Premiership's success in Europe/Is Premiership the best league in Europe right now circa 2008

[cr7torossi]

From a different forum, the cynical view:

The success of English clubs in the champions league is not a reflection of the strength of the premiership, but of the strength of the pound.

The top four English clubs and even the following 5 or six are far richer than most European clubs, thus they can buy the best playing and managerial talent around. This gives them the ability to steam roller most opposition, but not necessarily the better ones.

Chelsea and Liverpool have been the most consistent British performers in the champions league over the last few years. However even with all their talent and wealth they still lack the confidence to take on teams like Barcelona toe to toe, preferring a negative spoiling game, reflecting the premiership's all too obvious technical shortcomings at this level. The best British team over the last decade, Man U whose core instincts are to come out and play, tend to concede very heavily against teams like Milan, Madrid and Barcelona, rarely letting in anything less than 5 or 6 goals over two legs against teams of this calibre.

Arsenal as shown by victories over teams like Milan, Madrid and narrow defeats to Barcelona are a different proposition, but then Arsenal are British only in location, in temperament, technique and approach they are wholly continental.

The reflexive British approach when playing the best teams in Europe is still to put men behind the ball, close down quickly and play on the break, confessing the still obvious gap in technique - meaning poor ball retention ability (mourinho and Benitez are masters of this style used with great effect by both teams against Barcelona in recent seasons) - Man U who can't play like this, relying on a high temp English style, aligned to good but not necessarily great foreign talent, tend to open up too much to flair continental teams who ruthlessly exploiting the space provided them but denied by teams like Chelsea and Liverpool, pick them to pieces - 1992 4-0 against barca, 2000 3-2 loss agent Madrid, 2002 conceded 6 goals in 2 legs against Madrid and in 2007 5 against Milan, over 2 legs.

Arsenal tend to concede less goals against the cream of Europe (none against Madrid and Milan in 2005 and this year, and 2 against barca in 2006 only after going down to 10 men) not becos they have a better defence than Man U,they don't, but becos they keep the ball better, reducing the chance of ball playing teams like Milan to control the game.

Continental football is still superior to the premiership brand and this is reflected in the UEFA cup, where teams rely on local academy talent and above average foreign superstars, giving a fairer reflection of local, nurtured talent as against purchased top foreign talent. English teams rarely do well in this tournament.

Moreover the best players in the world still do not come to the premiership. Historically players of the calibre of Di Stefano, Puskas, Cruyff, Van Batsen, Gullit, Maradona, Romario, Rivaldo, Zidane Ronaldo (Brazil) etc all played in either Italy or Spain, where the type of football that invariably wins world cups is played. This is still the case. When was the last world cup final when the brand of football on display remotely resembled anything pplayed in the premiership, even the premierships stars at that level revert back to their natural patient passing game, having temporarily shed their mercenary garb for their true national colours, that can't be sold

Who are the Premierships Gods ? Eric Cantona, who the french had to drop for Zidane to rise, Gianfranco Zola, the great Roberto Baggio's boot boy and Henry, an English God, but now a sub to a man 9 years his junior in Spain, Messi.

The premierships wealth still hides its obvious shortcomings, and Messi or not I really can't see any English team halting Barcelona playing toe to toe, although Chelsea and Liverpool won't play that way and thus might have a chance

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Discuss and debate, fans of other leagues obviously welcome to bring their viewpoint.

Mods, feel free to move thread to suitable forum, if required.

[RichardL]

From a different forum, the cynical view:

The success of English clubs in the champions league is not a reflection of the strength of the premiership, but of the strength of the pound.
the pound is at its weakest v the euro for at least 5 years, if not ever. That part of the argument is just nonsense.

When the premiership formed, Italian teams were richer than the English clubs, as were the big two in Spain. English clubs got a better tv deal, but they were also far better at generating other income, such a merchandising and money from executive boxes etc. Italian and Spanish clubs were years behind. I recall going into Inter shop in the San Siro in about 2004, and it was the sort of place you'd find at a English lower division club.

Can you even buy tickets on-line for Italian and spanish games? The Spanish don't yet seem to have realised that allowing people to buy tickets more than about 3 days in advance might actually help their crowds.

As for the tactical stuff. Yes, only half of the 4 teams England usually sends to the champions league play attacking football. How many Italian teams are renowned for their open attacking play?

Are the premiership teams good because they are rich? Yes, but so have all the good Italian and Spanish teams been. It's not as if Atalanta and Real Murcia were challenging for the Champions League too often.


But yes, Italian and Spanish teams are clearly better, even this season, as English teams have used tactics to win games. What sort of underhand cheating policy is that? If such beliefs console Italian fans as they face the prospect of having just one team left at the QF stage, then good for them.

[Prenn]

Wait... are we talking about British football or English football?

[Wonderwall952]

Great article, really good read.

The Premier League's big four seem to be the strongest in Europe, consistently reaching the CL quarter finals and semi final stages with one English team getting to the final in the past three years. Wheareas Spain seem to have greater strength in depth, with different teams qualifying for Europe each year and doing well. 3 UEFA Cup semi-finalists in 2007, Villarreal reaching the semi-final of the CL in 2006.
The gulf between the big 4 and the rest in England is too big in terms of money and resources.

[lost]

The success of English clubs in the champions league is not a reflection of the strength of the premiership, but of the strength of the pound.

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Wtf? SO if the dollar gains v the euro, the mls takes over from la liga? nonesense. also, it may have escaped yr attention but the pound v the euro has been declining in relative value.


The top four English clubs and even the following 5 or six are far richer than most European clubs, thus they can buy the best playing and managerial talent around. This gives them the ability to steam roller most opposition, but not necessarily the better ones.

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Great, so if we win, its money, if we lose, its coz were shit, good logic! also, inter far outspend liverpool year in, year out, milan far outspend arsenal. again, your point is nonesense. you also say that we have baught the best managers around but maintain that our tactics and style are worhtless, which one is it, you clearly dont knwo what point your trying to make.


Chelsea and Liverpool have been the most consistent British performers in the champions league over the last few years. However even with all their talent and wealth they still lack the confidence to take on teams like Barcelona toe to toe, preferring a negative spoiling game, reflecting the premiership's all too obvious technical shortcomings at this level. The best British team over the last decade, Man U whose core instincts are to come out and play, tend to concede very heavily against teams like Milan, Madrid and Barcelona, rarely letting in anything less than 5 or 6 goals over two legs against teams of this calibre.

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You clearly havent done your homework. MU played Barca in 99, aggreagte score 6-6, both conceeded heavily. MU Madrid in 03 was aggregate score of 6-5, again, both concede heavily. When Barca took on Chelsea in 05, they shipped 5 goals before being ko'ed, and v Liverpool in 07 lost at home and conceeded twice. Do you even know of the games you speak of? add to this the other big matches united have played in. is it typical to beat serie a champs juve 3-0 at home lik ein 03? or how about 3-2 like in 99? juve conceeded 5 goals over two legs in 03 and 4 over 2 legs in 99. what about roma? serie a runners up, shipped 8 in two games last year.



Arsenal as shown by victories over teams like Milan, Madrid and narrow defeats to Barcelona are a different proposition, but then Arsenal are British only in location, in temperament, technique and approach they are wholly continental.

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Again as before, when arsenal lose they are english, when they win they are continental. Furthermore, what are Inter, with no italian players except matterazi?



The reflexive British approach when playing the best teams in Europe is still to put men behind the ball, close down quickly and play on the break, confessing the still obvious gap in technique - meaning poor ball retention ability (mourinho and Benitez are masters of this style used with great effect by both teams against Barcelona in recent seasons) - Man U who can't play like this, relying on a high temp English style, aligned to good but not necessarily great foreign talent, tend to open up too much to flair continental teams who ruthlessly exploiting the space provided them but denied by teams like Chelsea and Liverpool, pick them to pieces - 1992 4-0 against barca, 2000 3-2 loss agent Madrid, 2002 conceded 6 goals in 2 legs against Madrid and in 2007 5 against Milan, over 2 legs.

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Your struggling, going back 15 years isnt going to help your case at all. Plus, you might not know, as i said earlier in the game you speak of, madrid conceeded 5 to our 6 and milan conceeded 3, so hardly watertight defence. see my previous point about juve and roma, leaving out exaples doesnt strengthen your argument, it makes you look more of a fool by such glaring exceptions.



Arsenal tend to concede less goals against the cream of Europe (none against Madrid and Milan in 2005 and this year, and 2 against barca in 2006 only after going down to 10 men) not becos they have a better defence than Man U,they don't, but becos they keep the ball better, reducing the chance of ball playing teams like Milan to control the game.

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this is the same arsenal that conceeded 4 goals to united a couple of weeks ago and 5 against spurs? again, i ask, do you watch football? or just run your mouth off?



Continental football is still superior to the premiership brand and this is reflected in the UEFA cup, where teams rely on local academy talent and above average foreign superstars, giving a fairer reflection of local, nurtured talent as against purchased top foreign talent. English teams rarely do well in this tournament.

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uefa cup, where teams rely on local academy talent? like bayern, perhaps? or seville?how many academy players in the seville side that has won 2 uefa cups on the bounce? also, did you not notice middlesboro get to the final recently? no academy players at boro are there? oh wait... plus, serie a in the uefa cup? how many finalists this millenium? england has 3 so far, your point again? dummy.



Moreover the best players in the world still do not come to the premiership. Historically players of the calibre of Di Stefano, Puskas, Cruyff, Van Batsen, Gullit, Maradona, Romario, Rivaldo, Zidane Ronaldo (Brazil) etc all played in either Italy or Spain, where the type of football that invariably wins world cups is played. This is still the case. When was the last world cup final when the brand of football on display remotely resembled anything pplayed in the premiership, even the premierships stars at that level revert back to their natural patient passing game, having temporarily shed their mercenary garb for their true national colours, that can't be sold

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what has the world cup got to do with this debate? also, you name a bunch of players from yesterday, in some cases the long distant past. the players followed the money, which has only recently been found in the epl. where are the greats of tomorrow going, the tevez's, the ronaldo's, torreses, fabregas, mascherano, van persies, robben (till he was offloaded), the drogbas, essiens, nanis, andersons. add to this the most expensive of stars of the modern game, sheva, ballack, hargreaves, etc, all want to come to england. you are totally blinkered and totally out of touch. also, we play a fast tempo in the premiership, the players love to play it, and its clearly winning more matches than any other league.



Who are the Premierships Gods ? Eric Cantona, who the french had to drop for Zidane to rise, Gianfranco Zola, the great Roberto Baggio's boot boy and Henry, an English God, but now a sub to a man 9 years his junior in Spain, Messi.

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so, we have a lot of great foreign talent come through. none of the three you mentioned were signed in this millenium by the way, so, keeping your argument modern i see. furthermore, cantona was gone from the french nt long before zidane was seen as the saviour of french football, more factual innaceuracies from your bullshit post. also, another eror in your post, barca have been rotating their resting of players, as well as not watching the premiership you obviously dont watch la liga either.



The premierships wealth still hides its obvious shortcomings, and Messi or not I really can't see any English team halting Barcelona playing toe to toe, although Chelsea and Liverpool won't play that way and thus might have a chance

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well, thats your opinion. but barca have been koes in 2 out of their last 3 seasons by, you guessed it, chelsea and liverpool. when liverpool were 2-1 up in the nou camp, or chelsea 4-2 up at home, did they look like they were afraid of barca? if they were so unable to impose themeselves onto the game, why do barca struggle so much against them?


a coulpe of footnotes: its funny you make an argument of entire continent v epl. of course, this is a dumb post, because we are only 1 league, and all others are just individual leagues. most football viewers, not you of course, can tell between just 'continental style' and 'english' or 'british' style. italian football differs greatly from spanish, as they both do from dutch, which is different to german, etc. why are you trying to bunch all leagues together to try and prove that the english league is somehow flawed? of course if you group together all leagues then put them up in a head to head v english leageu we should lose. but, and this is a funny one. if you add up all the cl quarter finalists in the last 2 seasons, it stands at england 7, all 52 other uefa leagues 9. so, not doing too badly at all. if you want to be more selective and just go epl v la liga/serie a, a more even fight, juts two on one here, we have 7 v 5 in two years in favour of the epl. that must be painful for you to read, your argument proved totally wrong in black and white. going further back, to 4 seasons it is 14 to serie a and la liga combined, to 12 to the epl. almost equal. two leagues combined barely ahead of the epl. so, not exactly a flash in the pan, 4 years is a long time in football.

your post was poorly researched, poorly thought out, and i cant believe i just wasted ten minutes picking holes in it. all i can say is that, it is so satisfying knowing that there are envious haters like you out there, it makes victory that bit sweeter, thanks for making me even happier about the unquestionable dominance of the best league in the world, the epl.

[shahz_nerazzurri]

Lost, mate it would have been better had you quote the previous post, rather than just copying it and then giving your own version, cant be bother reading all of that.

but, and this is a funny one. if you add up all the cl quarter finalists in the last 2 seasons, it stands at england 7, all 52 other uefa leagues 9
Technically, just technically, Liverpool arent thorugh yet. I believe in miracles. I also believe in praying to God, Lord, Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Yaweh, Xenu, Jehovah, Vahiguru, Satan etc etc, hoping that one of them is true and will actually make a miracle happen, come 11th March.


Great, so if we win, its money, if we lose, its coz were shit, good logic! also, inter far outspend liverpool year in, year out, milan far outspend arsenal. again, your point is nonesense. you also say that we have baught the best managers around but maintain that our tactics and style are worhtless, which one is it, you clearly dont knwo what point your trying to make.

Why are you addressing that 'guy' as the author, when he said he found the article some where else.
Also your comparison is compeltely false. SERIEA teams usually cant spend as much as EPL teams, why I will post it later, I made another post in another fourm, and I will copy paste it in the next post. Last time Inter outspend Liverpool was like 3-4 years ago.


The success of English clubs in the champions league is not a reflection of the strength of the premiership, but of the strength of the pound.
I didnt write the article, but I think the point that the author was trying to make was the financial strenght of the English teams, and not a Euro to Pound conversion.

If such beliefs console Italian fans as they face the prospect of having just one team left at the QF stage, then good for them.
Nope, we are recognizing that you are the better league, maybe for various different reason, but the best league none the less.

I recall going into Inter shop in the San Siro in about 2004, and it was the sort of place you'd find at a English lower division club.
I find that really hard to believe. do you remember which shop you went to, in what place?

English clubs got a better tv deal, but they were also far better at generating other income, such a merchandising and money from executive boxes etc.
Mate, your main success was in getting all the Asians, Africans and Australians to start supporting your leagues. You always had the media advantage, as British media is way too strong as compared with Italian or Spanish ones. The Language barrier also affects these two leagues. Have you noticed that most of the countries where you get majority of your support from, are not proper footballing nations. EPL doesn't have that many fans in Latino countries, all over Europe, people also prefer SERIEA or Laliga over EPL.

Can you even buy tickets on-line for Italian and spanish games?
Yes you can.

How many Italian teams are renowned for their open attacking play?
Roma, Fiorentina, Udinese, Palermo, Atalanta. Also each year in SERIEA, we have more goals than what are scored in the EPL.

Also a quick note about Zola, I dont follow EPL at all, but I have heard he was one of your best players ever. People criticise Cesar Maldini for not taking him to WC 98. In WC 98, we had Vieri, Delpiero, and Baggio. There is no way we could have taken Zola, cause as much as he is an EPL favourite, he just wasnt better than these afore mentioned players. But I do agree this generation that is coming up from EPL, will definetely make its name around the world. The Fabregas's Ronaldo's, Tevez's etc


When the premiership formed, Italian teams were richer than the English clubs, as were the big two in Spain. English clubs got a better tv deal, but they were also far better at generating other income, such a merchandising and money from executive boxes
You guys used the whole media boom to your advantage, the whole Internet generation and everything. Congrats for doing that, and thats why you have the best league right now.

[shahz_nerazzurri]

My post from another forum, dont take offence, and just discuss it. I posted that in an Inter forum, from an Italian prospective, gonna try to edit out some stuff that you lot might find offensive.


You tell me, Arsene doesnt spend much? He spend 13mill pounds on Eduardo, teams like Roma cant do that.
Plus English laws allow their teams to more competitive in markets. Firstly their highest tax rate is 40% as compared with Italy's 47%.

Secondly they have no morals. In England a 16 year old is allowed to sign a professional contract, you are letting a 16 year old sign a professional football contract, thats like child labour. And is one of the biggest reasons behind Arsenal and England's success. Arsenal buys most of its players when they are from 15-18, as in all the other European nations, you CANT sign a professional contract before you turn 18. Arsene uses this to his advantage, as since these players are not bounded by professional contracts, but by youth contracts, Arsenal doesnt have to pay shit to the previous clubs, who actually had a bigger hand on how the player had developed.

People tell me Arsene have an eye for talent, he manages to steal these talents, and make them in to a great one. Well, its not like he is taking a gamble, he is not paying shit to their previous clubs, just increasing their wages. These kids are promised better future, and a promise to bring their whole family to England. Plus Arsenal can pay these kids better than what their previous clubs were paying them.

Its not even like all of Arsenal's signings are a success, people dont talk about Lupoli, one of Parma's best youth players, who stunned every one by scoring 45 Goals in 22 games for Parma U-17. He made a trip to London, after Wenger stole him from Parma, not paying them a single cent. Lupoli failed their miserably, came back to Viola, havent started a single game for them even on the bench, and now is loaned out to Treviso in SERIEB, where I heard last, HE IS STILL NOT PLAYING. There are like 100s of other examples, that people dont hear about. Arsenal youth team is full of STOLEN players.

This is not just Arsenal, United snapped up Rossi from Parma, when was to young to sign a professional contract, last year they snapped up Lazio wonder kid Federico Macheda, who was 15 years old at that time, any body heard of him, probably not?? But if he becomes something, every one will start praising Ferguson, for his development. Same thing they have done with Gerard Pique and others, and then succesfully boast on how these players are coming through their youth academy.
In January Chelesa stole 15-year-old Vincenzo Camilleri from Reggina. Foti (Reggina President) has launched a complain to Fifa. Camilleri went to London on a shopping trip with this mother, and then never came back to Reggina. Then Foti heard he had singed a professional contract with Chelsea.

The day England bans this abuse of child labour, is the day Arsenal are gonna sink in to the grounds.

The remaining clubs wont, cause they also buy mature players. Every season ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, NewCastle, ManCity etc etc spend 50 mills on buying players.

Where do they get this money?? By making kids all around the world watch EPL. EPL is usually popular in countries where they have no idea what true soccer is, Latino countries dont know what EPL is, its not very popular in other European countries, even though some people over there watch it to see how their own national players are doing. EPl makes it money from countries in Asia, Africa and Australia, where idiots dont know what real soccer is. The TV rights money is HUGE, allowing them to be more competitive in markets and therefore show the results in european competitions.

These clubs have no identity, no nothing, but run as a smooth business. And the situation keeps on getting worse and worse. More EPL clubs in the latter rounds of CL, means that they will be adding so very very much more to their already huge summer budget. Now even Latino players are going there, just because of money, and who can blame them.


Even if teams like Palermo and Viola try to battle the mid table English teams for players financially, the players will still prefer EPL, as they will get international recognition. How many to do you think outside of Italy have heard about players like Ujfalusi, one of the best CB in the world. NONE, but when you talk about Micah Richards or Dunne or someone else, every one has heard about them. The problems of NewCastle or Tottenham are discussed in every forums, be it of an Italian team or an English team, but the problems of Paermo or Viola, no one gives a crap.

The best way to stop these clubs is the 6+5 rule as proposed by Blatter. And for me, that'll be the start of downfall for English clubs. One of the biggest reasons EPL clubs are opposing this, is because they know they will fall badly, as english players, apart from a selective few, are just not good enough, as proved by their National Team. They know they can spend millions on getting themselves good coaches like Erickson or Capello, they can not buy foreign players in to their national team.

[RichardL]

I find that really hard to believe. do you remember which shop you went to, in what place?

As I recall with my less than perfect memory, there was a shop on the side opposite the horse racing track. It wasn't very big.

Half the problem appeared to be the the roads lining the route to the stadium were filled with people selling unofficial stuff.


Mate, your main success was in getting all the Asians, Africans and Australians to start supporting your leagues.

No it wasn't. People seem convinced that we've always made a fortune from overseas tv revenue. We haven't. Overseas revenue has always been dwarfed by the domestic revenue.


Have you noticed that most of the countries where you get majority of your support from, are not proper footballing nations.

the same is true of the likes of Real Madrid. They don't exactly have millions of fans in Germany.


EPL doesn't have that many fans in Latino countries, all over Europe, people also prefer SERIEA or Laliga over EPL.
most prefer their own leagues, but I'd be interested in where you get this idea that the premiership lags behind Seria A or la liga in popularity across europe.


Yes you can.

How far in advance, and for how many clubs? My experiences of Spain left me with the impression the place was clueless about how to use "new" technology.

[johan neeskens]

It's simply not true that 'people' prefer Italian football to English football. In Holland we find Italian football boring as feck. English football might not always be of the highest quality but at least it's entertaining and that's a lot more than you can say of 80% of Italian games.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

1. I like how the first article completely ignores the amount of goals Man Utd's opponents conceeded.

2. British clubs are at a competative disadvantage when it comes to signing non-EU players because of our restrictive work permit regulations. Therefore being able to sign EU players at 16 years of age only helps to balance things out.

3. Players develop until their early 20's. Therefore players like Pique and Rossi have clearly been developed (in part) at Man Utd and the club merits recognition for that.

4. Man Utd, despite what people like to believe, have been out spent by Premiership rivals in 13 out of 16 Premiership seasons. Claims that we regularly spend £50m odd are wide of the mark.

[sinner78]

LOL ,the "type of football" that invariably win world cups is played in spain.
Well tell that to the spanish national team.
never done better than the quarter final.
What a pile of steaming donkey crap that original post is.






Mate, your main success was in getting all the Asians, Africans and Australians to start supporting your leagues. You always had the media advantage, as British media is way too strong as compared with Italian or Spanish ones. The Language barrier also affects these two leagues. Have you noticed that most of the countries where you get majority of your support from, are not proper footballing nations. EPL doesn't have that many fans in Latino countries, all over Europe, people also prefer SERIEA or Laliga over EPL.


check this.
Arab-canadian talking about italy from a "WE" perspective.
This clown has never even been to italy or have a single connection with italy.
Talks about so called "not proper footballing nations" from his armchair in f'ckin canada.
Taxi!!!!!!!

The same old strategy of pairing up la-liga/serie A has some kind of tag-team against the premiership .Because serie A on its own just hasnt got any clout.

Italian clubs bankrupted themselves with wild spending in the 80s and 90s.
*COUGH* lazio *COUGH* .

Plastic fans of italian football are highly amusing and bitter individuals.

[Alan_V]

I think using the term "best" in the thread title makes it equivocal. Some may think other leagues are better. "Strongest" is a better term, and for me, English football is more "entertaining," than any other league. I like the high energy style better than the boring deleberate style.

[cr7torossi]

Guys, you do realize that none of those are my views:D

While I agree with some of the sentiments, quite a bit of it is also plain bullshit.

[Prenn]

Guy, you do realize that none of those are my views:D

While I agree with some of the sentiments, quite a bit of it is also plain bullshit.

Why didn't you say?

Where's it from?

[cr7torossi]

Why didn't you say?

Where's it from?

The first line says that

"From a different forum, the cynical view:"

Not my views, only meant to stimulate a discussion. It was a post made on the Beeb forum.

[shahz_nerazzurri]

check this.
Arab-canadian talking about italy from a "WE" perspective.
This clown has never even been to italy or have a single connection with italy.
Talks about so called "not proper footballing nations" from his armchair in f'ckin canada.
Taxi!!!!!!!

The same old strategy of pairing up la-liga/serie A has some kind of tag-team against the premiership .Because serie A on its own just hasnt got any clout.

Italian clubs bankrupted themselves with wild spending in the 80s and 90s.
*COUGH* lazio *COUGH* .

Plastic fans of italian football are highly amusing and bitter individuals.

Lol, I sounded bitter in my post?? haha.

Mate I have been to Milan couple of times, and I probably support Inter, more than you moron support what ever club you are from.
Once again, the idiot sinner couldnt reply to the post. How about replying to the valid points you dumb idiot?

Lazio would have never gone bankrupt had Cragnotti not be jailed.

Also, once again its the so called PLASTIC fans, that make EPL what it is. The so called dumb plastic fans make your league what it is. Atleast I can say I have more than valid reasons to support Inter, and have been supporting them for more than 10 years.
Who wants to bet, that Sinner is probably some English wanna be Chinese idiot.

[shahz_nerazzurri]

British clubs are at a competative disadvantage when it comes to signing non-EU players because of our restrictive work permit regulations. Therefore being able to sign EU players at 16 years of age only helps to balance things out.
You seem like a respectable poster, unlike some of the wannabe's over here. (but then again, I would be cranky too, if I had to wank myself at night all the time).
What regulations are you talking about though? I know in SEREIA "WE" can only sign one Non-EU players in our squad every season. Hardly sounds like an advantage. I am not sure how many are allowed in England, but its not like WE have a complete liberty to raid the South American market when ever we want.

Players develop until their early 20's. Therefore players like Pique and Rossi have clearly been developed (in part) at Man Utd and the club merits recognition for that.
Some are developed, some are wasted. But dont you think, its a big loss to the clubs who have actually seen them grow. The clubs like Reggina or Cagliari from whose youth academy they became famous enough, for the so called footballing greats, to notice them. Dont you think they deserve some sort of compensation?
Also, handing out professional contracts to 16 year olds is kind of like child labour, isnt it?

[lanman]

Also, handing out professional contracts to 16 year olds is kind of like child labour, isnt it?

Not really. 16 year olds are entitled to work full time in the UK.

[RichardL]

Also, once again its the so called PLASTIC fans, that make EPL what it is. The so called dumb plastic fans make your league what it is.
so how would you define a plastic fan?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

You seem like a respectable poster, unlike some of the wannabe's over here. (but then again, I would be cranky too, if I had to wank myself at night all the time).
What regulations are you talking about though? I know in SEREIA "WE" can only sign one Non-EU players in our squad every season. Hardly sounds like an advantage. I am not sure how many are allowed in England, but its not like WE have a complete liberty to raid the South American market when ever we want.

I'm talking about the laws and regulations governing the UK. The Home Office deals with work permits and the criteria is as follows:

To be eligible for a work permit:

* a player must have played for his country in at least 75% of its competitive 'A' team matches he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application; and

* the player's country must be at or above 70th place in the official FIFA world rankings when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application.

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/workpermits/workpermitarrangements/sportsandentertainments/footballplayers/


You can appeal the decision but you need to have a very good case for the player not making the criteria. Usually this centres around the player being a special talent but it does not always work. Obviously it severely limits our ability to sign non-EU talent, particularly when they are young. For example Man Utd tried to sign the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Nery Castillo before they arrived in Europe but were unable to secure a work permit. There was also some rumours of the same happening when we enquired about Kaka and there is a long list of players who have had moves to the UK canceled. If a work permit is not granted then a club can still sign a player but needs to loan them out elsewhere until they qualify. In most causes that means a potential move to Belgium (it is quicker and easier to get an EU passport there, which is why there are so many feeder sides in that country). Of course given the choice of playing there for a couple of years or moving to a better league then most younger players will opt for the latter. The end result being that the UK club misses out on the player. Contrast that to other leagues and the difference is clear.

Some are developed, some are wasted. But dont you think, its a big loss to the clubs who have actually seen them grow. The clubs like Reggina or Cagliari from whose youth academy they became famous enough, for the so called footballing greats, to notice them. Dont you think they deserve some sort of compensation?
Also, handing out professional contracts to 16 year olds is kind of like child labour, isnt it?

The clubs do get compensation for losing the player.