That's right EPL, you're no longer on top

       

          For years, the consensus has been that the EPL is the strongest league in Europe. I never agreed with that notion but before this season there was at least a solid argument that could be made; the same can no longer be said. It was also widely accepted that the quality of the Serie A was steadily declining. Again, before this season there was a formidable case to be made. This 2011-2012 season has thus far seen a swift change of circumstances both in England and Italy.

          At the beginning of the season I had stated that the quality of the EPL had declined, I would like to thank all 20 teams in England top flight for proving me right *tips cap*. The counter argument so far has, and will continue to be, that the race for the EPL title is more open and has more contenders than it has in a long time. To be fair, that statement is true; the race is wide open with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham (sorry Liverpool) all seen as real title hopefuls (though it will probably be Manchester City). However, there are reasons for why the race is close, I’ll explain. The main reason why the title race is close is very simple, the best (Manchester United and Chelsea) have for different reasons seen a decline in squad quality while Tottenham and Manchester City have improved over the last 2 seasons (the only teams in the EPL that can say that). Arsenal is where they always are, close but not quite there. I digress; the quality at the top is not the real problem, it’s the mid-table sides. The top 5 will remain formidable opponents in whatever competition in which they compete, but what about everyone else? Perennial top 10 finishers over the past decade, ie. Everton, Aston Villa, Bolton, Blackburn, etc. have all severely been on the decline, with Villa, Bolton and Blackburn being particularly bad this season. The bottom of the league is, and always will, be poor; but the problem is that the number of truly poor sides is rapidly growing. We have reached a point where come season’s end, anywhere from 7-9 teams could still be mathematically fighting relegation going into the final few weeks. That’s unacceptable! Blame the number of foreigners, blame the youth systems, blame the money, blame Sepp Blatter (secretly everything is his fault), but something needs to be done, and it needs to happen fast.

          At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Serie A is undertaking a much-appreciated upswing. For years, let’s say since 2004, the on-field product in Italy has just not been very good. The match-fixing scandal rocked the Serie A in 2005-06 causing the on-field product to suffer further. We saw hints of it last year, but this season has really confirmed that the Serie A is back and in my opinion better than ever, at least from an entertainment standpoint. Catenaccio is dead and buried, and most people are thankful for that. This new Serie A has ample attacking football, adventurous formations, quality young talent, and the Inter Milan monopoly of the last 5 years is over. There are now, just as in England, 5 legitimate title contenders in AC Milan, Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, and Udinese. It must be said, however, there are 5 contenders for different reason than in England. In direct contrast with the EPL, 4 of the 5 contenders for the title (Inter Milan being the exception) have seen steady improvement in recent years and look to continue doing so. Now Napoli may lose its stars and regress, Udinese may lose Antonio Di Natale to old age soon and see a slight dip, but for now they look great. Napoli’s dominance over Manchester City in both group stage meetings in this year’s Champions League underlines what’s happening in both leagues; Napoli having well-beaten Manchester City both times.

Juventus are thankfully back among the best in Serie A and look to only be getting better in a hurry. As in England, the real reason for the change in fortunes comes from those outside the top 5. Roma, who are pretenders to the top 5, are under a new foreign influence with Luis Enrique at the helm (for now) and if his system works, Roma will as soon as next season push for the title. Inter Milan will rebuild and be back strong for next season as well. Cagliari, Fiorentina, Palermo, Catania, etc. have gotten better and solidify a very competitive top 10 in Serie A.

          Serie A will be losing one of its Champions League spots to the Bundesliga starting the 2012-13 season. I’m not going to say its undeserved because over the past 7 or 8 years, it is well-deserved, just expect the argument from the Italian FA to get that spot back to be in full swing by next season. The Serie A is on the rise again and as one of the top 4 leagues in the world, it should have the maximum amount of Champions League spots. I’m not going to argue that just based on this season that the EPL should lose one of its Champions League places because to be fair they have been the most consistent with at least 3 teams in the final 16 over the past 5 years. All I’m saying is that it can no longer be said, at least rationally, that the EPL is the best league in Europe. I’m also not going to try and argue that the Serie A is now the best beacause for me its La Liga; despite the Barcelona/Real Madrid super-dominance, still boasts the most footballing quality top to bottom. I just want people to open their eyes and stop thinking that just because the EPL is what you see most on your TV every week that it’s the best. In the same vein, people need to stop stereotyping the Serie A as boring, overly tactical and defense because its no longer anywhere close to that. The scope of European football is changing; I just hope you’re all paying attention because it will be good. 

Monsoon magic in San Mamés

For anyone who really watches La Liga, you should not be surprised at the quality that Athletic have in their squad. They are a very talented, fast, fit, intense and tough team that deserve recognition. The centerpiece is obviously, and deservedly so, big Fernando Llorente. However, they have a core of other players that make them contenders in any match they play. Young starlet Iker Muniain, who plays like a young Andres Iniesta (also likely to be brought in to take his place) is an incredible talent. Javi Martinez is already a main part of the Spanish National program, then there is Susaeta, Herrera, Iturraspe, and the immense Fernando Amorebieta (a name you WILL be hearing much more of as next summer's transfer season comes). Athletic pushed Barcelona unlike any other opponent to date and it provided an early season epic in La Liga.

The torrential downpour provided a great backdrop for what was to come. Any match between these sides can never be classified as boring, but you couldn’t expect a match like this. Both teams battled to the end, nobody backed out of a tackle, every ball was challenged. Both sides had standouts; Llorente, Herrera, Muniain and Amorebieta were great for Athletic, Messi, Mascherano, Abidal, and Iniesta equally so for Barcelona. The water logged pitch caused the standard weather-induced blunders that do nothing but add to the entertainment. The first goals for both sides were extremely classy finishes; first Herrera ended Victor Valdez’s record clean sheet streak at 897 minutes witch a beautiful curling effort from just inside the box, it was soon followed by Fabregas nodding home a beautiful cross from Eric Abidal. The dramatic finish was set in motion with a Pique own-goal that put Athletic up 2-1 with 10 minutes remaining. Barcelona pressured until the very end and were rewarded with the equalizer, Messi’s first away goal of the season (also his first ever goal in San Mamés) just as the match approached 90 minutes; a defensive lapse from an Athletic defense that had been spectacular all evening.

It must be said, though, the real achievement in this match was the technical level of these two sides despite the weather doing its best to impede proceedings. The ball flew around the pitch for 90 mins, players on both sides showed immaculate touches and interplay. I mention this because it is what sets La Liga apart from any other league in the world. Nowhere else will you see two teams excel technically across the board while battling the elements to the degree that Barcelona and Athletic did. This was a classic match not just for La Liga but for all of Europe.

2-2 final

Sucks for you if you missed it because you were watching Tottenham and Fulham…

Present Day F.C. Barcelona: The Best in History

The current edition of F.C. Barcelona is the greatest football side ever assembled! The following is my supporting argument.

Since I'm a 100% biased Barcelona supporter, most automatically dismiss my notion for them being the best side ever as fanaticism without fact. However, as a lover of the game and a football purist, I would be insulting the game I love were I to make such a bold statement without providing a thorough argument as to why. There are only a few sides in the history of the game where you can make a legitimate case for them being the best side in history.

The first is the Real Madrid team in the 1950s featuring Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento, which won five successive European Cups, and eight Spanish Primera titles. Numbers like those in the modern era are more or less impossible to achieve. The overall level of play has risen substantially, and there is vast parity in football now, particularly on European Cup competition. Nonetheless, this Real Madrid side is considered the first real dynasty of world football and therefore considered to be one of the greatest ever.

Next up is the Ajax team of the 1970s which boasted the likes of Cruyff, Van Dijk, Rep and Neeskens. They won three European Cups and five Eredivisie titles, highlighted by their treble-winning year of 1972 where they won the European Cup, Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup. This great team, though statistically impressive, will be most remembered for introducing the world to Total Football. The style of football they played brought the world to its feet by showing how all 10 outfield players could be involved in attack.

The third team on this list is Liverpool of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Featuring current club manager Kenny Dalglish, they won four European Cups, two UEFA Cups and 6 of 11 English League titles between 1972 and1990. Not as attractive to watch as the other sides being compared, though extremely efficient. The domination over such a long period solidified their place as one of the great sides for all time.

The first of what can truly be considered the modern era of football is the A.C. Milan team of the late 1980s and early 1990s. They were the first team to field a laundry list of stars, featuring Baresi, Maldini, Gullitt, Van Basten and Rijkaard among others. They won three European Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, four Italian Super Cups and four Serie A titles with probably the most balanced side ever at that point in history. The incredible balance between an almost impenetrable defense and high-powered attack made them the only back-to-back European Champions in the modern era to date.

Finally we come to Barcelona of present, simply the greatest the world has ever seen. Beginning with the Champions League-winning team centered around two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho to the present squad built around two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi. They have won three Champions League titles, five Spanish Primera titles), a Spanish Cup, four Spanish Super Cups, a European Super Cup and a FIFA World Club Cup title. They are the only side to ever win all six trophies available to them in one year (2008-2009) and have all three players shortlisted for FIFA World Player of the Year (FIFA Ballon D’or) coming from the same team. They play a brand of football never seen before; it is the blueprint of Ajax Total Football taken to new heights. During this time they have switched managers from Frank Rijkaard to Pep Guardiola. They have also changed regimes on the pitch as well from the Ronaldinho-Deco-Eto’o trio to Messi-Xavi-Iniesta. They are setting Spanish League and European records for points, winning streaks, and goals scored. Lionel Messi is also well on his way to breaking all individual record for club, league and Europe for goals and awards. They are flat out the best we’ve ever seen, not to say they can never be surpassed, but it will take some doing.

You may disagree, as I guarantee many will. You can put forward an argument for another team, but it won’t make you any less wrong.

Ronaldo: 'El Fenómeno' retires

 For my inaugural post, I would like to share a piece that I wrote back on February 14, 2010. Most know it as Valentine's Day but for me I will forever remember it as the day my hero retired. He is my favorite player ever and quite simply the best striker of all-time. Ladies and gentlemen, RONALDO!


Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima has decided to call time on his infamous and legendary career. 'El Fenómeno' games which means he averaged around 1.46 goals per game. Considering a world class striker is consider efficient when averaging 1 goal ever 2 games, a strike rate such as Ronaldo possessed is unheard of. He won 2 Ballon D'or awards, 3 FIFA World Player of the Year awards and 2 World Cups. With a talent such as his, it is no secret why his career saw him spend time at Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, 4 of the biggest clubs in the world.

He began his professional career in 1993 at just 16 years old with Brazilian club Cruzeiro where he managed to score and astonishing 44 goals in one season. This prodigious showing earned him a spot on Brazil's World Cup winning team in 1994. While he didn't see any action in United States, just the fact that at 17 he was brought into the team spoke volumes about his talent and future.

After returning from the World Cup in the United States, Ronaldo's European exploits began, signing for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 1994. In his first season, he scored 35 goals in 36 games, which he followed up by netting 19 goals in 21 games the following season.

His displays at PSV put the football world on notice that something special had arrived. It was Spanish club Barcelona that snatched him up in 1996 for a then world record fee. His performances at Barcelona were the stuff of legend; his power, pace, skill and efficiency was nothing short of breathtaking. Notching 47 goals in 49 games in one of the top leagues in the world took Ronaldo from level of prodigious talent to best in the world. In 1996, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest player to win the Ballon D'or and be named FIFA World Player of the Year, a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

Spending only one year at Barcelona, Ronaldo moved to Italian club Inter Milan who paid another world record fee for his signature. In the 1997-98 Season, he scored 34 goals in 47 games, earning his second straight Ballon D'or and FIFA World Player of the Year award. However, his time at Inter Milan will be most remembered for the injuries that began to derail his great career. In November 1999, he severely ruptured a tendon in his right knee. He was out of action for 2 years with the exception of 7 minutes in which he had made his initial comeback for inter Milan only to re-injure the same knee in what is possibly the most memorable and replayed injury in football history. The world watched in agony as the best player in the world went down for a second time. The image of him screaming in pain and crying is something for all who witnessed it will have etched in their memories forever. In retrospect, though he went on to further accomplishments, this was for all intents and purposes the beginning of the end for Ronaldo. He made his full return during the 2001-02 Season where he scored 7 goals in 16 games before heading to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

The 2002 World Cup in many ways can be seen as Ronaldo's crowning achievement. After being out two years, many doubted his ability to reach the extraordinary heights of years past. There was something noticeably different about Ronaldo now; he had put on weight during his time out injured. He clearly did not have the same pace and physically dynamic player he once did, but he showed he was still explosive and a player whose technical ability coupled with goal scoring efficiency was still unmatched. He scored 8 goals in the 2002 World Cup, including 2 in the final, earning him the Golden Boot and leading Brazil to a 5th World Cup victory. It was entirely down to his performance during the World Cup that earned him his third FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Ronaldo was Back! This was confirmed by his big money signing by Real Madrid where he joined the 'GALACTICOS' movement that saw Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane respectively join Madrid in the 2 season prior. At this time, he made headlines off the pitch as he became a UN Ambassador. In his first season, he scored 30 goals in 44 games, including a memorable Champions League hat-trick against in Old Trafford against Manchester United. Ronaldo spent 5 seasons at Real Madrid scoring 104 goals in 177 games, a strike rate of 1.70 goals per game. His weight gain during this time became a matter of public scrutiny and became apparent that it was having an effect on his level of play.

Despite dwindling performances and obvious weight issues, he was just too important to leave off the Brazil squad that went to the 2006 World Cup. The Brazilians ultimately disappointed but Ronaldo scored 3 goals to take him 1 past German legend Gerd Müller as all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals.

During the January transfer window of the 2006-07 Season, Ronaldo was sold to Italian giants AC Milan. During his 2 season back in Italy he scored 9 goals in 20 games. In February 2008, he had another knee injury, this time he ruptured the kneecap ligament in his left knee. With this latest injury, he was released by AC Milan at the end of that season.

The last stop in his career was a move back to Brazil to play for Corinthians in 2009. He scored 35 goals in 69 games despite now being glaringly overweight for a professional football player. This current season has been marred by continuous niggling injuries and has prompted Ronaldo to say "I can't take it anymore, I wanted to carry on, but I can't ... The time is up".

Today, February 14 2011 marks the end of something truly special. Players like Ronaldo come along once in a lifetime, those who were fortunate enough to see him play must feel privileged to have done so. He was the perfect striker, possessing power, pace, skill and efficiency the like of which had never been seen and have yet to be equalled. There are players who have scored more goals and won more awards, but there is no doubt having watch Ronaldo throughout his career that he IS the best striker of all-time. 'El Fenómeno' Ronaldo was indeed that, a Phenomenon. He is my favorite player and a personal hero. There is only one way to end the legendary tale that is Ronaldo; it can be summed up in one word, GOALLLLL!