|
I have never looked upon PL as a deep league. The fact that there has been 3 winners since '95 says a lot. The fact that the CL spots have been taken by the same 4 teams so often says a lot. When the top teams can win one third of their games with a 3 goal margin I would not call the league deep. When the top teams have a goal difference that is more than 80 better than the teams at the bottom I would not call the league deep. Serie A has a 20 point gap between a Champions League spot and a relegation spot. The ''bad'' teams in Italy are not bullied around. It's not just that Inter, Roma and Co are less offensive than their english counterparts (they are though ), it's just not viable to crush low-level teams on a constant basis when they're all so good at turtling (which is how smart ''bad'' teams should play). I feel pretty damn confident that Chelsea would not be able to rape their way through Serie A.
I still think PL could be considered better than Serie A because the teams at 1-6 or so are better. Excluding the #1's, Inter and Chelsea, the PL teams would probably beat their italian counterparts in those spots. But after that I would seriously place my money on the italian sides all the way.
there have been 4 EPL winners since '92 (the first "EPL" season). There have been 5 Serie A winners since then, hardly any significant difference. You're right, Che, MU, Ars and Liv have been dominating the CL spots for the longest time. But I remember Leeds getting to the semis and Everton getting into the CL as well. However, since I started watching football in '99 I've only seen Juve, Milan, Inter, Roma or Lazio represent Italy. So your attempt to portray the Serie A as some kind of wild dog-eat-dog league is just silly. It's very much the same as the EPL.
There's no doubt that the EPL is weaker this season though. But I think it will bounce back quickly if the club's chairmen/owners don't go crazy. At Chelsea I think this will be the first season we finish with the same manager as we began with in almost 3 years? Ancelotti has certainly changed the playstyle and if he can mould the squad even more to his style then hopefully we will do better in CL next year.
Don't know about the other big 3. For Man U, maybe they do miss C.Ronaldo after all. Arsenal crush weaker teams but crumble against any tough team. Liverpool.. problems are everywhere.
|
On April 08 2010 12:28 uberMatt wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 11:41 Holgerius wrote:I have never looked upon PL as a deep league. The fact that there has been 3 winners since '95 says a lot. The fact that the CL spots have been taken by the same 4 teams so often says a lot. When the top teams can win one third of their games with a 3 goal margin I would not call the league deep. When the top teams have a goal difference that is more than 80 better than the teams at the bottom I would not call the league deep. Serie A has a 20 point gap between a Champions League spot and a relegation spot. The ''bad'' teams in Italy are not bullied around. It's not just that Inter, Roma and Co are less offensive than their english counterparts (they are though  ), it's just not viable to crush low-level teams on a constant basis when they're all so good at turtling (which is how smart ''bad'' teams should play). I feel pretty damn confident that Chelsea would not be able to rape their way through Serie A. I still think PL could be considered better than Serie A because the teams at 1-6 or so are better. Excluding the #1's, Inter and Chelsea, the PL teams would probably beat their italian counterparts in those spots. But after that I would seriously place my money on the italian sides all the way. you say 1-6 is better but in serie a the 7th place team is juventus who just to lost fulham who are in ..... 12th in the premiership 
That is a very bad counter example. Juventus is undergoing a major slump and it is still under restructure process. Give Juventus 2-3 years and it will deliver good footballs again.
|
|
|
Amazing indeed.
It's not only for this game ofcourse a lot of games he's the person usually with the most passes, highest passes completed % and most distance covered.
Theres a stats article on him from goal : Xavi stats
|
On April 08 2010 12:49 Holgerius wrote:
And Real Madrid got crushed 4-0 by Alcoron who doesn't even play in the spanish top division. Shit happens. Look at the big picture.
you said that 7-20 in italian league could beat their counterpart in the english league, the only matchup this season between teams in that "bracket" for each league was fulham v juventus, and the 12th place english team beat the 7th place italian team. i don't see why that's unreasonable to bring it up  ((
|
On April 08 2010 13:43 uberMatt wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 12:49 Holgerius wrote:
And Real Madrid got crushed 4-0 by Alcoron who doesn't even play in the spanish top division. Shit happens. Look at the big picture. you said that 7-20 in italian league could beat their counterpart in the english league, the only matchup this season between teams in that "bracket" for each league was fulham v juventus, and the 12th place english team beat the 7th place italian team. i don't see why that's unreasonable to bring it up ((
Saying that the PL teams in that ''bracket'' are better just because of that one matchup we've had is like saying that Spain's third division is stronger than La Liga based on Real Madrid vs Alcorcon.
|
On April 08 2010 14:17 Holgerius wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 13:43 uberMatt wrote:On April 08 2010 12:49 Holgerius wrote:
And Real Madrid got crushed 4-0 by Alcoron who doesn't even play in the spanish top division. Shit happens. Look at the big picture. you said that 7-20 in italian league could beat their counterpart in the english league, the only matchup this season between teams in that "bracket" for each league was fulham v juventus, and the 12th place english team beat the 7th place italian team. i don't see why that's unreasonable to bring it up (( Saying that the PL teams in that ''bracket'' are better just because of that one matchup we've had is like saying that Spain's third division is stronger than La Liga based on Real Madrid vs Alcorcon.
i never said they were better overall, but i do think its reasonable to conclude that aston villa could beat juventus in a two legged tie, based on that one "matchup". thats all im saying, still unclear why you're bringing up a domestic cup in some attempt at a comparison, it's two completely different situations.
|
Mourinho's chelsea did beat ballack's bayern munich during those days. The first leg was chelsea 4-2. Chelsea was 2-1 up away and munich fight back 3-2, so german teams are really dangerous that they actually plot to fight back every time. Same as what happen in united vs bayer in 02 when bayer score in last minute to progress.
|
barcelona to repeat! i can't see eto'o transforming into a beast which he would need to do in order to score against his former teammates in barcelona. i also can't see anybody else in inter really being an exceptional threat. as long as messi/iniesta/xavi perform and the D is solid with toure/pique/puyol, barcelona to win the whole thing!!
|
On April 08 2010 16:35 Baddieko wrote:
Mourinho's chelsea did beat ballack's bayern munich during those days. The first leg was chelsea 4-2. Chelsea was 2-1 up away and munich fight back 3-2, so german teams are really dangerous that they actually plot to fight back every time. Same as what happen in united vs bayer in 02 when bayer score in last minute to progress.
Or the world cup 2006.
You can never count out the Germans till the whistle is blown. They got fighting spirit.
|
On April 08 2010 14:39 uberMatt wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 14:17 Holgerius wrote:On April 08 2010 13:43 uberMatt wrote:On April 08 2010 12:49 Holgerius wrote:
And Real Madrid got crushed 4-0 by Alcoron who doesn't even play in the spanish top division. Shit happens. Look at the big picture. you said that 7-20 in italian league could beat their counterpart in the english league, the only matchup this season between teams in that "bracket" for each league was fulham v juventus, and the 12th place english team beat the 7th place italian team. i don't see why that's unreasonable to bring it up (( Saying that the PL teams in that ''bracket'' are better just because of that one matchup we've had is like saying that Spain's third division is stronger than La Liga based on Real Madrid vs Alcorcon. i never said they were better overall, but i do think its reasonable to conclude that aston villa could beat juventus in a two legged tie, based on that one "matchup". thats all im saying, still unclear why you're bringing up a domestic cup in some attempt at a comparison, it's two completely different situations.
It's a good comparison because one example doesn't really have much credibility when looking at the big picture.
And ya, as Lineker said: ''Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.'' XD
|
Its absolutely retarded to compare leagues because few games. Excemple the motivation level must have been really really huge in Juve - Fulham game. I dont think anyone seriously think Fulham is better...
In 2 game legs, not always the better team goes through thx for lucky bounces, bad refing, unlucky injuries, gay-ass away goal rule etc etc...
In my opinion, La liga = EPL > Serie A > Bundesliga. La Liga and EPL are very much the same, with both only 2 really title challengers (Real M/Barca and Chelsea/ManU). Neither Arsenal or Liverpool have any chance in a long run, same goes for Sevilla, Valencia etc.
|
On April 08 2010 22:26 kroko wrote:
Its absolutely retarded to compare leagues because few games. Excemple the motivation level must have been really really huge in Juve - Fulham game. I dont think anyone seriously think Fulham is better...
In 2 game legs, not always the better team goes through thx for lucky bounces, bad refing, unlucky injuries, gay-ass away goal rule etc etc...
In my opinion, La liga = EPL > Serie A > Bundesliga. La Liga and EPL are very much the same, with both only 2 really title challengers (Real M/Barca and Chelsea/ManU). Neither Arsenal or Liverpool have any chance in a long run, same goes for Sevilla, Valencia etc.
I disagree. Barca/Real's dominance won't be ended for a very long time. I just can't see those two teams out of the top2 in the next five years. EPL on the other hand had a dominating Liverpool finishing #2 last season (by two points IIRC, really bad luck). And Arsenal once they can avoid all those injuries are serious title challengers. Especially with ManUtd and Chelsea squad getting very old.
|
EPL > ( ~ ) La Liga > ( ~ ) Bundesliga > ( ~ )Seria A
fact
|
Bundesliga that good? T_T
whatever...
|
Actually u are right Bundesliga sucks :/
But for some unknown reason I think Seria A is pretty weak , too ^^
|
I can't seem to find any information about the Canada national team, does it exist? Their female team is good though.
|
Serie A has Totti. Nuff said.
|
On April 08 2010 22:34 SuperArc wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 22:26 kroko wrote:
Its absolutely retarded to compare leagues because few games. Excemple the motivation level must have been really really huge in Juve - Fulham game. I dont think anyone seriously think Fulham is better...
In 2 game legs, not always the better team goes through thx for lucky bounces, bad refing, unlucky injuries, gay-ass away goal rule etc etc...
In my opinion, La liga = EPL > Serie A > Bundesliga. La Liga and EPL are very much the same, with both only 2 really title challengers (Real M/Barca and Chelsea/ManU). Neither Arsenal or Liverpool have any chance in a long run, same goes for Sevilla, Valencia etc. I disagree. Barca/Real's dominance won't be ended for a very long time. I just can't see those two teams out of the top2 in the next five years. EPL on the other hand had a dominating Liverpool finishing #2 last season (by two points IIRC, really bad luck). And Arsenal once they can avoid all those injuries are serious title challengers. Especially with ManUtd and Chelsea squad getting very old.
Liverpool are going backwards pretty quickly due to their large debt. If Man C made a good enough bid for Gerrard and/or Torres I can't see Liverpool's owners saying no and then it's mid-table mediocrity for them. Man C will take Liverpool's spot as the 4th "big" team in the EPL.
|
On April 08 2010 22:34 SuperArc wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 22:26 kroko wrote:
Its absolutely retarded to compare leagues because few games. Excemple the motivation level must have been really really huge in Juve - Fulham game. I dont think anyone seriously think Fulham is better...
In 2 game legs, not always the better team goes through thx for lucky bounces, bad refing, unlucky injuries, gay-ass away goal rule etc etc...
In my opinion, La liga = EPL > Serie A > Bundesliga. La Liga and EPL are very much the same, with both only 2 really title challengers (Real M/Barca and Chelsea/ManU). Neither Arsenal or Liverpool have any chance in a long run, same goes for Sevilla, Valencia etc. I disagree. Barca/Real's dominance won't be ended for a very long time. I just can't see those two teams out of the top2 in the next five years. EPL on the other hand had a dominating Liverpool finishing #2 last season (by two points IIRC, really bad luck). And Arsenal once they can avoid all those injuries are serious title challengers. Especially with ManUtd and Chelsea squad getting very old.
Liverpool has been challenger for a while, but last championship came in the 80's. Arsenal wont make it next season, neither wont Liverpool.
Same goes for La liga, okey Valencia won 2003/2004 and Villareal was runner up few seasons ago, but both these leagues have 2 top teams and few teams fighting for the last two UCL spots. Spain bit more.
Hard to say about about something beyond this / next season, cause some teams might get lucky with arab owners etc...
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT![[image loading]](http://img25.imageshack.us/i/barcelonaarsenalpassing.jpg/)
