# English Premier League and Football in General **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867 "2005-02-01T22:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/181 "2005-02-16T17:05:51Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Oh I agree but I was just giving you some abuse. > > Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants are the best > They go from his ankles to his chest > Their even better than Adam and the Ants > Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants. > > We’re playing a better style of football under Kerr and we seem to be getting by without resorting to a big man up front (not that we have any other than Alan Lee). Would love to have had Rooney. Allegedly he could have qualified under the grandparents rule. Shrek as a Paddy - possible I suppose. What do you do with Doherty (aka Beeker from the muppets)? Do you try and use him as a target man or do you prefer to use him for his slapstick defending? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/182 "2005-02-16T17:28:05Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Shrek as a Paddy - possible I suppose. > > What do you do with Doherty (aka Beeker from the muppets)? Do you try and use him as a target man or do you prefer to use him for his slapstick defending? You mean DOCK-herty as the hun (aka the English) would call him? He’s awful. Really, really awful. How did Spurs get a million for him? He rarely gets his game but this is Ireland so you never know…down 1-0 and we might just throw him on in the last 20 or so :rolleyes: Kerr sort of has the loyalty issue as well insofar as he plumps for his “own” players. Graham Kavanagh of first division Cardiff gets called into the squad whereas Rory Delap of permiership Southhampton doesn’t even get a call-up. Witness also Dean Kiely’s retirement from the squad. The game in Israel is HUGE. If we beat them in Tel-Aviv then that will put pressure on the French 4 days later and require the Swiss and the French to take points off one another. Could mean everything for us. Here is my ideal starting XI for March 26 ``` Shay Given (great shot stopper but slightly weak on crosses) ``` Stepehn Carr Kenny Cunningham Richard Dunne John O’Shea (gulp) Andy Reid Roy “The Greatest” Keane Kevin Kilbane Damien Duff ``` Robbie Keane Clinton Morrisson ``` A bold team indeed (Kerr will play Finnan on the right instead of Reid) but one that will keep the Israeli’s on the back foot. I think their defense is suspect and Keane is up for these games. As I said, a win and we are in great shape. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/183 "2005-02-16T17:49:28Z")
That last post reminded me that the Irish supporters during the World Cup were by and large a fun (if incredibly hard drinking) bunch. So I’ve decided to cheer for the teams whose fans will make it the most fun if they get to Germany in '06. This will give me some guidelines, if I see an international game on, as to which side to root for (although I’ll still probably go for whichever style of play I like more). Go Ireland!! I’m a bit undecided about England; they should get through, and most English I’ve met have been just fine, although in a large group they can get dangerous. Ditto the Dutch, who are more wacky (bizarre orange wigs, anyone) than the English. And god forbid the Israelis and Americans were to play each other. That stadium would get bombed for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/184 "2005-02-16T18:06:39Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Seriously, if you keep focusing on the “rankings” you won’t even make it as a barstooler. Huh? I’m not talking about the FIFA rankings. And if making it as a “barstooler” was some sort of goal of mine, I would drop it quick if discussion of who the best teams are wasn’t allowed. > [@Lochdale](#): > > There’s nothing lower than a want-to-be barstooler. The US has certainly improved but one good world cup does not make them a superpower in world football. And if being a “barstooler” meant putting up with this sort of bullshit, why would anyone wanna be one? No one has claimed any sort of superpowerness for the U.S. > [@Lochdale](#): > > Four years earlier they were utter crap. They were, perhaps, the worst team in France so don’t get too high on your laurels just yet. The WC qualification process doesn’t do you any favours either. Other than Mexico, you are never really challenged in the qualification process which isn’t a good thing. Friendlies are not the same due to mass substitutions and the fact that most teams just don’t try that hard. Ireland are having a great run of friendlies at the moment but that doesn’t mean we are going to be able to qualify for Germany (March 26 is a big game for us). > > Beating the likes of Triniad and Tobago is not going to help you gear up for an Argentina or even a Croatia. The US isn’t a bad team but it’s a second tier team at best. It’s probably in the middle of the apck of the second tiers behind the likes of Ireland. Has anyone here claimed any different? > [@Lochdale](#): > > As for the MLS while the quality is good it isn’t anywhere near European levels yet. Ya think? Is this what it takes to be a “barstooler”? Can I make the observation that water is wet and impress fellow “barstoolers”? > [@Lochdale](#): > > The Dutch league is the 5th or 6th best in Europe and Beasley isn’t exactly lighting it up. He’s doing quite well, actually. > [@Lochdale](#): > > Donavon still has to prove himself and, He’s been there all of what…a few months? I do know he started the other day and played quite well. > [@Lochdale](#): > > other than Reyna, no US outfield player has really established himself in a top European league. The MLS is taking players like Richie Baker from Shelbourne in Ireland and Ronnie O’Brien from Aberdeen so no, it isn’t a top league and isn’t going to be one anytime soon. Thanks for clearing that up. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/185 "2005-02-16T19:19:00Z")
You’re clearly not going to listen to anyone elses opinion so I’m not sure why I bother. A number of posters here appear to have been watching football for a lot longer than you and know a hell of lot more about the game than you do. I wonder if you have ever even played the game? To clarify, Donovan still has to prove himself. This isn’t the first time he has gone to Europe and failed to make an impression. Beasly is doing ok in the 6th best league in Europe. He is not a leading light. The kid is in his early 20’s no (23 I believe) so the odds are against him becoming a leading light. The MLS is taking players who couldn’t cut it at Aberdeen. Ronnie O’Brien was up for MLS player of the year and he couldn’t make it at Aberdeen. Aberdeen are a mediocre Scottish team. You would have us believe that the MLS is equal to or better than the SPL. Well, taking players like Dominic Foley or Ronnie O’Brien who could not make it at that level suggests that you are wrong. America may do well in the World Cup but it will depend on the draw. They certainly aren’t a contender and won’t be for some time to come. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/186 "2005-02-17T08:07:52Z")
Got to love Roy Keane. From his latest Arsenal wind-up in [the Telegraph online](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/02/17/sfnkea17.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/02/17/ixsporttop.html): “Before the game there was all this stuff about **anti-racism** and anti-bullying. It would be a good idea to start wearing wristbands for anti-diving.” He was taking about Ashley Cole. “Wristbands”! Priceless. Having a go at blacks and pooftahs in the same breath. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/187 "2005-02-17T09:18:49Z")
Re the Irish starting XI above - isn’t Carr injured? I was genuinely pleased to see him “feck off” (see I can speak spud muncher) to Newcastle as good player though he is he was a dreadful influenve on team morale. How do you feel about Reid - we have great hopes for him, but it’s a hell of a step up from forest to Spurs. In other news…The "money league of the richest clubs was published and again Spurs are the richest club that don’t play in European contests ☹ Britain (including the sweatties) Revenue Sources (£million) Matchday Broadcasting Commercial Av Att ManUtd 61.2 62.5 47.8 67,500 Chelsea 53.6 56.4 33.7 39,700 Arsenal 33.8 59.8 21.4 36,600 Liverpool 26.4 33.5 32.4 41,800 Newcastle 33.9 33.7 22.9 50,000 Celtic 34.7 16.1 18.2 56,000 Tottenham 19.8 23.9 22.6 34,100 Man City 17.1 25.5 19.3 43,800 Rangers 24.2 7.5 25.4 47,200 Aston Villa 12.4 27.2 16.3 35,600 EUROPE’S TOP 20 RICHEST CLUBS (Position last year) 2003-4 Total revenues (£million) Man Utd (1) 171 Real Madrid (4) 156.3 AC Milan (3) 147.2 Chelsea (10) 143.7 Juventus (2) 142.4 Arsenal (7) 115 Barcelona (13) 112 Inter (6) 110.3 Bayern Munich (5) 110.1 Liverpool (8) 92.3 Newcastle (9) 90.5 Roma (11) 72 Celtic (18) 69 Tottenham (16) 66.3 Lazio (15) 65.8 Manchester City (-) 61.9 Schalke (14) 60.5 Marseille (-) 58.3 Rangers (-) 57.1 Aston Villa (-) 55.9 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/188 "2005-02-17T11:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyone got any opinions on the fact that mondays Plumsread team (and squad) didn’t feature a single English (or British player, or any yanks!), or the fact that David Dein (Arse supremo) lobbied UEFA against the forthcoming requirement that a portion of any team be indiginous or at least home-grown? As you mentioned, i think it would have been more of an issue if that was our _first_ choice team, but it isn’t. Normally we’d have Sol and Cole in there as well, Hoyte pops into the premiership side every now and again too when injuries allow and Pennant would probably have made an appearance if he wasn’t on loan. My only criticism is still that he doesn’t I don’t know enough about Dein’s stance on the indiginous/home-grown issue to really comment (any good links?). The indiginous element doesn’t surprise me, but he’s smart enough to know that that will never pass. Opposition to any home grown iniative would surprise me (depending on the definition of “home grown”) as we’re pretty well set up in that regard if you look at the players either currently on our books or coming through. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/189 "2005-02-17T11:15:29Z")
Have a look on the telegraph’s site (it’s a registraion one I’m afraid) and you will see Peter Hill-Wood in full flow. Pennant won’t be a Plumstead player in the summer - they want rid as he’s a bad-lad, and Wenger doesn’t want them (there’s also every possibility he might go to jail - got to love those Gunners!) Doesn’t it bother you that you’ve basically got a team full of mercenaries? I know that Arsenal have a very loosely defined idea of “local area” as their stadium is on wheels and they move every couple of years, but don’t you want some connection to Islington? It would bother me. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/190 "2005-02-17T11:18:44Z")
> [@garius](#): > > I don’t know enough about Dein’s stance on the indiginous/home-grown issue to really comment (any good links?). The indiginous element doesn’t surprise me, but he’s smart enough to know that that will never pass. Opposition to any home grown iniative would surprise me (depending on the definition of “home grown”) as we’re pretty well set up in that regard if you look at the players either currently on our books or coming through. The issue isn’t about Dein’s opinion - he can think what he likes. It’s that he has a role in the FA which puts him in conflict with his role at AFC, and when that happens he takes the AFC line every time. It’s a clear conflict of interest and he should leave the FA (or AFC - which is hardly likely). BTW not only will it pass - it already has. It comes in in two seasons and fully in 2008 ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/191 "2005-02-17T12:32:19Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Good points generally but the reason that you don’t just hoof it like you used to (To mr Quinn’s Disco pants) is that Robbie Keane’s a titch! (albeit one I’m fond of - although I think he’s on his way in the summer). You’d kill to have a Wayne Rooney! > > I also think of Ireland as British in football terms as all it’s players play here and always have (and probably always will - I can’t see he Irish league getting big enough to hold onto Irish talent) Just how good is Robbie Keane? He always struck me as a class player who doesn’t score enough goals. Saying that, I just looked up his stats and he scored 14 prem goals in each of the last two seasons, plus 7 so far in the current one; which is pretty good. A strikeforce of Defoe plus Keane sounds awesome on paper, but you reckon Robbie is on his bike? BTW Spurs have the quintissential class - but useless striker IMO - Freddie Kanoute. Superb touch, vision, control and movement; but needs a map and compass to work out were the goal is. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/192 "2005-02-17T13:03:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Doesn’t it bother you that you’ve basically got a team full of mercenaries? And you define mercenaries how? Last time i checked, you could probably call this a reasonably first choice Arsenal team: Lehman Lauren - Toure - Campbell - Cole Ljungberg - Vieira - Giberto - Pires Bergkamp - Henry Now granted Lehman, Toure and Giberto ain’t been there that long but lets look at how long the the rest have been at the club? Bergkamp - 10 years Vieira - 9 years Ljungberg - 7 years Henry - 6 years Lauren - 5 years Cole - 5 years Pires - 5 years Campbell - 4 years (still hurts doesn’t it? :D) Yeah, those lads have _really_ been moving around for the money haven’t they. :dubious: > [@](#): > > I know that Arsenal have a very loosely defined idea of “local area” as their stadium is on wheels and they move every couple of years For the benefit of those who don’t know what **owl** is referring to here, it’s Arsenal’s move to North London in **1913**. Yep, you read that right. > [@](#): > > don’t you want some connection to Islington? It would bother me What? Spurs have pretty much given up trying to fill up their trophy cabinet with trophies these days - its far easier to fill it with grudges. Bet you still refer to it as Gillespie Road Tube station too dontcha **owl** 😉 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/193 "2005-02-17T13:05:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Doesn’t it bother you that you’ve basically got a team full of mercenaries? And you define mercenaries how? Last time i checked, you could probably call this a reasonably first choice Arsenal team: Lehman Lauren - Toure - Campbell - Cole Ljungberg - Vieira - Giberto - Pires Bergkamp - Henry Now granted Lehman, Toure and Giberto ain’t been there that long but lets look at how long the the rest have been at the club? Bergkamp - 10 years Vieira - 9 years Ljungberg - 7 years Henry - 6 years Lauren - 5 years Cole - 5 years Pires - 5 years Campbell - 4 years (still hurts doesn’t it? :D) Yeah, those lads have _really_ been moving around for the money haven’t they. :dubious: > [@](#): > > I know that Arsenal have a very loosely defined idea of “local area” as their stadium is on wheels and they move every couple of years For the benefit of those who don’t know what **owl** is referring to here, it’s Arsenal’s move to North London in **1913**. Yep, you read that right. > [@](#): > > don’t you want some connection to Islington? It would bother me What? You mean like the fact that its within Islington and [Islington Residents can apply for preferential tickets?](http://www.arsenal.com/emiratesstadium/article.asp?article=228341&Title=Season+Tickets+at+The+New+Stadium&lid=the+stadium+-+Latest+News). Spurs have pretty much given up trying to fill up their trophy cabinet with trophies these days - its far easier to fill it with grudges. Bet you still refer to it as Gillespie Road Tube station too dontcha **owl** 😉 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/194 "2005-02-17T13:06:23Z")
Ignore the first post there - it double submitted on me before i was finished :smack: ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/195 "2005-02-17T13:09:04Z")
> [@Myler Keogh](#): > > Just how good is Robbie Keane? He always struck me as a class player who doesn’t score enough goals. Saying that, I just looked up his stats and he scored 14 prem goals in each of the last two seasons, plus 7 so far in the current one; which is pretty good. A strikeforce of Defoe plus Keane sounds awesome on paper, but you reckon Robbie is on his bike? > > BTW Spurs have the quintissential class - but useless striker IMO - Freddie Kanoute. Superb touch, vision, control and movement; but needs a map and compass to work out were the goal is. 🙂 He’s pretty good but he’s not a 20 goal a season player - but he provides for others. He doesn’t play well with Defoe, too similar. He’s very good with Kanoute - who has improved enormoulsy this season. I think he’s off as we now have Mido, and we could use the money from Keane to buy better for the team. He nearly went to Everton at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/196 "2005-02-17T13:16:27Z")
> [@garius](#): > > Bet you still refer to it as Gillespie Road Tube station too dontcha **owl** 😉 Yes. Really I do. (And I am sure you are aware that it only got renamed as a Hill-Wood was the director of the Picadilly line.). You shouldn’t even be in the league anyway - it was only back-handers that got you in. I think the FA should act! And you’re being moved on by the council for anti-social behaviour again! This time to a rubbish tip. It’ll make your stig-of-the-dump fans (have you seen how the average gooner dresses - no pride in themselves at all) feel at home. As to the “mercenaries” it’s not so much the first choice players as all the foreign lads in the youth team. Now I am not a gunner, nor even a rear gunner (which you also have no shortage of!), but I would feel more affection for people like Donkey Adams and Pikey Parlour that Reyes or Almunia (sp?). It’s a personal thing, you don’t have to agree. there’s no right answer. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/197 "2005-02-17T13:54:13Z")
Away from the north London - South london rivalry I was just sent this. As you can see it is written in the stars that Spurs will win the FA cup. 1981 Prince Charles to Marry Chinese Year of the Cockerel First seven league games net 2 wins, 4 draws, one defeat Pope JP2 comes back from nearly being on the way out Spurs knocked out of League cup in the 5th round Ken and Deirdre get married (two days before Charles & Diana) Spurs draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool, Beat Birmingham 1-0 and get a 0-0 at Old Trafford in the league Diana complained there were three in the marriage Spurs beat crappy midlands club 3-1 in the FA Cup on valentines weekend Spurs win the greatest FA Cup final ever 2005 Prince Charles to Marry Chinese Year of the Cockerel First seven league games net 2 wins, 4 draws, one defeat Pope JP2 comes back from nearly being on the way out Spurs knocked out of League cup in the 5th round Ken and Deirdre get married (same day as Charles and Camilla) Spurs draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool, Beat Birmingham 1-0 and get a 0-0 at Old Trafford in the league Santini complained there were three in the marriage Spurs beat crappy midlands club 3-1 in the FA Cup on valentines weekend To be continued… ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/198 "2005-02-17T13:54:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Now I am not a gunner, nor even a rear gunner (which you also have no shortage of!), but I would feel more affection for people like Donkey Adams and Pikey Parlour that Reyes or Almunia (sp?). It’s a personal thing, you don’t have to agree. there’s no right answer Ask me again in 5 years and i’ll tell you how i feel about Reyes and Almunia. Maybe it will be the same way i feel about Vieira and Henry, maybe not. It’ll depend on their actions on the pitch (and off it), and their loyalty to the club more than if they went to school on the Seven Sisters road. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/199 "2005-02-17T13:58:31Z")
> [@garius](#): > > Ask me again in 5 years and i’ll tell you how i feel about Reyes and Almunia. Maybe it will be the same way i feel about Vieira and Henry, maybe not. It’ll depend on their actions on the pitch (and off it), and their loyalty to the club more than if they went to school on the Seven Sisters road. Fair enough - Like I said it is only a reflection of how I feel about things. There’s no reason you should feel the same. Looks like reyes is off in any case. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867/200 "2005-02-17T14:13:20Z")
Yeah, think he’ll be back in Spain by the end of the summer. I understand where you’re coming from with the affection thing, but I think for myself that affection for “local” players manifests itself in a different way because my attachment to Arsenal comes via my uncle rather than from growing up in the area (as the family moved out of London before i was born). For me a local kid done good is any player from Stevenage, not North London. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-and-football-in-general/287867.md?page=11)