Sep 25, 2026 · 42 min · 17 segments
There is an initial resistance by the panel to the question: can you build a team around one player? The instinctive response is one of scorn and derision – I mean how do you build a team around…
Jon HolmesHost
Colin ShindlerHost
Jim WhiteGuest
I think You probably picked the wrong one for the real team that's built around one man in talking about Messi.
Messi is the outstanding player of Argentina, but Portugal had a real problem with how do they get over their Ronaldo fixation.
the Portuguese side that has some fantastic players in it, like Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Cancelo and so on.
But everything is determined by Ronaldo and the manager in particular seemed to be completely beholden to him.
I think he is the one man of the modern era where you can say everything is determined around him and his mood.
John, how do you feel about the concept of building a team around one player? Jim has made a good point about Ronaldo.
in this age, I think you did build teams in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s and also to a certain degree in the 80s.
Now, if a team is built around anyone, it's built around the manager or the coach and they don't last very long.
But then it all breaks up next year when the player moves on or several players move on or the manager gets the sack or there's a new owner.
I think the whole concept around building football teams has just sort of disappeared.
I think You probably picked the wrong one for the real team that's built around one man in talking about Messi.
Messi is the outstanding player of Argentina, but Portugal had a real problem with how do they get over their Ronaldo fixation.
the Portuguese side that has some fantastic players in it, like Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Cancelo and so on.
But everything is determined by Ronaldo and the manager in particular seemed to be completely beholden to him.
I think he is the one man of the modern era where you can say everything is determined around him and his mood.
John, how do you feel about the concept of building a team around one player? Jim has made a good point about Ronaldo.
in this age, I think you did build teams in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s and also to a certain degree in the 80s.
Now, if a team is built around anyone, it's built around the manager or the coach and they don't last very long.
But then it all breaks up next year when the player moves on or several players move on or the manager gets the sack or there's a new owner.
I think the whole concept around building football teams has just sort of disappeared.
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