Can Liverpool get too Spanish?
In the age of Man U’s takeover, team identities are changing.
The English Premier League identity is more and more being driven by influential owners, and the transfer markets are filled with wealthy players demanding yet more wealth and play anywhere the wealth is. Even Liverpool are looking for an ‘investor’.
Clubs are not national symbols anymore. They are global brands, hiring more marketing people, and doing deals to earn more revenue to buy more players.
A more global fan base might mean more money for a club. More Gerrard shirts in China eventually mean more Gerrard’s at Liverpool. So is a club like Liverpool getting too Spanish an idea of the past?
The question of teams becoming too ‘something’ had arisen more recently in the mid 1990’s when an influx of Dutch players joined Barcelona. I recall reading articles back then about how the character of the team had changed nicknames like Ajax-Barcelona, and heavy criticism of player choices and tactics as Barca started with 7 Dutch players on occasion.
Dutch players sought good salaries at Barca, and followed their greatest player their, Johan Cruyff. Mark van Bommel just signed for Barca, who is coached by a Dutchman. So obviously it’s not a failing policy. Barca just won the domestic league.
There were similar murmurs when Arsene Wenger brought in a large number of French players to Arsenal.
So Liverpool are ‘more Spanish’ but won the Champion’s League.
Benitez is linked in the press with 203 different Spanish players.
Who is making Liverpool too Spanish, Benitez or the Press? Maybe the focus needs to change over to the real identity shift.
Changing the identity of a team to improve its football is a good thing, but taking over a team to milk its wealth is not.
The English Premier League identity is more and more being driven by influential owners, and the transfer markets are filled with wealthy players demanding yet more wealth and play anywhere the wealth is. Even Liverpool are looking for an ‘investor’.
Clubs are not national symbols anymore. They are global brands, hiring more marketing people, and doing deals to earn more revenue to buy more players.
A more global fan base might mean more money for a club. More Gerrard shirts in China eventually mean more Gerrard’s at Liverpool. So is a club like Liverpool getting too Spanish an idea of the past?
The question of teams becoming too ‘something’ had arisen more recently in the mid 1990’s when an influx of Dutch players joined Barcelona. I recall reading articles back then about how the character of the team had changed nicknames like Ajax-Barcelona, and heavy criticism of player choices and tactics as Barca started with 7 Dutch players on occasion.
Dutch players sought good salaries at Barca, and followed their greatest player their, Johan Cruyff. Mark van Bommel just signed for Barca, who is coached by a Dutchman. So obviously it’s not a failing policy. Barca just won the domestic league.
There were similar murmurs when Arsene Wenger brought in a large number of French players to Arsenal.
So Liverpool are ‘more Spanish’ but won the Champion’s League.
Benitez is linked in the press with 203 different Spanish players.
Who is making Liverpool too Spanish, Benitez or the Press? Maybe the focus needs to change over to the real identity shift.
Changing the identity of a team to improve its football is a good thing, but taking over a team to milk its wealth is not.
by Football Commentator at 6/17/2005 06:21:00 PM
9 Comments:
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cruyff changed barca forever
there is nothing wrong with what happens at liverpool now
I think The press is Making too much out of nothing ,
They link Liverpool every day to somone New , But it`s not allways
a spanish one. But it`s a shame the way they act some time.
And that`s becuse Rafael are spanish, and that`s all.
I`m a Liverpool supporter since 1975 from Norway. And i CAN wait for who ever they sign, untill they have signed . Rafael Benitez Know who`s a Liverpool player and who`s not. I trust him with ALL my heart.
The Barca Dutch policy was an abject failure. This was a generation of Dutch players whose clashing egos and lax professionalism prevented them from winning anything with their national team, and this was perfectly reflected in their Catalan "cousins".
Rikkjard got rid of every Dutchman on the team except Gio Van Bronckhorst, who was never part of the clique to start with. Kluivert, Cocu, Davids, Overmars, do you think Barca fans want any of them back?
This is nothing against Dutch players in general, but there certainly seems to have been something rotten in Amsterdam for quite some time. The Dutch team seems to be doing much better now that it's turned to the younger generation. Here's hoping they do not inherit the failings of their elders as they take on their mantle of fame and fortune.
i think liverpool can get too spanish. I believe in what rafa is doing and believe in the players he buys from spain because it is what he knows.
However, the fact remains that liverpool is an english club!! every time a spanish player wants to move to the premiership, liverpool's name is automatically linked and his value quadruples! its ridiculous!
Its true that the manager should go for what he knows but the last thing ayone wants is for the spanish national side to be playing in the premiership! not dissing rafa though- the mans a genius!
Liverpool's Spanish players can make a impact in Champions League but so far they seem to struggle with Premier League's pace and how tough it is compared to Spain. As long Liverpool only bring in Spaniards they won't win Premier League.
Liverpool r Sh1te
you know what i am tired with rafael benitez(if i spelled his name wrong he deserves it).i dont get this:dudek played AMAZING during the finals of champions league,he basically won it for them;the impossible save on shevcenko and the penalty shoot-out and after all that rafael benitez goes out and buys a fat spanish goal keeper.and whats with all the spanish players.i used to know all the liverpool players and now its spanish invasion.if michael owen stayed he would've probably been benched by some enriqo gonzalez fool because he is spanish,i bet you rafael is hungry for raul too and wasting all of liverpool's money the only good thing he did was signing peter crouch other than that RAFAEL BENITEZ HAS CAUSED ME TO HATE LIVERPOOL and love newcastle being lead by sheraer and owen!
Liverpool r sh1te
Too spanish? as much as i would like to see mome home grown players in the premiership we only have reina, garcia and alonso so whats the big deal? if you were a true fan you would look at the players we have coming from the youth system to realise liverpool have kept a strong english identity. just because a few newcastle fans want to have a go because they achieve NOTHING every year and we recently won the champions league!
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