04/25/24
August 13, 2009
The Changing Face of English Football: An interesting interactive map of current Premiere League football teams comparing place of birth (not nationality) of each teams' players this season to that of 1989/90. The bar graph below the map shows the distance a player was born from their current team's home grounds. Click on the teams names above the map to reduce the clutter and see how the newly promoted compare to the firmly entrenched. At the end of the article there is detailed information—and complete squad listings from both compared seasons—for each team competing this season.
Cool map. The international flavor of the EPL is apparent these days, but seeing it on the map makes it more real. Apparently the Great Lakes is our soccer hotbed. Who are all the Americans playing there? I can think of Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Brad Guzan and Brad Friedel. Anyone else?
posted by rcade at 08:39 AM on August 14, 2009
It looks a bit like the local players in that map aren't spread out across the country, but instead concentrated in London for a lot of the teams. I would like to see something like this for baseball. I bet it would be similar.
posted by bperk at 09:50 AM on August 14, 2009
rcade: Jozy Altidore just joined Hull City. Eddie Johnson plays for Fulham. Marcus Hahnemann is the keeper for Wolves. Jonathan Spector plays for West Ham.
Jay Demerit also plays in England, but for Watford in the Championship.
posted by trox at 10:53 AM on August 14, 2009
A quick Command+F on "(US)" in the article found:
Aston Villa (Guzan, Lichaj, Friedel)
Everton (Howard)
Fulham (Dempsey, Hangeland)
Hull City (Altidore, Myhill)
West Ham (Spector)
Wolverhampton (Hahnemann)
posted by scully at 10:59 AM on August 14, 2009
Thanks. I got so transfixed by the map I didn't dig into the article.
posted by rcade at 11:02 AM on August 14, 2009
I'm looking forward to Jozy Altidore playing for Hull City. I'd like to see another American striker make his bones in England.
posted by rcade at 11:03 AM on August 14, 2009
Hmmm, Eddie Johnson isn't listed. Is he out on loan? I didn't think to check and see if loaned players were being listed.
posted by scully at 11:05 AM on August 14, 2009
Myhill plays for Wales and Hangeland for Norway--wouldn't you just love to see him paired with Gooch in central defense for the US? Nothing against Demerit but still!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:56 AM on August 14, 2009
I'm looking forward to Jozy Altidore playing for Hull City. I'd like to see another American striker make his bones in England.
Not sure what Hull's forward line/rotation looks like, but if Altidore gets decent playing time at Hull, he may be a bargain third striker option in the EPL Fantasy game at 5.0.
posted by holden at 01:25 PM on August 14, 2009
Even New Caledonia represented, with Frederic Piquionne from Portsmouth.
/check out my Fantasy League kit and name
posted by owlhouse at 05:45 PM on August 14, 2009
That's pretty cool. I would like to see that type of thing for all sports. And look at Aston Villa, what with their two guys from the Midwest.