Is the gap between the powerhouses of Europe and the less European teams getting bigger? (spoilers)

retired_nasali08 · 11-07-2007, 11:51 AM

might be a bit of a change this year with liverpool struggling. they're one of what i call the big 4 (along with chelsea, barcelona and ac milan) who have dominated in europe in the past 3 years.

maybe this'll allow a smaller club to step up and compete with liverpool for this 4th spot.

retired_khabmth · 11-07-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xnellyrx:
these are how the groups ended up last year and I pretty much can say that 7/8 of the groups go through as accordance to what you would expect.

Yea all the best footballing teams went through, how unfair.

If your goal is to have crappier teams left in the competition just to get an unexpected winner than start a Crappiest League and have the first division drop outs from all of europe enter it.

DebSchiff · 11-07-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beffrey:
Not commentating on your last paragraph as it looks like you've got a chip on your shoulder that needs attending to.

Haha brilliant.

retired_kryzma116 · 11-07-2007, 01:58 PM

Money is a huge factor but before everything what Turkish players dont have is that "professionalism" of european players.Approach to the game and mentality is totally different and they do everything in Turkey to chance that since years.Obviously it doesnt work.Moneywise Besiktas and Fenerbahce is the most richest teams in Turkey yet players who gets millions of dollars still playing like this..We beat chelsea,barcelona,liverpool and others in the past but as long as you are not consistent daily wins doesnt mean anything.

There was really big scores like this in the past.The most fraky one was roma losing 7-0..An italian team which is famous by it is defence receiving 7 goal is somethingelse but if you look carefully Besiktas match was different.When ManU or other teams took that results,qualifying teams or the teams at the bottom of the groups was already certain..Besiktas match was different because we had a chance to go up yet getting a result like this.They absolutely did nothing yesterday.I mean nothing.There are no excuses which can explain this result.Some players in Besiktas will get termination.

Besiktas is a big team who have 20 million fans in Turkey.This the heaviest defeat in our history and it is quite difficult to get over with but life goes on.

Money factor is a huge thing on the other side..Even Liverpool substitute players valued 10-15 million dollar.Another thing which makes difficult for Turkish teams to compete is foreign player limitation in Turkey..We cant have more than 6 foreign players in our squads and those foreign players are certainly nowhere in european football level..Money plays huge role here..

retired_putpo · 11-07-2007, 02:12 PM

I wonder if this has anything to do with the wads of cash thrown at the 'big' clubs to stop them running off and setting up their own Mega-European League?

retired_corzawoodja · 11-07-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by super_imps:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by beffrey:
Not commentating on your last paragraph as it looks like you've got a chip on your shoulder that needs attending to.

Haha brilliant. </BLOCKQUOTE>

I guess you're too worthy to bother responding to the rest of my post. Would have been pretty pointless anyway I guess seeing as you didn't even watch the match.

buffdaddy110 · 11-07-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xnellyrx:

these are how the groups ended up last year and I pretty much can say that 7/8 of the groups go through as accordance to what you would expect.

8/8 for me - though 2nd place in group C could have been different.

retired_amadhani · 11-07-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Wallin:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by xnellyrx:
these are how the groups ended up last year and I pretty much can say that 7/8 of the groups go through as accordance to what you would expect.

Yea all the best footballing teams went through, how unfair.

If your goal is to have crappier teams left in the competition just to get an unexpected winner than start a Crappiest League and have the first division drop outs from all of europe enter it. </BLOCKQUOTE>

yes, but it makes the group stage just very dull. very uninteresting to watch as you know who exactly is going to go through and when the two 'heavyweights' of a group meet they know a draw will do nicely and don't bother to play much or just go 4-5-1

DebSchiff · 11-07-2007, 08:00 PM

I think I'm obliged to put something about being out watching my "local team", being a "real fan" and not liking "overpaid diving primadonnas" here.

Clichéd idiocy out of the way I watched the highlights and they were cut in such a fashion that it looked like Chelsea were outplayed. The bloke doing the interviews for ITV said they were outplayed and put it to Frank Lampard, who agreed. I'm merely reflecting their opinions and drawning my own conclusions from the highlights.

But my point about Chelsea fans being hilariously defensive of their team stands.

retired_corzawoodja · 11-07-2007, 08:40 PM

I don't at all mind that you believe we were outplayed from you've seen or heard. If I agreed I would've said nothing. I disageed and I said something. Maybe I shouldn't have as it was in no way integral to the reason for your post, but I did as not a lot of people on here watched the game and I didn't want them to get the wrong impression. My flippant correction unintentionally came across as blunt and insencere which got your back up, which in turn ****ed me off.

I wouldn't describe myself as particularly defensive concerning Chelsea, but fine. I think the Chelsea fans on here are a pretty decent bunch all told.

Is the gap between the powerhouses of Europe and the less European teams getting bigger? (spoilers)

Grab a beer, sit back and relax.

Is the gap between the powerhouses of Europe and the less European teams getting bigger? (spoilers)