| |
|
| Tuesday 15 April, 2008 |
| Blog: He who laughs last... |
| There has understandably been some gloating from the English media this week, but Steve Wilson wonders if some are taking things too far |
 |
 |
|
The English Press are just loving it. The apparent death of Italian football, an 8-0 aggregate win for the Premier League over Serie A in the European Cup, the nailed on Balon d'Or winner scoring goals for fun on England's green and pleasant turf. It is understandable that there is some crowing, and we have to take it on the chin with dignity. However, having read some ridiculous comments at the weekend I believe that some sections of the media have crossed the line of sense and nonsense.
My particular beef is with one tabloid columnist's claim that the gulf between England and Italy can be measured by the fact that “this summer, when England's top sides compete to break the bank for the best prospects in world football, Milan chase the signature of Andriy Shevchenko and hail it as a coup.” Some digs do have to be accepted. For example, we gloated long and hard when Kaka was the world's best, so we can't complain about the current adoration of Cristiano Ronaldo. But there comes a point when you have to respond to the blind lunacy of certain suggestions.
Any true observer of global football will know that, beyond Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani, very few in Milan are planning to hail Sheva's return as a coup. Anyone who has taken note of recent transfers will remember that last summer's “best prospect” - Alexandre Pato - chose the historic and noble Rossoneri over nouveaux riche cash machine Chelsea. And is mocking a player of the Ukrainian's quality for failing to be a hit in England not slightly naïve? Clearly the 2004 Balon d'Or winner just isn't suited to the English game.
Shevchenko's return to Italy and England's expected smash and grab of Euro 2008's hottest talent is then compared to “Oxfam taking an old suit off your hands, while the top fashion houses unveil their autumn collection.” A £30m suit, don't forget. In that hypothetical situation, who is the winner? Oxfam, for being given an incredibly valuable item for free, or the suit's owner, who was foolish enough to part with £30m in the first place and is now giving away their possession for nothing? It is fairly clear that Milan got the better deal when they sold him and will also get the better deal if they re-sign him.
Let's take the riposte further. Beyond the big four in England, can you really name a side capable of making a mark in Europe? Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Bolton Wanderers certainly couldn't impact on the UEFA Cup this term and Fiorentina's defeat of the Goodison Park side coupled with Palermo's dismissal of West Ham United last season suggest strength in depth is favouring the peninsula.
Football goes in cycles. England ruled in the late 1970s and early '80s, Italy led the way in the late '80s and early '90s, while Spain was top dog at the turn of the millennium. It is wise to remember that fact when making snide comments from the top of the pile. When you reach the pinnacle there is only one way to go - down. And in truth, the slide has already started. While the Premier League may be ruling Europe thanks to foreign money, foreign players and foreign Coaches, the English national team is an embarrassment.
Once the Champions League excitement has blown over, the smug, self-satisfied tabloid columnists might want to think forward to Euro 2008 - where the analogy of boutique to charity shop between Italy and England is a little more in our favour.
|
|
|
|
|
What a fantastically well written article. Many stupid comments have been slandered around regarding the Premier League's strength compared to the rest of Europe. Unfortunately they ignore the fact that it’s only the top four English sides that perform to the highest level and leave the rest of the Premier League to scrap for UEFA Cup places. For example, Liverpool have had a terrible domestic season and Everton have had their best ever season, yet Liverpool are comfortably in fourth place and will finish in a Champions League spot at Everton’s expense. The top four English sides are the strongest top four League sides in Europe, without question, however this does not represent the strength of the Premier League – it merely represents the strength and financial muscle of the top four and in fact could represent the lack of strength of the Premier League.
Luigi Mallozzi
I agree with most of this article, the English Press have never been slow to jump on the back of anything, especially when there is a chance to put someone down or in this case put Italian football down. And I don't believe that Italian football falling away from Spanish and English football its just a cycle that seems to happen in Europe's top 3 Leagues. But to say that out of the top 4 England isn't that strong is just wrong. Don't get me wrong the results you have picked out may well point to Italy's mid-table teams looking stronger but are you forgetting that over two legs Everton were the better side (this coming from a Liverpool fan as well). Also you pick out the Palermo and West Ham game and to be fair the better side did win but what about a very average Premier League side in Middlesbrough getting to the Final of the UEFA Cup and on the way beating Roma who are one of Italy's 'Big Four'. I believe that Tottenham are more than capable of pushing in Europe more so than the vast majority of Italian clubs. Yes money is a key factor, but I just don't see many Italian teams with the quality of Berbatov, King, Woodgate or Robbie Keane, even Fiorentina who this season look likely to get Champions League football.
Neil Heaton
Finally an excellent response to the tiresome nonsense that we constantly read in the British Press. The media here has such a bizarrre bitterness and jealousy towards Italian football it is about time somebody spoke out. Anyone that has sat through the way negative way Italy were treated by the Press during, and after, the World Cup is not surprised by the reaction to this year's Champions League. What stuns me is the biased nature of the reporting, Liverpool's presence in the Champion's League semi-final is a result of extremely dubious decisions by referee's. They did not score a goal against an 11 man Inter. If Liverpool were Juventus one wonders what questions would be asked. The quality of the football (aside from a few big names) is no better in the Premier League at all, I would say to the contrary. The style remains different but that is simply a matter of taste, not something to attack over, as the English media does. I also think there is nothing to boast about from a League which is building its success on the investments of dubious characters and the poaching of young talents that can not yet sign adult contracts on the continent.
Nigel Page
As an avid Italian football fan from England for nigh on 20 years, I'm glad this article has been written. A lot of my friends have sneered at me recently, saying it proves Italian football is rubbish - despite never watching it, let alone going. This despite English teams having only won the CL twice since its inception. And it's also dull. This despite Serie A outscoring the Premiership consistently. Truth is, the top four in England are a force up with the best of them, but there is a real tail off after that. I also have to take issue with what passes (apt word) for football in England. Outside of the top six, we simply cannot pass the ball. Even a lowly Serie A team can string passes together, the technical gulf is still evident for anyone willing to see.
This was typified by my going to see Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's first home game after their first title in some 50 years. The football, despite the 500+ million pounds worth of talent on the pitch was frankly woeful. 90 minutes of long balls to poor old Crespo. No wonder he was so keen to return! And it cost me £240 for two tickets! The most I ever paid for an Italian game was 38, for a great last minute seat in the Stadio Olimpico. Having also been to some England matches this season, very few, perhaps Liverpool and Portsmouth create much of an atmosphere.
Even Siena, with 17,000, can create an atmosphere ten times that of the 60k
capacity at the Emirates. Or the Chelsea fans I saw at the Carling Cup Final. Why do we celebrate our football so much when we don't seem to actually enjoy it? Serie A teams do lack the sense of invincibility they once had. But an Inter team shorn of six key players through injury, showing silly indiscipline and a star striker with a hole in his tendon, did perhaps not give an accurate barometer of what they're capable of.
It's hard to see Liverpool getting past a full Inter defence/midfield with Ibra on form. But that's football. Most Italian players still ply their trade in their home country, and I seem to remember a team in blue being World Champions, rather than failing to qualify for the European Championship out of a nothing group. Bit early to crow yet?
Dominic
The English media (let's be honest, Sky - who's main trumpet master is Scot-cum-Englishman Andy Gray) has been hailing three out of four in the Champions League semi-finals as a triumph. Which it is, kind of, but we shouldn't forget England had three in the semi's last year and the worst Milan team in recent memory still won it!
When Italy last had three in the semi's, it was an all Italian final and - obviously - an Italian team won it. Let's see the English teams get two in the Final for the first time or at the very least, have one of them win it, before they can lay claim to "top of the world". Would it be a surprise to anyone if history repeated itself again and a poor Barca side was able to win it this year?
Kevin Gilmour
I think English teams dominance in the Champion's League is not due to the fact that they are great, but because Europe's other big teams are all struggling at the same time, or just absent from the competition. Inter and Roma are good teams, but they are not really likely to win the competition. It is well known that Milan are coming to the end of an era, and need to bring in young players. Their victory last year papered over the cracks and it might be a year or two before they compete again.
Elsewhere, Juventus were relegated and disappeared for two years, but in the Champions League they have reached four Finals and a semi-final. When they come back next season, they will show the fighting spirit which helped them beat Inter, Milan and Roma, and they certainly have a good chance of gaining revenge on Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United for recent European defeats. They certainly won't lose without scoring a goal.
Bayern Munich are another team that have been out of the picture and when they come back they will be a real nuisance for English teams, especially with Klose, Toni, etc. As a Scotsman, I always enjoy watching English teams fail against German efficiency, even if most English clubs these days are completely international.
Finally, there are the two big Spanish sides. Barcelona are still there this year, but I think it will be a year or two before both those teams get organized - they just keep buying stars they don't need and sacking managers. The English Press might as well enjoy the dominance while they can. Next year I would be surprised if two English teams make the semi-finals.
Chris Ziffo
The British media's self-satisfied, self-appreciating, dressing-up of events is entirely hypocritical. In 2003, when Milan, Juve and Inter were in the final four of the Champions League, which duly led to an all Italian Final, they put a negative spin on this, aiming to take something away from the Italian sides. It happens for the English teams and that shows how good they all are? Lest we forget, we had this scenario last year, and that ageing Milan squad, as Andy Gray and the rest of the Sky Sports buffoons tell us, managed to demolish Manchester United before beating Liverpool in the Final.
Another hypocrisy is the coverage of Shevchenko. When Arsenal took Henry from Juve's hands, when clearly he wasn't being used to best effect in Italy, Arsene Wenger was a genius. Fast-forward to this year, it is somehow a slight on the Italian game that Sheva scored over there, but can't score in the Premiership, nobody mentioning that he hasn't really been given much of a chance here.
As for Tottenham being better equipped to challenge in Europe, as one ludicrous comment suggests, why then did they fall in Eindhoven, the place where the Viola heroes pulled off a marvellous 2-0 win last week. The round before they also beat Everton, the closest side to the "Big Four" this season.
The Premiership can have its predictable, shoddy Big Four, its expensive imports going to the best clubs. I'm a Birmingham City fan and let's face it, the only reason we aren't stuck in the bottom three and relegated already is because there are so many other woeful sides at the other end of this 'great' Division. Italy has genuine Italian quality in most of its sides - Fiorentina, Udinese, Milan, Sampdoria, Palermo, Roma - and as such Italy are World Champions and will be at Euro 2008. Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard - enjoy your summer...
Ross
What a terrific blog Steve. I still rate Serie A highly despite the disappointing Champions League campaign. It is cyclical and it will come full circle. I imagine Serie A and La Liga will be up there again, winning at the highest level, in around four or five years time.
It never fails to amaze me how the British press hype up the Premier League so much. Yes, the Premier League has the best players in the world at the moment but I think for the ordinary fan, absurd ticket prices and corporate hospitality are ruining the game. Last night Chelsea's fans booed off the team at half time, despite being second in the League and still having a chance of winning the Premier League!
I'm not having a go at just Chelsea in particular but that's the freshest memory in an incresingly long list. The crowds at most games are generally so quiet now, where's the passion gone? My team, Blackburn Rovers, were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Larissa very early on. I mean, come on. While at the top, the Premier League's big four may be the best in Europe right now but below that I really don't think the Premier League is at all better than Serie A or La Liga. Oh, and one final thought. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Italy have a better chance of winning Euro 2008 than England do.
Will Cook
The EPL always has been a retirement village for former Serie A and Spanish Liga stars to earn top dollar. Look at Zola, Klinnsmann, Carbone, Gullit, Vialli, Ravanelli from yester-year, do you really think that Ivan Campo is in his prime? No, and same goes for most of the EPL's foreign players.
Besides the big 4 in England, all the other clubs are on par with the MLS or SPL - not that great. Take out the foreign players from Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool and what English element is left? You couldn't even scrape together an English eleven. Then take out Wenger, Grant, Benitez and Ferguson. Add to that the Thai, American and other foreign club ownerships - there are more English elements in stir-fry rice than its own football League.
Anybody that knows football would know that all Latin football stands head and shoulders above the English form of the game. Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and other Leagues are of a better technical standard. The recipe for good football in England - open money sachet, pour into club, stir through anything foreign, then pay ridiculous amounts of money for anyone that's not English, hope that Italian clubs run into poor form, gloat for a quick ten minutes.
REALITY CHECK EPL and ENGLAND - Italy are FIFA World Champions (four times), World Club Champs and UCL Champs - Milan - seven Italians started in that line up. England - didn't qualify for Euro 2008, boast four starting keepers out of 20 EPL line-ups, and overall only 10 English players are regular starters in their Champions League teams. Just because there are three EPL clubs in the Champions League semis doesn't mean anything. I do recall this time last year when Milan had to play Manchester United, with Liverpool and Chelsea left in the other semi. Who won that again?
Neil Heaton mentioned that Italian clubs dont have the talent of a Robbie Keane or Woodgate or King. Ummm, even Australia's A-League can match those players, which is why Woodgate and Keane failed miserably when they played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan respectively. Look at real talented players such as Tavano at Livorno, Quagliarella at Udinese, Cassano at Samp, Pazzini at Fiorentina, Giovinco and Pozzi at Empoli, Miccoli-Amauri at Palermo, Brienza-Amoruso at Reggina, Lavezzi-Hamsik at Napoli, Balotelli at Inter, Pato and Paloschi at Milan, Palladino-Chiellini at Juve, Pandev-Behrami at Lazio, Lucarelli-Cigarini at Parma and Foggia-Acquafresca at Cagliari just to name a few. These players would dominate in England in any team, instead they play for lower clubs or warm benches in Italy. It's easy to see where the real talent is, and where they want to go and play.
Take out Ronaldo from Man U, Torres from Liverpool, Drogba from Chelsea and Adebayor from Arsenal and what depth is there? Definitely none that is English. Just remember England. Who did you beg for when you realised how void of tactic and talent you really were? CAPELLO. I think that if people actually watched Serie A and Spanish football, as opposed to just agreeing with the English speaking Press they would all agree that La Liga and Serie A clubs are by far technically better and more entertaining to watch.
I live in Australia, and as soon as a result for any EPL club happens, with highlights of a mis-timed shot that results in two deflections and dribbles in, we are forced to watch it on prime time news. Why? because its in English. Instead, Tavano can crack in a hat trick of world class standard and it wont even be mentioned, Kaka could score 10 goals but nothing...it's all bias. I feel sorry for a player of the calibre of Shevchenko, he gets ball to feet in Milan, and balls smashed in at his neck for him to chest down in England. Great tactics Chelsea. Drogba has mastered the art of bringing down rockets from chest height and turning to shoot before his knees are taken away by some butcher like Rio Ferdinand or Lescott...
Also, when Liverpool and Man Utd won their Champions League titles they were undeserved fairy tale comebacks against Milan and Bayern Munich. The damage this has done to football? God only knows. Why are there no decent English players (if they exist) playing in Serie A or La Liga? I would assume that Englishmen would say they are playing at home in the best League already. Laughable. They are simply devoid of know how.
I just hope that UEFA re-instate the foreign player limit rules again like the 90's with only 3-4 foreign players allowed per club - then we would see what the EPL really is - just another version of the SPL. Imagine. Long balls smashed from end to end, I think gaelic football would be better to watch. Like recent Chelsea signing Florent Malouda said himself - EPL is just a whole load of fast food..
David Ferrini
May God bless you, and keep you, Steve Wilson for saying what anyone with any knowledge of football is thinking. When will the English media start to act like journalists rather than a spoilt little child who finally got what they thought they wanted. I would also make the point that the 8-0 aggregate result depended on, in Inter's case, some of the worse decisions seen at the highest level of football in a long time. Can you imagine what Andy Gray and his assorted chimps would have said if Liverpool had come to the San Siro and lost their centre back for two incidents that were barely fouls? Call a spade a spade. Just because you are victorious for the first time in a while do try and keep your dignity. In conclusion there's really not much English about any of these teams, like Spalletti said Man Utd play Italian. When its 11 of us against 11 of you, we win World Cups you fail to qualify from a group of tin pot nations, and have you forgotten your paying an Italian a load of money to try and fix the problem. Bend down and kiss the 4 stars. Campioni del Mondo !!!! Forza Azzurri !!!
Charlie Di Placido
Since you are clearly bitter I very much doubt this response will get posted, still.... I think you will find that it is not the success of Italian teams which we like to mock, but the fact that the Italian teams play the most boring, lacklustre football on the planet. 1-0 then defend, boring!
Imagine every team in the Premier League playing like Liverpool and you know what I mean! Italian footballers are neither gracious in victory or defeat. Look how English clubs were banned from European competition 15-20 years ago, yet Italian teams cheat and corrupt the game completely and then surprise, surprise go on to win the World Cup!!!! Was it a fix, probably. It makes me sick to think they get away with it because FIFA are what seem to be an organisation with a obvious dislike of the English. Why do we criticise and laugh at the Italian League now it is at an all-time low, because cheats get what they deserve, there is some justice in this world!
Thomas Kenward
Mr. Kenward,
Do you really have any knowledge of this game? It sounds like you are saying that winning teams are defensive minded and losing teams play attractive football. It is well noted that Italian teams are very organized and know what it takes to win. It is a tactical game where everyone plays as a unit. In England, it is all run and gun with no fluid play at all. To me, and any other true student of the game, that, is very boring football. There is very little technical play and no tactics what so ever. It’s no wonder broken legs are part of the game in England. As for winning and losing non-graciously, how many fine bottles of wine did Sir Ferguson receive from his Italian counter parts after a victory or defeat? I must apologise though, I always thought the English had very little class, until recently when they hired an Italian to teach them how to win.
Tony De Angelis
I seem to remember this grandiose boasting by the Premier League's cheerleaders this time last year. That was before Milan humiliated Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final, then went on to win in the Final. If the Italian League is at an all-time low, then the fact that Italy are champions of the world, Milan champions of Europe and the world, Kaka world and European footballer of the year, and Totti European golden boot winner - preceded by Luca Toni, it is a low that the English can only dream of. Alexei Lalas was right, the Premier League is a triumph of American marketing strategy over quality. The claim that the Premier League is the best in the world has been made for years, despite all the top players playing in Italy and Spain. The ironic thing is now for the first time thanks to truck fulls of money from oligarchs and human rights abusers, this claim finally has a sliver of validity, thus sparking a plethora of graceless boasting from the English media. Their jealousy/xenophobia has often made Italy and Serie A a target of abuse - interestingly the Spanish media are also highly critical of the Italian League/national team, perhaps in ther case it is primarily jealousy as Spain have never won a world cup. The hegemony of the Premier League in the next few years is likely because of the money being thrown around by Americans, Russians, Icelanders and Thais who want to improve their European profiles. But with their foreign money, foreign chairmen, foreign managers and dearth of English talent, it is difficult to see just how 'English' these successes will be. In any case, perhaps the English media should show a little more respect to the country they have turned to to teach their national team how to play football.
Paul Valente
While I think your blog is well written and does indeed make some very good and interesting points on the similarities, differences and different perceptions of both Serie A and the Premier League, I think it wholly inaccurate to state Fiorentina's victory over Everton as a victory worth noting as a major claim to an Italian success over an English team. While Fiorentina have come back from the brink in superb style, my belief is that Everton dominated overall, and graced the field in the second leg with some of the best football the UEFA cup will see this season, and as for Palermo beating West Ham, who cares? Two mediocre teams barely worthy of note. I think the only reference point needed would be Italy's recent World Cup victory, to point to the strength of Serie A where most the squad hailed from, this to me gives overwhelming evidence that while the Premier League remains the financial powerhouse in the world game, the football is suffering. I can only speak for myself for this supposed 'super league' that the Premier League has become cannot even slightly excite me as much as seeing homegrown players excelling, which is a joy you can often have in Italy. If the Premier League is ever to become the best League in the world it must impliment a limit on foreign players as Serie A has done. So while some of us may boast of European dominance in the Champions League I doubt for a long while we can boast dominance in international competitions at any levels unless we see a change of attitude, which is somewhat poorly trying to be achieved at the moment with the weak analysis of the youth system in England.
Paul Gleeson
I am a Serie A and Milan fan, but I must admit that English football is just better at the moment. Italian squads, while very solid, are simply too slow and too deliberate compared to the English. Plus, the English play with a passion that cannot be found in Italy right now. The best example of EPL dominion over Serie A was the way Arsenal swept away Milan. Wenger's team was clearly better, more positive, more confident, and more direct. A good football fan has to support his team, but must also be humble enough to admit that vast improvement is necessary. I love Channel4.com.
Jose Vasquez
Points the English Press and all glorified Premier League boasting fans should consider :
- You have an Italian manager in charge of your country.
- Currently Milan are world, and European champions.
- Milan demolishing Manchester United and beating Liverpool to WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (emphasis on winning it as a English team has not won it in 3 years).
- Italian teams can make an all-Italian final, as I have never seen an all English one.
- Our football is tactically better and more intelligent unlike your all out attack/no teamwork football.
- Our League is more competitive, English only have a great top four, Italian League is great all round and more of a struggle for bigger teams.
- Our national team has more hope than yours, face it Cristiano Ronaldo is not English, in other words you're screwed.
- Back to the point you have hardly any English players in your League and your national side suffers humiliatingly.
- Italy is in the European Championship 2008, is England? Enough said.
Forza Italia e Milan.
Stefano Sartori
We shouldn't be surprised at the childish crowing of the English tabloids, after all, these are the same "journalists" who whip English fans into a frenzy every time there's a major tournament, claiming that the England players are the "best in the world", only to see them fail again and again because they're actually not very good at all.
Likewise, the level of ignorance amongst many English fans about any League outside the Premier League is woeful - most probably couldn't even name half of the sides in Serie A or La Liga. Pub fans just chant the old mantras of "boring Italian football" / "cheats" / "divers" etc, because they lack the brain-power and knowledge to form an opinion of their own, they just grunt whatever their mates are grunting.
In short, the spoutings of these papers, and of the halfwits who read them, don't deserve a second thought, let alone any kind of proper debate. Despite all that, the broadsheet papers in the UK - and, yes, this C4 website - have some fantastic coverage of Leagues overseas, so it's not all bad news.
Michael Galvan
The argument is surely fatuous, though having pointed out that the English media are pushing their case does make me chuckle. That is their job isn’t it? I think the point concerning football dynasty cycles is valid. Surely with the global credit crunch hitting hard & a great deal of money coming into the English game there will be a backlash soon in this country. The fact that the Italian & Spanish games, which have been largely immune to foreign ownership thus far, might find parity comes to pass if the likes of Mr Soros invest in their game too – if you’ve can’t beat them, join them!
The fact that football is seen as the new form of gladiatorial combat in this country by the likes of Sky is a fact that seems to have been swallowed & digested whole by an English Press keen to have something positive to say about a League that may be athletic, set up in state of the art arena, but lacks a great deal as shown in the way the finer strategic, tactical and technical details of the game are glossed over as a result.
People like Ferguson trying to influence referees with their insistence on allowing ‘skill’ to propagate is also a red herring. A man running very fast with a ball at his feet being slightly balked by those not able to get out the way quickly enough only speeds matters up more, genuine skill comes from those players like Pirlo, Zola or Totti who have the ability to look beyond the obvious and play at their own speed. As is abundantly clear and made plain by previous posters these guys just do not come to England, or if they do it is at the fag end of their careers.
The game in Italy will not wither and die, it is much more ingrained in the national psyche or the population at large than it has been in this country, where any number of Johnny come latelies tie their colours to the mast based on relative results rather than backing their local team since the ubiquitous EPL was spawned and re-branded like a poor Spice Girls song.
The English game has recently had the most personality in its Coaches also, Ferguson, Mourinho and Wenger being more than a match for an Italian League bereft of Lippi and the like, with the gravitas to be a true student of the game and respected the football world over. The reality is that England is very good at evolving ideas and steamrollering them through, the Italians and Spanish are hugely adept at refining them – vive la difference!
Finally. We have been world champions once, in our back yard. The Italians…. Well in my memory they have won twice away from their home turf and frequently been involved in semis and finals. Our last renowned ‘Mister’ with experience abroad was El Tel, he and Bobby Robson apart we do not travel well recently - we have 2 of the past 3 England managers having experience of Italian football for starters.
Why do we behave so negatively towards different cultures? Why don’t we celebrate the difference and look to make it grow into something invigorating and exciting for the game as a whole? It’s a part of our English psyche that I could quite easily do without.
Jeremy Yeomans
Excellent article but let's not get too hurt by the ignorance of the English Press. For a long time we have had to put up with this kind of talk and sometimes we must admit that Italian sides get outplayed. Let's just sit back and wait for the summer when we will need the Azzurri to rescue our pride once more! Serie A has been through a lot recently and it still may take a couple of years before we see three Italian teams in Champions League semi-finals. I'll just sit back and wait but most importantly not brag about Serie A's success when the wheel turns full circle! And let's just say I'll be supporting Barca in the Champions League (seeing an English winner may just hurt a bit too much).
Jonathan Royds
Wow I take my hat off to you Steve! The British Press have a totally blinkered view of Italian football and still believe calcio is a defensive chess match week in week out. The Premier League is a totally over-hyped League full of foreign imports of no fixed ability in certain cases. Looking outside the top four sides of each League Serie A and B have some outstanding young talent coming through which will be reflected in the Nazionale over the coming years, whereas England have a complete dearth of talent competing at the top level, as success crazed chairmen and Coaches think a quick fix is to look to Eastern Europe or Africa when talent right on the doorstep does not get a look in.
Steve Mitchell
|
|
| |
| |
