March 19, 201510 yr Agree I don't think it says a lot either. Liverpool were very poor at the beginning of the season, Arsenal had a nightmare, Chelsea tried to play it safe and then Man City got outclassed. It happens. Saying that, I don't think our squads/teams are set up for European ties very well. That said I think we need to do a lot better in Europe in general. How good were Barca last night though? Messi was phenomenal.
March 19, 201510 yr Arsenal & Chelsea could also be seen as slightly unlucky in a technical sense, both being eliminated on away goals. Of course in reality they were both deserved departures IMO but even so it's not as if they were both battered.
March 19, 201510 yr For all the Premier League riches, when was the last time an English team out-bid Real Madrid/Barcelona/Bayern for a top class player? Maybe our clubs don't have the prestige of the first 3. That said, I never really care how "our" teams get on if I'm honest. I watch European matches for top class football and generally don't care who wins.
March 19, 201510 yr For all the Premier League riches, when was the last time an English team out-bid Real Madrid/Barcelona/Bayern for a top class player? Maybe our clubs don't have the prestige of the first 3. That said, I never really care how "our" teams get on if I'm honest. I watch European matches for top class football and generally don't care who wins. I can't recall Bayern ever spending 'top dolla' on a big player? At least not in the £40m+ bracket. Barcelona & Real Madrid play by different rules to everyone else, one because they control how much TV revenue they get, and two because of the presidential situation with the clubs. When you think about it, only Manchester United & Liverpool are clubs with 'prestige', and Liverpool have not gone through a consistent period of winning things for a long time, and Manchester United look like following a similar path.
March 19, 201510 yr I can't recall Bayern ever spending 'top dolla' on a big player? At least not in the £40m+ bracket. Barcelona & Real Madrid play by different rules to everyone else, one because they control how much TV revenue they get, and two because of the presidential situation with the clubs. When you think about it, only Manchester United & Liverpool are clubs with 'prestige', and Liverpool have not gone through a consistent period of winning things for a long time, and Manchester United look like following a similar path. I'm thinking Hazard when he signed for Chelsea? For 32m, I'm sure every club in Europe must have been after him. Our clubs tend to get Barca/Madrid cast offs though like di Maria, Fabregas or Ozil - all fantastic players but it shows they're in a different league for attracting players. Plenty have moved there too like Bale, Ronaldo and Suarez. For Latin Americans, Spain is a big draw. Didn't Javi Martinez cost Bayern loads? Swear it was at least 30m.
March 19, 201510 yr I'm thinking Hazard when he signed for Chelsea? For 32m, I'm sure every club in Europe must have been after him. Our clubs tend to get Barca/Madrid cast offs though like di Maria, Fabregas or Ozil - all fantastic players but it shows they're in a different league for attracting players. Plenty have moved there too like Bale, Ronaldo and Suarez. For Latin Americans, Spain is a big draw. Didn't Javi Martinez cost Bayern loads? Swear it was at least 30m. Hazard's reasoning at the time was that he had signed for the Champions League winners, which was true of course, but I think money played a massive part. Martinez was a bit of an isolated case... I mean I agree they spent big, but they don't do it very often, not like Real Madrid do, and Barcelona did until the transfer embargo. I think the lure of La Liga is big, like you say a lot of Latin American players that family there, and plus the climate is obviously a big draw. Then as well they can offer massive salaries whilst not being bordering ridiculous like Man City did to attract players to their project.
March 20, 201510 yr Until Bayern's recent supremacy, the Bundesliga has tended to be rather more competitive than the other major European leagues. Almost all the clubs are supporter-owned and prices are very reasonable. I've been to several Bundesliga games at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin (Hertha's home ground) and it's been a great experience. All clubs limit the number of season ticket holders which makes it easier for people like me to get a ticket at the club shop a few days before the game.
March 20, 201510 yr It would have been a thrashing if Manchester City didn't have Joe Hart in goal last night. For the second time in three seasons, there'll be no English team in the quarter-finals. What does this say about the Premier League? Maybe it doesn't say anything about the PL. Maybe the Spanish and Italian sides just happen to be in better form right now. It's not some awful disaster that requires microanalysis and it's such an English attitude to imagine we have the right to dominate every year.
March 20, 201510 yr Porto vs. Bayern Munich Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid Juventus vs. Monaco PSG vs. Barcelona
March 20, 201510 yr Very comfortable draw for the big four. (Not including PSG in that statement!) Bayern and Barca will cruise through, Juve should be fine although it probably won't be a high scoring pair of matches, and Real will find their form when it counts. Score predictions - PSG 1:2 Barca Barca 2:0 PSG Atletico 2:2 Real Real 3:0 Atletico Porto 1:3 Bayern Bayern 4:0 Porto Juve 2:0 Monaco Monaco 1:1 Juve
March 20, 201510 yr Bayern, Real and Barca always seem to be kept apart in the quarter finals! Tough draw for Real Madrid and Barcelona though, against difficult opponents. Don't forget that Atletico beat Barcelona at this stage last year! Would say Bayern and Juventus should go through.
March 20, 201510 yr It's poor for there to be no Premier League representation in the QFs, but three in the Last 16 is still nothing to be sniffed at. Chelsea and City both got very difficult draws and would have probably both beaten Monaco (Arsenal probably would do more often than not).
March 20, 201510 yr I'd say the 3 favourites will get through (but not without a few hurdles on the way). Think the Madrid derby will be quite tasty. Also going for Monaco to pull off a shock & edge past Juve to be this season's surprise package!
March 20, 201510 yr Author I'm expecting another fiery encounter at Madrid. Expecting Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus all to go through.
April 12, 201510 yr Author This week: Tuesday: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid 19:45 (ITV) Juventus v Monaco 19:45 (Sky Sports 5) Wednesday: FC Porto v Bayern Munich 19:45 (Sky Sports 5) PSG v Barcelona 19:45 (Sky Sports 1) Expecting that ITV will be showing the second leg of PSG v Barcelona.
April 12, 201510 yr This week: Tuesday: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid 19:45 (ITV) Juventus v Monaco 19:45 (Sky Sports 5) Wednesday: FC Porto v Bayern Munich 19:45 (Sky Sports 5) PSG v Barcelona 19:45 (Sky Sports 1) Expecting that ITV will be showing the second leg of PSG v Barcelona. Indeed, they are (assuming they don't get the chance to change their mind if the tie is a foregone conclusion by the second leg). http://www.live-footballontv.com/live-cham...ball-on-tv.html
April 13, 201510 yr Author Bayern Munich will be without Ribery and Schweinsteiger in their first leg with FC Porto on Wednesday. I'm expecting plenty of cards given out in the match with Atletico and Real. Although I hope it's remembered for the football not for a sending off.
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