The Vlad-iator
By Chris Royle
March 12 2002
He's tall, strong, athletic and ruthless. Jonah Lomu, sadly, doesn't play for Liverpool FC, or indeed play the same sport. Vladimir Smicer, however, wears the coveted number seven shirt, regularly frequenting the right wing.
He's tall, strong, athletic and ruthless. Jonah Lomu, sadly, doesn't play for Liverpool FC, or indeed play the same sport. Vladimir Smicer, however, wears the coveted number seven shirt, regularly frequenting the right wing.
Ok, so maybe our very own Vladi-ator isn't cut out to compete in the colosseum; there are rumour's suggesting that he failed to progress past the qualifying rounds of Pat Sharp's Funhouse. It's not a case of either or, but somewhere in-between. Possibly an energetic yet slightly of his depth contestant on the Crystal Maze, producing so little yet capable of so much. Some of the flak he has come in for has been ridiculous.
Vladmir Smicer arrived at Anfield in May 1999. Not only was he the man brought in to replace the recently departed Steve McManaman, but he was also burdened with the famous number seven shirt worn by a host of Liverpool's greatest ever players, including arguably the finest ever in Kenny Dalglish. From the word go he was thrust into a situation where so much was expected of him.
Despite a newly acquired French Championship winners medal with Lens and a losers medal from Euro 96 with the Czech Republic, the signing was scoffed at. The fans, myself included, wanted a big name to replace the one that had recently traded in his tracksuit and pasty complexion for a healthy (or rather cancerous) tan and Spaniard like shortsleeved, pale yellow shirt.
In truth we were never going to get one. Season after season of failure both domestically and in Europe was never likely to attract the world's biggest stars to Anfield. Despite the likes to Patrick Kluivert, Jay Jay Okocha and Djibril Cisse expressing an interest in a move to Liverpool over recent months, back in the dark days of the nineties Tim Flowers turned down a move to Merseyside (yes the red half) on the grounds that he 'had ambition'. Phil Babb was seen as a coup on the basis of a half decent World Cup.
At 4.2m pounds he was perceived as a risk by some quarters. Those of us that religiously watch football whether it be Liverpool or not were aware of his talent, but he didn't exactly come across as a big name signing. However his enthusiasm was there for all to see:
"It will be difficult for Lens to stop me moving to Liverpool because I am so keen to sign for them. I hope things can be sorted out calmly."
For me, the transfer appeared to be one of convenience. It all seemed so easy. Out when McManaman, in came Smicer, recently recommended by current Liverpool player and compatriot Patrick Berger.
That's not to say that Liverpool's scouting system hadn't watched him a few times. I'm not so cynical as to suggest they gave the thumbs up on the basis that Smicer was an easily attainable target, though. What Smicer represented was a good player at an affordable price, who was willing to join the club without hesitation. He wasn't a world-beater yet had more than just a modicum of talent.
Life started so well at Liverpool for Vladimir. He scored and played a pivotal role in a 2-0 win in a pre-season friendly over Feyenoord. We're onto a winner here, we thought, but injuries disrupted a mildly successful first season for him. We saw glimpses of the form that we hoped would be continued in the next campaign. Gerard Houllier proclaimed that a fully fit Vladmir would be like a new signing for the club.
That did, to an extent, ring true. Had we been told that Vladimir would notch up eleven assists, finishing runner up only to David Beckham in that regard, we would have taken it with both hands, put it in a war chest and buried it in the back yard. Then again, being told that a large percentage of those assists came against sub standard opposition this achievement makes it seem less impressive. Take nothing away from him though, he played a huge part in the treble success. He was fully deserving of his spot on the podium in Cardiff and Dortmund.
There have been calls for the club to sell Vladmir. Whether you agree with them or not it's clear that almost three years after his move from the Stade Felix-Bolleart he hasn't delivered.
First is his inconsistency. There is nothing more infuriating than a player that can be brilliant one moment yet woeful the next. This has hampered Vladimir's career in England without question. He is capable of beating a man and whipping in a quality cross, yet likely to miss a sitter moments later (THAT miss). If Vladimir can reproduce the form that he shows for his country he would be a crowd favourite. A top player must have seven or eight performances in every ten games rather than three, he just doesn't seem to be filling his quota.
Secondly is his tendency to shirk out of challenges. Maybe Vladi has cottoned on to the fact that the magic sponge won't cure a broken leg or gashed knee. Maybe he has discovered that the enchanted water spray isn't taken from the purest springs known to man, that it doesn't contain vitamins and minerals capable of performing Mr Miyagi like feats, rather taken from the tap in the dressing room. For whatever reason he doesn't like the physical side of the English game.
The style of play in the French League, and at International level, is less confrontational. Where our European counterparts applaud a fancy piece of skill (who doesn't?) the English have been brought up to 'get stuck in' in a way that few other nations have. The Premiership has struggled to shed its reputation as a league for bruisers, hence a large majority of talented foreign players prefer to ply their trade in either the Spanish or Italian Leagues where they will be free to express their talent without fear of studs down a hamstring.
Thirdly is the fact that he is taking up a valuable non EU spot in the Liverpool team. According to EU regulations no side can field or have in their squad more than three players from a country without EU membership. We have Dudek, Smicer, Baros, Biscan and Henchoz, with Henchoz set to be granted citizenship some time soon. With Dudek certain to start the majority of matches that leaves a remaining place which at present Smicer is occupying.
For a player that is regularly under performing to take up one of these spots is bad enough, but for this to then affect the amount of first team opportunities that one of the brightest young stars in the game and effectively hamper his progress (Milan Baros) is wrong. Milan Baros signed for the club on the same day as Nicolas Anelka but has yet to pull on the red shirt.
I don't buy the 'too lightweight' argument. At 5'10 and almost twelve stones he's far from tiny. That two inches and over a stone heavier that Michael Owen, who has managed to build himself up to improve his game. If he is indeed too lightweight it must be asked why Richie Partridge is being kept out of the side by the Czech for that very same reason.
Vladimir has a talent, but it's one that I've seen on Eurosport far more than I've seen at Anfield. If he wishes to remain in Gerard Houllier's plans he will have to buck up his ideas and fast. Sander Westerveld came to the club and did a job much in the same way as Smicer has done, but was sold when it was felt the club needed to progress.
I would love nothing more that for Smicer to prove the doubters, a growing number of doubters I might add, wrong. The fickle nature of the football fan was exposed in all its glory. No doubt had that ball gone he would have been held up as a hero. I'm satisfied that he has the talent to succeed at Liverpool but not convinced that he ever will.
Of course most of the criticism directed at Smicer occurred in the days after the 1-1 draw in Istanbul because of two missed chances, one in particular. Had the ball nestled neatly into the roof of the net he would have been held up as a hero. As luck would have it he sliced the ball wide, placed in the proverbial shackles and pelted with fruit. There's a fine line between love and hate the saying goes.
Chris Royle
