Kieron Dyer has revealed why Nobby Solano was his favourite player at Newcastle United – believing the winger would’ve been ‘world class’ and ‘on another planet’ if the Peruvian had his pace.
The comes from his brilliant chat with the True Geordie – a podcast I’ve only got around to watching this week and one I thoroughly enjoyed watching, giving a real insight into Dyer’s slightly misunderstood character and career (watch it in full here).
Here’s what he had to say about Solano, praising his incredible ‘right foot’ and ‘footballing brain’:
“If Nobby had pace he would be on a different planet, because I have never seen a footballing brain and right foot like that – and I’ve been with David Beckham who had a wand!
“But Nobby Solano was just my favourite player by miles.”
Solano really was a quality operator, with him more than making up for his lack of pace with his intelligence and quality on the ball so often being second to none as Dyer mentions.
He was one of a kind in many respects and the sort of winger we don’t see much of these days.
Just look at the top wingers in the Premier League today – featuring the likes of Sane, Sterling, Mane, Hazard, Willian, Martial, Zaha. One common factor? Pace.
Don’t get me wrong, these are all quality players who are anything but headless chickens who simply rely on their pace, but take that and their athleticism away from them and I doubt you have a player as skilled as Nolberto Solano.
Here’s the Peruvian maestro at his best:
Misunderstood? Arrogant ****!
If he was as fast as me he would have been great?
THat’s not misunderstood.
Brrrian(Quote)