Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:23 pm  

John_D wrote: Their coefficient has been propped up by Lyon's long run of quarter-final appearances. And which league do you suggest has had clubs going further than that on a regular basis? Netherlands, Portugal? Scotland? There seems to be a bit of money in the Turkish game at the moment, so perhaps their three could come under threat from there in the near future, or perhaps Russia, but there's a lot of ground for those countries to make up - or for France to lose - before that becomes an issue. Instead of critical analysis though, let's just crap on about Platini whose major contribution to the whole thing has been to try to make it easier for national champions to make it to the group stages. Besides, if it's mockery of Platini you want, michelinguides.com is where you want to be. I wasn't actually advocating the reduction of any one country's allocation, I was more responding to somebody who had and pointing out that using their same reasoning there was a more deserving target of their criticism. It's worth noting the very recent record that from 2007-2009 every english team that qualified reached at least the last 8, 1 made the final, and only 1 was knocked out by a non-english team (Barcelona). 2010-11 saw another 3 in the last 8, another finalist, and all 3 only being knocked out by spanish or english teams. So our recent history really is very good, and it just seemed to me like a very selective sample and reasoning to have a pop at english football that doesn't actually stack up. Even last year's winners were written off as a freak, I suspect because they didn't fit the argument.

John_D wrote: Their coefficient has been propped up by Lyon's long run of quarter-final appearances. And which league do you suggest has had clubs going further than that on a regular basis? Netherlands, Portugal? Scotland? There seems to be a bit of money in the Turkish game at the moment, so perhaps their three could come under threat from there in the near future, or perhaps Russia, but there's a lot of ground for those countries to make up - or for France to lose - before that becomes an issue. Instead of critical analysis though, let's just crap on about Platini whose major contribution to the whole thing has been to try to make it easier for national champions to make it to the group stages. Besides, if it's mockery of Platini you want, michelinguides.com is where you want to be. I wasn't actually advocating the reduction of any one country's allocation, I was more responding to somebody who had and pointing out that using their same reasoning there was a more deserving target of their criticism. It's worth noting the very recent record that from 2007-2009 every english team that qualified reached at least the last 8, 1 made the final, and only 1 was knocked out by a non-english team (Barcelona). 2010-11 saw another 3 in the last 8, another finalist, and all 3 only being knocked out by spanish or english teams. So our recent history really is very good, and it just seemed to me like a very selective sample and reasoning to have a pop at english football that doesn't actually stack up. Even last year's winners were written off as a freak, I suspect because they didn't fit the argument.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:17 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

Even last year's winners were written off as a freak, I suspect because they didn't fit the argument.

I said it was a flukey win. It was. Unless you think that Chelsea were the best team in Europe last year and won playing great football? Their "defence" of the trophy pretty much proves my point.

Like Greece in 2004, a fluke.

As I said the last two seasons have been a joke for the English teams. Even my league, the much maligned SPL went as far in the tourney as the English PL, but with one representative rather than four.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:29 pm  

mystic eddie wrote:

I said it was a flukey win. It was. Unless you think that Chelsea were the best team in Europe last year and won playing great football? Their "defence" of the trophy pretty much proves my point.

Like Greece in 2004, a fluke.

As I said the last two seasons have been a joke for the English teams. Even my league, the much maligned SPL went as far in the tourney as the English PL, but with one representative rather than four.

Ah. Now I get it.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:35 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

Ah. Now I get it.

Get what? Because my side plays in the SPL I am automatically banned from pointing out failings in the English Premiership?

Dear me.

Nice deflection attempt though.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:35 pm  

Mikel Arteta is crap. Everton fans must be peeing themselves.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:08 pm  

Dawg wrote:

Mikel Arteta is crap. Everton fans must be peeing themselves.

He isn't crap, he's just not upto Champions League standard.....He was past his best at Everton, which made his move to Arsenal even more of a baffling move by Wenger - The fact he then plays him in a holding midfielder role is even more off a odd move.

Wait until Fellaini gets his move to a Champions League club. It will be the same outcome....Good players in a small pond, exposed at a higher level.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:48 pm  

Dawg wrote:

Mikel Arteta is crap. Everton fans must be peeing themselves.

There was once a debate that he and Michael Carrick were better than Alonso. Football fans

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:39 am  

St. Rughead wrote:

Great performance by Latics today, thought Alcaraz was outstanding and we took our goals really well.

Alcaraz was MOM for me.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:44 am  

Roddy B wrote:

There was once a debate that he and Michael Carrick were better than Alonso. Football fans

There was once talk that Alonso was going to be replaced by Gareth Barry. Football managers

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:01 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

There was once a debate that he and Michael Carrick were better than Alonso. Football fans

There is still a debate going on that Steven Gerrard is better than Alonso. Liverpool fans.