Recently, "TA" talked about Liverpool's new player Wilz being ridiculed by the Internet's "007" meme. They said that the players are still in a difficult period of adaptation after coming to the Premier League.
Wilz, who was introduced from Leverkusen for £116 million this summer, failed to score or assist in the first six Premier League games, becoming the latest "007" meme target. This meme stems from football social media culture and is used to mock new players who have not contributed goals in the first seven games.
Although the "007" meme is widely circulated on the Internet, its origin is not clear. In August 2021, Sky Sports in Germany used this meme when Sancho performed poorly after joining Manchester United. However, history shows that many players end up becoming top-notch players after going through the "007" stage. For example, Henry encountered similar difficulties when he arrived at Arsenal in early 1999, but he later became the club's legendary shooter.
Adapting to the high intensity of the Premier League is a big challenge for new players. Data shows that there are more high-speed runs in each game of the Premier League than in La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A. Wilz's performance at Liverpool also reflects this, and he is often pressed by opponents during the game. Liverpool coach Slott said it would take time for Wiltz to adapt to this intensity.
In addition, it takes time to establish a tacit understanding with new teammates. Wilz joins Liverpool's forward line composed of several new players, including Ekitic and Isaac. Similarly, Cunha experienced a similar adaptation period after moving from Wolves to Manchester United.
Although some players such as Haaland, Diego Costa and Aguero can perform well in their debut, there are many examples that players who start quickly may not be able to continue to succeed. J Ronaldo performed well in the early days of joining Everton in 2020, but ultimately failed to maintain form.
Short-termism and neglecting details are at the heart of discussions like the "007" meme, and while this may be a harmless entertainment, it reduces the quality of discussions about players' performance, adapting to new leagues, countries and cultures takes time, and judging players should be based on longer time spans.