sToNED_CAT Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I think that to some extent Alex is right that this year's performance is just statistically unusual. I think also that there's a difference between the best league and the league with the best clubs. But looked at over a broader period, I think there's a degree of underperformance in Europe by the top PL clubs, certainly relative to where they perceive themselves. It's not as bad as the current hand-wringing suggests, just as the success of the PL clubs a few years back was overplayed. But there is certainly room for improvement. Yes I don't think the lack of success of PL clubs is because of bad luck this season (they were poor previous season too and before that it was just Chelsea mostly). The fact is as Barcelona fan I was never scared of any English club except Chelsea. United, Arsenal, Liverpool, City - all of them were simply considered must wins for me and this year I was pretty happy we got City, despite our poor form back then I was sure we will advance through them. Also when I hear a talk about how other leagues, like Primera Division are easy and unbalanced, compared to PL - if that's the case why were Spanish clubs so successful in EL recently, for example? I believe if some midtable Primera team like Sevilla or Villareal would be able to defeat Arsenal like Monaco did. I don't think other teams in Primera are easy prey, they are just not consistent, so a team that is great one year (Bilbao, Valencia) often undergoes steep decline next year. So when a lot of people see Barca/Real (and now also Atletico) on top and ever changing bunch of teams under, they consider all those on lower position crap. But they are not bad in that particular year, they are just unable to maintain consistent form long term (because of poor finances). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercenaryChef Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 official livestream for the CL draw here\ PSG vs BarcaAtletico vs Real MadridPorto vs bayernJuventus vs MonacoMy picks:BarcaAtleticoBayernJuventus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I think the Liverpool link is just lazy journalism. More likely it's Walcott's people trying to put pressure on the club (the Standard have the same story). His contract talks have now been put "on hold" until the summer. Cheerio, Theo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercenaryChef Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Several years ago I signed Theo to the Magpies. My front line of Martins, owen, and Theo helped me to a epl title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 PSG vs Barca is gonna be awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex. Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Would have loved a trip to Paris :( Just over the threshold into being able to buy CL away tickets as well.. Will have to wait til next season ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterfell is Burning Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Europa League Draw: Sevilla v Zenit St Petersburg • Dnipro v Club Brugge • Dynamo Kyiv v Fiorentina • Wolfsburg v Napoli The last one specially should be quite interesting. My picks for CL and EL are: BarçaAtléticoBayernJuve SevillaDniproFiorentinaWolfsburg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Hope Rafa takes down Woffsburg :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polishgenius Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I think the Liverpool link is just lazy journalism. We may have had some interest in him a while back, but we're pretty well stocked in those areas. We really don't have the money to be able to afford luxury additions. I think most of the 'Walcott to Liverpool' speculation is based around the premise that Sterling will sooner or later leave to either City or Madrid. They're not particularly similar apart from being fast and English, but what can you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 We are constantly linked with him cause he supported LFC as a kid as well :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDonegal Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 It can't be a coincidence that now Sterling has put his own contract talks with Liverpool on hold... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I doubt it's got anything to do with it really. Those talks have been meandering on for a while now, it's not massively unreasonable to leave it till the summer. Since Walcott will almost certainly want the kind of money Sterling wants there doesn't seem to be a great deal of benefit in theoretically replacing Sterling with Walcott, you might as well just pay Sterling the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Yeah Henderson is also holding out till end of the year to figure out a deal, seems pretty common to wait until summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex. Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Waiting to see if Liverpool make the Champions League by the look of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I think Sterling's still actually got a while left on his contract, he just wants more money. Next year's the last year of Henderson's contract though so we need to resign him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polishgenius Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 What Alex said.The difference between them being that if it becomes clear Sterling wishes to leave there'll be plenty of CL teams wanting to buy him, whereas Henderson wouldn't improve anyone likely to be able to afford him. Though there'd be worse options than him if Juve were looking for a Pogba replacement (seeing as they'll never get anyone actually as good), I couldn't see that happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Antony Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 He will probably force his way out of Rodgers keeps sticking him at wing back :P , he never really looks like he enjoys playing there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Sterling will probably end up being the wife-beating version of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 we only have 13 fit players, have already given up on the season, and arsenal are rampant at the minute. nothing can possibly go wrong today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 It sounds exactly like the sort of game we could end up losing. Fairly certain Alexis will be on the bench today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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