciting prospects. Imagine Ronaldo, Kroos and Bale playing behind Benzema in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The (Kroos) control, the incisive passes, the shots, the goals that will herald this move. The trident of Ronaldo, Kroos and Bale can actually make Andy Carroll look like Ronaldo de Lima or for that matter, any world class striker.
In an isolated case, Carlo Ancelotti can employ Toni Kroos as an advanced destroyer or what my fellow tactical minds will describe as the “suffuco role”. In this case, the midfield shape will be a triangle, and at the apex of that triangle, Toni Kroos will do what he knows best. Stifling the opposition midfield and also providing an attacking impetus with two holding midfielders (or one holding and the other a central midfielder) supporting him at the base of the triangle.
Kroos himself has indicated that where he will play at Real Madrid isn’t an issue for him.
“I believe I can play anywhere, that's not an issue for me. I talked a bit with the coach but I did not have much time. What the coach told me stays between us. "In recent years I have played at every position in midfield, not up to me where to play, it does not matter"
But it is an issue for us, Madrid fans. Where he plays is important and for me, I believe he should play closer to the striker, because that is where his strength lies.
RAMIFICATIONS OF KROOS’ PRESENCE
The German midfielder is set to become a first team player, no doubt. The player who will be most affected by this is Isco. Another expensive buy last summer, Isco has drifted in and out of the first team during his first season at Real Madrid. The burden of having Kroos as an additional midfielder only means the Spanish youngster will be pushed further down the pecking order. I won’t be surprised if Isco is farmed out on loan or leaves the club entirely, for good.
Another effect of Toni Kroos’ signing could signify the beginning of the third generation of Galacticos, meaning two or more world class players will be added to the team this season. Super Flo hardly makes one super signing per season. He might not be done yet. The other name that is on the lips of many a Madridista is James Rodriguez (Hames Rodriguez if you are a phonetist). Having completed the Kroos deal, Super Flo might as well concentrate all his energies into luring another break out World Cup star, even if it means shipping all of 85million euros to the big wigs at AS Monaco.
Kroos signing for Real Madrid could also spell the beginning of the end of the ever-green Xabi Alonso. So much quality in central midfield, yet only few spaces are up for grabs.
Emmanuel Ekow Ampiah
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