Let's see what the second legs bring before we make too many rash judgements. So in the gossip it's Jose back to Chelsea which seems to me to be a bit of a desperation measure. Last gasp if he doesn't work out because who will replace him? I've known Chelsea have these last chance situations before ie CL winning,without that where would they be? But going to a club a second time doesn't normally work. In this case he left after a bust up and adults don't forget those easily,one little disagreement and it's adios Jose. I don't think he'll be there very long. Thor has spoken District.
I'll judge Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on their own merits as teams. I've already dealt with that issue in earlier posts. Why do you claim that they are representative of the strength of their league whilst dismissing the notion that 6th placed Chelsea winning the CL says anything about the strength of the PL? And don't forget that Dortmund were seconds from being knocked out by Malaga and got lucky with a scrambled, offside goal. That's the nature of knockout competitions. You're in or you're out. No 38 game season to make amends. And because it's like that, we shouldn't be so quick to draw the conclusion that the teams who progress are making a statement about their national leagues.
You probably have something there Luke; Let's see how they do in the remaining games and whether they continue their dominance next season. It's also an undisputed fact that Spanish club football's ascendancy has helped the national side. Will Germany receive this boost?
Agreed Chirpy and LDL, to base analysis on two games is more like the "analysis" of that radio station that clams to "TalkSport". Also, there's an argument that you should measure the strength of a league on it's weakest teams rather than strongest. I don't know enough about the German league, but I think it's possible to argue that the Spanish league is more dominated by its top clubs than the EPL.
In that aspect, it's about even for me. Realistically, there are only three teams in each league that have any chance of winning the title at this moment. In Spain, Real, Barca, Atletico. In the EPL, Man Utd, City, Chelsea.
The bottom clubs in the PL are better than those in the bundesliga or la liga but the top clubs are not as good. I think that is why the EPL is more exciting, and quite often when people say "best league in the world" they mean for entertainment, which is aided by close matches and all-season battles for honours.
I was wondering if any other country has a Pyramid League system as we have? I find it fascinating to watch clubs like Fleetwood,Crawley,Kidderminster etc battling to win promotion or have won promotion to the Football League......incredible for a country/s as small as ours!.....and then the knockout series towards the end of the season. Makes you wonder what teams will be in or out of the league 10 years from now.Portsmouth gone,perhaps?
There are a lot of lower league and non-league teams in serious debt,and i can see a lot disappearing,Kettering almost went this year,and Truro,from the blue square bet south
1-1,penalty in the 87th minute. Very difficult after holding the lead for so long not to concede again. Chelsea have played well actually apart from Torres.
Shocking goalkeeping. Just look at his feet. How is he going to get near that with his feet so poorly positioned. Very poor and he's gifted Chelsea a winning goal.
There's no point talking sense Luke, the mans an idiot. In 2004 he was posting that the Primeira liga in Portugal was the best in the world! This is how he thinks, can't see past the end of his nose! As much as credit is due for beating Real, 6th place Malaga were minutes from progressing on Dortmunds patch, having out played them too.
