Transfers & Rumours - Page 28

quote jimbo_bwfc

quote Styot

quote Folie a Deux

It's only my opinion but the Premier League is much more physical then La Liga.

Yes, but it is bull shit when people say "So and so isnt physical enough for the PL" if they have enough technical ability they will still shine.

I'd disagree- but I'd also disagree with the original statement from Folie that it's simply as black and white as; one is physical the other is technical.

I don't think it's the physicality per se, more the amount of time you get on the ball and the way the game is played.

In Spain, passing it about the pitch even if it's getting you nowhere is accepted as normal, backing off and not getting stuck into the opponent is accepted as normal.

Problem for these players who are deemed "not physical enough" usually is more about the amount of time and touches they want on the ball rather than their actual physical strength. (Or sometimes it can be two-fold, yes Willy-Helmsson you weak *bleep*er)

If you're passing it around too much in the PL you're a "sideways passer", you're getting heckled by the fans to "get it up field!" or being accused trying to walk it in. If you allow the opposition a few seconds on the ball you're lazy, you're not getting stuck in, "stop backing off!!!" etc.

Main reason there are so many less passes/successful passes/La Liga is "technically better" claims is simply the difference of mindset and players who make it over there struggle to make it here are usually those who struggle to adapt and want too much time on the ball.

Teams who master it ala Barca are miles ahead of teams who've mastered it over here- see when Arsenal tried to play them off the park and took a bitch slapping. Their only success came when they changed it up, knocked it into Theo's path and let him use his direct pace to run in behind them.

Had a Stoke or a Blackburn played Barca, they'd have probably had a better time of things than Arsenal.

A Villa would have probably had it in their locker to win.

The Spanish mid-table teams are fairly easy to stop. Most play like the West Ham's of the PL, not much suprise to me when we nullified Athletico Madrid and kept them at bay fairly easily over two legs in UEFA Cup a couple of years ago.

quote LuisGarciaisgod

You would be indifferent to Lee leaving?

quote FortePenance

about bolton: it seems like they've just gotten a sudden onset of debt, totally out of the blue. Does this also mean that 2 out of the 3 teams in Manchester are skint?

quote LuisGarciaisgod

I'm not sure that Lee is the kind of player Liverpool need. We need a line-hogger. Something the club hasn't had since McManaman. He would be an improvement on Maxi and Jovanovic. He isn't as good as Kuyt (although they are different players) and I still live in the hope that Joe Cole will come good.

jimbo_bwfc How much did we offer during the summer for Lee?