Comments on: Per Mertesacker: A German in the Premiership; why aren’t there more?

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:18:32 +0000

The only reason Bayern don’t seem to having pulling power is because like Barca, they have NO NEED for big name free agents because they field home grown German players who MAKE names for themselves in the Bundesliga. If Schweinsteiger, Gomez, Kroos, Muller.. any of them said they wanted to play in the EPL they would all be 4 of the hottest commodities in European football. Bayern produce their OWN world class talent and don’t need the Nasri’s, RVP’s and other more “popular” names.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:15:45 +0000

Not to mention best young player at the last 2 World Cups going to Germans. 2006 = Podolski (beat out Messi and C. Ronaldo too for that award) and then Thomas Muller in 2010.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:14:41 +0000

Well the EPL is FOOLISH to not be looking at the Bundesliga because La Liga and the Bundesliga are far and away producing the best talent in the world right now. Bundesliga produced Ozil, Goetze, Reus, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Gomez, Schurrle, Kroos, Hummels, Neuer etc. You could field 2 national teams that could beat most anyone with Germany’s bench. Aogo, Badstuber, Schmelzer, it’s insane really. England has a few bright young stars, but no one is like Germany. The youngest team in the 2010 World Cup walked all over everyone like they were nobody. That speaks to the quality of that team. Hardly any of the same team from the 2008 Euro Final too!

By: Gaurav Dhar

Gaurav Dhar — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:37:12 +0000

Nice write-up. Very informative and well put.

By: Varun

Varun — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:50:08 +0000

Wrote the comment in a hurry (my bad),
I speak like 6 languages so yes isn’t my 1st language as well.
Also I am not from Germany to be aware of any Germany-Britisher special insider joke.

SPL comparison to Liga is unfair, Barca/Real are once in a generation teams coming at the same era (RM is a reaction to Barca mostly)
And SPL doesn’t win UCL, send players to Euro’s, World Cups.

Besides, BPL this year won’t be any different, in fact I’d be surprised if ManU could make it a 2 horse race, it’ll be all about their neighbors.

By: Jonathan O'Shea

Jonathan O'Shea — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:47:32 +0000

These are my prime contenders for a move to the Prem in the near future: http://backpagefootball.com/premier-league/bundesliga-bargains-could-light-up-the-premier-league/

Since the start of the season Gladbach’s ter Stegen has also caught the eye. The strength-in-depth of German goalkeeping is staggering compared to the paucity of English options aside from Joe Hart.

Also, Varun, I’m aware English isn’t your first language, but your use of the uniquely Germanic term ‘Britishers’ makes me chuckle! Aside from that, I agree that the Premier League is hardly superior to the Bundesliga in any facet. Perhaps they’re the two finest leagues in the world atm, what with La Liga developing into an absurdly imbalanced SPL-style two-horse race.

By: Kloppo

Kloppo — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:45:05 +0000

Buzzborthwick

Pretty sure Marin would have gone this window had there been an offer. Werder are in serious selling mode.

Hummels just extended his contract in Dortmund yesterday until 2014. I know that’s no guarantee but he strikes me as a player who doesn’t get his head turned quickly (see Bayern’s attempt to get him back).

Marco Reus, imo, will go to a bigger Bundesliga club before moving abroad so he’s a quite a few years away.

Patrick Helmes was very close to joining Sunderland a few days ago. But, in terms of big names, I think Mario Goetze is the one who will move to the EPL regardless of what his agent is saying now. The recent Arsenal offer was genuine and I think he would fit in with any of the top 4.

By: Jonathan Lines

Jonathan Lines — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:24:27 +0000

Thanks very much Kloppo!

And I completely agree with you about English players Varun, they really could learn a few things not only about the game but about themselves with a spell at a foreign club!

By: buzzborthwick

buzzborthwick — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:55:12 +0000

Lovely stuff. Keen to know which germans you could see making the move to the prem in next few years, and where? Marin? Reus? Hummels?

By: Varun

Varun — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:04:03 +0000

Mertesacker is a super player,
He rarely commits a foul and its rare form him to get carded as well.
Hope he stays fit.

As for Germans in BPL, BPL isn’t that special as Britishers like to think.

You don’t offer the only places for UCL in Europe, other countries offer them as well.

To me biggest reasons would be :

$$ (higher tazes in UK)

And most importantly the weather, not very many people like constant gloom,

then there is the absurdly hectic football schedule.
Germany get significant amount of rest for players in their season.

Lastly, one should be asking,
Why don’t English players go out of their country,
they could learn some things and maybe do well in international competitions for a change,
rather then keep lecturing the world on football constantly.