da betano casino： This week, here at Football FanCast we are having a look back at some of the foreign players to have played ion the Premier League. As the transfer window closes again for a couple of months, I feel it a good time to look back on the years of the Premiership and pick out some foriegn players that have had an influence on the nature of the Premier League. The ‘foreign player’ in the English game has been summed up as the opposite of British, ie: flair and technique. On the other hand, the English stereotype has been characterised as strong physically and determined defensively.
da betobet： Here is a list here of the ones who have had the biggest impact on the fabric of the Premier League, either through their style of play, or the amount of success they have had in the league…
Carlos Tevez: his late season goals kept West Ham up in 06-07. He then went to United, before leaving for City where he now gets paid outrageous amounts of cash. His earnings are represent the state of the game today. He is the ‘other’ type of foreigner to what you might expect on this list, in that he is not all glamour and certainly not a ‘looker’ but he couples skill and pace with genuine determination.
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Patrick Vieira was a midfield general, bully and tactician. He played 9 seasons at Arsenal, and while others grabbed the headlines he was hugely important to their success. He is one of three arsenal players in the list, but that is only because they have always relied on foreign players. He won 3 Premier League titles and 4 FA cups. He may not have changed the fabric of the game to such a degree as the others but he certainly influenced it when he was playing and is often referred to now Arsenal’s midfield is no longer so physically strong.
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Didier Drogba: People just fall off him, he is so ridiculously strong and of such good physical technique that he can hold the ball up as well as anyone I have ever seen. He has scored 93 league goals and enabled Chelsea to play 4-3-3 so effectively because of his ability to play on his own. He brought that formation back into fashion. Drogba is genuinely feared and representative of the physical aspect of the league which sets it apart from Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3_n9-FrsYE&hd=1
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Peter Schmeichel’s contribution was due to the fact that he was one of the best players in the world while at Manchester United. His name was synonymous with United in the 90’s, being a Premier League champion 5 times. It would be unfair to have a list without him.
This clip was voted as the best save of the decade.
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Gianfranco Zola didn’t score as many goals as some of the others but he was one of the first inspirational foreign players to grace our Premier League. When he scored goals they were always good. The tiny play-maker’s 7 seasons at Stamford Bridge brought a joy and beauty to the game that has helped the EPL to become what it is today.
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Eric Cantona was unforgettable. He was probably responsible for the most famous piece of non-action football footage ever; when he karate kicked a Palace fan. He summed up the image of a foreign player that Di Canio too shared, the bad boy. Cantona brought emotion, passion and a desire for beautiful football to the Premiership, Along with a fiery French temperament. Everything that one might think of in a ‘foreign footballer’ was encapsulated in Eric Oo-Ah Cantona, say oo ah Cantona…
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Cristiano Ronaldo joined United in 2003 and quickly went from a skilful little so-and-so to a goal scorer and probably best player in the world. When he joined I hated him, when he left I loved him. He could do anything, literally. He scored goals, with both feet and in the air. He got tap-ins, he scored free kicks, he was a goal threat from anywhere on the pitch. He also created goals with his unrivalled skill and flair. He was the culmination of the Premier League’s obsession with foreigner and I doubt there has been a better one before and don’t think there will be for a long time to come.
By the time he scored this goal it was almost expected that he would do something out-of-this-world but it still never fails to amaze me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0YLtfiQp4
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Thierry Henry’s 174 goals in 8 seasons is a remarkable feat. His lowest ever season tally was 17, in his first year. Pace, skill, class an composure are a few words that could describe him, but you need to witness his consistency in combining them to truly understand why he was great. He was a fundamental reason for Arsenal’s success, particularly in their unbeaten season. He was reflective of a time in Premier League football that was becoming more filled with pace and he was probably the quickest of them all until perhaps Ronaldo. But Henry’s premier league goals outweigh even his.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz9j0mPR8Jg
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David Ginola, the exotic foreigner; hair adverts, calendars, glamour and skill. He gave the Premier league little bit of French. He never played for a top 4 club, but was capable of moments of individual brilliance. It is because of the likes of Ginola that managers always look abroad, it is hard to imagine an Englishman doing things like Ginola did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBVhlcB60QY
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Dennis Bergkamp was the original. He played most of his games just behind the front man and his creativity and awareness made anyone he played with a little bit better. He certainly made Wenger’s life easier. He is the only man to have come first, second and third in Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition. He played 11 seasons at Arsenal and anyone who watched him play was truly lucky to see such a cultured foreign player in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3n4CTLDn_w&feature=related
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