20 Apr 2015 15:50:01
I have heard some delusional rants on here before, but Big Al's rant has to be number one. Firstly, United have raised their game to a place that will see us compete on all fronts next season with the addition of a few more world class players. The blueprint that our manager is implementing at the club will make us competitive for years to come. Your ridiculous assertion about us being a poor team is nothing more than sour grapes. But I wouldn't expect much else from a Liverpool fan who spent the best part of last season telling us all that United were finished, and it would take years to get back to the top. Well, I have news for you matey: we're back.
With regards to the English PL, you are kidding right? I guarantee next season, we will have two teams in the CL quarter finals. Ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea will all be stronger next season; and with the money being made available to PL clubs, I can see the PL dominating European football, because that is where the money is.
Not sure where your mob are going to end up. You will probably lose Sterling in the summer, and possibly a few other key players. Then what?
20 Apr 2015 16:00:14
i would agree with his argument about the standard of the epl .
its been going backwards for a while now imo
20 Apr 2015 16:13:36
Yeah, it isn't as strong as it has been - granted - but I expect that next season, we will see a big improvement.
Chelsea should not, IMO, have lost to PSG in the manner they did. The same goes foe Arsenal who were clearly a superior team to Monaco. There isn't that much, IMO, separating the top clubs IMO. I mean, who would have thought Porto would have done a number of Munich?
20 Apr 2015 16:24:09
"done a number on Munich" I was meant to put. :)
20 Apr 2015 16:31:57
munich were missing a good few to be fair.
psg and monaco aren't great teams imo and got past arsenal and chelsea.
city have been 1 of the best teams in england for a few years and have been totally outclassed in Europe .
i think there is a big gap to be honest .
english teams will prob be stronger next year but so will madrid and co imo
20 Apr 2015 18:02:59
I think English clubs will be more competitive in Europe next year. The last 3/4 years we have slipped away alarmingly in Europe, but I don't see it staying that way for long. I think we will start to see English clubs doing well again in the near future
20 Apr 2015 18:37:16
Also, what was that rubbish Al was ranting about Carlo ancelotti being an aging Manager? Firstly what has that got to do with United and secondly isn't he about the same age Jose?
20 Apr 2015 18:44:07
These things work in cycles, 1999-2002 England, 2002-2006 Italy, 2007-2009 England, 2010-13 barca and the cycle continues, it's mainly because imo these teams take their foot off the pedal because they believe their superior and the standard naturally drops, too long we've sailed by thinking we're a far superior league whilst our best players slowly drift away/age. When was the last time a ballon d'or player played in the EPL?
20 Apr 2015 19:10:46
Jred, a big gap? We are talking about a few teams here: Madrid, Barca and Munich. They have been the stand out teams; but if you are comparing leagues, then the overall depth of the PL is, IMO, unmatched.
I recall Everton taking Wolfsburg to the cleaners earlier in the season and they are sitting second in the German league.
Didn't the medical staff at Munich get the blame for losing to Porto, hence the team doc of 30 plus years resigning?
20 Apr 2015 19:57:25
I think it's impossble to compare the epl and the rest of the European leagues, the lower teams in the championship have bigger attendances at their games than some la liga games, and with that comes revenue, there's a reason why big business look to get into the English clubs, it's without doubt the most supported league in the world, I don't believe for a minute the second and third tier of German football can come close to the attendances in England and Wales. The first tier has a bigger attendance, but when you delve deeper it's not even close. We all know how tv money is alloted in Spain and juve have italy wrapped up.
The effect is that you have rubbish players, with rubbish coaches and minimal fans, playing teams with Massive resources and continually being propped up by an unfair advantage, like Madrid and Barca's television deals in Spain, and the fact they fill their massive stadiums every week, unlike in England where Norwich City still maintain a 25000+ average. Does anyone think burnley and crystal palace could've beaten Man City without the huge support of their fans in the stadium?
20 Apr 2015 20:05:53
I think its also a lot to do with teams rising to the top and then not replacing those players that got them there. They hold onto them out of sentiment and the easy ride, which stunts the development of their younger players and other teams buy the talent. We suffered massively from this.
To stay at the top you need to be ruthless, too much player power nowadays which means they stay too long.
You need to have a cull and bring younger players in sooner.
20 Apr 2015 22:25:05
Agreed Beast. See AC Milan, and United of last year. Although, I think it's about squeezing every last drop out of your assets as it is sentiment.
21 Apr 2015 11:31:19
agree completely beast, happens at international level too, look at the last 3 winners pre 2014 and see how they did in the tournament after they win and the average age of their squads, quite remarkable.