Adapting to the Premier League

A focus on continental wingers

To begin: we must understand that the financial activity of decision-makers is not the fault of a footballer. If a player is worth €35 million and the club shell out £80 million, the player has not acquired a new skill set.

As we know, a player's price tag will always dictate the public perception. A €35 million footballer cannot magically generate the output of an £80 million player. That does not mean the player is a failure, however. 

When we consider an attacking acquisition, a heavy expectation comes with the territory: flair, creativity, goals, and a tireless work ethic are but a sample of the mandatory criteria. With every £5 million added, the player is granted less time to adapt.

The Premier League is a glorified circus with little consideration supplied for newcomers. Similar to Maximus Decimus Meridius, it’s a case of glory or nothing. With the eyes of the world glaring upon every dribble or pass, the consequences of one poor game do not bear consideration. 

Supporters are one factor, but the hungry media and growing contingent of ex-player turned master is an entirely different animal - ready to pounce on any hint of personality on the football field. We must remember this is the Premier League, and we have little time for unnecessary bravado here. But therein lies the issue and one that is bursting with controversy. 

From Chelsea’s €100 million winger Mykhailo Mudryk to Liverpool’s €50 million man Cody Gakpo, there are many players we could examine. For the basis of this read, I will focus on Manchester United’s Brazilian winger Antony and his rise from favela to the Theatre of Dreams. 

The 23-year-old arrived in Manchester for a fee of €95 million in August 2022. Erik ten Hag had previously worked with the samba star at Ajax and made it abundantly clear that his signature was a priority. Had his career accomplishments merited such a hefty fee? Most certainly not.

Following his mega-money move, he recanted memories of his troubled upbringing during an interview: “I would elastico the drug dealers. Rainbow the bus drivers. Nutmeg the thieves. I really did not give a f*ck. With a ball at my feet, I had no fear.”

This was a simple sample of his confidence in his ability, and United supporters were itching to watch their new man play. Following a drawn-out acquisition, they couldn’t have asked for a better start to life at his new club. 

The wide man would score on his debut against Arsenal, in his second game against Manchester City and against Everton the following week. The feat would solidify Antony’s place in the United archives as the first player to score in his first three consecutive Premier League games for the club. 

When considering the immense pressure of playing for the Red Devils, one would think that the pundits should be lauding him with superlatives for his accomplishments. Instead, the media focused on his unnecessary flamboyance and inability to take on his man. 

This narrative would inevitably find its way into the fanbase and leave a brilliantly talented young player ridiculed for spinning with the ball at his feet. Social media’s ugly side would surface, and a barrage of abuse sailed toward the Red's new star. 

If, like me, you are of a certain age, you remember your wing player dropping their shoulder, challenging their opponent and whipping endless balls into the box. That wing player has stood aside, replaced by charismatic players that relish the limelight and often prove to be the game-winner.

That comes with the natural progression of the sport and the dilution of the traditional number 9. Many of today's wingers are meticulous tacticians who, to their detriment, often overcomplicate simple scenarios. 

Antony is the type of player who can dazzle and frustrate within the same phase of play. A left-footed player who adores cutting inside from the right to finesse the ball into a corner slot. Riyad Mahrez will intricately shuffle his body before dropping his shoulder and initiating a burst of pace. While he has had time to hone his talent in England, the Brazilian has not.

I feel that it’s important to look at the bigger picture when assessing Antony. He, like Mudryk and Gakpo, has arrived with a big reputation and attractive individual metrics. They are metrics collected in a less competitive competition, however. 

Mahrez arrived in England in 2014, with Leicester City paying approximately £450,000 for his signature. He spent his debut season in the Championship where he struggled to supply an end product, ending the campaign with three goals. He would move up to the Premier League in his second season and again struggled to adapt to the nature of the competition – hitting the net four times in 32 outings. 

Despite his struggles, the supporters recognised his talent and understood that he required time to adjust. He rewarded their patience in his third season. A contribution of 17 Premier League goals earned him multiple individual awards, as well as a historic Premier League winners medal for the Foxes. 

As children, we are encouraged to attempt the sublime and embrace an inner desire to showcase our ability with a football. There’s something magical about a perfect nutmeg or a calculated feint to draw your opponent off course. Why would you will any professional to quit it in the big leagues?

Of course, there is no guarantee that every footballer will succeed in England. The Premier League is the most demanding of competitions. That said, dismissing footballers within a matter of months is nonsensical, and history has supplied ample evidence that patience is a virtue.