Just a quick post here because I have to dash out. There's no doubting the quality of our new signings but I wonder how quickly they will settle in the Premier League. They will have to get used to the pace of the game here and the physicality. I ask the question because we have often seen overseas players take quite a time to settle. When that is one or two players, it can be coped with but we are going to have a few and it's safe to say that some of them will find it tough early doors. Factor in a visit to Sunderland or Newcastle in the depths of a British winter and I can see a culture shock facing those players who have plied their trade in warmer climes. Your thoughts, guys?
I hope they don't take too long as early points would really settle the team down and give them a little belief. Hopefully that will calm a few of the stupid stories circulating at the moment!
The Prem league is awash with overseas talent. Same for everyone. We have Spanish speakers who've been here a while so shouldn't be a problem language wise. Don't think it's an issue as they are professionals who are paid a staggering wage to do a job. They adjust or they fail, and most tend to adjust.
Thinks that's a bit pessimistic Ivor. We beat West Brom in the snow last year! Chico has played in Northern Italy which can get very cold, De Guzman has Canadian/Dutch roots and all our previous Spanish players settled in. Hartlepool away being particularly chilly I remember! They can always get glaoves from the Club Shop!!
Listening to the ML press conferences I have to laugh at the repeated question of how he will react and adjust to the pressure of the Prem ... To which he once replied that he's been deeply inolved in a high pressure league for big clubs for 30+ years and yes the Prem is a bit different but really he's quite used to pressure. Now he just politely ignores the question, mutters a few words and moves on. Reporters don't get it. They don't get La Liga, they don't get Madrid, nor Barca, and they fail to recognise and respect the high skill, high tempo league that every other club scraps in to survive because unlike the Prem, dropping out of La Liga is like dropping off the edge of the world. Spain has won the Euros twice and World Cup once with a squad of players that with the exception of a few play domestically in La Liga. If you've ever watched Madrid's Pepe play you'll know that tackles in La Liga can be every bit as nasty and vicious as in the Prem just done with more guile. Do our new boys need to make adjustments sure, but other than language, no more adjustments than a domestic player would need to make. Remember our new Spannish boys have joined Swansalona not Stoke ... We "speak" the same language in terms of football. I would be more concerned about domestic imports than foreign imports.
Agreed they will need to adapt quickly to everything new here ivor hopefully they are being conditioned and educated well to test thier metal as we will have to hit the ground running and they will not have much time as passengers so they will have to sink or swim early doors.
we need a couple of defenders TBH.....things are progressing nicely and im very happy with the signings so far,
Sorry, guys, I didn't put the post up to be negative. As I said, I had to rush it as I was going out and obviously it didn't come across very well. Naturally I think the new lads will cope because I am on record as saying we will stay up. If they don't cope then we will be relegated, which I doubt will happen. But it did cross my mind that some of "senors" might take time to get acclimatised and I wondered if anyone else thought the same.
I don't buy this overseas player needs time settling in. No offence meant, but it's a false British superiority complex attitude. We are talking one of the top 3 leagues in World football where british players and their failings get found out just as much (if not more). Cream will always rise to the top, simple. We shall just have to see if we have some scrumptious double cream or some skimmed milk!!
Hi Ivor sorry not posted, got rushed into Morriston hospital with kidney infection last Monday, came out last night, bit washed out! I think the boys answered your question today though, and I'm sure Rangel, and Orlandi will help them out with tips, what a great result today...............
get well soon dragon, well the boys certainly hit the ground running could be the start of something great !!
