For or Against Continentals Next Season?

[Nodge70]

Not youngsters, but also not old players on their swansong, like Tomassi.Milanese was another who had clearly been very good once, but had lost his pace by the time we got him.
No-one under about 23-24, I would say. And no-one 30+.

Let's not forget that the same comments were levelled at the likes of Jim Langley (38), Les Allen (35), Frank McLintock (35), David Webb (33), Ray Wilkins (34) and Trevor Francis (35) who were old 'uns at the ages they signed for us. They catalysed and brought on the younger players around them. Allardyce got in bang on when he signed Djorkaeff, Hierro and Okocha at similar ages and produce a strong spine for Bolton that secured and stabilised them in the PL. He took a gamble on some huge wages to get them to and was lucky enough to have a Chairman that backed him 100%

A good old 'un would be a huge influence in the dressing room and on the pitch. Someone of the ilk of (though obviously not gettable) Ballack or Scholes or Gary Neville would strengthen the side in terms of attitude and experience for years after their departure.

[swanleyhoop]

It think the pace of the game is certainly faster than in the seventies and even eighties.

I think nowadays, the 30+ player who can cut it at the same level as he has all his playing career, is only going to be an asset if it's also in the same style of football.

I wouldn't have too much objection to a 30-something whose main experience has been CCC or PL, but not if it's a 30+ coming into the English game for the first time.

[westsussexranger]

prefer british players but dont mind foriegn players as long as they play in britian

cough zheng cough zhi

[kingo]

Some clubs have been very sucessful at bringing over foreign players and making them into steady championship players, such as Plymouth with their 3 Hungarians, Barnsley and Derby in the past plus Watford have had a few too. Perhaps we as a club are not doing our bit as well as we should be.

[haqpr1963]

Add Swansea to that list.

[sirpiechucker]

Some clubs have been very sucessful at bringing over foreign players and making them into steady championship players, such as Plymouth with their 3 Hungarians, Barnsley and Derby in the past plus Watford have had a few too. Perhaps we as a club are not doing our bit as well as we should be.

I think our problem is that we buy players and expect them to perform from day one rather than putting them in the reserves and giving them time to adjust to the climate, the geography, their team mates etc. When they fail to perform straight away us fans get on their backs and their confidence drops.

If we can make early signings and get them to play in all the pre-season friendlies so the fans can take a look at them this should ease the pressure but if you are bought on the friday and made to play on the saturday it will never help.

[kingo]

Add Swansea to that list.

Yes they are probably the best example, and from Spain asw well.

[hermitage10]

Stay with players proven in this country.

completely agree