Dobar clanak:
(Found this article on a spuds website written by an ex scout that used
to work in the German leagues . He scouted Eduardo for a few years and
he apparently identyfied Berbatov.
)
Eduardo Da Silva
Only the mandatory medical exam stands between Dinamo Zagreb’s top
scorer, Eduardo Da Silva, and a transfer to Arsenal. The transfer-fee
isn’t being published, but some sources are suggesting a fee of
6-8million pounds, while a somewhat diffuse statement from Croatia
states a gigantic £16,25million. This would be the same amount of money
that Arsenal got from selling Henry. Until we have an official
statement from Arsenal I’ll be taking these figures with a pinch of
salt.
Even though Dinamo could have sold Eduardo to Russia a long time
ago, the future of the striker has been clear for a while. Along with
the clubs fantastic playmaker Luka Modric. European clubs have been
drooling over Eduardo for a long time. A more appealing player from an
“exporting” football nation can hardly be imagined, but Dinamo’s mighty
owner, Zdravko Mamic, was firm in his conviction that when it was time
for Eduardo to leave Croatia it would be done in style. For one of the
Balkan’s giants it was unthinkable to trade Champions League-ambitions
and a reputation as one of Eastern Europe’s most promising clubs
against a large pile of roubles.
Arsenal-fans were probably expecting a more household-name after
Henry’s unfortunate departure to Barcelona. Fernando Torres’ likely
transfer to Liverpool isn’t doing much too much to ease frustration
over the fact that Arsenal are not as free-spending either. If the
reported fee is close to the truth then this is certainly a
considerable amount of money for a player with no experience from any
of the major European leagues. If we ignore the money and turn our
heads towards the quality of the player, I give my thumbs up for this
transfer. I am perhaps in the minority here, but it’s this kind of
signing – the introduction of exciting players full of potential – that
gives me a Premier League-buzz already in early July. I’m sorry to have
to mention Dimitar Berbatov in a blogg-entry about Arsenal, but I think
just like the big Bulgarian turned sceptical first-impressions into
thundering heartbeats, Eduardo may well do the same a couple of
kilometres south of there.
I first became aware of the player about three years ago. The
native of Rio de Janeiro had just become a Croat national and was
playing for his country in the U21 European Championships in Germany.
In spite of a poor Croatian tournament Eduardo made a positive
impression, with a goal and some fine substitute appearances. In the
autumn of 2004 I checked his status again. The striker was about come
into full bloom, the dibbles that went nowhere a couple of months
earlier now sent opponents on their backside, his footballing brain had
matured and his shoulders were a few centimetres wider. There was
progress to report.
I saw Eduardo half a dozen times around Europe that same autumn. My
glowing reports generated some interest with my superiors at Hannover
96, but during a hospitable lunch with Zdrako Mamic in Zagreb,
following Croatia’s 4-0 drubbing of Iceland in March 2005, I was
presented with a polite but unshakable “No, Eduardo is staying here” by
the powerful Dinamo-boss. And there, over a plate of specialities that
are only served on the Balkans and that I suspect aren’t part of the
local’s daily nourishments, ended my flirt with the talented striker.
That he now will be playing his home games a ten minute walk from my
doormat, will have to be a very meagre consolation.
Since the U21-days Eduardo has had an immense development. Not only
physically and tactically, but also from looking quite meek in
challenges, looking shy and uncommitted – he has boosted his physical
strength through intensive fitness-sessions and practically changed his
entire game. From a wandering “second striker”-role with a chronic
tendency of drifting wide and going past players, he now operates
primarily in the middle of the park. In true Brazilian fashion he was
over-particular and fond of having the ball at his feet, and could be
classed as more of a creator than a finisher, but with the gradual
change in his game he also became a more direct player.
He has taught himself to take advantage of his extra weight, dares
to get stuck in and go in for aerial challenges and get involved in
tight spaces. In the U21days he wasn’t a typical goal-scorer either. He
scored the odd goal, but usually created more than he scored – as I
said he frequently drifted out wide – but with 34 goals in 32 games for
Dinamo Zagreb last season and 8 in 14 for the national side we are
today talking about a goal-getter for absolute top class.
To replace Henry at Arsenal now would be an impossible task. Unfair
comparisons will be made, but that’s football. Eduardo do not run with
the ball with the same unearthly speed as the Frenchman – but then
again few others in world football do, but there are definitive
similarities in the way they with silky, predatory agility and clinical
timing find space behind opposing defences. His finishing is at a very
advanced level – very good “heads up” against the goalkeeper, and his
pace is, if not on Henry’s level, very impressive.
With a background as a beach-footballer – Eduardo had never played
organised football when he came to Croatia as a 15 year old – he has
blinding skill. Even in Croatia, a country with a high amount of
skilful players, he is considered a wonder and an attraction out of the
ordinary. Only fans of Hajduk Split would dispute this description. The
Copacabana-background also meant a poor physique, but as I’ve said he
has beefed himself up from a scrawny teenager to a fit athlete, ready
for international challenges. The neck-muscles of Julio Baptista he
lacks, but after a careful period of integration I think the Croat can
become a big success at Emirates. Left-footed, with a good shot, still
very agile – drags himself with sublime balance past opponents like a
hot knife through butter, and constantly developing his
heading-abilities, everything is set for Eduardo to put a damper on the
Henry-melancholy already this autumn.
Though I haven’t consulted statistics I’m pretty certain Arsenal
create more chances than any other team in the Premier League. Even
without Henry the gunners have served up cultured football on the very
highest level, and all the footballing premises are laid for skilful,
clever, agile Eduardo to succeed. I’m quite confident that where
Adebayor, Julio Baptista and Aliadiere fired blanks, Eduardo will
deliver.
The Devil’s advocates will naturally enter the fray; even Bosko Balaban
led the scoring-charts in Croatia with 73 goals in 106 games. Smart
rhetoric is hard to counter-argue, especially when the cynics throw the
dice before having even seen the player, but the fact remains that the
Croat has overcome every new challenge so far in his career. In fact,
not only has Eduardo adapted to new challenges and higher levels of
football, he has been convincing and dominating immediately.
For me Eduardo da Silva is a talent beyond the ordinary. Finally by
dream of seeing him in a major European league is coming to pass, and
where I stand I can’t think of a better place for him to be than with
Arsène Wenger’s (should he stay) young rebels. To Arsenal-fans I can
only say: You have something to look forward to. Big name or not, this
is no Francis Jeffers, Kaba Diawara or Alberto Mendez Rodriguez, but
one of the worlds most sought-after strikers. Unknown today, but by
Christmas he will be on everyone’s lips.
