Thank you. I like the Prem like everyone else, but that style of play does not produce World Cup champs. Look at the international squads whose rosters are dominated by Prem players, at best they make the quarterfinals, but look at teams dominated with Serie A players, and you are looking at teams that regularly do much better. Serie A is the best combination of physical and technical play, which is why their players do so well in the World Cup. So please Danny reconsider, and go to Italy!
I'm gonna expand on this. I believe that Italy really suceeded due to the fact that FIFA had a mandate going into WC06 for officials to be very strict. Italy went through the tournament diving their way to FKs (many of their goals) and penals. They obviously had a great run, but more than any other side, they truly benefited from overzealous officiating. I was disgusted by their play, and that sentiment was echoed by many around the world. I don't want Danny developing the diving side of his game which is RAMPANT in Italian football. I can't stand the dive, roll, cry, stand up 5 minutes later and walk w/o limp that happens at least 3 times in even Serie A game. They're just drama queens, every Gattuso dives and pretends he's hurt like a fairy ALL the time, and he's their "hard man". I also don't think Serie A develops winners any better than EPL. If we're going by # of cups, let's just send all our players to Brazil or Bundesliga or France. and many French players play(ed) in EPL. They've been rather successful.
If Danny likes rain, go to England. At least the food in Italy will be better... Rome or Newcastle...hmmm...easy choice for most people really.
I'm not trying to compare him to Sidwell I'm just saying he can take the spot Sidwell left in Reading, and I don't think he will be the top star of the team just that he can play a similar role Sidwell did with Reading. He could do well in Reading, which was a team also rumored to be after him correct. In any case where ever he goes, I hope he works hard, and tries to get on the first team in his first year he is 20 years old, and its a possible feat for him.
So Italy won the World Cup because they dove better than everybody else??? Please, take a step back and think about what you are saying Italy winning has nothing to do with their ability to control the tempo of a game, play incredible defense (they gave up two goals the entire tournament), and score great goals. They won because they were better, not because they dive well, or are "drama queens". I don't like diving either, but it's a part of the game, whether any of us like it or not. So even if Szetela goes over to Serie A (which I believe won't happen anymore), you think the only thing he'll learn how to do is "dive"at a world class level, what nonsense. I'm almost reluctant to respond to this part of your post because your unreasonable bias is so obvious. The BPL develops as many winners as Serie A? Really?? You might want to check your facts, but in order to steer you in the right direction, I helped you out and displayed below the number of players of the last four WC champs who played for both leagues: BPL players on the last 4 WC champion squads:4 Serie A players on the last 4 WC champion squads: 37 Look, on a entertainment level, I actually enjoy the BPL better than Serie A, but I recognize which style of football is better suited to win international competitons, and that's not the BPL, the facts bear that out. The last time a national side dominated with BPL/English First Division players won a international competition is the World Cup in 1966! Serie A's blend of technical and physical play is what wins, as opposed to the more strictly physical style of English football.
Again, I didn't say Italy didn't play well, but Italy are the kings of diving in Europe, period. They make the Spanish and Portoguese look like Rugby players. First, Aussie's got robbed. Second, nearly every questionable call in the tournament went Italy's way. Third, the strict nature of the tournament really benefited their style of play, they're very good at diving, and they were rewarded by the officials far too often. I just don't want Danny, who should develop into an English-style two way mid, in that environment. I was already dispaointed to see Danny simulate that light slap to the face in the U20s, I don't want that behavior reinforced. The style of football in Italy may be good, but I can't stand their ********** ass way of carrying themselves. I'm sorry, it's too much, they dive, whine and feign injury far too often. Again, even Gattuso, aka the snarling dog, dives like a fairy and feigns injury, often, and it disgusts me. On to that stat, can you please cite a source, because I doubt there were more than 2 or 3 Serie A players on the French 02 or Brazil 98 teams. And should Italy lose on penals to France, that number dwindles drastically. My point, just because Italy won on penals doesn't all of a sudden make Serie A the place to be to develop a future WC winner, they just happened to have one of the many talented sides in the WC, and they got their luck at the right times. A better judge of which league produces the top WC talent would be the # of EPL/Serie A/La Liga players ON a WC side, as even top XIs are skewed for the winners.
Okay, thank you Mr. Obvious. I really need more obvious observations like this. I don't care about what has or hasn't happened. I'm strictly speaking on Danny Szetela, not the others before him. Of course going to a European team doesn't guarantee improvement. I have my reasons for saying he will improve in an environment with high demands like Newcastle.
Than Roma!? If you're referring to team quality, I must whole-hearedly disagree. If you refering to Szetela's chance of playing time, then I would agree. Sam Allardyce is a good manager, but he's not God. Roma look to be amazing this year. If anyone else was able to watch the Palermo v Roma match last week, you saw a very very good Roma team. If Szetela picks Newcastle, it will be either for money or some spoken or unspoken promise of first team action or the whole English speaking thing. It does seem much easier for Americans to adjust to the English game than to other leagues as well. But Newcastle a better team than Roma? No way
France 1998 Inter Milan - Youri Djorkaeff Juventus - Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps Parma - Lilian Thuram AS Roma - Vincent Candela AC Milan - Marcel Desailly Sampdoria - Alain Boghossian a few others played for Italian clubs (whether it be before or after 1998)... Henry, Trezeguet, Vieira (3x), Laurent Blanc, ---------------------------------------------------- Brazil 2002 Ronaldo - Inter Milan Roberto Carlos - Inter Milan Cafu - AS Roma Emerson - AS Roma Junior - Parma Roque Junior - AC Milan Kaka went on to play for AC Milan as did Cafu, Emerson, Ronaldo, Dida and Rivaldo. ------------------------------------------------------ Cristiano Ronaldo didn't win a trophy because of his antics. Which does he play for again? In what country? ------------------------------------------------------ Watching the U20 game Szetela had to do the diving. Altidore was taking out by a cynical tackle. Adu was getting thrown around. And the Ref was carding anyone in a US shirt. The Uruguayans did the same thing and got all the breaks. Can't really blame the players when the Ref doesn't belong on the pitch. I don't think going to England or Spain or Italy changes him that much. ------------------------------------------------------ 1998 WC XI Barthez - Man United (AFTER WC) AS Monaco during World Cup José Luis Chilavert - Velez Sarsfield Roberto Carlos - Inter until 1996, Real Madrid Marcel Desailly - AC Milan, Chelsea Lilian Thuram - Parma, Juventus, Barca Carlos Gamarra - Atletico Madrid, Inter Dunga - Fiorentina Rivaldo - AC Milan, Barca Michael Laudrup - Lazio, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barca Zidane - Juventus, Real Madrid Edgar Davids - Inter, Juventus, AC Milan, Barca Ronaldo - Inter, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barca Suker - Arsenal, West Ham, Real Madrid Brian Laudrup - Fiorentina, Inter, Chelsea Bergkamp - Inter, Arsenal EPL: Reyna, Campbell, Alpay Ōzalan, Ballack, El-Hadji Diouf La Liga:Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, R. Carlos, Hierro Serie A: Ronaldo, Rivaldo, R. Carlos ------------------------------------------------ Danny should go Italy. De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso >>> Gerrard, Lampard, Hargreaves
On the Pitch...Roma Supporters...Newcastle Financially...Newcastle Coaching... Draw. Both good managers I like Spaletti but Big Sam has done very good. League...Draw
Ives' latest...apparently fees have been agreed and Szetela will be leaving in this transfer window. To where still isn't known and the clock is ticking... http://njmg.typepad.com/sbi/2007/08/szetelas-days-w.html
If Danny likes good beer he should go to Newcastle. If he like good pasta he should go to Italy. Either place soccer wise (I mean football) he will be fine.
Ives just reported it's Racing Santander. Also reports that Danny passed up more money in Italy for potentially more playing time in La Liga. IMO, a wise decision.
http://njmg.typepad.com/sbi/2007/08/szetela-to-si-1.html?cid=81274951#comment-81274951 i think its a good move...prob will get good playing time