Happy Face 29 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 While scribbling down my selection for the team of Euro 2012, it dawned on me there was not one Premier League player among my picks. By Jamie Carragher7:00AM BST 03 Jul 2012 There is only one conclusion. There are not enough top-class foreigners in our league. The greatest players in the world are now primarily in La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga. It’s a reversal from the arguments we’ve heard in the past from those who claim there are too many overseas players here, which had no credibility to begin with. Those who suggest the arrival of top continental stars in this country have a detrimental impact on England’s performances need to read more history books. During the 1970s, when every top division club was packed with British players, we didn’t qualify for consecutive World Cups. There was no golden age before the floodgates opened for overseas stars playing in the Premier League. English football just had one golden year, on home soil, in 1966. Our football has been enhanced by some of the greatest talents in the world, and it’s a shame so many have left this country in the last few years. I’d love to see them all come back. When players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas were still here, we could justly claim to being the best league in the world. That boast no longer carries the same weight, even taking Chelsea’s recent Champions League win into consideration. I’ve argued in the past there are too many foreign players in England, but I was quite specific in what I meant. I was referring to low-level, poor imports – those players who are no better (or in some cases a lot worse) than the English players they replaced. There have been times cheap foreign buys have been preferred to youngsters coming through an academy. Those are the kind of purchases I queried and still believe harm our league. My argument was if you had two players of the same level, one English and one from abroad, the home-grown player should be given a chance to improve. When you’re talking about the world-class players who have graced our shores such as Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba or Alonso, it’s an entirely different matter. The more we attract, the more our young players can learn. Playing alongside or against the best makes you better. I know from club experience that a classy overseas influence has an immensely positive influence. Euro 2012 has provided the kind of education English football tends to get every two years. For a month (before the domestic season starts), there is a process of self-revelation where everyone realises how insular English football can be and how much further we have to go. Here’s an example: after the Champions League final, I’d hazard a guess most supporters in this country, whatever their allegiance, would have said Ashley Cole was the best left back in the world. It seemed fairly justified given his performances in Europe. Have that vote again this morning. Anyone who doesn’t believe Jordi Alba now deserves that title hasn’t been watching any football for the last month. At the very least, the viewing figures for the La Liga shows ought to be much higher for the next few seasons so everyone can see what’s coming in Brazil in 2014. If there was one image from Sunday’s final which will linger in the memory, it was the sight of the Spanish left back scurrying down the wings on another overlapping run. Obviously that led to the second goal, but it was a recurring feature of the game. Sunday was a fitting finale to a fantastic tournament. Spain saved their best until last. It wasn’t so much an undermining of the criticism they’d received earlier in the competition as a realisation of the type of devastating, high tempo passing game we’d all been craving more of. We knew what they were capable of and they produced when it mattered. Tournaments are always defined by their final acts. In years to come, it will be the 4-0 victory that will stand out, all those tight, patchy performances earlier on completely forgotten. Xavi, who by his standards had endured an average few games, showed why he is considered in his own country as the greatest Spanish player of all time. Andres Iniesta confirmed why he sits comfortably alongside Lionel Messi and Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world. Fabregas’ performances in the past month have possibly been underestimated since he was the key to making the ‘false nine’ tactic a success. The only disappointing aspect of the final was the way the Italians wilted in the final stages, even though they were reduced to 10 men through injury. It was a surprise they didn’t line up with the back three that worked so well in the group game against Spain, and when they were 2-0 down I expected they’d tighten up and take their inevitable defeat on the chin. In the end they did neither one thing nor the other, leaving themselves open at the back even though they weren’t trying to attack to get back into the game. Looking over the whole competition, the Spanish dominance will clearly continue to have an influence on how football is evolving. This has been the case for a while, certainly since 2008. Football always follows trends, and it can only be positive to see so many aspiring young managers preferring a more technical game based on possession football. We have to be a little careful, however. Spain, and Barcelona in particular, have based their achievements by perfecting a style they’ve always adopted. When Iniesta and Xavi retire, Barcelona will still play the same way, they just may not have as many brilliant players to make it work so well. They’re not compromising any principles by doing what they do, they’re just abiding by long-standing ones. The challenge for those clubs or countries influenced by the Spanish brilliance is to ensure they also develop and retain individual strengths that will distinguish them from the rest. We have to be humble and realistic enough to recognise and embrace those overseas influences that will benefit our game, integrating such qualities with our existing strengths in order to preserve and enhance our own identity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4229 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 one tournament and Jordi Alba is the best left back in the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34625 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I'd love to see the first draft of that. Covered in baked bean sauce, written in crayon. I'm pleased "the La Liga" didn't get cut anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 14638 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 What a pile of shite. He contradicts himeself....so there was no "golden age" of English international football before the premier league's foreign invasion....it strikes me as theres not been much of one since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I'd love to see the first draft of that. Covered in baked bean sauce, written in crayon. I'm pleased "the La Liga" didn't get cut anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26471 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 He says that the world's best players are in La Liga, Bundesliga or Serie A, then goes on to talk exclusively about players at Real Madrid and Barcelona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 one tournament and Jordi Alba is the best left back in the world? Exactly, I had some buffoon on twitter saying he can already be considered better than Sergi Barjuan. Carragher's full piece is a lot of bollocks. "The best players in the world are in the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga", that'll be why the Premiership absolutely walks all over the Bundesliga and Serie A in the UEFA co-efficients. van Persie would be the best player in Germany or Italy in my view, so would David Silva, and so would Sergio Aguero. If he's right surely German and Italian teams should be doing better than us in Europe over say the last 5 years. 20 teams have competed in the CL or EL finals in the last 5 years Winners (RU in brackets) England 2 (4) Spain 4 (1) Germany (3) Italy 1 Portugal 1 (1) Ukraine 1 Russia 1 Scotland (1) Just shut up Carragher. Even the krauts must be scratching their heads considering German teams have won one European trophy in the last 16 seasons, while the Premiership has been represented in all bar one of the last 8 CL Finals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I'd love to see the first draft of that. Covered in baked bean sauce, written in crayon. I'm pleased "the La Liga" didn't get cut anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 My favourite bit was "There is only one conclusion" There is Jamie, but it's not the one you took, it's that you're a mong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 14638 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Ben Arfa's been a naughty garcon.... http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/uk-soccer-euro-france-idUKBRE8620GL20120703?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&rpc=401 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Euro 2012 team of the tournament: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Ita), Iker Casillas (Spa), Manuel Neuer (Ger) Defenders: Gerard Pique (Spa), Fabio Coentrao (Por), Philipp Lahm (Ger), Pepe (Por), Sergio Ramos (Spa), Jordi Alba (Spa) Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Ita), Steven Gerrard (Eng), Xavi (Spa), Andres Iniesta (Spa), Sami Khedira (Ger), Sergio Busquets (Spa), Mesut Ozil (Ger), Andrea Pirlo (Ita), Xabi Alonso (Spa) Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Ita), Cesc Fabregas (Spa), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Swe), David Silva (Spa) Zlatan and Stevie G the only non-semi-finalists to make the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Bit unfair to allow 23 players when every other team only gets to start 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26471 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Just the 14 then from Real and Barca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 http://m.deadspin.com/5923264/sorry-mario-balotelli-didnt-really-make-this-german-fan-cry-how-tv-lied-to-you-during-euro-2012 How very odd. I feel tampered with, and not in a sexy way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TicTacWoe 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 http://m.deadspin.co...uring-euro-2012 How very odd. I feel tampered with, and not in a sexy way. That is really bizarre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Manson 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Bet Chiles is sweating to see if it turns out some of his 'observations' are plants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenL 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Euro 2012 team of the tournament: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Ita), Iker Casillas (Spa), Manuel Neuer (Ger) Defenders: Gerard Pique (Spa), Fabio Coentrao (Por), Philipp Lahm (Ger), Pepe (Por), Sergio Ramos (Spa), Jordi Alba (Spa) Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Ita), Steven Gerrard (Eng), Xavi (Spa), Andres Iniesta (Spa), Sami Khedira (Ger), Sergio Busquets (Spa), Mesut Ozil (Ger), Andrea Pirlo (Ita), Xabi Alonso (Spa) Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Ita), Cesc Fabregas (Spa), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Swe), David Silva (Spa) Zlatan and Stevie G the only non-semi-finalists to make the squad. Isn't this just a list of the best 23 players at the Euros, as opposed to the 23 best players performance wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4229 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Isn't this just a list of the best 23 players at the Euros, as opposed to the 23 best players performance wise. ...eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34625 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Monroe Transfer and Andrew are like yappy fucking Yorkshire terriers. You walk past them and they're all straining at the lead growling and yapping on about nothing, wanting a scrap for no reason and you just look down, smirk, and keep walking with the yapping ringing in your ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4229 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Monroe Transfer and Andrew are like yappy fucking Yorkshire terriers. You walk past them and they're all straining at the lead growling and yapping on about nothing, wanting a scrap for no reason and you just look down, smirk, and keep walking with the yapping ringing in your ears. Im not at all, I just don't know what he means. 23 best players at the euros = 23 best players performance wise doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5941 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 More than half of your posts are looking for a row with someone over nowt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 That's a bit harsh, it's more like a quarter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4229 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 More than half of your posts are looking for a row with someone over nowt! Waaay there he is, what a surprise Not looking for a row anyway, I'm wondering what he meant when he said that, they seem like the same thing to me Shall I pm you and ask for permission to question things in future, or can you offer some reason I shouldnt ask things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4229 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 That's a bit harsh, it's more like a quarter... How'd you come to That figure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5941 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Waaay there he is, what a surprise Not looking for a row anyway, I'm wondering what he meant when he said that, they seem like the same thing to me Shall I pm you and ask for permission to question things in future, or can you offer some reason I shouldnt ask things? Alternatively you could just chill the fuck out ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now