Amid all the excitement, or lack of it, on deadline day, Stoke brought home the last remaining English player from Spain’s La Liga, Jermaine Pennant.
Although Pennant had not enjoyed a massively successful spell in La Liga, it appeared that it was his inability to adapt to the lifestyle change, rather than a lack of talent, that held him back from succeeding in his Spanish adventure.
At Real Zaragoza, Pennant had been chastised for arriving late at training and had to undergo several managerial changes, but his talent, he crossed the ball more times from the right hand side of midfield than any other player bar six in La Liga, was not the issue. Although Real Zaragoza were never going to be anyone’s La Liga betting prediction, who knows what Pennant may have moved on to had he fully embraced the move?
Given that English players are constantly finding themselves outclassed technically, as well as often finding themselves unable to withstand the mental pressure at the highest level of the sport, surely the challenge of adapting and thriving in a new and more technically challenging league would not be a bad thing for top English footballers?
When you take into account the fantastic climate, lifestyle and the tax breaks on offer in Spain, as well as the fact newspapers focus on the performances of players and not their private lives, then the idea of playing in La Liga seems an appealing one. It is strange then that so few British players have opted to join a league that could offer a world of opportunity, as well as an exciting challenge. Sadly, you can bet on the Premier League remaining home to the best English players for some time to come.
Given Pennant’s return, combined with the apparent lack of interest from other top players to move abroad, it would appear that the Premier League is likely to continue to see top English players stay at home rather than opt for pastures new.
