Player Focus: Sergio Agüero's Rise Amongst Striking Elite
After Sergio Agüero finally played in the Champions League for the first time, Didier Drogba felt moved enough to comment on the Argentine’s lasting quality. “The only word I can use to describe Agüero is spectacular,” the then Chelsea forward said, before going on to state that he was truly a “great player”. That is not in doubt. What is open to question, with Agüero at 25 years of age, is just how great.
It is easy to forget that, around the time that Drogba was speaking in late 2008, Manchester City’s current number 16 was generally being talked about in almost the same terms as Leo Messi. They had played alongside each other in winning the prestigious Fifa under-20 World Cup in 2005 and Agüero certainly seemed to have the raw talent to rank alongside the Barcelona star, if in a different way.
Lokomotiv Moscow manager Anatoliy Byshovets described watching him as “like visiting the Prado museum”, while Javier Mascherano stated his dribbling and imagination were “10 out of 10... he never does the same thing twice”. It is perhaps an element of repetition - or rather consistency - that is the key.
In a recent interview between Messi and Agüero organised by the Argentine FA, the latter was described as “the second best player in the world”. Cristiano Ronaldo might dispute that, as well as a host of other forwards who would justifiably see themselves as only behind the Portuguese and Messi in terms of pure production. So far, there have really only been two complete campaigns in Agüero career when he has reached the kind of records enjoyed by a band of ‘super-forwards’.
Similarly, it has seemed like there have only been intermittent moments where he has properly opened out to fully apply his talent. One came in the famous 4-2 win over Barcelona in 2008, the other one that fateful final day of the season in 2011-12 when he so admirably kept his nerve with just a handful of seconds remaining in order to deliver a first title for City in 42 years.
As yet, other than spells between those periods, he hasn’t properly dominated a season or tournament in the manner a player of his talent should. This season, however, there are suggestions it is starting to change; that Agüero is making good on all that magnificent ability. With exactly a goal a game in all competitions, he is already one of most prolific forwards in Europe, only behind Ronaldo (1.41) and Luis Suárez (1.14), who has played less matches.
That has just seen him win the October player-of-the-month award in the Premier League, with manager Manuel Pellegrini stating “I always thought he was incredible because he is a top player, but now he is in a great moment”.
It is not just the rate at which he is scoring, after all, but the confidence. Even if City have stuttered in terms of results, Agüero has strode on. Whereas once it was David Silva and Yaya Touré who primarily made City tick, it now seems to be the Argentine who sets the tempo. He is even out-performing many of those super-forwards in terms of basic elements of his game. Only Messi, Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani have superior pass-completion rates, and the latter play far fewer per game.
None of this should be much surprise. Having turned 25 in June, Agüero is beginning to approach his prime. His stats also indicate a steady rise over 2009 to 2012, only for injury and the general instability at City under Roberto Mancini to curtail his evolution. Now, it is the opposite. In full fitness, Agüero is also playing under a manager and in a style that fully suits him.
Pellegrini’s increased emphasis on passing and technical integration is perfect for a player who has been compared to Romario for his link-up play and luscious dribbling. Various facets of his game have started to return to the highs enjoyed in that 2011-12 campaign. Agüero is more involved in build-up play, with 25.3 passes a game. The increased amount of turnovers (times he loses possession due to a poor first touch) he has been responsible for further indicate the team is funnelling their approach through him more, and that perceived negative is offset with his productivity when he finally releases himself from defenders.
When he arrives at his full sharpness, we may well see a player released into the most rousing stage of his career. Then we'll really see how great he is.
Is Agüero up there with Messi and Ronaldo amongst the world's best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
