Edmund Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 Sorry Nathko http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009/10/01...tion-in-europe/ A few days ago, Real Zaragoza president Eduardo Bandres said: “The Spanish league will be a matter totally and absolutely between two teams, among other things because the system for distributing television rights determines that it will be this way. It is unique in Europe and because of this the Spanish league is one of the most boring in Europe.”The television channels would beg to differ, as they regularly run adverts or open their coverage of matches from La Liga claiming it is the ‘best league in the world’ with clips of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi running in the background. But Bandres has a point. Five games in, and the table has an all-too familiar look about it. There are only two clubs left with a 100 percent record – Real Madrid and Barcelona. Who has scored the most goals? Real and Barca with 16 apiece. Who has conceded the fewest? Real with two. Barca have let in three. Which clubs have the most money? Real and Barca are both working on budgets of over 400 million euros, three to four times greater than their nearest rivals. They rake in around half of the money earned from La Liga’s television rights, which are not negotiated on a collective basis. At least Valencia’s David Villa bucks the trend in the individual goal-scoring charts, topping the rankings with six, but second behind him with five each are Ibrahimovic, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. There are four clubs expected to be mixing it at the top and competing for Spain’s other two Champions League qualification places: Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. Atletico and Villarreal are in the bottom three without a win from their opening matches, and are already 12 and 13 points adrift of Real and Barca respectively. Valencia have slipped down to seventh without a win in their last three outings. Only Sevilla are putting up a fight, and they lie third with 12 points from a possible 15. They have a squad that boasts Frederic Kanoute, Luis Fabiano and Alvaro Negredo up front, with the likes of Jesus Navas, Diego Capel and Diego Perotti providing the bullets. They have won six on the trot in all competitions and will provide Real Madrid with their stiffest test yet when Manuel Pellegrini’s side visit the Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday. As things stand, this is Real’s most difficult league clash of the season outside of their home and away battles with Barca. A victory for Sevilla could signal the start of a genuine challenge from the Andalucians, and add some much needed spice to the title race. A defeat would leave more people agreeing with Bandres.
dandannieldanok Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 SPL is far worse, at least there is decent football in La Liga.
purpleronnie Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 Most leagues have a couple of teams who usually win it, no different, as far as spanish footy is concerned I love watching it the skill level is so much higher than elsewhere.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership, Newcastle and West Brom at the top of the Championship, Leeds and Charlton at the top of League One. Besides, if boring is predictable then surely Atleti and Villarreal's plights make for a bit of interest and Real are actually making a decent fist of matching Barca this season as opposed to last. Apart from anything else, the two best footballers I have seen play in my lifetime both play in La Liga, and the majority of the current top ten in the world. Suffice to say, I think La Liga is anything but boring.
Edmund Posted 1 October 2009 Author Posted 1 October 2009 Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership, Newcastle and West Brom at the top of the Championship, Leeds and Charlton at the top of League One.Besides, if boring is predictable then surely Atleti and Villarreal's plights make for a bit of interest and Real are actually making a decent fist of matching Barca this season as opposed to last. Apart from anything else, the two best footballers I have seen play in my lifetime both play in La Liga, and the majority of the current top ten in the world. Suffice to say, I think La Liga is anything but boring. Totally agree with most of that. To me it sounds like sour grapes from Real Zaragoza president Eduardo Bandres. They seem to have had inconsistent history in recent years and maybe the frustration of seeing teams spend so much on players and there struggle to compete in terms of finance has led to the outburst.
Fosse Boy Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 The top flight in England bores the crap out of me. Now the Bundesliga, there's an exciting league.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 Totally agree with most of that. To me it sounds like sour grapes from Real Zaragoza president Eduardo Bandres. They seem to have had inconsistent history in recent years and maybe the frustration of seeing teams spend so much on players and there struggle to compete in terms of finance has led to the outburst. Yeah I'd imagine so. They should never have got relegated in the first place with the squad they had a couple of years ago. Personally I tend to be entertained by every single La Liga game I watch no matter who is playing, mainly due to the fact they actually keep the ball on the ground for the vast majority of the game. Sometimes it's not as effective and they get outmuscled in Europe by English teams a lot but I find it far better to watch than English football. Just watched Werder Bremen v Athletic Bilbao and Bilbao are a dream - in the modern age to only select players from your region and survive in the top league is remarkable. They stuck a 16-year-old on for the second half and he was fantastic. Plus they were trying to knock it around even though they had a 6 ft 5 striker up front all game, because that's their natural game and they were unfortunate in a way to lose. Yeste was a joy to watch. As I've posted before, there's something about practically every team in La Liga that makes them interesting in their own way.
Darkzzz_ Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 Why are you sorry to me mate? Everyone has their opinion don't they? It doesn't bother me that people dislike Spanish football, it's just annoying when some people seem to base their opinions on what they hear from Sky or what they read in the scum. I have learnt to switch off from these idiots now and laugh at their delusion. I have always been a fan of expanding my view of football and not sticking to one league. All leagues have their strengths and weaknesses at the end of the day I just happen to have an interest in La Liga and Barca were the first team I watched back in the day when they had some lad called Ronaldo dazzling the fans week in week out. So for me, when it came to spending money to watch Barca, it was a no brainer. Every game has been well worth it.
Edmund Posted 1 October 2009 Author Posted 1 October 2009 Why are you sorry to me mate? Everyone has their opinion don't they? It doesn't bother me that people dislike Spanish football, it's just annoying when some people seem to base their opinions on what they hear from Sky or what they read in the scum. I have learnt to switch off from these idiots now and laugh at their delusion. I have always been a fan of expanding my view of football and not sticking to one league. All leagues have their strengths and weaknesses at the end of the day I just happen to have an interest in La Liga and Barca were the first team I watched back in the day when they had some lad called Ronaldo dazzling the fans week in week out. So for me, when it came to spending money to watch Barca, it was a no brainer. Every game has been well worth it. it's not my personal opinion just thought it was an interesting article and knowing of your love for the gringo game I thought I would apoligse in advance as I knew you would oppose his opinions which judging by your post is the result.
AjcW Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 I love it, but can see why people dislike it, to be fair its a style based on attack and attack only, very few teams have a strong defence, and those that do are resigned to mid table obscurity. Its fine from an entertainment perspective and thats the reason I watch and enjoy. But as a fan of football, I follow the premier league and bundesliga for pure footballing quality. Im of the opinion that messi would probably struggle in the premier league, and that ronaldo will probably hit 45 to 50 goals this season. La Liga is there to top off a good footballing weekend in my opinion.
Darkzzz_ Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 it's not my personal opinion just thought it was an interesting article and knowing of your love for the gringo game I thought I would apoligse in advance as I knew you would oppose his opinions which judging by your post is the result. I know it isn't your view at all. My point being that I don't really care what people who don't watch La Liga think by reading this article. I actually agree with some points he has made though, I prefer there to be at least 5-6 teams who can at least maintain some sort of challenge, that is why I preferred Serie A the last couple of seasons, although Inter have had it all their own way in the past, this season has started positive, with Inter, Juve, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Udinese and Genoa making a good go of things at the top, obviously it is early days, but I have enjoyed it. La Liga does look like a two horse race, but then again so does the Premier League.
Bert Posted 1 October 2009 Posted 1 October 2009 I prefer the Prem, and think it's better, but only marginally. La Liga is also very good - For me I just don't like the atmosphere of foreign teams grounds, which is what puts me off the most. Something just doesn't feel right about it. If Barcelona were playing a someone like Xerez or Almeria at the same time as Wigan were playing Bolton, even though it sounds dull, I'd probably watch the English game. The reason being because I have a bit more of an interest in the English League. People who say La Liga is "crap" etc, clearly know nothing about football. Saying this no-one is right or wrong, it's all based on opinion and it comes down to what people prefer. Just take LD3 for example, he prefers the Turkish league over La Liga.
Darkzzz_ Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 I prefer the Prem, and think it's better, but only marginally. La Liga is also very good - For me I just don't like the atmosphere of foreign teams grounds, which is what puts me off the most. Something just doesn't feel right about it. If Barcelona were playing a someone like Xerez or Almeria at the same time as Wigan were playing Bolton, even though it sounds dull, I'd probably watch the English game. The reason being because I have a bit more of an interest in the English League. People who say La Liga is "crap" etc, clearly know nothing about football. Saying this no-one is right or wrong, it's all based on opinion and it comes down to what people prefer. Just take LD3 for example, he prefers the Turkish league over La Liga. Sensible post, you know what, I have to agree on the atmosphere front. It's totally different, well especially at Barca, that could be down to some of the fans being tourists. The best atmosphere I have ever been amongst was Napoli. It was amazing.
CosbehFox Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 I bet it's boring for the average Spanish fan but for us neutrals, it's excellent watching two of the world's best teams trying and outscore each other every game against weaker opponents.
sdb Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 The standard of the prem has dropped a little but it's all the more exciting for it. Yes the top is always predictable but less so this year, where as we know who the top 2 will be in Spain. 5 teams can win the prem this season, all look beatable. That's exciting. I see La Liga & the prem as having switched this summer - 1 is tighter, more exciting the other has the 2 best teams. Where Spain will win out will be in the CL i reckon.
Shrenchel Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 It's pretty dry. I'm not a big fan of the premier league but at least Arsenal, Liverpool or Man City have the the potential to put in a title challenge. There's more chance of Ian Huntley passing a CRB check than anyone other team matching Real and Barca this year, the gulf in class is extreme. Also, having lived in Spain for a year and watched faaaar too many matches involving the smaller teams in the league because that's all that's on terrestrial telly due to the big boys having their own digital deals, I can safely say that your average run of the mill la liga match is much more boring than the premier league equivalent and of the quality is well off the pace too.
Tommy G Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 It's pretty dry. I'm not a big fan of the premier league but at least Arsenal, Liverpool or Man City have the the potential to put in a title challenge. There's more chance of Ian Huntley passing a CRB check than anyone other team matching Real and Barca this year, the gulf in class is extreme. Also, having lived in Spain for a year and watched faaaar too many matches involving the smaller teams in the league because that's all that's on terrestrial telly due to the big boys having their own digital deals, I can safely say that your average run of the mill la liga match is much more boring than the premier league equivalent and of the quality is well off the pace too.
Uncle Albert Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 La Liga isn't the most entertaining thing for me to watch and I will only watch Real if I do, people know my opinions on La Liga and the Premier League and I will stick by them but even I can La Liga isn't boring, so what if two teams rule it? I'm sure this bloke wouldn't be calling La Liga boring if he was in Real's or Barca's shoes.
TrickyTrev Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 The depth of quality in La Liga is awful and the reason is the lack of a collective TV deal. I would say they would need to get one, but you'd only see what is happening right now in England, speculative investment cowboys hoping to get a shite club with no fans into the top division for a few years so he can pocket some of that cash Man Utd and Arsenal generate. Absolutely no incentive to try and grow a fan base when the smaller clubs don't make their own money.
Tommeh Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 It's pretty dry. I'm not a big fan of the premier league but at least Arsenal, Liverpool or Man City have the the potential to put in a title challenge. There's more chance of Ian Huntley passing a CRB check than anyone other team matching Real and Barca this year, the gulf in class is extreme. Also, having lived in Spain for a year and watched faaaar too many matches involving the smaller teams in the league because that's all that's on terrestrial telly due to the big boys having their own digital deals, I can safely say that your average run of the mill la liga match is much more boring than the premier league equivalent and of the quality is well off the pace too. thats why you're getting poster of the year off me. They were asking about you on susd the other day aswell, something about never being able to sign up to the new one.
Maybes Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 The top flight in England bores the crap out of me.Now the Bundesliga, there's an exciting league.
dandannieldanok Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 The A-League is getting better, and about time too. Must have been absolutely appalling in the past then, considering you've got the likes of Lloyd Owusu being one of the main strikers in the A-League now.
Shrenchel Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 thats why you're getting poster of the year off me. They were asking about you on susd the other day aswell, something about never being able to sign up to the new one. Yeah tried signing up a few times when it switched over but it just never worked, fook knows why. Got too many things going on at the moment to waste time emailing mods to get me on to a forum so I can waste more time chatting shit but Ill get on it when I've got a bit more time. Campaign seems to be on the go slow a bit anyway.
Koke Posted 2 October 2009 Posted 2 October 2009 I also happen to prefer the Premiership. More exciting, IMO. I like La Liga though - used to be a big admire of Deportivo. The quality of both leagues are more or less on par with each other. Each has it's strength and weaknesses. And even for all the crap Serie A gets these days, I still love watching it when I can.
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