Liverpool FC Forum

Penguins » Thu Aug 06, 2015 3:10 pm wrote:How many italian players in the history of the 1st league have turned out well?
A handful at most.

Found this interesting list of every italian to play in the premiership, a few stand out Italian successes buried amongst loads of dross and wasted money.

clicky --->     http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -Zola.html

Well, looks like a 5% winrate. Says everything   
Calling Balotelli a hit doesn't help....

Top of my head i can just remember the ones that played for chelsea. Zola, Vialli and theres another can't remember his name. He scored the quickest goal in F.A cup final vs boro.

Roberto di Matteo, their champions league winning manager !

Borini will always be remembered as the turd that wouldn't flush.

Will be over the moon once his stench clears.

I wouldn't call Dossena a flop just on the strength of THAT goal at OT and one of course v Madrid

Dossena was unprofessional... The lad was always overweight.

Rubbish player.

Great goal at OT though. One of my favourite games ever.

Although I've always been against signing Italian players because they never make it in England (I'm actually against signing players from the Italian league in general), I think we ourselves have been unlucky with some of them. Borini aside (clearly an awful player), I think Dossena and Aquilani would have had a better impact had it not been for their injuries, especially Aquilani, who I still think wasn't given a fair chance.

I agree, my theory is its the Italian league rather than specifically Italian players that is the problem. As a league the style is the most different to the premier league that you can get. Defensive focus versus attack - attack.

That said Coutinho isn't bad!

Actually I think it matters what type of Italian players you buy. Italian goalkeepers and centrebacks can make it here. But when it comes to attacking players....this is where they (the Italians) find it hard to adapt here.

The_Rock » Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:15 am wrote:Actually I think it matters what type of Italian players you buy. Italian goalkeepers and centrebacks can make it here. But when it comes to attacking players....this is where they (the Italians) find it hard to adapt here.

In England of course we like our 'keepers to dive and our strikers to stay on their feet

The_Rock » Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:15 am wrote:Actually I think it matters what type of Italian players you buy. Italian goalkeepers and centrebacks can make it here. But when it comes to attacking players....this is where they (the Italians) find it hard to adapt here.

Matterazzi and Panucci were quality Italian international defenders and didn't make it here. Santon looked a great prospect when Newcastle took him and didn't happen for him either.

The best Italian imports have actually been offensive players - Vialli, Zola and DiMatteo.

Di Canio as well.

Very true. I'd say DiCanio is the best Italian import after Zola.

Ravenelli. Great player. Scored three against us on his debut didn't he? His goals to game ratio was darn good if I remember rightly.