Weekend Football

01 May 2009

by Jerrad Peters

The similar, yet oh-so-different, lives of Gignac and Negredo

It's time to tell you about two of the best-kept secrets in world football. Both are strikers that have somehow flown under the radar this season. Both are also 23-years-old, 6-foot-1 and carrying the bulk of the goalscoring load at their clubs. And no, Edin Dzeko is not one of them. He's too tall, and I've written about him before.

Readers, meet Andre-Pierre Gignac and Alvaro Negredo. You would probably be more familiar with them if they featured regularly in their national teams. Negredo, however, is unlucky enough to be the fourth-best striker in Luis Aragones' Spain lineup. Gignac, meanwhile, should be an automatic selection for France manager Raymond Domenech. Unfortunately for him, Domenech is a dolt. And barring a coaching change—which might not be all that far off—Gignac will probably spend the remainder of World Cup qualifying on the bench.

It's a pity, especially if you happen to support Les Bleus. Gignac is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 and has Toulouse in the reckoning for a Champions' League berth. He's come a long way in just one year.

Last season he managed just two goals in 28 appearances for Le Tef. Granted, manager Elie Baup played him out of position to accommodate Johan Elmander in a side renowned for its negative tactics. That really hasn't changed under new head coach Alain Casanova. But with Elmander having moved to Bolton Wanderers in the summer, Gignac has been given the opportunity to operate as the club's lone striker. To say he's seized it would be an understatement.

To date, he's bagged 19 goals for Toulouse and has guided the club to 57 points in 33 matches—four points shy of Lyon and Champions' League qualification. He's also reaped the rewards of an off-season training regimen that had him shed excess weight and improve his acceleration and speed. He's still a powerful presence in front of goal, but his improved fitness allows him run at defenders with confidence.

Negredo's story isn't quite as interesting. He's never scrapped with a teammate, taken weight-loss pills or been banned from the local club after his grandmother berated the coach for not making him drink enough milk.

No, Negredo is simply a late-blooming footballer who is finally starting to turn heads after paying his dues and coming through the ranks. Needless to say, his coming of age has arrived at a vital moment for Almeria.

After scoring 13 goals for the Andalusian club en route to an impressive eighth place finish in La Liga, Negredo's 19 goals so far this season are the primary reason why his side are not embroiled in a relegation scrap. Having said that, Almeria are only seven points above the drop and cannot afford a drop-off in performance from anyone down the stretch.

Given Negredo's career pattern, it's unlikely to happen. Since turning professional with Rayo Vallecano in 2004, he has quietly improved his game in each subsequent campaign. While with Castilla—Real Madrid's developmental club—he scored 18 goals in 2006-07 and earned a call-up into Fabio Capello's first team. But with the likes of Raul, Gonzalo Higuain, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Robinho ahead of him in the pecking order, he was sold to newly-promoted Almeria in the summer of 2007. His international career has followed a similar route. Buried beneath a heap of Spanish superstars, Negredo has yet to catch the eye of Aragones.

It's only a matter of time before he does, however. For while coaches can rightfully overlook pedigree and past performances, they are suckers for in-form goalscorers. And that descripes Negredo to a tee.

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