Take put Spain and Germany and the lack of quality in Europe now is alarming, perhaps emphasised by Corinthians comfortable win over Chelsea in the CWC. I've debated endlessly on the Spurs board telling a some of their posters that the league is getting weaker and the consensus was a 50/50 split. This United side being 12 points clear having missed Vidic for pretty much the entirety and leaking more goals than I've had Hot dinners this year says it all. If the performances of the English teams in Europe didn't ring alarm bells then the performances of the Top teams in the FA Cup 4th round should have. Moving back on topic, lets assess Europe's major leagues (The Big 5) Premier League: United 12 points clear La Liga: Barcelona 12 points clear Bundesliga: Bayern 15 points clear Ligue 1: PSG 6 points clear Serie A: Juve 5 points clear The gulf in quality between Juve and the rest of the league (same with PSG) means you may as well double their points advantage. Juve 11 clear of 3rd, PSG clear of 3rd. SPL not a major league but Celtic already 18 clear. In my lifetime I've never known a less competitive year across so many major leagues, I just hope it's a blip and not a repeat occurrence.
What's even more shocking is the likes of Bayern, United and Barca didn't even win their domestic leagues last year and are now romping it. Celtic's was always a gimme so no need to look at them. Fault has to lie at the inconsistency of the likes of City, Dortmund, Madrid and perhaps to lesser extent...us. United deserve to be top (and can largely thank the RVP purchase for how well they have done) but it is shocking how far us and City in particular are behind given the investment, players at out disposal etc. Perhaps with the likes of City and Madrid going so long without a title, the hunger isn't there this year. What's the old saying, hard to win...harder to defend a title. * Madrid's is reletive, of course they won it about 5 years ago under Capello.
weve let in 31 goals yeah but all other teams have let in at least 26 or 27 I think so its not all that really, and we are only top because we have beeen the consistent team all season, but I agree with you that some of the teams in the PL this year havent been that great.
Lack of quality players coming through the ranks. Bayern and PSG's resources are by far larger than anybody else's in their respective leagues but the rest of them are puzzling. The Premier League can be put down to poor managers. Mancini and Benitez are woeful.
Perhaps the rules around FFP may put things on a better footing and perhaps create more opportunities for home grown players! Field sports , sadly, seem to figure less and less in school curriculums these days and that is criminal! It should be government ruling that ALL schools must dedicate an afternoon of field sport activity in their programme!
The thing is though, that Man U, Bayern and Barca are very well set up, forward looking clubs that build on their success, and retain their style of play even with change of personnel. The others, especially us, chop and change every season, and so are up and down like a whores drawers.
The FFP rules will just put yourself a and City even further behind in all honesty. Your wage bills and yearly outlay on players is much higher than ours. Yet we have the bigger stadium and fan base. The only side I do see making up ground when the rules come into play are Arsenal
All FFP will do is keep the usual suspects at the top (and that includes us and City). The chances of a club like Villa or Everton for instance getting investment and challenging for the title is less likely now. I'd be suprised if anyone outside United, Chelsea, City and maybe Arsenal winning the title in the next 10 years if FFP comes in.
City were paid for solely by Sheikh Mansour (not his family), same with Abramovich re: Chelsea. There is absolutely no rule in place preventing outside investment from their business associates as has already happened with Gazprom (Chelsea) and Etihad Airways (City). Don't believe Man U propaganda, both will be in as good a position if not better than United with or without FFP.
Absolutely spot on. As I have also said before, these kind of rules in Oz sport have existed for 15 or 20 years.In Rugby, Rugby League , Football and Aussie rules. Is the comp even??? Nope, same big 3 or 4 are there or thereabouts year after year, simply because they were already big and well established before the rules came in. Just like FFP, the big will get bigger, the small will stay small. Total waste of time and effort. You cannot legislate success, as FIFA / EUFA will soon discover.
And this is what the financial fair play rules will ensure remains. All the lower clubs can't run off and get a dodgy DHL or Ethihad deal when they need extra funds coming in so they can spend more.
