Match Day Thread 2016/17 Premier League, Cups & Euro Watch

Harder physically. I know its become unfashionable to compare the premier league favourably to any other league but there's no denying it is the toughest top level league physically in Europe.

 

There are a number of players from the BL who have struggled in the PL (Demba Ba, Kagawa, Mkyt and even your own Firmino has taken 2 years to look anything like he did there). People seem to think physicality is somehow related to running around like a road runner, it's not, it's more about the first tackle arriving at the same time as the ball. In most other leagues (including the BL) players have time to lay the ball off with their first touch or even take control of it, in the PL many times the first touch lay off has to be done with another players hip or thigh banging into you.
It takes a bit of getting used to.

 

I'm going to assume you don't mean Demba Ba and mean someone else .

I agree with your main point, there is a lot less time on the ball which some footballers can deal with and others struggle to do so.

 

Ba and Ibisevic were both dynamite for Hoffenheim (as was Firmino) and both went missing as soon as they left. The BL seems a lot friendlier for strikers.

 

Demba Ba had a better record in England than in Germany??

 

Doubt that.

 

I think its to do with how much the referees let go here whereas on the continent they are much more strict with infringement. As a result size matters a lot more as well as it being a bit more all action as theres less of the whilst blowing up.

 

97 games 37 goals in Germany (4 seasons, 1 in 2nd division)

99 games 43 goals in England (3 and a half seasons)

Do you seriously not remember him in England, he scored 16 in one season for Newcastle then had 13 in 20 before January and he moved to Chelsea.

 

Demba ba smashed it in england what you on about. He was a consistent scorer for newkie boys, did well for west ham and even for us he wasn't that bad.

 

I really thought he had flopped after a good start with Newcastle, another **** up it seems

 

You are thinking of Papiss Cisse. 13 in 14 after joining in January. 24 in 103 in the next 3 seasons. Though to be fair 24 in 103 isn't disgraceful, its just disappointing considering how prolific he was in his first half season.

 

Could have got them mixed up, they were used as a pair by Newky, my memory is **** these days (i sometimes struggle to remember who we played last week)

 

Yeah get what you are saying just not convinced its that big a difference, as I say many players come here and flourish with no mention yet it is always comes out as an excuse for those that dont.

 

Demba Ba - I dont need to add anything
kagawa- decent first season but only played about half the games
Mkyt- hasnt had a chance yet
Firmino- 2 years?

 

Yep, i already admitted i was wrong, i always do when i am (what was the total cost of Ibrahimovic's transfer to Barca again "net"?)

Kagawa never got anywhere near his BL form but is back to his best now the pressure is off.

Firmino i could be wrong about the two years but it is certainly one plus and he has still not reached his BL form (i think he will but the fact is he is still getting used to the PL)

Mykt has looked very weak in the games he has played except for the second half on Thursday, he obviously has the talent but will take some time to acclimatise like so many others do (not just ex BL players).

 

Many players shrink under the glare of extra scrutiny, publicity, criticism for playing for a bigger club, be it LFC or the mancs. On top of it the pressure to justify a huge transfer fee. these players find it difficult to play their natural game, either by forcing it or do it safer.

 

Firmino came good after 4-5 months. Not sure where 2 years came from. Agreed that he has not hit the heights of Hoffenheim yet.

The funny thing is how pundits here think foreign managers will struggle to adapt to the physicality of the league.

Pochettino, Pep and Klopp's teams are the hardest working teams in the league.

 

Firmino has only been here 1 year. I do remember the initial comical comparisons to Depay and how the Dutchman is superior, funny stuff.

 

Diego is losing the plot recently. Firmino has taken 2 years lol.

 

Definately, especially if they have moved here from one of the smaller clubs in another league. as lucas pointed out earlier there are a whole host of reasons why player moves dont work straight away ( even when moving from other premier league teams). it is just too easy and lazy journalism to jump on the harder/ intensity meme.