Spanglish Digest
Do you know that Spanish players have the biggest share (9.1%) among all other foreign nationalities in the Premier League? In other words, there are 31 Spaniards playing in 14 Premier League clubs now. Most of them you already know, but there are several noteworthy newcomers also. That's why I'd like to present you some information about these footballers, including leightweight statistics and perfomance data from 2012/13 season. Since not all of the Premier League Spaniards are currently playing for national team, I'll work out several tactical schemes to provide every one of them with the most suitable position on the field.
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea Quintana (Manchester United) - born in Madrid on 7 November 1990 (22), 28 Premier League matches, 26 conceded goals, 11 cleen sheets, Spain U21 national player.
Joel Robles Vázquez (Everton) - born in Madrid on 17 June 1990 (23), 9 Premier League matches (for Wigan Athletic), 16 conceded goals, 1 cleen sheet, Spain U21 national player.
Adrián San Miguel del Castillo (West Ham United) - born in Sevilla on 3 January 1987 (26), 32 Primera División matches (for Real Betis), 46 conceded goals, 11 cleen sheets.
Right-Backs:
César Azpilicueta Tanco (Chelsea) - born in Pamplona on 28 August 1989 (23), 27 Premier League matches, 6 assists, 9 cleen sheets, Spain national player.
Ángel Rangel Zaragoza (Swansea) - born in Sant Carles de la Ràpita on 28 October 1982 (30), 33 Premier League matches, 3 goals, 1 assist, 8 cleen sheets.
Centre Backs:
José Manuel "Chico" Flores Moreno (Swansea) - born in Cádiz on 6 March 1987 (26), 26 Premier League matches, 9 cleen sheets.
Carlos Javier Cuéllar Jiménez (Sunderland) - born in Madrid on 23 August 1981 (31), 26 Premier League matches, 1 goal, 1 assist, 8 cleen sheets.
Daniel Sánchez Ayala (Norwich City) - born in El Saucejo on 7 November 1990 (22), 12 Championship matches (for Nottingham Forest), 1 goal, 2 cleen sheets.
Marc Muniesa Martínez (Stoke City) - born in Lloret de Mar on 27 March 1992 (21), 11 Segunda División matches (for Barcelona B), 2 cleen sheets, Spain U21 national player.
Jordi Amat Maas (Swansea) - born in Barcelona on 21 March 1992 (21), 27 Primera División matches (for Rayo Vallecano), 1 goal, 7 cleen sheets, Spain U21 national player.
Left-Backs:
José Enrique Sánchez Díaz (Liverpool) - born in Valencia on 23 January 1986 (27), 29 Premier League matches, 2 goals, 5 assists, 12 cleen sheets.
Ignacio "Nacho" Monreal Eraso (Arsenal) - born in Papmlona on 26 February 1986 (27), 14 Primera División matches for Málaga CF (1 goals, 3 assists, 5 cleen sheets) and 10 Premier League matches (1 goal, 1 assist, 5 cleen sheets), Spain national player.
Javier Garrido Behobide (Norwich City) - born in Irun on 15 March 1985 (28), 34 Premier League matches, 2 assists, 10 cleen sheets.
Antonio Manuel Luna Rodríguez (Aston Villa) - born in Son Servera on 17 March 1991 (22), 15 matches in Primera División (for Sevilla and Mallorca), 1 assist, 3 cleen sheets.
Defensive Midfielders:
Francisco Javier García Fernández (Manchester City) - born in Mula on 8 February 1987 (26), 24 Premier League matches, 2 goals, 6 cleen sheets, Spain national player.
José Alberto Cañas Ruiz Herrera (Swansea) - born in Jerez de la Frontera on 27 May 1987 (26), 27 Primera División matches (for Real Betis), 1 assist, 7 cleen sheets.
Central Midfielders:
Mikel Arteta Amatriain (Arsenal) - born in Donostia-San Sebastián on 26 March 1982 (31), 34 Premier League matches, 6 goals, 4 assists, 13 cleen sheets.
José Ángel Gómez Campaña (Crystal Palace) - born in Sevilla 31 May 1993 (20), 5 Primera División matches (for Sevilla), Spain U20 current captain.
Right Wingers:
Jesús Navas González (Manchester City) - born in Los Palacios y Villafranca on 21 November 1985 (27), 37 Primera División matches (for Sevilla), 7 assists, Spain national player.
Pablo Hernández Domínguez (Swansea) - born in Castellón on 11 April 1985 (28), 30 Premier League matches, 3 goals, 8 assists.
Attacking Midfielders:
Miguel "Michu" Pérez Cuesta (Swansea) - born in Oviedo on 21 March 1986 (27), 35 Premier League matches, 18 goals, 3 assists.
Juan Manuel Mata García (Chelsea) - born in Burgos on 28 April 1988 (25), 35 Premier League matches, 11 goals, 17 assists, Spain national player.
David Josué Jiménez Silva (Manchester City) - born in Arguineguín on 8 January 1986 (27), 32 Premier League matches, 4 goals, 10 assists, Spain national player.
Santiago "Santi" Cazorla González (Arsenal) - born in Llanera on 13 December 1984 (28), 38 Premier League matches, 12 goals, 12 assists, Spain national player.
Alejandro Pozuelo Melero (Swansea) - born in Sevilla on 20 September 1991 (21), 11 Primera División matches (for Real Betis), 1 goal.
Left Wingers:
Luis Alberto Romero Alconchel (Liverpool) - born in San José del Valle on 28 September 1992 (20), 38 Segunda División matches (for Barcelona B), 11 goals, 18 assists, Spain U21 national player.
Gerard Deulofeu Lázaro (Everton) - born in Riudarenes on 13 March 1994 (19), 33 Segunda División matches (for Barcelona B), 18 goals, 6 assists, Spain U20 national player.
Centre Forwards:
Fernando José Torres Sanz (Chelsea) - born in Madrid on 20 March 1984 (29), 36 Premier League matches, 8 goals, 9 assists, Spain national player.
Roberto Soldado Rillo (Tottenham) - born in Valencia on 27 May 1985 (28), 35 Primera División matches (for Valencia), 24 goals, 4 assists, Spain national player.
Álvaro Negredo Sánchez (Manchester City) - born in Madrid 20 August 1985 (27), 36 Primera División matches (for Sevilla), 25 goals, 4 assists, Spain national player.
Iago Aspas Juncal (Liverpool) - born in Moaña on 1 August 1987 (26), 34 Primera División matches (for Celta de Vigo), 12 goals, 6 assists.
And now - to tactics. I'd like to start with the strongest (in my humble opinion) and the most experienced candidates for each position. Let's call this first squad Old Guard FC (прим. автора - ФК Старая гвардия).
Next will be the team made of hot and fresh summer signings only. None of these players have ever played in a Premier League match. Let's call our second team Rookies FC (прим. автора - ФК Новички).
Do you know which Premier league club has the most Spaniards in the squad? Swansea, right you are! The amount of Spanish players here equals seven. People have started to call this Welsh team Swansealona comparing their attacking, free flowing football and short passing movements with Catalonian. Seven, you say? Let's add four more to gain a starting line-up: I think Joel Robles and the Gunners trio Nacho Monreal, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla will complete our FC Swansealona on a vacant keeper position and the left wing respectively.
No players were harmed in the making of this manual. All formations are based on scrupulously studied statistics and perfomance data. I hope Norwich City players Daniel Ayala and Javier Garrido won't be offended by their absence on the schemes, but they were already mentioned here, so I think they'll excuse me. As for Chelsea defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu and Liverpool right winger Suso, they have joined Primera División clubs Valencia and Almería respectively on a season-long loan deal either, that's why they were not mentioned in this guidebook. Spanish directionality of the entry is explained by my long-awaited Spanish vacation, which is about to begin on 14 August. Among other things, I also plan to visit Barcelona home match against Levante. If I'm lucky - you'll read about my Camp Nou crusade as soon as I get back.
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