Barclays English Premier League

[DaytonBuck]

This is a battle between the common criminal and the rule of law

[23Skidoo]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

This is a battle between the common criminal and the rule of law

European, I prefer Bundesliga (good mix of physicality and ability... can also score goals in more ways than just lobbing the ball from the touchline as often as possible), Eredivisie (when it's a good matchup very high quality of play rife with future stars -- but the bottom half of the league is dross), La Liga (pure skill... diving happens but at least it's not Italian y'know...)

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by 23Skidoo

European, I prefer Bundesliga (good mix of physicality and ability... can also score goals in more ways than just lobbing the ball from the touchline as often as possible), Eredivisie (when it's a good matchup very high quality of play rife with future stars -- but the bottom half of the league is dross), La Liga (pure skill... diving happens but at least it's not Italian y'know...)

Bundesliga was tops a decade ago. Now there best team might make it out of the CL group stages. 2nd tier football now. The Eredivisie is fine if you want to see who the big clubs in Europe will be buying next, but there are really only 4 teams worth even looking at. La Liga just like Serie A are both in my view unwatchable. They play at such a slow tempo and dive so often I forget I'm watching football and think someone colored the pool green. Don't get me wrong both leagues have some great teams, but across the board, too much crap to bother with. The other problem is the broadcasts of both leagues look as if a teenager with a handycam is filming it.

[BigWoof31]

Originally Posted by tmporter

Bundesliga was tops a decade ago. Now there best team might make it out of the CL group stages. 2nd tier football now.

This has alwasy facinated me. Money just doesn't go away (unless its in my 401k, harf harf harf). Why the dramatic swing of talent? Its not as if an entire league just woke up one morning and decided to be poorly managed.

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by BigWoof31

This has alwasy facinated me. Money just doesn't go away (unless its in my 401k, harf harf harf). Why the dramatic swing of talent? Its not as if an entire league just woke up one morning and decided to be poorly managed.

It has little to do with money. Look at AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid. Teams that have huge budgets, and make poor decisions. Look at teams in other sports, NY Knicks, NY Rangers, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Orioles and so many others. Huge payrolls and poor onfield performance. The Bundesliga's slide has been caused by its 3 top teams making poor decisions on talent, coaching and other things. Bayen Munich, Weder Bremen, Dortmund, Stuttgart have been left behind on the world stage by the other leagues through both a lack of vision, in world TV markets, a lack of young players wanting to play in their home country and bad decision making. Right now, with the English teams attracting so much world talent other lagues have to push for more worldwide exposure to compete.

['BusNative]

Chelsea is wilting quickly... not for any real reason either. Sunday's showing was pathetic.

[Messi18Man]

Meh. EPL. It's no wonder so many Americans think the sport is boring when they're told the standard is the English variant.

American's think the sport is boring because they don't score 10 goals a game, they need instant gratification (goals) and a fast up and down the field paced game with scoring chances galore (like hockey). Of course the English variant is the standard, how could it NOT be ? the announcers speak English, a few Americans own English clubs and last year the final 4 of the Champions League were all English clubs.

Kinda disheartening when a guy with a handle of Messi starts a thread on EPL.

Oh just because I'm a Leo Messi fan it automatically means that I don't follow any other team than Barca or any other league than La Liga ? Pulllleaaaase, It would be like me assuming you only watch Celtic and the Scottish Premier League (which is obviously untrue). Kinda disheartening when Celtic give up 3 away goals and lose at home in the first leg of the knockout stage in the UCL isn't it ?

[BUCKYLE]

I can't speak for all Americans, but I [censored]ing hate soccer because there's too much running. It's like watching a marathon, without all the action.

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

I can't speak for all Americans, but I [censored]ing hate soccer because there's too much running. It's like watching a marathon, without all the action.

It's just like I can't watch Crickett. I have no idea of what is going on and I don't have inclanation to learn. If you watch enough of it you may learn to like it.

[Messi18Man]

I had no idea how in the hell Rugby works but I found myself watching the Rugby World Cup last year fairly often, quite an interesting sport that is very similar to football here except without ANY pads which is crazy. I have a lot of respect for people who play professional rugby.

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

I had no idea how in the hell Rugby works but I found myself watching the Rugby World Cup last year fairly often, quite an interesting sport that is very similar to football here except without ANY pads which is crazy. I have a lot of respect for people who play professional rugby.

I got into Rugby many years ago. It is the purest for of contact sport. The wear little to no padding and it is played at a very high pace, when it is played well. You can ask some of the other guys around here, as there are a number of rugby players that are members of the board. Rugby is a fairly easy game to follow. Some of the rules and the play at first are very odd. Its nice to see some other people have varied sporting interest aside from the college football that dominates discussions here.

[BUCKYLE]

Get a room you two grass fairies.

[23Skidoo]

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

American's think the sport is boring because they don't score 10 goals a game, they need instant gratification (goals) and a fast up and down the field paced game with scoring chances galore (like hockey). Of course the English variant is the standard, how could it NOT be ? the announcers speak English, a few Americans own English clubs and last year the final 4 of the Champions League were all English clubs.

But the English style itself isn't dominant. English football is crap. Their international record tells that story.
The big 4 are what? A Spaniard, a Frenchman, a Scotsman, and a Gazillionaire. Those 4 teams are very good, but they're not entertaining to watch play other EPL teams.
Except possibly Arsenal, but they're also infuriating and I don't really care what happens to them.

Oh just because I'm a Leo Messi fan it automatically means that I don't follow any other team than Barca or any other league than La Liga ? Pulllleaaaase, It would be like me assuming you only watch Celtic and the Scottish Premier League (which is obviously untrue). Kinda disheartening when Celtic give up 3 away goals and lose at home in the first leg of the knockout stage in the UCL isn't it ?

Celtic shipping goals in knockout stages is just par for the course mate. I don't have the luxury of bandwagoning on the latest greatest team for the hell of it.

[Messi18Man]

It can be True while watching EPL matches that they are boring, but I'm convinced that the defenses in that league are far superior to all other leagues bar none. When I watch Serie A or La Liga it seems like teams allow you to bring the ball up unchallenged and allow you all the space in the world when in the EPL they mark players much more closely and spacing and passing lanes are a lot more tight (from my untrained perspective of course). I consider myself fairly neutral because I've only been watching the sport for 3 years now and I like to watch teams from throughout the various leagues in Europe as well as Internationals. I'm more a fan of certain players than their overall teams but If I had to choose one team it would be Barca. 1) Because their the only real team I've ever had a chance to see in person (twice, NY '06 and Chicago '08 during their summer pre-season tour) 2) Leo Messi and 3) they are one of the few teams that realize their is a market here for the sport and are at least giving an effort to try and market not only their team here (Miami MLS franchise ? summer pre-season tours) but the sport itself. I think this is great because futbol recieves too much negativity over here and I think there is great potential for it to not only gain popularity but to give future players a chance to make successful and meaningful careers in Europe.

[Messi18Man]

But like I said, that were if I had to CHOOSE a team right now and it would mostly be because of Messi alone. Yeah I watch pretty much all of their games but if he doesnt play I would much rather watch a good EPL, Serie A, La Liga or Bundesliga matchup with top teams in those leagues involved. But i'm still more about watching specific players unfortunately because I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching players I like perform well.