Bundesliga to the Premier League

Orton

Ati-virus, keeps missing the n button
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
18,977
Location
bonnie wee Scotland
Now after going through the Sancho thread and seeing all the comments, it got me thinking and although this has probably been discussed many times before, is it more common than we think that big money players coming to England from Germany’s top league are likely to not make the grade? Obviously here’s hoping Sancho can go on to have a great career here and I’m sure he will only improve.

In saying this, I can certainly think of a lot of players who were hot property or big money signings at some point that haven’t quite cut it. Not just our bad luck with the Dortmund players either but apart from maybe KDB and Kompany has there been any clear cut success stories?
 

ivaldo

Mediocre Horse Whisperer, s'up wid chew?
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
28,699
The people making those remarks in the Sancho thread are mentalists. He's starting one freakin' game.
 

Acrobat7

Full Member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Messages
5,293
Supports
Bayern Munich
Son, Firmino and fecking Fuchs won a title as a starter at Leicester. Probably more.
 

2 man midfield

Last Man Standing finalist 2021/22
Joined
Sep 4, 2012
Messages
46,036
Location
?
Hargreaves had what it took, apart from his bread stick legs.
 

Harry190

Bobby ten Hag
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
7,617
Location
Canada
I can assure you it'll not be a problem for Haaland because he plays on a different level. He is the second coming of Adriano.
 

stefan92

Full Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
6,390
Supports
Hannover 96
Normal development of a young talent
And as far as I remember he wasn't seen as a special talent, no one expected him to become that prolific in the PL when he left the BL
 

Cassidy

No longer at risk of being mistaken for a Scouser
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
31,437
And as far as I remember he wasn't seen as a special talent, no one expected him to become that prolific in the PL when he left the BL
Wrong, he may have been slightly under the radar but his talent was well known
 

Orton

Ati-virus, keeps missing the n button
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
18,977
Location
bonnie wee Scotland
I can assure you it'll not be a problem for Haaland because he plays on a different level. He is the second coming of Adriano.
Agreed, him and Lewy would be scoring regardless of where they play.

I see Ballack mentioned but didn’t he drop a level or 2 when he moved to Chelsea?
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,722
There are many players who did well, also every player is different.

There are players like Salah who did much better in PL than in Serie A and then players like Robertson who probably played better in PL than in Championship.
 

Desert Eagle

Punjabi Dude
Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
17,162
It took him months.
Which is why i think we should give Sancho some time. He had a poor game today and some might overreact but I'd give him 7/8 games before making a judgement on him as a player in our team.
 

Classical Mechanic

Full Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
35,216
Location
xG Zombie Nation
It's a question of mentality. In a better league you'll face better players on average and have less chances to waste. Werner is the perfect example of an emotionally fragile player that struggles with the increased pressure this brings. On average players from weaker leagues look worse in the Premier League but for those players that have a more elite mentality they'll make the transition.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,722
I loved the guy, but opinions on him on the Caf are not quite as favourable.
Even if we consider him as a flop or didn't live up to the expectations at ManUtd, he was for sure hit at Spurs. He was brilliant for them.
 

Welbeckham

Full Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
1,553
I thought of this during the Norwich game, all their remotely decent PL players have been the ones they didn’t sign from Germany.

There are obviously exceptions like Son, Firmino and De Bruyne, but especially attacking players (there hasn’t been many defending ones) really struggle to find the same form. I’d personally generally avoid signing players from Bundesliga because they are way too expensive for their success percentage.

I think Werner and Sancho (early days) will end up being very overpriced signings. Seems like players leaning heavily on their pace more struggle much more in PL where there is less space for those runs. Son is an obvious exception but he is very direct and more determined than Werner or Sancho.

I think Håland wouldn’t have this problem, I’m convinced he would score 30+.
 

yumtum

DUX' bumchum
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
7,132
Location
Wales
I thought he was a good young prospect who they reluctantly lost to Bayern but I could be wrong
You may well be right, I didn't really pay much attention but I thought he was shunted to left back as he wasn't good enough as a CB, he was definitely highly rated at the time though.
 

Boavista

Full Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2021
Messages
529
Did take a while too for him to really establish himself, didn't it?
I'd say he never fully established himself in the Bundesliga, so don't know if him taking a while to establish himself in the Premier League points to anything. As far as I remember he had phases in Germany where he looked like a special talent, followed by a lot of nothing.

Either way this thread is a bit silly, or rather the idea that Bundesliga transfers disappoint more often than transfers from anywhere else. United fans are traumatised by Kagawa and Mkhitaryan disappointing, but in that time frame since Ferguson retiring very few of United's signings have managed to convince, which I think points to other underlying issues rather than just the players. Although under Ole things seem to have improved.
 

spiriticon

Full Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
7,441
De Bruyne
Ballack
Sané
Gundogan
Aubameyang

And probably plenty more
On that list I think only De Bruyne and Auba hit it instantly.

The other 3 took time to get into the groove, as did Havertz, Werner etc

Naby Keita still can't get into it either despite playing for super Klopp, Thiago looked crazy slow last year

There is definitely a pace difference I feel.
 

2 man midfield

Last Man Standing finalist 2021/22
Joined
Sep 4, 2012
Messages
46,036
Location
?
Seem to remember Rosicky doing well for arsenal, again just hampered by injuries
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
65,838
Location
France
Players have to adapt to their own teams more than anything else and a large amount of transfers don't work due to a player not fitting his new role/environment.
 
Last edited: