I was having an argument with a Carlton supporter the other day, about who we'd rather have in a team, M.Voss or A.Koutoufides.
Considering we both support their repsective sides, you could say that the arugment was totally subjective. Well, at least for the Carlton ("onlyteamintheleaguementality") supporter (he even told me to support a different team!).
My argument was that Voss was a natural footballer, who ultimately made better decisions out on the ground, rallied his team-mates better, and also plays a lot harder at the ball than Kouta.
One point that was raised by this Carlton buffoon was that Koutoufides can play anywhere (ie: ruck, full back etc.) and that Voss, apparently cannot.
My answer to this was, why the hell would you put Koutoufides in the ruck in the first place? Any decent ruckman (J.White, M.Allan, etc.) would blow him away. To say "Kouta would kill them around the ground", well, so would Voss. And why the hell would you put Koutoufides at FB if he is such a good player? In any regard, he might be capable of playing full back, but he would hardly rate as a choice ahead of 10 or so other FB's in the league (ie: Leppitsch, Fletcher, Wellman, Martyn etc. etc.).
This is the same if he were played at CHF, FF, CHB, RR etc. etc. He (Kouta) is capable of doing extremely well in those positions, but not up to the standard of the corresponding 'best' player for that particular position. I know I would still choose W.Carey at CHF ahead of Koutoufides.
Fair enough, Kouta is an extremely well rounded player - one who can play a starring role in many positions. But he is not 'the #1 player' of any particular position.
Voss on the other hand, has proven to be the #1 centreman in the leauge (or at least on a par with Ratten, West, etc.) and is capable of taking any opponent in that position, and beating them.
Similarly, the seemingly natural way that Voss approached his football, to me, is far more appealling that just going for athletic ability. Voss is a true leader, plays hard at the ball (harder than Kouta), and has always had a football brain. You can't beat natural talent.
The response according to this Carlton nut, was that Voss had "done nothing since his Brownlow win in '96" (twit!). Well, check the 2000 Brisbane Lions B&F (the club finished 5th), and consider the fact that since '96 Voss has overcome a knee reconstruction, a severely broken leg, a partially severed finger, numerous soft tissue injuries, as well as an ankle reconstruction.
In any regard, what has Koutoufides done? Sure, he had a great 2000, and was a top player in 95. In between those times, he only managed one off performances, and culminated to be one of the most overrated players in the competition (some weeks even struggling to register a touch).
So, despite the fact that Koutoufides is a brilliant player who had a great 2000, I still choose Voss.
What does everyone else reckon?
Considering we both support their repsective sides, you could say that the arugment was totally subjective. Well, at least for the Carlton ("onlyteamintheleaguementality") supporter (he even told me to support a different team!).
My argument was that Voss was a natural footballer, who ultimately made better decisions out on the ground, rallied his team-mates better, and also plays a lot harder at the ball than Kouta.
One point that was raised by this Carlton buffoon was that Koutoufides can play anywhere (ie: ruck, full back etc.) and that Voss, apparently cannot.
My answer to this was, why the hell would you put Koutoufides in the ruck in the first place? Any decent ruckman (J.White, M.Allan, etc.) would blow him away. To say "Kouta would kill them around the ground", well, so would Voss. And why the hell would you put Koutoufides at FB if he is such a good player? In any regard, he might be capable of playing full back, but he would hardly rate as a choice ahead of 10 or so other FB's in the league (ie: Leppitsch, Fletcher, Wellman, Martyn etc. etc.).
This is the same if he were played at CHF, FF, CHB, RR etc. etc. He (Kouta) is capable of doing extremely well in those positions, but not up to the standard of the corresponding 'best' player for that particular position. I know I would still choose W.Carey at CHF ahead of Koutoufides.
Fair enough, Kouta is an extremely well rounded player - one who can play a starring role in many positions. But he is not 'the #1 player' of any particular position.
Voss on the other hand, has proven to be the #1 centreman in the leauge (or at least on a par with Ratten, West, etc.) and is capable of taking any opponent in that position, and beating them.
Similarly, the seemingly natural way that Voss approached his football, to me, is far more appealling that just going for athletic ability. Voss is a true leader, plays hard at the ball (harder than Kouta), and has always had a football brain. You can't beat natural talent.
The response according to this Carlton nut, was that Voss had "done nothing since his Brownlow win in '96" (twit!). Well, check the 2000 Brisbane Lions B&F (the club finished 5th), and consider the fact that since '96 Voss has overcome a knee reconstruction, a severely broken leg, a partially severed finger, numerous soft tissue injuries, as well as an ankle reconstruction.
In any regard, what has Koutoufides done? Sure, he had a great 2000, and was a top player in 95. In between those times, he only managed one off performances, and culminated to be one of the most overrated players in the competition (some weeks even struggling to register a touch).
So, despite the fact that Koutoufides is a brilliant player who had a great 2000, I still choose Voss.
What does everyone else reckon?