Slow, Fat - and ON FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Ahmed | September 15th, 2008

I must admit, when I first saw Charlie Miller I thought, “This guy looks a bit overweight, slow and I don’t think he’ll fit into the Roar outfit.” He has proven me absolutely wrong. Charlie Miller has been the shining light for the Roar at the start of season. He has cut open defences, scored goals in literally every game and has controlled the midfield for the Roar. He is, in fact, the exact type of player the Roar needed.

With our pace men, Zullo, Kruse, Minniecon and Grossman, we didn’t actually have someone who could hold the ball and control the midfield. Charlie Miller has come into this team and has offered us that player who can play off the faster men. He allows them to get into runs and move around more freely, without having to think about the finer things too much. Miller can hold the ball in the centre and feed their runs. This type of play allows players to get into good positions and Miller just stands, and delivers the ball. It has given a whole new dimension to and some direction for the Queensland Roar. The big, bulging Scotsman is proving just why his country capped him.

The likes of Reinaldo and Van Dijk are also able to fit into a team with Miller. Miller can sit off the strikers and feed them the ball. The strikers in turn can use him to get into scoring positions while he holds up the ball and gets into good positions to pass. Frank Farina has seen past the bulgy stomach and the age and actually seen a footballer. He has seen a footballer that many an A-League club has tried to get, and spent thousands prising big names over, yet they have failed, Miller has also come at a bargain price. He has come as a virtual unknown into the team and the league, and is quickly earning a reputation has a hero among The Orange Army.

The most impressive thing about Miller for me was that he didn’t just get the ball and run, he uses his head and looks before he does things. He is a very calm and confident player and it shows every time he touches the ball. He has been the missing link for the Roar and he is now the click in our midfield. His addition also shows one key thing, clubs don’t have to sign a name player, for them to have an impact. For some time now, clubs go around smashing their marquee signing fees to bring in these big name players, who fail miserably.

Miller is the perfect example that managers do not have to break the bank or sign only someone who has played in the big leagues. It’s more about the quality of the performance they can put out, rather than the amount of fans they drag over. If the quality is worth watching, then fans wont care who is actually kicking the ball, as long as the results are flowing and football is worth watching. Then we will see more and more fans flocking to the stadiums, they all want to watch attractive football. I can’t wait to get to Suncorp Stadium and watch the little Scotsman running around. He may not be the biggest name, but the quality of football he is producing is worth every penny.