ON-LOAN Arsenal striker Julio Baptista has launched an outburst against northern football teams in the wake of the Gunners' 3-1 win over City.
Brazil international Baptista has described northern teams in England as "terrible" and claims the weather is "driving me to despair" while lamenting his inability to adapt to the pace of Premiership football.
"I could stay at Arsenal, but right now I can't see myself anywhere for definite," he said.
"But it's clear in my mind that I would tackle my second chance with Real with far more strength and maturity than I did in my first spell."
The reasons for his dislike of England are varied.
Terrible
"The teams from the north of England are terrible," he told The Times.
"When we play them I have counted their centre-backs booting up to 30 long balls upfield per game.
"The weather over here is killing me. We'll get one day of sunshine for every 30 days of rain, and it is driving me to despair.
"My girlfriend and my mother are frightened about not seeing the sun in England. They miss being in Madrid.
"Premiership football is very hard. I am Brazilian and I enjoy playing the ball, making clever touches and taking bicycle kicks. Arsene Wenger does not forbid me from doing them, but the game is so fast I don't even have time to think about them.
"The moment you stop to think, someone has taken the ball off you and knocked you to the ground. Over here they value a corner kick more than a fancy flick. I am lucky to be with Arsenal, as they are a team that likes to play proper football."
Baptista slams northern teams
April 19, 2007
Comments
Login or Register to comment
face. bothered.
Dee dums - is the Premiership to quick for you.
Do you get tackled before you can kick a ball.
What a shame!
It's easily sorted Baptista.
Go back to Madrid where you can be soft and warm and wrapped up in an icckle wicckle blanky. Mummy tuck you up and read you a bed time story.
And this is on the City page because?
Well do one then,cos i'd live in a puddle for 60k a week.
Whilst he is a misery guts and trhowing his toys out, I have to say he does make some good points. English teams don't really play the beautiful game as we all imagine they should do they? I mean, I'm delighted we are safe for anohter season, but some of the performances we have put in bear out what Baptista has said. Same with some of the performances from teams we have played too.
Orrrrhhhhh! Didums! Poor Julie Baptista! He all poorly sick cos of naughty English weather and he keeps getting kicked off all the big football boys. And he can't ride his bicycle (kick) because Uncle Arsene won't let him!
Well you know what to do don't you Julie!
Off you go Bapti. Sunshine is for Whimps!
Just goes to show you are no Thierry Henry - never seen him complain he didnt have time on the ball to score wonderful goals. On yer bike - you are not as good as your small brain thinks you are.
Still finding words to react to this article ... sorry.
So he keeps getting the ball taken off him? Correct me if i'm wrong but isnt that what the opposing team are supposed to do? Maybe if he's that upset he should have a word with the Tottenham players before the kick off and ask them not to tackle him until he has managed a 'nice flick'.
and this is the player nicknamed the beast? I have been to Spain enough to know how wet it gets in their winter and excuse me but has this guy been in a cave for the last two weeks? Hardly set the world alight when he went to real Madrid did he and he has still much to prove at Arsenal.
who cares
Why is this not also on the United , Bolton and Wigan pages as I believe they are also "Northern Teams" ?
as for Baptista I would like to use the off-chanted terrace song of "Who are yer?" ... What a Male Chicken !!
30 days of rain? It seems like more than 30 days since I saw any rain. Perhaps it's different in London.
Hehe he probably has a point with regards to Citys style of play but come on what a whimp, no wonder he has failed at Arsenal
leave him alone....he's got a cold. poor little fella.
Coming from someone who can't get a game in a, at best, mediocre and at worst, rubbish Madrid team, I think his comments are worthless. Now if they'd come from the likes of Valdes, Zambrotta, Puyol,Marques,Van Bronckhorst, Iniesta, Xabi, Deco,Messi,Eto'o or Ronaldihno, they might be worth a second glance.
Awww...bless!
They call him the beast! Is it because of the beastly weather, and beastly big centre backs who stop him ballet dancing around the penalty area!
Baptista is obviously having a 'DIG' at City but can we argue? the football served up by Pearce is attrocious theres no doubt,its no use showing blind loyalty we all have to face the facts City as a Premiership side are shambolic.Sometimes you have to be frank in your comments so why say everything is groovy when your tyres are flat? Unless the new investor gives the manager (but will it be Pearce?) next season wont be much different. Reading Lawro's predictions for this weekends games he predicts a 1-1 draw at Watford WOW this is against a team almost certainly condemned to relegation, he went on to say in as many words " a few Manchester City players want to leave in the summer" how does he know? he ust have some inside knowledge thats why he has made the statement.My opinion is Pearce knows too but he is bluffing us with stupid comments of "we are moving in te right direction" lets get it right Distin is leaving,Richards departure has already been set up,Ireland has already expressed unrest over his contract and they'll always be debate over whether or not Joey Barton will stay or go.Wardle & Pearce already know but they are hoodwinking their fans they are waiting for the season tickets to be snapped up and believe me we WILL lose at least two of the mentioned players.YES Baptista's comments confirm that MCFC are a club not respected much by the other players around the country and very few of us will argue that fact.A massive investment,a new manager and an installment of passion is badly needed otherwise within two years MCFC will drop out of the Premiership.
ha ha ha !! I think he's being a bit tongue in cheek. He should write a sit com based on his life - the Brazillian Victor Meldrew!!
The beautiful game does not win matches. Aresnal prove that season in season out!
Just look at the semi final of the champions league, three English teams and one Italian team. Plus the fact that two of the three english teams are from the "north"! Only a fool would knock the English game!
The guy is a natural born loser, just like the people who wasted their time writing in to agree with him!!
Good old Ted, can't resist another shot at City no matter where it comes from. What Julio he really say is "I don't like northern teams because they don't stand back and watch me lumber forward in lots of space to let me score lots of goals so I can get so I can get a nice fat contract". To Julio and all those others who criticize teams for not laying down in front of the great Arsenal, I say 'unprintable off'.
thank god i dont live in london if they only have one sunny day in 30 come to sunny Warrington
Drogba to me is a beast not Baptista. He has failed to make an impact. Who is better, Tevez or Baptista??