FOR was long was I can remember there has been a fascination with foreign players across the Premier League. twenty five-odd years ago ,sides – apart from the top two or three in the league – had perhaps one ‘glamourous’ signing: Who can forget Middlesboro’s Ravanelli or West Ham’s own Paolo di Canio, who took the top division by storm.
There’s still a frisson of excitement whenever a rumour suggests that West Ham are about to sign another foreign player but the evidence before our eyes suggests that several of the European leagues offer considerably lower standards of football ,and players who ‘make it’ out there won’t as of right cut it in England.
The Guido Rodriguez experience is an absolute case in point. The former Hammers’ midfielder struggled throughout his season and a half in east London. It was evident immediately that his pace and physical prowess would not stand up to scrutiny and the Argentine failed to nail down a place in the side under three successive managers. Despite his reputation as a World Cup winning midfield enforcer, Guido simply couldn’t hack it in England.
World Cup-winning midfield enforcer, Premier League flop
Moved on – mercifully – in January, Rodriguez is now reborn in Spain’s La Liga, illustrating the lower standard and pace at which the Iberian league operates. According to sportwitness.co.uk,
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“The midfielder’s revival at Valencia CF is now turning into a full-blown transfer battle ahead of the summer.
The Argentine only signed a short-term deal at [Valencia] However, his impact has been immediate. He returned to regular football, re-established his importance and placed himself back in contention for Argentina’s World Cup squad.”
Which should certainly serve as a warning for the next West Ham scout or recruitment specialist highlighting a player’s statistics: La Liga isn’t the Premier League and what works there won’t automatically work here. As Guido has proven emphatically, slower and less mobile works better in Spain.
As with Carlos Soler who arrived on loan in the same window and is now turning out for La Liga side Real Sociedad, Rodriguez’ apparent rebirth at 32 shows there’s huge gulf in fitness and speed between the two leagues which should make any Premier League side proceed with particular caution on any ‘targets’ from Spain in future.