He aint your typical French tosser. Read yet another French whine and weep. I reckon these frogs shud be fined each time they blame English football on their own lack of ability. As for frogs who blame not returning to the club due to hate mail........ahem.

Middlesbrough's French star Christian Karembeu has slammed Premiership teams as “amateurish” and “tactically inept”. In a scathing attack on Premiership standards, Karembeu said most sides still revert to a long ball game and are tactically poorer than their European counterparts.

"The game in England is physical and played up in the air, and I find that there is a lack of preparation," he said.

"The sport has become professionalised to an extreme by the Premier League. However, it also remains amateurish in a host of respects and it is as though teams are making things up as they go along all the time."

The 30-year-old has struggled to impress since making his high-profile move from Spanish giants Real Madrid last July, but believes English football still has a lot to learn.

"There is clearly movement in English football, but it is only in a vertical direction," he said.

"Besides, movement is not just about attacking. It is bringing the ball forward, passing, breaking free and creating space for your team mates.

"England invented football and the game and everything affecting it all stems from here - supporters and the business aspect as well.”

One thing that has impressed the former Nantes and Sampdoria midfielder during his short spell at the Riverside, however, is the passion of the supporters.

"English people treat football as a spectacle, that is crystal clear. It struck me first when I was here with the French team during Euro 96,” he said.

“Then I saw fans arriving at matches straight from their offices, wearing their own clubs' shirts.

"It is true to say my wife would have preferred Italy or Spain but for me there were no doubts."

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

Answers

Of course, he 'redeemed' himself in the last few sentences- by lying about his thoughts!

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

Actually what he's saying is fairly truthful. Just a bit silly of him to do with the current climate of Froggies whinging and moaning. Naturally it's going to be blown up and made to look as negative as possible.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001

So why did he bother coming? Surely he did his research into the Beautiful Game before he put pen to paper? Oh hang on - paper? Paper = contract. Contract = money. How did I miss that???

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Like ciara, I think there is an element of truth in what he is saying. However, as paid guest in this country he should stf up until he has earned the right to he listened to.

That is the problem - the insensitive arrogance of these Frogs is staggering.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Hey I'll quite happily be a paid guest to 'Old Blighty' and I'll even say nice things while I'm freezing!

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

"It's as if teams are making it up as they go along". It's called spontaneity, it's called responding to the circumstances, it's called not knowing what's coming next. It's what makes the English game less technically polished but far more enteratining than Serie A. Could almost use the reserve word for that bloke (begins with a "c" and should only be used about once every five years when the circumstances are so extreme that no other word in the language will do).

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2001

Having not read or heard the whole article, trusting spud has put in all the salient points, it is easy to see why the game is being held back in England.

The guy comes out and and has only said what we have been saying on hear for a while. The quality of the training, why do people get injured in not contact situations, why do we play this way, we were caught out against so and so, why do we have to wait until half time to change formation and tactics etc. He has not whined etc about anything.

He has made valid comments of how he sees the English game. Of course we all would rather him say yes brilliant, love it here best league in the world, then a month later him leave slagging us off as neanderthals.

I hope someone looks at his comments and says right all the foreign players coming here say the same sort of thing, lets get it sorted and we will perhaps steal a march on the other PL clubs.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001