EPL players joinin La-Liga="Step Down?"

It seems like almost every top name in the EPL that makes the move to either Barca or Real Madrid seem to never adapt, and end up being a 'waste.'

I know there are many players that have made the switch and have been successful but lately, it seems to me that players 'lose their edge' when they make the move...its like a step down for them.
Eg. Henry...gold at Arsenal, but hasn't made much/if any impact at Barca...

Barca, arguably one of the best teams in the world should have players of the best quality and bringing out the best in those players...IMO, I think strong EPL players(Gerrard etc.) should remain in the EPL to maintain their prestige regardless of the "once in a lifetime chance" to play for teams like Barca.

Are players that are only good playing in the premier because there are more spaces because the game is faster. Henry is similar to Torres, average player in La Liga (and would be in italian league too) but scores a lot of goals in the premier. There are players from the premier that would play well in La Liga like Drogba or Tevez.

Hang on, if they struggle in La Liga, then how is that a step down in quality? If their quality isn't enough to rise above the rest in the league, then wouldn't that indicate that the rest of the league is of a higher standard, and therefore make it a step up in quality?




You can never judge leagues like that though, so it's pointless.

Yeah I dont quite get your arguement..So if a player moves from England to Spain and doesnt make it its because of the drop down in quality? Surely a drop down would only make the player even better?

Its just a different type of league, much more technical and skill based. The Premiership is based much more on pacey but long ball and physical football without the same emphasis on technique. Henry was much more skilful than most of the Premiership but when he moved to Spain he lost that advantage so doesnt excel as much.
Same with Torres, he never made a huge impact in Spain but now in England he easily gets past players because of his superior technique.

Obviously it works the other way as well and players who are good in Spain dont make it in England and visa versa. Diego Forlan was sh!t in England but is doing great in Spain, Morientes is another example.


Gerrard wouldnt do well in Spain I dont think, he always looks for the spectacular cross field passes instead of simple patient passing you see in Spain so I doubt he'd fit in to the style of play

I guess what I'm getting at is that when they do make the move, they lose their prestige...Henry in Arsenal will never be equivalent to Henry at Barca IMO. For me, I feel that players that make the move and struggle....they become 'useless', they lose their edge, they are no longer predominant(not only in la-liga) but also IF they were to come back to the premiership...they are not the same.

Guess the message behind the argument is that the top players in the EPL should remain there(in the EPL) because once they make the move and are unsuccessful(struggle and don't really find their form throughout their stay) they are not the same.

Really depends on the situation, is going from a squad player at Man.United to being first team player at Atletico Madrid Madrid a step up or down? Hard to say, more playing time but less trophies.

So never try anything new because you might fail? I bet you lead a successful life with that motto.

What are you talking about? When did I say that?

I was referring to the original poster.

leaving Man Utd to go anywhere else is a step down......I believe Tommy Docherty said that to the United dressing room containing Charlton, Best and Law.

No it isn't. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea are clearly even with ourselves and say five years ago there were definitely better clubs than us. Why do have to be so biased all the time?

Stats seem to indicate the following:

1961-1970 Italy dominant league
1971-1980 England dominant league
1981-1990 England dominant league in spite of European ban 1985 to 1991
1991-2000 Spain dominant league
2001-2008 Spain and England equal dominant

It would appear that moving from the EPL to La Liga is CURRENTY equivalent to moving sideways.

I was quoting Tommy......

I reject the claim that we were even with Spain from 2000-2003. Our dominance started when Liverpool won the last CL in 2005. None of the finalists between 2000 and 2004 were English.

And I already said, we are even right now with Spain. And no one was dominant in the nineties and the seventies was a three way split beteen Holland, Germany and England.

The only periods we've had any consistant success was the late seventies to early eighties and the last four years. You've attributed to us 38 years of dominance to us when we've only won 11 times and come second 5 times.

I'm looking at the stats overall for each decade.......and Spain and England are level over the past 8 years. I'm not disagreeing with you.....just posting my interpretation of the stats.

The leagues in Holland and Germany have never been dominant leagues. It has always been between Spain, Italy and England. All have won the CL 11 times.....you get nothing for coming second...it is irrelevant.

Spain just edged out the English league in the 90's.

A silver medal's not bad.

But I'm not talking about back then, look at Diego Forlan, his career has clearly stepped up since he left Manchester United. Why are you so incredibly biased all the time? If there is a view against Man.United you jusr assume it's wrong, you're probably not even from Manchester otherwise you'd support city.

Anyway back to the topic, Cristiano Ronaldo clearly views Real Madrid as a step up from Manchester United and he is the star player, there is no doubt playing for Manchester United is an achievement of great prestige but different players with different loyalties and ambitions would perhaps consider other clubs as a step up from Manchester United, look at Ronaldinho moving to Barcelona ahead of Manchester United, or Robben moving to Chelsea, I know pay is a big factor but surely United would have been offering these players similar pay as Barca and Chelsea could afford?