Some info on some of Europe's top teams

[Zapsta]

Italian champions Inter Milan have one player Italian player who can definitely be considered to be first choice; goalkeeper Francesco Toldo (and perhaps Marco Materazzi when he returns from injury). In fact, they only have two other Italian players in their entire squad, both of whom are goalkeepers.

Spanish champions Real Madrid have four Spanish players who can be considered to be first choice; goalkeeper and national team captain Iker Casillas, fading captain Raul, utility man Sergio Ramos and 'Guti'.

Rivals, and arguably the best team in the world over the last few years, Barcelona have the same; goalkeeper Victor Valdes, captain Carles Puyol, vice-captain 'Xavi' and Andres Iniesta.

 

[Zapsta]

Does no one want to make the obvious point?

 

[Dibby]

The obvious point :think:



They have good players. That's the most obvious I can think of.


:wink:

 

[Zapsta]

SIGH.

Everyone moans that the national team is suffering for all the foreign imports, but the Spanish and Italian leagues are in exactly the same situation, and they don't seem to be suffering. And anyway, where do all the South American talents go? Because it's not the Premiership, that's for sure.

 

[Dibby]

I'm too tired to argue my point...

 

[Zapsta]

Do you have a point?

 

[joey55]

The prem has a much higher % of foreign players than in the Italian or Spannish league's, but I personally don't think it makes much difference. If the English players aren't good enough to get into Prem sides because of foreigners, then they aren't going to be good enough to play for England anyway. Training and playing with excellent foreign talent many Prem clubs have is far more beneficial to our players than working with other English players. I think Leds (when fit) is pushed to raise his game far more by trying to defend against the likes of Berbatov in training, than he would have been against the modern day equivalent of Mark Falco.

 

[Zapsta]

The exact percentage of foreign imports doesn't really matter. The fact is, there are just as few limitations on them in Spain and Italy as there are in England, and they clearly have a significant impact on the structure of the top teams in those countries, very much comparable to the impact they have on the top teams in this country, and yet you don't have any of their representatives moaning that their need to be quotas on home nationals in starting line-ups, because they (especially Italy) have shown that a successful domestic game, full of foreign players, is quite compatible with a successful national team.

 

[tobi]

I agree with you Zapsta.

:hello:

 

[liamc23]

You could argue that it is effecting the Spanish national team as they have won fuck all.

 

[tobi]

On the other hand they have plenty of players to choose from for the national team, and will play players who are on form.

Everyone can predict England's squad because they use the same players regardless of their form.

 

[Zapsta]

You could argue that it is effecting the Spanish national team as they have won fuck all.

That's true, but they also completely outplayed us last time we met, and they generally do play good football and look capable of winning tournaments, even if they don't actually do it.

Also, if it is thought to be an issue that the additional number of foreign players in England over the number in Spain and Italy is a problem, then it's not simply because they can play here, because they can just as easily play in those other two countries (and, in footballing terms, it would be just as appealing a prospect), so there must be some other, underlying issue, and it's that which must be looked at, not quotas and direct restrictions on the number of foreign players.

 

[tobi]

"Here comes the money!"

 

[Zapsta]

I don't know what mid-level wages in Spain and Italy are to make a comparison. Assuming they're significantly lower, then there's no easy way around it (that I can think of). Introducing a salary cap is simply going to reduce the wages of the highest paid, and that's not an issue.

 

[Zapsta]

In fact, if it's a matter of increased wage expectations from homegrown players, then maybe that's one of the side-effects of having the most successful league in the world that we'll just have to put up with.

 

[tobi]

Joey Barton allegedly gets £70k a week, Real Zaragoza are are a top 10 team in La Liga and they have Pablo Aimar amongst their ranks. I'd be amazed if he gets anywhere near that amount.

 

[Zapsta]

Yes, but there are a couple of things you have to consider here:

1) Newcastle throw money around like nobody's business.
2) Pablo Aimar isn't as good in real life as he is in Football Manager.

 

[tobi]

Pablo Aimar is very good, he is an Argentine International, he is well within his right to command a big contract.

Joey Barton has played how many minutes for England?

I understand your point Zapsta, I just like picking on Newcastle.

 

[Zapsta]

Another thing. This is the Italy U21 team that started against England in the European Championship earlier this year:

Viviano (played for Brescia in Serie B last season)
Raggi (plays for Empoli, currently 18th in Serie A)
Mantovani (played 18 times for Chievo last season)
Andreolli (played 7 times for Inter during last 2 seasons)
Chiellini (played for Juve...)
Nocerino (played for Piacenza in Serie B)
Aquilani (24 appearances for Roma)
Montolivo (33 appearances for Fiorentina)
Rosina (35 appearances for Torino, who finished last season in 17th)
Palladino (played for Juve...)
Pazzini (23 appearances for Fiorentina)

And yet they were still considered to be the favourites for the tournament? Okay.

 

[karennina]

Almost all of those players are superb on Football Manager.