Which soccer leagues are in decline?

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by pc4th, Jan 26, 2008.

  1. pc4th

    pc4th New Member

    Jun 14, 2003
    North Poll
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I believe Series A is not as good as it was used to. Also, the Dutch league isn't doing too well either.
     
  2. sidis

    sidis Member

    Jun 2, 2006
    Itaguaí-RJ - Brazil
    brazil and argentina.
     
  3. Catel

    Catel Member

    Dec 18, 2006
    Lyon, France
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    France.
     
  4. thejuggernaut

    thejuggernaut Member

    Mar 25, 2007
    PA
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Brazil and Argentina has actually gotten to the point that they are being poached sooo much that it's really hurt the talent in the league.
     
  5. Massimo_Oddo

    Massimo_Oddo New Member

    Jan 24, 2006
    based on what?

    Milan being Champions of Europe?

    or a bunch of Serie A players winning the World Cup?
     
  6. RichardL

    RichardL BigSoccer Supporter

    May 2, 2001
    Berkshire
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    is this the same Dutch league that's seen crowds double over the last 15 years or so, or a different one?
     
  7. Cirdan

    Cirdan Member

    Sep 12, 2007
    Jena (Germany)
    Compared to what the Serie A was in the 90s, there is not much of a doubt about it going down... And off the pitch, it is having serious problems, we will see if that will have consequences on the pitch in the next couple of seasons.

    The Bundesliga is another candidate fot the declining leagues, however I'm hoping that the worst is behind now, and I see a lot of indications for the BL getting stronger again (maybe wishfull thinking, we'll see in the years to come).
     
  8. Massimo_Oddo

    Massimo_Oddo New Member

    Jan 24, 2006
    true, but the decline from the 90's happened in the early 2000's. Then there was a recovery until Calciopoli. Now i'd say the league is very much on the up with teams like Juve and Fiorentina improving very quickly.
     
  9. wufc

    wufc Member

    May 1, 2005
    UC Irvine
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I just never seem to hear anything positive about the Brazil league these days. Exodus of talent, betting scandals, complete downfall of Corinthians, fan violence, bad sportsmanship (like players getting their legs broken in half for doing cool moves). I mean, this could be said about most of the footballing world, but this league doesn't seem to be on the way up for sure.
     
  10. KumarsS

    KumarsS Member

    Jul 10, 2007
    Champaign, IL
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    The Bundesliga was in the process of a decline in quality, but this process seems to be reversing itself (no doubt due in no small part to the return of the German NT to the top tier of European sides).
     
  11. dustcowpoke

    dustcowpoke Member

    Jan 7, 2006
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS - all the top players are leaving and are not be replaced at the rate they are leaving
     
  12. YoungR10

    YoungR10 New Member

    Oct 2, 2007
    Largo
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    The French and Dutch leagues for sure
     
  13. viper

    viper New Member

    Jun 7, 2000
    Paramus, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Michael Bradley is a scoring machine in the Dutch League. Nuff said!
     
  14. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    the French and Dutch leagues are not in decline...

    Bundesliga has the highest attendance of any league in Europe... and imo, is the most entertaining...

    Italy is in decline... but when u think about Italy in the 1990s, of course it will be in decline...
     
  15. Dr. Know

    Dr. Know Member+

    Dec 5, 2005
    Macondo
    Maybe Brazil but I don't see how the Argentine league is in decline. On the contrary recently we've seen more parity in the league with smaller clubs also competing for and winning the title.

    It does get poached alot but the massive amount of talent that's produced makes up for it.
     
  16. sidis

    sidis Member

    Jun 2, 2006
    Itaguaí-RJ - Brazil
    this parity is because the Absence of top players in top teams.

    in brazil the lower level was in 05, since ths years the teams become better.
     
  17. Catel

    Catel Member

    Dec 18, 2006
    Lyon, France
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Aren't we, really ?!

    In the 90's, we had our highest level ever, with at least one club in a semi of a European Cup each year; now we seem to get back to the early 80's !

    We made nothing in Europe this decade out of Marseille and Monaco's (lost) finals; our big clubs, Marseille, Monaco, PSG and Nantes completely collapsed; even Lyon is not so strong than it was one or two years ago; and, the most of all, we're losing more and more players every year, whereas on the other side we are no more capable to attract the good players ! (and don't talk me about Grosso or Kluivert; come back please Klinsmann, Simone, Morientes and Ravanelli !).

    Ligue 1 matchs are often boring and goalless (barbarism ?); this season we score 2,17 goals per match in average.

    We're so in crisis we're persuaded we'll already lose Benzema and Ben Arfa this summer, although our only chance is that the clubs of the "Big 3" are already full of star players ! I'm sick of poaching Polish league and being poached by the EPL !
     
  18. Mike22

    Mike22 New Member

    Nov 8, 2005
    Tampa-->KC, Mo
    should i interpreted that as a knock on the Dutch league?
     
  19. John K

    John K Member

    Nov 8, 2007
    If the dutch league league isnt in decline it must have reached rock bottom. I've seen a few games recently on setanta and it looks like the players have forgotten the art of tackling. :D

    What happened to Ajax? a former european force and now they cant even qualify for the uefa cup! That's a decline in my book. They still challenge for the dutch championship so its not just a case of the club turning bad.
     
  20. Excape Goat

    Excape Goat Member+

    Mar 18, 1999
    Club:
    Real Madrid

    The Seven Sisters are left with three sisiters -- Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan. Financially, only the three of them are on the same level. For this season, Juventus and AC Milan are still recovering. I know that they will be back very soon, but I seriously doubt Fiorentina, Lazio, Roma or Parma(of course) will be back again. Let's say in the 1990's the weakest of the "Seven Sisiters" can easily take out the champions of Bundesliga, La Liga and EPL on the field and/or financially off the field. Now, I just do not see it anymore.
     
  21. Massimo_Oddo

    Massimo_Oddo New Member

    Jan 24, 2006
    But Parma got dumped out by Dortmund in 97/98 didnt they? Fiorentina got dumped out by Valencia and Man Utd 99/00. Inter and Juve in 98/99.

    But anyway, my point is which soccer league is in DECLINE!

    The decline from the 90's happened in the early 00's.

    The league is not declining atm!
     
  22. Moishe

    Moishe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Boca Juniors
    Argentina
    Mar 6, 2005
    Here there and everywhere.
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    You pretty much mirrored my sentiments to a tee.

    The parity comes from the sheer volume of talent that most clubs in Argentina produce. Where at one time it seemed like most transfers to Europe came from either BOCA or river with some Independiente and Estudiantes thrown in for good measure, the talent is getting plucked from most every side in the league.

    Also what constitutes "top players" in your eyes? Just looking to BOCA, you have Riquelme who is without question one of the best players in the world as well as members of our national team and that of Paraguay. Hell as a Brazuka you know darn well if passports and work visas were not such an issue, you'd see more players from South America in Europe.

    If you really want to gauge which leagues are in decline, just look to what sides and leagues import the most players. Exclude South American talent and the quality of some leagues and teams come into question.
     
  23. sidis

    sidis Member

    Jun 2, 2006
    Itaguaí-RJ - Brazil
    The parity comes from the sheer volume of talent that most clubs in Argentina produce. Where at one time it seemed like most transfers to Europe came from either BOCA or river with some Independiente and Estudiantes thrown in for good measure, the talent is getting plucked from most every side in the league.

    top argentines teams in 60's 70's have 4-5 or more players in the NT, now maybe riquelme and a dozen of players in all argentine league could be play at nt level this is a decline.

    in brazil until the 80's we had 5-8 player that could play in nt in almost all big 12 teams, now, i think only fluminense, são paulo, inter and flamengo have 2 players who could play in seleçeão.
     
  24. Moishe

    Moishe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Boca Juniors
    Argentina
    Mar 6, 2005
    Here there and everywhere.
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    If the Argentine league is in such a decline, why is it that we consistently sell players to the top European clubs? I would say that the leagues that have to import players rather than produce them are the ones in decline. In truth South American (particularly Argentina/Brazil) clubs never seem to have major problems in head to head meetings with those "climbing" clubs. Take away the transfer kitty and your argument falls flat on its face.
     
  25. MNAFETSC

    MNAFETSC Member

    Feb 5, 2000
    Blacksburg
    No ones questioning the production of talent but the fact that this talent is always sold shows the league is declining as far as a product. Imagine how much more attractive the league would be if it could produce this talent and keep a hold of it and the only players who were sold to foreign leagues where players who couldn't compete at that level.
     

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