In the Prem sure
PSG, Barca, Bayern, Real all stacked with technical wizards and star players.
If the Prem wants stars again, it just needs to change the culture of officiating and interpretation of the laws
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Player Xavi Simons
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PSG, Barca, Bayern, Real all stacked with technical wizards and star players.
If the Prem wants stars again, it just needs to change the culture of officiating and interpretation of the laws
Yeah but those teams are clearly anomalies, the vast majority of football clubs and players in world football are about winning duels and physicality - I don't see many other teams playing like them (wouldn't even put Real in the same bracket as the others either)
100%. We bemoan not having a Klinsmann, Berbatov, Kane now but i saw an old clip of Robbie Keane the other day and thought he'd not only be our best player by a country mile currently but probably one of the best in the premier league. That was only 15/20 years ago. The standards are through the floor. Its why those of us of a certain age find it all so mundane now.
IMO it’s just the Premier League.
Prem is just an extreme version of it but watch football matches other than the teams you've mentioned and you will see the same thing.
Watched a few international matches over the past week and it's all the same thing bar a couple (France/Spain) no wizards, no flair, no stand outs, all about duelling and physicality.
Although we've been a bit shite in Europe this season, it's conceivable (albeit unlikely) that English teams will still win 2 out of 3 European comps. As we did last year.
Prem teams are a boring watch right now. But they aren't full of crap players. They best teams are full of immensely well-drilled athletes playing very fast, physical football, and pushing marginal gains re the laws of the game as currently interpreted (changes season to season). It isn't great to watch I agree.
Prem teams are a boring watch right now. But they aren't full of crap players. They best teams are full of immensely well-drilled athletes playing very fast, physical football, and pushing marginal gains re the laws of the game as currently interpreted (changes season to season). It isn't great to watch I agree.
Techincal players wowing us with their skills at taking on players? That's not what the EPL is encouraging. Technical players are taken out of the game with physical play that is rewarded because it goes largely unpunished.
We’ve never had as many stars … most flair players and the absolute best individuals tend to want to play in La Liga for one of the two big Spanish clubs and now the stylish flair French talent all goes to PSG.
Obviously the premier league has had top, top footballers but I think worldwide the amount of world class footballers has reduced. But even when the league had loads of world class players, the best South Americans, Spaniards etc wanted to play in Spain. The flair players prefer it there.
We had two in Bale & Modric .. both off to Madrid.
Haaland and Rodri are probably the only 2 legit stars in the prem now that Salah is off?
It’s not the Ref’s fault he can’t put the proper weight on a pass or hit the target with a shot.
Rodri isn’t one anymore imo. Still really good but injury has done him a bit. And even then at his best, whilst an incredible player in his role I wouldn’t class him as a star in the way of a real flair player who fans will pay money to go and see.
Even Haaland, whilst obviously very fucking good, is not an exciting player who you would pay money to see. Just very physical and efficient.
The prem had some for a while .. I think there was a moment where Yaya, Aguero, Suarez, Silva, Bale etc were all in the same league.
Think back when we had Keane, Berbatov, Crouch and Defoe. None of them athletes like scouts are long for today.
But technically all far in advance of our current front 4.
Crouch has to be the most unathletic physique of them all! Maybe a high jumper!!
And Defoe’s ball striking ability was second to none. Zero backlift. Goal. That’s so hard to achieve.
Compare with Richarlison now. Like he’s playing with a ball made of pure rubber sometimes the way it bounces off his foot!!
Depends how he balaces playing through teams against defensive solidity
I think in a de Zerbi system, with use of space, runners - and expectation of where players should be - Xavi could be the key man. The one who splits the lines, makes it happen...
Conversely, someone like Gallagher might be preferred for his pressing/high turnover creation
Maybe depends on RDZs pragmatism.
(I also think Tel can thrive with him too)
System doesn't matter when you put your head down and try to dribble in straight lines to no affect.
Maybe a bit of chicken and egg here, or just seeing things differently
I saw him put his head down and dribble a lot - but mostly because Frank left him with absolutely fuck all else to do
Ive seen both Xavi and Tel play some wonderful passes when given the rare opportunity
Do the Prem is devoid of any stars atm?
Haaland is definitely a star, and I'd put Cole Palmer in that category as well.
Guys like Saka and Eze should be but Lego Man is so committed to shit football that they can't express themselves which is the general nature of the problem.
Cole Palmer?
Isnt the whole narrative with him right now that basically hes underperforming massively?