ES Soccer Thread

[btfoom]

Talk all you want about MLS and American soccer but they will never reach the level of El Clasico or The Derby anytime soon

Epic matches

That's OK. The English have been playing soccer for hundreds of years and are still nowhere near the level of La Liga, Bundisliga, or Serie A.

Epic leagues with great teams that play soccer properly.

[StillUnknown]

thanks for the response Ren

[Elessar78]

Kinda new to watching soccer, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what is the age range for the prime of a players career typically?

Mid 30s for goalkeepers. For field players, like Ren said, mid 20s.

Out of curiousity, what made you start watching soccer?

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

That's OK. The English have been playing soccer for hundreds of years and are still nowhere near the level of La Liga, Bundisliga, or Serie A.

Epic leagues with great teams that play soccer properly.

Except the Europeans can't handle the English on the biggest stage nine times out of ten.

Spain have produced 13 European Cup/ Champions League winners between two clubs. Italy 12 from 3 clubs. Germany a paltry 6 from 3 clubs. (The same as the Netherlands.). With England 12 split between 5 clubs.

In the UEFA Cup/ Europa League, Italy leads the way with 9 wins split between 4 clubs. Spain has 7 from 4 clubs. With England and Germany 6 each split between 3 and 5 clubs respectively.

And in the now sadly defunct European Cup Winners Cup, England has 9 wins from 7 clubs. Italy and Spain 7 wins from 6 and 4 clubs respectively. And Germany 5 wins from 5 different teams.

The English may not always play the most aesthetically pleasing soccer, but it sure is effective on the biggest stage of all.

Hail.

[StillUnknown]

Mid 30s for goalkeepers. For field players, like Ren said, mid 20s.

Out of curiousity, what made you start watching soccer?

I received Fifa 12 for ps3 as a gift when it came out, been hooked since.

[Elessar78]

I received Fifa 12 for ps3 as a gift when it came out, been hooked since.

Nice! I coach soccer and the old-fart coaches always turn their noses up when we tell kids/parents to go get Fifa or PES for a console as part of learning medium. I think it can teach you certain things but more importantly it's another way for kids to get hooked into the pro game. Too many kids don't really watch pro soccer, particularly the girls, so it's just one more way.

[GSF]

That's OK. The English have been playing soccer for hundreds of years and are still nowhere near the level of La Liga, Bundisliga, or Serie A.

Epic leagues with great teams that play soccer properly.

What?! You might not like the english style of play, but there's no question the top teams from the EPL can compete with the top teams from the other european leagues. I personally much prefer to watch the EPL over the Italian or German leagues.

[morris84]

Except the Europeans can't handle the English on the biggest stage nine times out of ten.

Spain have produced 13 European Cup/ Champions League winners between two clubs. Italy 12 from 3 clubs. Germany a paltry 6 from 3 clubs. (The same as the Netherlands.). With England 12 split between 5 clubs.

In the UEFA Cup/ Europa League, Italy leads the way with 9 wins split between 4 clubs. Spain has 7 from 4 clubs. With England and Germany 6 each split between 3 and 5 clubs respectively.

And in the now sadly defunct European Cup Winners Cup, England has 9 wins from 7 clubs. Italy and Spain 7 wins from 6 and 4 clubs respectively. And Germany 5 wins from 5 different teams.

The English may not always play the most aesthetically pleasing soccer, but it sure is effective on the biggest stage of all.

Hail.

What exactly are you trying to say here? That English club teams are better then the rest of European club teams? Sorry if I'm not quite understanding your point. Thanks.

[Elessar78]

What?! You might not like the english style of play, but there's no question the top teams from the EPL can compete with the top teams from the other european leagues. I personally much prefer to watch the EPL over the Italian or German leagues.

Maybe around the 99 Champions League final, or was that the European Cup? Top English CLUBS have been tending away from actually having English players. British maybe but not English.

Additionally. the top English clubs have ceased to be coached by English coaches for over a decade now. Go ahead, call Ferguson English . So besides the soil, not sure what is English about the EPL. I think it refers to the language it's broadcast in?

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

Even though the players arent English, and neither are most of the managers, they still do play a very English style. You can tell by watching how some of these teams play in Europe vs the premier league. In Europe, they often have to play a slower and possession oriented game whereas in England its more helter skelter.

In saying that, even tho Chelsea won it last year and United made the final in 2011, the English clubs are not as strong as they were in the mid noughties. Not anywhere close. 2 teams out in the group stage of CL for the 2nd straight year, and neither United or Arsenal have the quality to beat the best teams in Europe in the KO rounds. This has been the trend since the summer Cronaldo was sold to Madrid, the league has gotten weaker considerably. None of the teams can defend anymore and midfield play is nonexistant. Its exciting football, but its not the best league in the world in terms of strong teams anymore.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Oh without question Asiatic. The notion that the EPL is the best league in the World is utter codswallop. It's arguably the most exciting league in the World, but in the main that's because nobody can defend. (And the 100 miles an hour, all out action that the English fans demand. Another reason why the National side continues to struggle. The type of soccer demanded by supporters just isn't conducive to International football.). Hell, you've only got to look at the current top club in England. For a United side under Ferguson, this is a pretty darn weak one. I've lost count of the amount of games they've had to come from behind by double goals this year. All games they should of lost. But Ferguson knows, as simplistic as it sounds, you attack every game, your gona' invariably score goals and win matches. Which is even more pertinent given the overall standard of poor defending in England. A poor (for him) Utd squad. Yet they sit 6 points clear at the top of the table leading upto the Christmas rush of fixtures. All an indictment on the other 19 clubs and the overall standard of the league.

The point I was making above was over the years, which still rings true today given that over the last 10 Champions League Finals, Engand has been represented 8 times with 3 wins (4 different clubs); compared to Italy with 2 wins from the 5 times they've been represented (3 clubs); Spain 3 wins from 3 outings (1 club); and Germany 2 appearances from the same club, with 0 wins; England still more than holds it's own at the very top table of European football. Over the same period, the number of Spanish clubs contesting the Uefa/ Europa League final just adds to my opinion that the overall quality of La Liga is currently unmatched Continent wide. Through the last 10 finals in the second competition, Spain has been represented 7 times, through 5 different clubs, with 5 wins. England twice, through 2 clubs with 0 wins. Germany once, with zero wins. And not a single Serie A club making the final in that competition since Parma back in 1999.

The EPL may not be a strong overall league. And it's FAR from the best quality league in Europe, however they continue to B/S that in their promotion. (Although for the viewing public World wide, like GSF above, the excitement level is unmatched anywhere.).

But England still more than holds it own when it comes to winning European Competitions. And that ultimately is the true barometer of how strong your league is.

Hail.

[Elessar78]

Hmmm....

Maybe in the 90s Serie A played a better brand of soccer but as a whole have you guys watched it recently? They lump the ball forward, lots of speculative 50/50 balls, lots of turnovers.

United have always played Ferguson-ball, wide, fast, physical. Arsene brought a more continental style to Arsenal, Rafa had his influence on liverpool, and Mourinho how can anyone say his Chelsea team didn't defend? The evolution continues as well with teams like Swansea (pre/post rodgers). And I see more evidence that mid and lower level clubs in the premiership WILL knock the ball around and not necessarily just hoof it up/Route 1 football.

Spain are basically two-teams deep. I don't know too much about Bundesliga beyond Dortmund and Bayern.

Given choice, I'd watch EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A in that order.

[RichmondRedskin88]

I don't understand the cheapshot at the MLS. Our league is getting better. Also english football has been disappointment of recent. As far as english clubs teams out of Chelsea's miracle they have gotten beat a lot head to head with other european teams as of recent including my club(Man Utd)

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

I don't know if anyone's watching, but Bradford City from England's fourth tier are currently leading a more or less full strength Arsenal 1-0 at half-time in the League Cup quarter final in a rip-roaring cup-tie. Bradford could, and probably should, be 2 or 3 up. Brilliant stuff.

Hope I'm not jinxing anything, but if they put out Arsenal and get to the semi's it will be an even more unbelievable achievement than what they achieved already this year to get this far.

No offense to any Arsenal fans out there, but come on City second half!

Hail.

[Elessar78]

I don't know if anyone's watching, but Bradford City from England's fourth tier are currently leading a more or less full strength Arsenal 1-0 at half-time in the League Cup quarter final in a rip-roaring cup-tie. Bradford could, and probably should, be 2 or 3 up. Brilliant stuff.

Hope I'm not jinxing anything, but if they put out Arsenal and get to the semi's it will be an even more unbelievable achievement than what they achieved already this year to get this far.

No offense to any Arsenal fans out there, but come on City second half!



Hail.

Offense taken, you Scouse traitor!!