African Footballers And Those From Other Continents

[Goughy]

Living here I have noticed that South Africa and African sports have an inferiority complex and love to build themselves up and exaggerate (eg Supersport picking 6 South Africans in the Cricket World XI)

This months South African Sports Illustrated said

African footballers currently have a stranglehold on English soccer

They then go on to list all the players. Firstly, there are a number but not that many, secondly, most are not top level players.

Do you agree with SASI? The question is, if you removed the players from of a certain region from the Premiership, which would affect the standard and the product the most?

 

[speirz]

Other European would practically destroy it IMO. There are a lot of players from other countries who form the nucleus of sides, for example Spain with Liverpool.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Can we see the list... who are they??

McCarthy... Kanu... er... Arsenal's North African contingent...?

 

[speirz]

Can we see the list... who are they??

McCarthy... Kanu... er... Arsenal's North African contingent...?

Off the top of my head
McCarthy
Kanu
Diouf
Toure
Yobo
Eboue
Adebayor
Sissoko
Bouba Diop
Ameobi

No one really big, Arsenal would be hurt a bit but that's about all

 

[The Baconator]

Went America, you can't get rid of McBride.

 

[steds]

Off the top of my head
McCarthy
Kanu
Diouf
Toure
Yobo
Eboue
Adebayor
Sissoko
Bouba Diop
Ameobi

No one really big, Arsenal would be hurt a bit but that's about all

Essien and Drogba not fairly big?

Couple more you missed out
Martins
Henri Camara
Aghahowa
Zokora
Lua Lua
Yakubu

and my head is starting to hurt from thinking about soccer too much.

 

[Goughy]

Can we see the list... who are they??

McCarthy... Kanu... er... Arsenal's North African contingent...?

TBH, the list is fairly long and too long for me to be bothered to type. If people want a team list I will do as I dont mind doing 1 at a time.

Anyway, there are 2 teams with 0 Africans. Man U and Sheff Utd.

The most is 6. And that is with Transfer Happy Harry. Portsmouth have Djimi Traore, LuaLua, Roudolphe Doulala, Lauren, Kanu and Benjani Mwaruwari

The rest have between 1-5 Africans in their squad.

 

[speirz]

Essien and Drogba fairly big?

Couple more you missed out
Martins
Henri Camara
Aghahowa
Zokora
Lua Lua
Yakubu

and my head is starting to hurt from thinking about soccer too much.

Essien + Drogba slipped my mind With Chelsea's money they wouldn't be missed too much though.
There seems to be alot of African strikers.

 

[Matteh]

Went for other Europeans. Figure there's more of them and generally higher class.

 

[Goughy]

Essien + Drogba slipped my mind With Chelsea's money they wouldn't be missed too much though.
There seems to be alot of African strikers.

Chelsea have 5.

Essien, Drogba, Kalou, Geremi, John Obi Mikel

 

[Goughy]

TBH, I wish I could do the poll again and seperate Scandanavia from the rest of Europe.

Scandanavia being Denmark, Norway and Sweden but for the purposes of this adding Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

That might actually have got my vote.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ha, ha! Have to admire steds going down the patriotic plastic-sweatie route, but really it's probably non-British Isles Europeans by quite a fair bit.

We' arguably be the most damaged by losing our Aficans (we have three who're first choice-ish in our squad), but we'd be hurt an awful lot more losing our Europeans as would most of the top teams.

 

[BoyBrumby]

TBH, I wish I could do the poll again and seperate Scandanavia from the rest of Europe.

Scandanavia being Denmark, Norway and Sweden but for the purposes of this adding Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

That might actually have got my vote.

Five years ago, maybe, but not nowadays. Especially with all the newly EU nations now having the same rights as longer-term members. France, Holland & the Iberian countries now supply an awful lot of class to our league.

 

[Matteh]

Five years ago, maybe, but not nowadays. Especially with all the newly EU nations now having the same rights as longer-term members. France, Holland & the Iberian countries now supply an awful lot of class to our league.

I'd agree with you. Had the likes of Schmeichel, Oyvind Leonhardsen(sp), Erland Johnsen, Forssell, Litmanen, Gronkjaer, Jon-Dahl Tomasson, Gudjohnsen, Limpar, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Ostenstad, Dahlin, Gudni Bergsson, Claus Jense, Per Frandsen etc.

 

[grecian]

Yes, 35 years ago, the british Isle contingent would of won by miles. Brady, Souness, Dalglish, Hansen, Lawrenson, Whelan, Brazil, Stapleton, Rush, Hughes and on and on.

Which is why I'm not that bothered with the foreigners in the English premier League, we've always had them. Liverpools starting line-up in the 86 cup final, double-winning year, had not a single English player in there.

I have no interest in making players for teams that seem to despise us. Much rather have Spanish and Ivorian players myself.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I'd agree with you. Had the likes of Schmeichel, Oyvind Leonhardsen(sp), Erland Johnsen, Forssell, Litmanen, Gronkjaer, Jon-Dahl Tomasson, Gudjohnsen, Limpar, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Ostenstad, Dahlin, Gudni Bergsson, Claus Jense, Per Frandsen etc.

You forgot Tomas Brolin.

 

[Goughy]

I'd agree with you. Had the likes of Schmeichel, Oyvind Leonhardsen(sp), Erland Johnsen, Forssell, Litmanen, Gronkjaer, Jon-Dahl Tomasson, Gudjohnsen, Limpar, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Ostenstad, Dahlin, Gudni Bergsson, Claus Jense, Per Frandsen etc.

Well its still pretty impressive now even if you just look at a few clubs. Liverpool have Hyypia, Agger, and Riise, Charlton have 5, Gislason, Hreidarsson, Myhre, Rommedahl, Tanska.

Niemi and Jaaskelainen are up there as being the best keeper in the Prem for a while. And its nice to see Larson at United for a short time.

Many teams have a couple of players (whether it be Pedersen and Enckelman at Blackburn or Mellburg or Sorensen at Villa). They are still making a big contribution.

But certainly on reflection, far les of a contribution than mainland Europeans.

 

[andmark]

Everyone who isn't british.Anyway english players should play in english leagues.

 

[andmark]

I'd agree with you. Had the likes of Schmeichel, Oyvind Leonhardsen(sp), Erland Johnsen, Forssell, Litmanen, Gronkjaer, Jon-Dahl Tomasson, Gudjohnsen, Limpar, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Ostenstad, Dahlin, Gudni Bergsson, Claus Jense, Per Frandsen etc.

May I add Eric Cantona.

 

[Jamee999]

Those are Scandinavian players.