ILF Heroes: Leon Britton, the Swansea Silkworm

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This astonishing footballer has rapidly become my favourite in the Premiership, and today, aged 29, he achieved his apotheosis, completing all 66 attemped passes in a game against Bolton. Despite being one of the smallest, slightest footballers in Premier League history, he's playing an integral role in a team who have on several occasions shown up the limitations of rather more physical sides.

His game revolves around near-Trappist reserve; if there's a forward pass on which may possibly go wrong, he won't attempt it. Instead, he'll recycle possession, and wait for an opportunity to move the ball forwards into space. Not for him the dismal Gerrardisms of the ball into the channel. Not for him the no-look largesse of late-noughties Arsenal. Instead, he preaches a pure and glowing refinement of the Barcelona style; one that may result in fewer meaningful attacks, but one that allows a team of Swansea's stature to retain their shape, organisation and composure in a rapid and often brutal league.

I cannot praise this man enough. In a parallel world he would be the first name on an England teamsheet. Can he do anything Michael Carrick can't? Immaterial - Carrick, for all his gifts, is a player without the discipline, the shift in mental paradigm, to play the game of Britton. Surely this season's true ILF folk hero (Super Mario is for the people), I humbly suggest a man who has spent ten years in the lower leagues, perfecting a game that would grace any field.

once a week is ample, Saturday, 29 October 2011 22:55 (thirteen years ago) link

I like him a little less now.

boxall, Saturday, 29 October 2011 23:29 (thirteen years ago) link

Still quite a bit though.

boxall, Saturday, 29 October 2011 23:35 (thirteen years ago) link

i thought this dude was black but there must be some other swansea player who is small and vaguely answerable to this description but isn't actually leon britton

Nigel Farage is a fucking hero (nakhchivan), Sunday, 30 October 2011 03:02 (thirteen years ago) link

That'd be ex-Saint Nathan Dyer, who appears to be a bit less of a twat than he used to be.

I need to watch some Swansea, cos it's not just Britton who's got the passing down - someone posted the stats from today in the Prem thread, and there's Joe Allen, Garry Monk (another former Saint who's had to really drag himself up through the divisions - never really got a shot with us), Neil Taylor, Angel Rangel too. They're a very intriguing side Prem-wise - lots of (very) small players, intricate passing, and Danny Graham and Michel Vorm both look to be excellent signings thus far.

William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 30 October 2011 03:46 (thirteen years ago) link

dyer and sinclair do a job on the flanks

interim dn (darraghmac), Sunday, 30 October 2011 10:14 (thirteen years ago) link

swansea have been playing like this for a while. i rememmber 3 or 4 years ago watching them play fulham in the cup on tv, and they made a mid table premier team look like complete amateurs. fulham got a lucky 1-1. it was so weird to see a championship side playing this beautiful spanish football. that's the roberto martinez factor! i've always kept an eye on their results since that match.

spellcheck is really advanced these days (cajunsunday), Sunday, 30 October 2011 15:40 (thirteen years ago) link

Have read lately they might get Josh McEachran, the Chelsea reserve who's supposed to be a phenomenal passer, on loan in January, seems an ideal move for both parties.

boxall, Sunday, 30 October 2011 15:53 (thirteen years ago) link

i don't think i've seen any swansea this season and need to change that. working weekends is the worst when i could be watching leon britton instead

a hoy hoy, Monday, 31 October 2011 22:27 (thirteen years ago) link

That first half against City on the opening weekend of the season was genuine smile-inducing stuff.

McEachran would indeed be a great move.

Chris, Monday, 31 October 2011 22:40 (thirteen years ago) link

two months pass...

So we can all agree it is Silva v. Britton v. Bale for POTY right?

Aesop Rizzle (a hoy hoy), Monday, 23 January 2012 19:30 (twelve years ago) link

If Arsenal finish above 7th, Van Persie. Otherwise Bale. Dempsey deserves a shout as well.

boxall, Monday, 23 January 2012 19:48 (twelve years ago) link

yaya toure has been more consistently important to city, imo

mizzell, Monday, 23 January 2012 19:56 (twelve years ago) link

Yaya seconded, just edging Silva. No need to look outside City imo.

Ismael Klata, Monday, 23 January 2012 19:58 (twelve years ago) link

Well, maybe at Ba, and van Persie if you must.

Ismael Klata, Monday, 23 January 2012 19:59 (twelve years ago) link

one year passes...

His game revolves around near-Trappist reserve; if there's a forward pass on which may possibly go wrong, he won't attempt it. Instead, he'll recycle possession, and wait for an opportunity to move the ball forwards into space. Not for him the dismal Gerrardisms of the ball into the channel. Not for him the no-look largesse of late-noughties Arsenal. Instead, he preaches a pure and glowing refinement of the Barcelona style; one that may result in fewer meaningful attacks, but one that allows a team of Swansea's stature to retain their shape, organisation and composure in a rapid and often brutal league.

Congress Poland (nakhchivan), Sunday, 27 October 2013 02:25 (eleven years ago) link

he is gradually being phased out in favour of the ur-epl shelvey, the reprobate canas and the niftier de guzman but we can celebrate him still

Congress Poland (nakhchivan), Sunday, 27 October 2013 02:27 (eleven years ago) link

http://i.imgur.com/Cb3cBNh.jpg

nakhchivan, Monday, 4 November 2013 23:52 (ten years ago) link

o gosh

kaputtinabox (imago), Monday, 4 November 2013 23:53 (ten years ago) link

woefully inept attempt at YMCA but impressive still

midwife christless (darraghmac), Monday, 4 November 2013 23:58 (ten years ago) link

oh crumbs that's large

kaputtinabox (imago), Tuesday, 5 November 2013 00:01 (ten years ago) link

this is who we're trying to turn little tommy carroll into

r|t|c, Tuesday, 5 November 2013 00:20 (ten years ago) link

two months pass...

arise bentaleb

lovely cuddly fluffy dope (imago), Sunday, 19 January 2014 15:28 (ten years ago) link

eleven months pass...

http://spielverlagerung.de/2014/12/06/tuerchen-6-leon-britton/

r|t|c, Thursday, 1 January 2015 10:05 (nine years ago) link

dyer and sinclair do a job on the flanks

― interim dn (darraghmac), Sunday, 30 October 2011 10:14 Bookmark

otm

r|t|c, Thursday, 1 January 2015 10:06 (nine years ago) link

three weeks pass...

http://i.imgur.com/iXkLLOI.gif

Hayat Boumkattienne (nakhchivan), Thursday, 22 January 2015 15:20 (nine years ago) link

Ian Watkins/ H from Steps scenario narrowly averted.

A trumpet growing in a garden (Tom D.), Thursday, 22 January 2015 15:22 (nine years ago) link

Heaven needed another alleged rapist.. oops sorry wrong script.

xelab, Thursday, 22 January 2015 22:27 (nine years ago) link

nine years pass...

yea for I have witnessed Britton's final form, and His name is Angel Gomes

imago, Wednesday, 11 September 2024 09:23 (one month ago) link


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