There is no doubt that La Liga dominates European play. But as for your assertion that the Bundesliga ans Serie A are better than the Premier League is simply indulging your own prejudices.
In that last ten years, Barca and Real have those 5 CL titles, and Atletico made the Final once.
For the Bundesliga, Bayern won once, was a beaten finalist twice, and Borussia Dortmund lost in the Final once.
For Serie A, AC Milan won once (hard to square that with their dreadful performances in Bavaria against Bayern and Spurs) and Inter won once, and Juventus was once a beaten finalist.
Regarding England, Man United won once, and was twice a beaten Finalist. Chelsea won once and was once a beaten Finalist, and Arsenal was a beaten Finalist.
There was a Final between teams from the same country three times: once for England, once for Germany, and once for Spain.
Yet you are assured in calling England as inferior to Germany and Italy. Chacqu'un a son gout.
But the economic disparities between teams in Italy and Spain are dangerous to the sustainability of those league's success. MLS has a higher average attendance than Serie A. Parma went bankrupt last year, Cagliari had their stadium condemned and played over a season nowhere on Sardinia, but in Trieste, almost as far from home as possible while staying in Italy. Elche relegated for failing to pay wages, but several Bundesliga stars are heading to England in Firmino and Okazaki. England has the most equitable distribution of wealth.
In that last ten years, Barca and Real have those 5 CL titles, and Atletico made the Final once.
For the Bundesliga, Bayern won once, was a beaten finalist twice, and Borussia Dortmund lost in the Final once.
For Serie A, AC Milan won once (hard to square that with their dreadful performances in Bavaria against Bayern and Spurs) and Inter won once, and Juventus was once a beaten finalist.
Regarding England, Man United won once, and was twice a beaten Finalist. Chelsea won once and was once a beaten Finalist, and Arsenal was a beaten Finalist.
There was a Final between teams from the same country three times: once for England, once for Germany, and once for Spain.
Yet you are assured in calling England as inferior to Germany and Italy. Chacqu'un a son gout.
But the economic disparities between teams in Italy and Spain are dangerous to the sustainability of those league's success. MLS has a higher average attendance than Serie A. Parma went bankrupt last year, Cagliari had their stadium condemned and played over a season nowhere on Sardinia, but in Trieste, almost as far from home as possible while staying in Italy. Elche relegated for failing to pay wages, but several Bundesliga stars are heading to England in Firmino and Okazaki. England has the most equitable distribution of wealth.
1
@Paul writes,
"There is no doubt that La Liga dominates European play. But as for your assertion that the Bundesliga ans Serie A are better than the Premier League is simply indulging your own prejudices."
I am not prejudiced against the Prem. It simply isn't the best league in the world. I remember reading earlier this year from one of your posts on this site that the Bundesliga and Serie A were better than the Premier League. You wrote that.
"Yet you are assured in calling England as inferior to Germany and Italy."
Inferior is your word not mine.
Echoes of that blowhard Gooner from Alberta, eh?
"England has the most equitable distribution of wealth". The socialized TV contract with the now American-Aussie from Adelaide assists in that dynamic. That does substantiate your claim that the Premier League is better, one iota.
The Spanish TV deal with La Liga is grossly in favor of Barca and Madrid.
It is not fair at all but I won't root against Barca as a result of it.
The Premier League gets all the hype in America largely because we share a common language and the Prem is on basic cable and La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga aren't. And American soccer fans buy into the incessant rubbish spewed by mostly ex-pat Brits on our airwaves @ ESPN FC, NBC Sportsnet and Fox Sports One. The Premier League is the best in the world, blah, blah, blah...
It clearly isn't by the only metric that matters, the Eurpoean competition stats I already outlined.
"There is no doubt that La Liga dominates European play. But as for your assertion that the Bundesliga ans Serie A are better than the Premier League is simply indulging your own prejudices."
I am not prejudiced against the Prem. It simply isn't the best league in the world. I remember reading earlier this year from one of your posts on this site that the Bundesliga and Serie A were better than the Premier League. You wrote that.
"Yet you are assured in calling England as inferior to Germany and Italy."
Inferior is your word not mine.
Echoes of that blowhard Gooner from Alberta, eh?
"England has the most equitable distribution of wealth". The socialized TV contract with the now American-Aussie from Adelaide assists in that dynamic. That does substantiate your claim that the Premier League is better, one iota.
The Spanish TV deal with La Liga is grossly in favor of Barca and Madrid.
It is not fair at all but I won't root against Barca as a result of it.
The Premier League gets all the hype in America largely because we share a common language and the Prem is on basic cable and La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga aren't. And American soccer fans buy into the incessant rubbish spewed by mostly ex-pat Brits on our airwaves @ ESPN FC, NBC Sportsnet and Fox Sports One. The Premier League is the best in the world, blah, blah, blah...
It clearly isn't by the only metric that matters, the Eurpoean competition stats I already outlined.
1
More than one commentator here has called the pace of the MLS slow. That is untrue. The pace of the MLS is blistering. It is the tactical and technical know-how of individual and group play that is lacking in comparison to the top European leagues.
3
Of course, as a DFB fan I say good for Johannsson.... ( especially as Werder can use all the help it can muster these days) --- But I also think that Klinsmann has a good idea behind getting more US players to play overseas, since such experience is surely not lost when playing on the international circuit.
Pity only, we can't draft more Bundesliga (or Premier League, or La Liga ) players over here....
Pity only, we can't draft more Bundesliga (or Premier League, or La Liga ) players over here....
Mr. Garber must defend his product, but to suggest young american players looking to play for the USMNT will not improve their chances by playing in Europe is dishonest. Especially while Mr. Klinsman is the coach.
@ Paul writes, "We need players playing in England or Germany, where the pace and endurance are far superior, or in Italy, where players are required to be fundamentally sound and tactically highly aware."
The best league in the world for every attribute he mentions and more is clearly La Liga. No contest.
Unfortunately the decades old and I mean old Anglicized prism is still alive and well in North America.
The best league in the world for every attribute he mentions and more is clearly La Liga. No contest.
Unfortunately the decades old and I mean old Anglicized prism is still alive and well in North America.
2
Not intentionally selling La Liga short, but without BeIn on my package, i only see Spanish teams in European competition. Look, it's not the top coefficient league for nothing, but there is a far, far greater record of Americans playing in Germany, England and even in Italy than in Spain. Should Americans *aspire* to play in La Liga? Absolutely. That there are very young Americans in both Barcelona's and Real's academies shows that there are parents and advisers that get it.
1
I agree. Why is La Liga overlooked in this country as an option for these American players? When was the last time a US International played in Spain? Altidore with Villareal? La Liga has the two best teams in the world and a number of world class teams that regularly perform well in Europe. Playing for an Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Valencia, Sevilla is at least as good if not better than playing for Fulham, Wigan, Stoke, Sunderland or any of those awful, generally skill-less English teams. Also, I know that in the US, we obsess how great the BPL is but I can't help notice that the best World Cup Performers actually play in Spain, Italy and Germany.
1
Barca are reigning CL champs. Madrid the year before.
In a 10 year span Barca has 4 titles, Madrid one.
Sevilla reigning CL champs for the second year in a row.
6 out of the last 10 Europa league champions were Spanish.
Of those 6, Sevilla has four. Atletico 2.
That is the metric as to what league is the best, the champions in the CL or Europa league.
Also there is no contest as to what league has the best players, technically and tactically, it is Spain.
Empirical data suggests that unfortunately Barca will not repeat as CL champions and a La Liga repeat will be a tough one as well.
We lack depth in attack.
The Premier League gets all the hype because we share a common language. That's it and American futbol fans buy into the rubbish spewed
on ESPN FC, NBC Sportsnet and Fox Sports One. The Premier League is clearly not the best league in the world.
I'd say the Bundesliga and Serie A are better than the Prem.
In a 10 year span Barca has 4 titles, Madrid one.
Sevilla reigning CL champs for the second year in a row.
6 out of the last 10 Europa league champions were Spanish.
Of those 6, Sevilla has four. Atletico 2.
That is the metric as to what league is the best, the champions in the CL or Europa league.
Also there is no contest as to what league has the best players, technically and tactically, it is Spain.
Empirical data suggests that unfortunately Barca will not repeat as CL champions and a La Liga repeat will be a tough one as well.
We lack depth in attack.
The Premier League gets all the hype because we share a common language. That's it and American futbol fans buy into the rubbish spewed
on ESPN FC, NBC Sportsnet and Fox Sports One. The Premier League is clearly not the best league in the world.
I'd say the Bundesliga and Serie A are better than the Prem.
1
Reading this just reminds me how much the US is now really in a down period with regard to the production of young talent. Not sure what Klinsmann can do about that in the short term, other than continue to scour the global landscape for the sons of American citizens who grew up and learned their soccer somewhere else. Don Garber might take offense at Klinsmann's urging his players to try to play in Europe if they can. If they get regular playing time, then great. If not, playing regularly for an MLS team would probably be a better option. But even as MLS continues to improve. it remains a 2nd or 3rd tier league where the pace is slower and the quality of play and competition is lower. When the better players who are playing in Europe return to the National Team they have to adapt to what their teammates' are able to do.
1
Staying and playing in Europe is a good decision by Johannsson.
Jurgen Klinsmann is right when he wants more and more americans footballers play in Europe. PLay with the best and you will rise your level. MLS is OK. Its growing year after year. But as long as Europeans countries are strong economicly, this continent is the perfect place as center of world football.
Jurgen Klinsmann is right when he wants more and more americans footballers play in Europe. PLay with the best and you will rise your level. MLS is OK. Its growing year after year. But as long as Europeans countries are strong economicly, this continent is the perfect place as center of world football.
2
It's a step up in class for one of the few Americans who weren't woefully disappointing in the Tin Cup.
And with Spurs having signed Kieran Trippier and having Kyle Walker, it's hard to see where DeAndre Yedlin's playing time will come from unless he switches positions.
MLS is improving, but with a major influx of aging stars, the pace is, charitably, leisurely. We need players playing in England or Germany, where the pace and endurance are far superior, or in Italy, where players are required to be fundamentally sound and tactically highly aware.
I wish Johansson well, and hope he can break into a side that can sure score.
And with Spurs having signed Kieran Trippier and having Kyle Walker, it's hard to see where DeAndre Yedlin's playing time will come from unless he switches positions.
MLS is improving, but with a major influx of aging stars, the pace is, charitably, leisurely. We need players playing in England or Germany, where the pace and endurance are far superior, or in Italy, where players are required to be fundamentally sound and tactically highly aware.
I wish Johansson well, and hope he can break into a side that can sure score.
2
Barca are reigning CL champs. Madrid the year before.
In a 10 year span Barca has 4 titles, Madrid one.
Sevilla reigning CL champs for the second year in a row.
6 out of the last 10 Europa league champions were Spanish.
Of those 6, Sevilla has four. Atletico 2.
That is the metric as to what league is the best, the champions in the CL or Europa league.
Also there is no contest as to what league has the best players, technically and tactically, it is Spain.
Empirical data suggests that unfortunately Barca will not repeat as CL champions and a La Liga repeat will be a tough one as well.
We lack depth in attack.
The Premier League gets all the hype because we share a common language. That's it and American futbol fans buy into the rubbish spewed
on ESPN FC, NBC Sportsnet and Fox Sports One. The Premier League is clearly not the best league in the world.
I'd say the Bundesliga and Serie A are better than the Prem.