I’m not saying they are 100% nothing in regards to genetics or something, but do you think there may be players out there who have had to work harder since they may not have had those natural skills as football players? Genetics maybe due to height or speed or other things but what do you think?
My guess is most journeymen who hop from League to league in Asian, African or Latin American countries may have to rely on work ethic as much as natural talent/gifts?
I think it depends on how are far you go up the leagues its obvious I know but even the national league in England is still a very high level even though its technically non league football… It’s full of players with natural ability it’s more about the mentality of the the player’s the higher you go up I think
I don’t think there are any athletes with any semblance of continued success that have achieved what they have without an exceptional work ethic.
There are many talented athletes who experience little to no success because they lack work ethic.
I think your question could be better framed in the reverse: are there SOME pro football players out there who may not have relentless work ethic and rely solely on natural talent?
I get it but I’m just wondering because a lot of people say almost every athlete who makes it pro was born with it, so I just wanted to as if there are A VERY SMALL minority of athletes who make it professionally without a natural or generic gift and rely solely on their work ethic
Slabhead McGuire
I don’t know if this will make sense or not, but those without some natural talent isn’t going to put the enormous amount of effort for years to just barely survive as a journeyman. It takes money to be able to move to a different country to play. The type of journeyman your talking about has to be good enough to make the paycheck viable and they have talent. The guys filling out the roster for £/€ 20,000 isn’t going to be able to up and move to a new country every couple years.
Sounds counterintuitive, but I wonder if it’s is actually easier to only be a hard-working footballer in the higher leagues than a lower league.
For example as a Central Defender in the Pre Pep days ‘all’ you had to do was consistently be in the right place, win tackles and headers, and pass a simple pass or belt the ball down the ground. The players around you are not making as many mistakes that you need to clean up. (Yes I know defence is a skill)
In a lower league at Centre Back, you have players around you making mistakes, forcing you to play differently, and needing you to be able to to more things to get the team out of trouble.
For clarity, what I am suggesting is that as you become more professional and play in better quality teams, you can specialise, and don’t have to be expert at everything.