Emerson of Roma

[Cafu100]

The jury is out. Good judges say he is excellent....................but my 40 year old eyes remember the Cerezo of the late 70s and early 80s........ Is there a comparison?? Can we compare the majestic Cerezo wirh Emerson. Educate me, friends. Do I know futebol?

[Garrincha]

Ze da Fiel once said it was a "sacrilege" or something to compare Emerson with Dunga, but I feel the comparison is more accurate than comparing him with, say, Cerezo.

Emerson's correct-passing average is very high, he constantly sets the "pace" of midfield to what the team needs, besides from his great efficiency at disarming the opposition. He does play hardball - but we should've learned from Dunga that hardball is sometimes necessary, even if we Brazilians usually frown on that. Emerson's entrance in our team, in WC '98, was natural and uncomplicated, it was clear from the first second that the shirt didn't weight on his shoulders at all - a problem Brazil knows only too well. The man is one of the finest defensive midfielders in the whole world, and Brazil's número um in that position. He has technique (remember, in Gremio he was an attacking midfielder), heart, personality and leadership. IMHO, he's a key player for our team. The media dislikes him, but it wouldn't be the first time the media was wrong, would it?

Of course, he is NOT a fuoriclasse - and we've seen fuoriclasse playing in his position, so it's hard to accept someone who's only excellent; but Falcão isn't playing anymore, so we'll have to settle with excellence, guys. ;)

[Severus]

when someone's excellent on the pitch, they're fuoreclasse. and emerson is both IMO.

[Cafu100]

Thanks, amigos. I will watch him closely in the run up to the penta (!!) and see if he offers enough for me to rate him with increased conviction.

[OAnimal]

Add to him the other Emerson, from Deportivo La Coruna, and Brazil has everything it needs in midfield, IMHO...

[Ze da Fiel]

cafu and garrincha,
I think that there is simply no comparison whatsoever on the football of Emerson with the great Toninho Cerezo.
I my modest opinion, Emerson is a defender that play in midfield and no one has ever noticed that.
he is s slow that it makes me sick. When heplays for Brazil about 50% of his passes are wrong. His tackles are fouls...... i really don't like his football, since his days of Gremio.
Cerezo...class,vision, dribble, elasticity and a great happy personality..... Emerson is a sad guy by nature...never seen him smile!:(

[Cafu100]

I am biased because I love Cerezo. BUT I keep hearing about how the game is so superior and faster now so why is our number 5 (7 lately) not superior to that that has gone before?!!

[Ze da Fiel]

Cafu,
Cerezzo played until 94. Also about hte game being faster ok. BUt the qulaity has gonne down.
Examples: Romario rules in Brazil, McAlister in Britain etc....etc.... things are relative

[Rigalt]

OK, Cerezo, Falcao, Pele etc...... please dont act like Santos fans.......

They are the past, wonderful and everything, but Emerson has nothing to do with them????

Who is NOWADAYS better then him?

The media like Vampeta, because he played well for Corinthians, but what is Vampeta doing this last months? Nothing. Playing very bad, and also not defending.

Emerson played at least 3 good seasons for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. This year he has many injuries problems so he is not at his best.

And for me he does not need to smile to play well.........

um abraco Ricardo

[Cafu100]

Rigalt - I am not actually criticising Emerson (though it does appear that I am!). What I am saying is that this man is going to be Big Phil's Selecao in a World Cup next year. This means (in theory) that he is Big Phil's first name down on the team sheet. Cerezo was a majestic player. All I am saying is that is Emerson as outstanding as everyone thinks he is. Hey, if he lifts the trophy next year then I won't be complaining, friend! Am I making sense?