The Curious Case of Super Pippo

Now What do you call a footballer who at 37 years of age is able to make players, half his age, look decrepit and senile by his sheer enthusiasm and passion for the game( Leave aside the still respectable agility and off-the-ball movement), well-- YOU CALL HIM SUPER PIPPO. The Player who leads the attacking line for one of the best teams in the world--Milan--which at his age and despite the presence of world class attacking players like IBRA(KADABRA) and (FREAKY)ROBINHO , is nothing short of a phenomenon. Super Pippo is one of the last few exquisitely immaculate finishers of the ball remaining in the game today. With the fall from grace of Shevchenko, Ronaldo(The Brazilian One), Henry , Raul and Some other attacking legends , there has been a dearth of pure finishers who "Pass the ball in the back of the net" rather than "blasting it"--The latter being what we often see attackers doing most these days. Say what you will about the Cristiano's and Messi's of the World, point is they just cannot apply the finish with the finesse of guys mentioned above. Pippo is one of the last remaining vestige of a dying art that once ruled the roost.

Look at the game against Barcelona, Pippo's volley and movement to be at the right place at the right time is a specimen of the much coveted off-the-ball movement that a striker so compulsorily needs. It's amazing how someone can have the pace and acceleration-to-match that Pippo possesses at his age. Being a Sheva Fan and writing a blog entry to praise Pippo is in itself testament enough to the fact that Pippo has surely come a long way from being a "Just-another-player" to "The Player".

Hope Pippo would carry on like this for atleast a year or so or maybe even more, so that Milan have a realistic chance to match the unmatchable strength of Inter's Squad.