Last year, before we had a proper shiny website of our own like we have now, I charted the fortunes of all the world’s leagues in the World Cup. Instead of counting goals of players for their nationalities, I totted up goals for the players’ domestic leagues. Thus, the English Premier League ‘won’ the World Cup with 29 goals scored by players like Ronaldo, Henry, Cahill and Gerrard while Spain’s La Liga came second on 25 with goals scored by, erm, Ronaldo, Beckham and Torres.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise to hear the Poms claiming the EPL is now the greatest league in the world after securing three of the last four spots in the European Champions League. The Poms are of course ignoring the fact that Spain secured three of the final four places in the UEFA Cup (although it is traditionally the Poor Man’s Euro trophy).
What is interesting is how both those nations can’t turn that club success into international success. Of course both leagues are bolstered by some serious quality foreigners, but neither national team lacks stars of its own, like Terry, Gerrard and Rooney for England, and Villa, Torres and Morientes for Spain.
So, no shortage of talent, yet precious little silverware in the national trophy cabinets. But Pommy critics have pointed out there’s one important difference between the club successes and the national team – England’s Champions League semi-finalists are all bossed by import managers: Benitez, Mourinho and even Ferguson – and used that fact to try to unseat Steve McClaren in favour of a foreigner to take charge of England.
But that argument falls down when you look at the Spanish success in UEFA – Osasuna’s bossed by a local Basque, and Espanyol and Sevilla by Spaniards.
What does all this prove? Not much, basically. Big-spending, foreign-owned clubs in the UK are dominating European football. The Spanish have a lot of home-grown talent but choke on the big occasion. And Steve McClaren’s an incompetent idiot. So, nothing new there then...
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Ruben Zadkovich is taking most of the blame for Sydney’s shock loss to Persik and while he was stupidly rash with his second challenge that got him sent off, the red card overshadowed a lot of good work he was doing in the 15 minutes beforehand. He started the second half at leftback after being shown up on the right side...and was immediately transformed. He made several good runs up the southpaw’s flank and crossed a couple of great balls - before diving in with studs showing to earn him his second yellow. Sydney are struggling to fill that left back position. Zadko needs a slap to stop him being so stupid in future, but he showed far more potential on the left than he did on the right and perhaps deserves a second chance to prove himself. It’s not like they have a wealth of talent to draw on right now...
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Harry Kewell’s people have dismissed a possible switch from Liverpool to Bolton as ‘nonsense’ but notably didn’t mention the other mooted move to Manchester City. Curiously, the Bolton deal was reputed to be a Pay As You Play deal – ie the injury-plagued Kewell would only get paid if he was fit enough to take to the pitch. And of course, if his Liverpool contract had been based on similar terms, Kewell wouldn’t have earned a penny so far this season. Manchester City’s proposed deal is believed to be a more traditional contract...
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Robbie Fowler for Sydney? Hmmm. He’s fabulously rich, been accused of snorting coke, loves to buy investment properties and can’t get enough of the gee-gees. He’s going to fit right in, isn't he? Shame he’s usually too unfit to start a game though, eh?
With that in mind, it’s no surprise to hear the Poms claiming the EPL is now the greatest league in the world after securing three of the last four spots in the European Champions League. The Poms are of course ignoring the fact that Spain secured three of the final four places in the UEFA Cup (although it is traditionally the Poor Man’s Euro trophy).
What is interesting is how both those nations can’t turn that club success into international success. Of course both leagues are bolstered by some serious quality foreigners, but neither national team lacks stars of its own, like Terry, Gerrard and Rooney for England, and Villa, Torres and Morientes for Spain.
So, no shortage of talent, yet precious little silverware in the national trophy cabinets. But Pommy critics have pointed out there’s one important difference between the club successes and the national team – England’s Champions League semi-finalists are all bossed by import managers: Benitez, Mourinho and even Ferguson – and used that fact to try to unseat Steve McClaren in favour of a foreigner to take charge of England.
But that argument falls down when you look at the Spanish success in UEFA – Osasuna’s bossed by a local Basque, and Espanyol and Sevilla by Spaniards.
What does all this prove? Not much, basically. Big-spending, foreign-owned clubs in the UK are dominating European football. The Spanish have a lot of home-grown talent but choke on the big occasion. And Steve McClaren’s an incompetent idiot. So, nothing new there then...
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Ruben Zadkovich is taking most of the blame for Sydney’s shock loss to Persik and while he was stupidly rash with his second challenge that got him sent off, the red card overshadowed a lot of good work he was doing in the 15 minutes beforehand. He started the second half at leftback after being shown up on the right side...and was immediately transformed. He made several good runs up the southpaw’s flank and crossed a couple of great balls - before diving in with studs showing to earn him his second yellow. Sydney are struggling to fill that left back position. Zadko needs a slap to stop him being so stupid in future, but he showed far more potential on the left than he did on the right and perhaps deserves a second chance to prove himself. It’s not like they have a wealth of talent to draw on right now...
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Harry Kewell’s people have dismissed a possible switch from Liverpool to Bolton as ‘nonsense’ but notably didn’t mention the other mooted move to Manchester City. Curiously, the Bolton deal was reputed to be a Pay As You Play deal – ie the injury-plagued Kewell would only get paid if he was fit enough to take to the pitch. And of course, if his Liverpool contract had been based on similar terms, Kewell wouldn’t have earned a penny so far this season. Manchester City’s proposed deal is believed to be a more traditional contract...
+++
Robbie Fowler for Sydney? Hmmm. He’s fabulously rich, been accused of snorting coke, loves to buy investment properties and can’t get enough of the gee-gees. He’s going to fit right in, isn't he? Shame he’s usually too unfit to start a game though, eh?
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