14 May 2017 16:26:18
Evening gents, looking for opinions on why you each feel the English teams have fallen so far behind Europe's elite? It wasn't that long ago we had an English team in a fair few consecutive finals, and at least two in every semi final. It's not as though they can't compete financially so what's got wrong?
14 May 2017 17:00:59
In my view EPL clubs are poorly structured and poorly run with little to no long term planning. We rely on our very deep pockets to be able to throw money at a problem.
If we look at Bayern, they clearly have an identity and strategy that remains fairly stable even if the manager changes. They identify the players they need and then go get them. ribery and robben are getting on in years so they go out and get coman and costa early, interstate them into the team so when Ribery and robben leave their successors are already intergrated into the team.
Man Utd let Vida, rio and evra leave without quality replacements in place.
Bayern have very deep pockets, but we don't see them getting their pants pulled down on transfers. Don't get me wrong, they pay significant transfer fees, but not stupid money like we have.
I think one reason why they are so well run is that they have ex players involved with running the club. People who know football and know the club. I think we could learn a lot from their German efficiency.
14 May 2017 19:20:02
I completely agree with that post.
One thing I would add is that when English teams dominated, Spanish clubs couldn't offer the money we could. Now they can, and somewhere like Madrid is much more attractive that an Manchester, Liverpool etc. They play in front of huge crowds, paid the best money, have great weather and a fantastic quality of life.
14 May 2017 19:31:46
Both great points, so my next question is are we capable of getting some of that dominance back or is that our lot, bar an occasional European title hear and there?
14 May 2017 19:39:03
Spot on Huggy. We seem to be battling to put a decent first 11 together whilst Bayern are putting together a 2nd 11 to to ensure they dominate domestically at the very least for the next 10 years.
Their recruitment is excellent, they rarely sign a flop and seem to get rid of their players before they become an over paid squad player.
14 May 2017 19:49:45
Huggy, you've hit the nail on the head there mate. If you look at all the top European clubs they have ex players working at all levels. We just don't seem to do that in England. We have a few ex players who have ambassadorial roles or youth team coaches, nothing else though.
The structures of the clubs abroad are much better. This is also why we struggle with our national team. There's no identity within our football anymore.
14 May 2017 21:23:54
I said this year's ago that we should have the likes of Giggs, Scholes, Neville being the guys to pass on their knowledge and experience.
14 May 2017 23:12:33
The EPL money is well documented. Average players are marketed at huge prices as they know we will pay and know we have no better option. Bayern for example could go and buy Goretza for £15 million this summer, our equivalent is Dier at over £40m. The market is toppy to say the least - a bubble that will burst at some point. It isn't sustainable.
15 May 2017 07:50:21
Huggy. Fantastic post and totally agree.
Our transfer policy has been a shambles and many of us have been saying it for a long time. Fergie made a few errors also. When Silva and Aguero were available, we didn't want to pay. And Silva was £20m. Yet we go out and splash £60m on adm, £30m on Depay etc.
Bayern transfer policy seems more structured as all German companies are. Our transfer policy seems to have no thought at all. Also, some say Woodword is doing a good job! I totally disagree. He's throwing money at clubs and giving players astronomical wages. There's nothing clever about that.
Finally, our scouting has been as bad as it gets and it's time the club changed that.
I don't think we're in good shape on the pitch and we're certainly not in good shape for the near future. Club's have better training facilities than us. It seems that the club is stuck in a time warp. Ed002 has alluded to this many times before.
I for one don't want us to buy Rodriguez or greizman as we're turning into a club full of overrated overhyped individuals with no idea of team spirit.