The more realistic and modern comparison would have been Man Utd during their dominance. They broke a few transfer records and have numerous £30m+ players to their name. They didn't have a billionaire owner, the money came through success. That's the difference. Man City and Chelsea have a rich owner ploughing the money in, Man Utd (and Liverpool previously) earnt the right to be able to spend like they did.
Sorry, the tone of the thread kind of changed to how teams do **** in Europe and why. TBF I did ask Saint about why the british teams did well back in the day with a very british feel to the teams compared to now with the more cosmopolitan look of the teams. He forgot though.......
Back in the day as you put it, the British sides had power, pace and organisation. The majority of Euro leagues were weak with a couple of standout sides. Plus, in those days brute force could always overcome skill if necessary. You think the Prem today is fast, but Spanish, French, German and Dutch sides found British teams just too fast for them. It was usually Italian sides who caused the most problems purely because they were so organised (and dirty) at the back.
I can see that. When they did do the World club cup stuff back then didn't the south american teams do really well? Back then their football was massive, I know teams like Boca and Flemengo were huge then. Still are but not to the same degree with the likes of Maradona, Zico, etc playing for them.
You have to remeber that the majority of us saw no South American club football. We did get to see their national sides at the World Cup though - and got a shock. I think the average European thought all the South American sides were like Brazil and were both disappointed when they were not and angry at the Argentinian style ruthlessness of their defending. Don't get me wrong most European defenders of the time didn't think twice about chopping you off at the knees but the South Americans began at the throat!!!! As with today the Spanish and Portugese clubs imported South American players. The Italians paid for the cream along with Real. But it was not until Spurs imported Ardilles and Villa that South Americans appeared in English clubs.
Newcastle got the first Brazilian right? Mirandinho something like that? I can attest to the south americans chopping at the ankles, man it is dangerous playing against them at times!! I thought you guys had time machines back then?
One could argue that the refereeing of the game particularly in the modern CL has changed the balance of power. In the 70s and 80s the Spanish teams didn't get a look in in the European cup, but since the formation of the CL the spanish (Real & Barca) have dominated the comp. I would suggest that the refereeing of the CL games has changed to favour the beautiful game, and punish the uglier, gritty side. This has favoured the Spanish sides where they have a less physical league and have a similar style of refereeing where as leagues with a more physical approach have suffered.
The major change in refereeing was promoted by Platini and UEFA. However, I dispute that the changes that they have brought about has truly produced a beautiful game. Whereas you may claim to see more 'skill' we now are also plaugued with diving, cheating and play-acting. Like Rugby, Football was always a game wherein players of all types can find a position in which to play. Nowadays, if you are not fleet of foot you can forget about playing football to any decent level. Without legally commiting a foul you cannot show greater desire for the ball or even display more strength without being penalised. Foul play always was exactly that and remains so. It is not to be condoned. However what we presently have is an abortion of what the beautiful game actually should be.
Majority of foreign teams only had players from their countires too so you could say they were all equally weaker (if you see home talent as a weaker prospect)
but real and barca have not dominated the cl since its inception... no more than any other sides. i could say bayern, i could say juve and ac milan.. i could even say utd and lfc!! the fact is pace and power have risen via bayern now and if gaurdiola has his way he'll destory it with dull spanish tippy tappy no forwards play. i agree with dave. pace is an absolute must now right across the pitch. at 30 you can slow down and read a game but at 21? if you are not fast you are going nowhere. the flopping and diving must be corrected however. this thing where a defender can shield a ball 10 yards out of play but if a forward touches them and they flop? its ugly... greater physicality at least in the upper body must be allowed.
97-98 to 01-02; five seasons. Real got to three finals and won it three times! 05-06 to 10-11; six seasons. Barca got to three finals and won it three times thats as dominant as a modern team can be IMO
I read it as mito saying they hadn't dominated it throughout its existence, not that they hadn't had periods of domination. At various times it's been dominated by several clubs: Liverpool, Ajax, Bayern, Benfica etc. Real won the first 5 in a row.
Fair enough but then, that's never happened over a twenty year period in Europe so why would it suddenly start when the CL arrived? Especially when the competition itself (not including qualification for it) is, on paper, harder to win.
