Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:32 pm
Lethul wrote:
Except with the premierleague, the reason other teams have "caught up" is because the big 2, have pleatued (sp) and have probably even gone backwards. It might be closer at the top of the worlds best league but the overall quality is going backwards. At least in spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid play quality football in search of the title whereas in the worlds best league we will have man united and chelsea, yet again, fighting for the title by grinding out 1-0 long ball wins vs the Bolton and West Hams
Do you know why that is? Do you think Barca and Madrid could play suave football every week if they were coming up against sides like Stoke, Everton and Fulham? Sides in Spain don't play physical stuff like that, so Barca and Madrid rarely have to resort to a Plan B or C, which is what Man United and Chelsea can do exceptionally well. It doesn't mean Spain is the best because they don't resort to physical football, as I believe the league eventually will, it just means that the league, at the moment at least, is looking to push the boundaries tactically, whereas England is trying to push the boundaries physically. There aren't many boundaries to push in either aspect of the game, it just so happens to be that the football played in la liga is, generally, much better to watch, but it doesn't necessarily make it better.
I believe if every side from the Premier League played every side from Spain twice over the course of the season, the English sides would come out better off. That doesn't mean to say I think England is better, I just feel English sides could do the tactical stuff better than the Spanish could do the physical stuff.
Still, I don't feel the quality of the league in general has gone backwards, I feel Liverpool have gone backwards, but, other than that, I feel the top sides are still just as strong.
