Do we need more British players to win the league?

[Red_Polo]

As I said, it's a balance and finding the right mix is the long term aim, you cannot just ignore the brits when building for the long term.

You shouldn't ignore anyone as a possibility. Why limit yourself by trying to make sure there is any kind of 'balance' at all?

[Sir Bob]

Yes but very few South Americans come to the UK to play. Spainiards are new to this country as well. But they can play here, they need the right players around them however and the right tactics. UIs the best player in the prem this season British?

What 3, like we had.

Alot of very good south americans have played in England and done nothing. Tevez & Mascherano hardly set the world on fire have they. Veron was more or less the best midfield player in the world and was poor at Man u & Chelsea. Asprilla was top class at Parma, moderate at Newcastle. After the success of ardiles many other south americans were brought in. Tarantini was a world cup winner & did nothing at Brum.

All these were top notch players who didn't fit in. For my money its asking an awful lot to expect young players like Gonzalez & Paletta to come to a country half way around the world, to a culture & climate vastly different to their home, learn a new language & adapt to a new footballing culture as well.

[Shaggy]

Alot of very good south americans have played in England and done nothing. Tevez & Mascherano hardly set the world on fire have they. Veron was more or less the best midfield player in the world and was poor at Man u & Chelsea. Asprilla was top class at Parma, moderate at Newcastle. After the success of ardiles many other south americans were brought in. Tarantini was a world cup winner & did nothing at Brum.

All these were top notch players who didn't fit in. For my money its asking an awful lot to expect young players like Gonzalez & Paletta to come to a country half way around the world, to a culture & climate vastly different to their home, learn a new language & adapt to a new footballing culture as well.

Are you Red Chilli in disguise?
Aaaaaaaaare you Red Chilli in disguise?

[lfc4ever]

They are not always ready from day one, a change in system can mean a player can take tim to settle.

You can be technical and strong.
Arsenal's problem is not a lack of British players.

This is getting to be long winded and going round in circles, and Arsenal's problems could have been lessened had they paid more attention to looking closer to home and not just buying from abroad, as the top teams in any league will tell you, a blend of home grown and imports works very well.

[LadyRed]

When Arsenal went the whole season without losing a game, they only had Cambell and Cole who were English.

I think like others have said, it's nothing to do with their nationality, more to do with their quality.

Not to mention the price tags for English players, you end up paying well over the odds, ala Pennant. Name me the last English player that was thought to be a bargain....?

As for Rafa not knowing the English game, I don't think thats really the case, not anymore anyway. Rafa tactically is as good as they get, his problem is getting the right set of players, which we obviously still haven't managed to do.

[Red_Polo]

Who cares what certain individuals have or haven't done? They did or didn't acheive because of their attributes and style of play etc, not because of their passports!

[G]

The point is, in this context Finnan would be regarded as a British player. You certainly couldn't describe him as a "foreign player" with issues of having to 'settle in' and 'adapt to the Premiership'.

I agree he dosen't adapt but he ain't British.Irish players don't have to adapt to the English game cos we play it the same way.It's not really important but the thing is it annoys me when our best sportsmen are reffered to as british when they acheive something yet when they are **** they're Irish through and through.Not talkin about here by the way,its just a general english media-ism if you like

gettin back to the original point though.I don't think british or Irish players matter.If they play better than the other team week in week out they'll win the prem.

[tomasjj]

Providing the footballing qualities to fit and adapt to the English PL style of play, I don't see why nationality has to play a huge part. I mean, we could all list a lot of foreigners who have been starts in the PL, right? That should mean that the English is best hypothesis is getting old imo.

Life in England are easier to adapt to for some nationalities.
Scandos and Dutch usually do particularly well, Germans ok too. Then of course, the Irish.

I guess it is harder for some footballers coming from Italy, Spain and South America since their lifestyles and the climate is very different, but if the footballing qualities are there and they are adaptable I see no reason why we should prefer a decent Englishman before a top class frencie, eh?

[cobain]

Better players are needed,english or otherwise.How many did Chelsea have in the team when they won it?

Or Arseenal for that matter...