The Red Bull: a life-long corrida
Very rarely, if the public or the matador believe that the bull has fought extremely bravely, the event's president may be petitioned to grant the bull a pardon, and if it is granted, the bull's life is spared. The bull is allowed to leave the ring alive and return to the ranch from where it came. Wikipedia
The years go by, and Liverpool FC left-back José Enrique hasn't received a call-up to Vicente del Bosque's Spanish national squad yet. The situation reminds me of a bullfighting: del Bosque is the Event's President, José Enrique - the Bull (he actually earned this nickname due to his speed, strength and eagerness to run forward to support attacks while playing for Villarreal CF in 2006), and all the difficulties José is facing during his career represent the Matador. What's for you and me - we are be the Public, and it's only us who can force the Event's Preident to allow the Bull finally return home.
So, let's prove that José Enrique has already done eveything to become a member of del Bosque's team.
Enrique is 27 years old now - quite an age for a football player to show his best, especially for a defender. He's already "insured" from the errors associated with the lack of experience, but still has a potential for further development. From the age of seven, José was a keen athlete due to his blistering speed. He was even a member of a running club in Valencia and was soon picked up as a hot prospect. When he turned 16, he had the difficult choice of either making a career as a sprinter and representing Spain in international competitions or as a footballer with Levante UD. I think he made the right choise to become a football player. He made 37 appearances overall in Primera División for Celta Vigo (on loan from Valencia CF) and Villarreal.
In the summer of 2007 José Enrique signed a five-year contract with Newcastle, who beat off competition from Manchester City and Liverpool for his signature. Enrique's appearances for Newcastle across the 2007/08 season were somewhat sporadic. But when José did play, he showed a great deal of promise, proving to be a strong tackler who is adept at keeping possession of the ball. He was also admired for his ability to pick out teammates with long and very accurate left-foot passes. During his first season with the Magpies, he helped his team to keep 7 clean sheets out of the 28 games that he played.
However, Newcastle got relegated after the 2008/09 season and had to sell many of its premier players and key defenders. As for the Spaniard, several clubs (including Sunderland) were keeping an eye on him, but on 1 December in an interview with "The Journal", when asked about a move to Sunderland, José said: "I don't care about Sunderland. Even if the newspapers said Chelsea I wouldn't care. I worry for my team - I love the city, I love the club, and I don't care about signing for another team". Remember, it was year 2009, and Enrique was playing for Newcastle United in Championship. At the end of the season 2009/10 Enrique's loyalty was deservedly rewarded: he was voted for the Newcastle United Player of the Season by the fans, named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year and won the Championship itself with his club. Oh, yes, he also scored his first goal for the club in a 2:0 win over promotion rivals Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle returned to the Premier League, and José played 36 matches in the season 2010/11. In overall, he made 129 appearances for the Magpies, scored a goal and provided 11 assists. In the summer of 2011 it was officially reported that Newcastle had agreed a £7 million fee with Liverpool for Enrique, allowing him to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with the Merseyside club. It was officially announced the following day on Liverpool's website that José Enrique had joined the club on a long-term contract.
On 13 August 2011, José made his debut in Liverpool's first game of the 2011/12 season, starting at left back in a 1:1 draw against Sunderland. On 20 August 2011, Enrique made his second appearance and played the full 90 minutes in a 0:2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, also being named man of the match. On 24 September, José provided the assist that helped Luis Suárez to score in the 2:1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. On 1 October, Enrique appeared in his first Merseyside derby for Liverpool, providing an assist for Andy Carroll in a 2:0 win for the Reds over rivals Everton. On 2 October, it was announced that the player had been voted best summer signing by Liverpool fans with 74.5% of votes, ahead of the likes of Charlie Adam and Craig Bellamy. On 23 December 2011, José was picked in ESPN.com's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season. On 26 February 2012, he helped Liverpool to win their first trophy since 2006 when they won the League Cup. On 1 April 2012, he was forced to play as a goalkeeper for the remaining 13 minutes of the match at his old club Newcastle United after Pepe Reina was sent off for headbutting Magpies defender James Perch. Although Enrique kept a clean sheet, the Reds, being down 2:0 at the time of Reina's red card, failed to level the score. Wikipedia
On 17 November 2012, in a league match against Wigan Athletic, José scored his first goal for Liverpool in the 65th minute, having been increasingly reinvented as a left wing back in an unconventional 3-5-2 formation under the tenure of Brendan Rodgers. He scored his second goal of the season when he finished off a team goal against Swansea City on 17 February 2013. Wikipedia
So, José Enrique has everything you seek not only in a classy left-back, but in a top-level football player as a whole: blistering speed, striking stamina, dribbling and tackling skills, well-thought-out positioning, tranquility in actions and amazing versatility (Enrique proved to be a good goalkeeper, of course, but I'd like you to pay attention to the fact that he's also able to play at any position on the left wing - from defender to striker). An experienced player, José passed through the thorns of Championship and came out as a winner. His amazing left-foot passes entranced the audience in Newcastle and continue to do it nowadays, in Liverpool. If you are unsure about Enrique's abilities mentioned above, here are two video-proofs for you.
José rarely loses single ball combats, but he's always been a gentleman at the field: a disciplined Spaniard received only 10 yellow cards in 149 PL matches so far, and only 17 in his entire career. You know, he doesn't only make an impression of a good guy - he really is a very good guy. During one of the training sessions an interviewer asked José how young Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas are doing since they arrived to England, and Enrique said: "From the very start, of course, they try to be with me all the time and always ask me about different things, that is normal. And, of course, I told them to ask me if they need anything. I know how difficult it is to settle down on a new place if you don't know the language, so I told them that I'll try to be around".
When José Enrique signed with Liverpool in the summer of 2011, he said: "This is one of the happiest days of my life. I have come to one of the biggest clubs not just in England, but in the world. I am really, really happy". In a week he added: "Everyone wants to be there. I've never played in the Champions League and it's a dream for me. But I have to be realistic, this would be really difficult because the Premier League is the best league in the world". At the end of the year 2011 he expressed his thoughts about the national side: "I think I deserve a chance. Just for the fact that I've managed to play for a team like Liverpool, they should be thinking of me for the Spain squad".
It's sad to see such a professinal trying to fulfil his dream without any success. Especially, if you know that he really deserves it. I think we did everything we could to make Vicente del Bosque change his mind and call José Enrique up for the Spanish national side. I hope now you like José as much as I do. I also hope that one day he will read this text and say "thanks" to us (yes, I hate being realistic).
"The Red Bull has fought extremely bravely!" - yelled the Public. "Indeed", - confirmed the Event's President. That's how the Red Bull was allowed to leave the ring alive and return to his native land.
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PS: While I was preparing this material, the Spanish city Santiago de Compostela has been devastated by a high-speed train crash which killed at least 80 people. Annual festivities to honour St. James the Apostle have been cancelled, as locals reel from the shock of one of Europe's deadliest rail disasters. A funfair, which would normally be bustling, is now closed. Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has declared three days of official mourning.
Великолепный блог, интересный и необычный!) Удачи)
In addition, he has a really bad strike, what doesn’t matter for fullback, however...
Anyway, he is perfect def with a few weak sides.
But o don`t think that Jose good enough to play in Spanish national squad.