Hopefully NB will be brave enough to continue with his philosophy of keeping the ball on the deck, passing and maintaining possession. This is the style of football that most of us have been praying to see at City for decades, but Iâm not sure whether the average English player is best suited to it. Swansea are gaining a lot of admirers in the Prem. for playing like this, but when Roberto Martinez was originally cultivating it there he brought in a lot of Spanish players who were familiar with the style. Gradually the Brits adapted until now the style has become ingrained. Nick has already intimated that he wonât consider buying players that wonât fit in with his system so maybe City should be scouting on the continent?
I agree that it's worth looking all over the globe because obviously if you look only in the UK you rule out thousands of players. However, I don't agree that English players simply 'aren't suited' to good football. It's a complete myth. There are plenty of English players out there who play the pure passing game, players like Michael Carrick and Tom Huddlestone, but their style simply isn't as effective as someone like Scholes or Parker at their respective clubs, who can pass pretty well but will also get stuck in. In England you have to have that bravery and battling which isn't as important on the continent, particularly in this division, which is why players like Evans are so useful.
I didn't say they aren't suited, I said not best suited, because there is more of an emphasis on finding the 'instant killer pass' here than patient passing until the opportunity comes. British players can adapt, but many Continental players play that way naturally.
Ghilas has done nothing in the French 2nd division this season, 9 goals in 19 games is rubbish and Stade De Reims are only just top of the division.
Nope. There is enough quality over here on the Free Agents Listings in the summer. or UnLess Messi fancies a change ?
I don't think they should put us off all foreign players and the truth is that Barmby's style might have brought more out of them than Brown's or Pearson's.
Surely that isn't a reasonable argument? That's like saying Bullard, Harper, McShane. We shouldn't buy any British players anymore ...
I know you'd arse **** Jimmy given the chance, just I can't quite figure out which of the other two talentless bastards you think would improve our current squad. Or was it an attempt at humour?