Why The Premiership?

[TheFarmer 260]

The reason behind that is because of the structure of both clubs, they are the premier clubs in Spain. Apart from Sky Sports TV coverage. The average punter doesn't want to watch other Spanish teams apart from the top two just like here and down south with the SPL, if We or Celtic ain't playing, nobody is interested. Real Madrid and Barcelona Vs Anybody equals TV ratings.

That TV negotiations will come to a end soon in La Liga, but Real Madrid and Barcelona will still continue to dominate, due to them being a superpower in marketing their own brand across the globe.

Is it italy im thinking about then, where each team sells its own tv rights for their home games ?

[disgruntled_bear 157]

When was the last time anyone bar Chelsea/United won the league? 7 years ago in 2004? The same year Valencia won the league?

You do know three season's ago Barcelona finished third 10 points behind Villarreal?

Guillem Balague also proved the myth that EPL is stronger from top to bottom with statistics that the points difference in La Liga was closer over the last few seasons.

Since 2000 Spain has won 9 European trophies from Barca, Real, Valencia, Sevilla and At. Madrid, England 3 with Liverpool and Man United.

But yeh clearly La Liga is a blown up version of SPL.

Look at the overall history of the game, La Liga and the SPL compare with two teams dominating with the spoils. Real Madrid 31 league titles and Barcelona 21 league titles and here it's Rangers 54 and Celtic 42.

The English league is similar, but it's spread out more with more winners of the league than both the leagues mentioned above.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Absolute nonsense.

There is many good teams in Spain from Valencia, At Madrid, Sevilla, Villarreal, Bilbao etc.

So you think they teams mentioned above will overturn FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the coming years with popularity and selling themselves across the World.

Not a chance, it's like saying Hearts and Aberdeen will find a way to overturn the OLDFIRM over here. It's locked in.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Is it italy im thinking about then, where each team sells its own tv rights for their home games ?

Think all leagues including Italy are selling TV rights collectively now or will be when contracts run out. Think that was part of UEFA drawn up rule of fair play.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

You do know the English league started 41 years before La Liga?

There was only 10 clubs in La Liga for many years, so obviously there will be more winners in England, common sense.

You obviously don't know the history of both leagues.

I do, but like all leagues including our very own. The gap is for everybody to see and if were bringing it up to date La Liga has two teams dominating the rest and so do we. The comparisons are not wide of the mark. Just some don't like to admit it.

Just have to look at how many times both teams from both leagues lose points compared to the rest.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

The likes of Chelsea, Man City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool would not overturn those two clubs. Barcelona at the moment are on a different planet to any club, whilst Real Madrid are the second strongest ahead of Man United.

Do you honestly think the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool can overturn the United/Chelsea dominance? The only other club who 'might' do so are Shitty, but it could be claimed they are moving forward whilst Chelsea are going backwards and it could become a new top 2.

If you're talking about marketing brands and generating fund to compete, then Arsenal, Liverpool and now Man City could compete for the league if they continue on the path they're heading. It's not beyond them.

Compared to La Liga and the SPL and that's what were discussing, they have more of a chance to win the league than the dominance of the top two being overturned in La Liga and the SPL.

All the EPL league clubs and that includes Man Utd and Chelsea, are at a stage of rebuilding the squad. It will be a very competitive league this year.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

The same funds Liverpool have had for years but have never won the league for 20 years? So what path is that they are heading? Missing out on the top 4 for the third season running?

Arsenal hardly ever spend money and have lost players again this summer, they have about as much chance of winning the EPL than Valencia do in La Liga.

Man United have had the same core of squad for a long period and have added to it this summer, they are not rebuilding.

Hear the same muck every season that it's going to be competitive, it's now a top 6 who can all win the league. When in reality it will turn into a 2 horse race or United will walk the league again this season after being average at times last season.

Aside from the money issue the only difference is Real Madrid/Barcelona are so much stronger than all clubs which includes everyone in England.

Manchester Utd are rebuilding they lost Van der Saar, Scholes and Neville, Ferdinand is made of Glass, Giggs is on the decline and that's before they let a lot of those back up go like O'shea etc.

They have bought well, always do with Sir Alex. He know the English market inside and out. But it's a rebuilding job he's got on his hands with a lot of youngsters.

Arsenal are always there about's, yeah they have a massive hole to fill with Fabregas. But they ain't far off, if they can plug the gap in defence. They'll compete with anybody in the league.

Liverpool have a strong squad this year, Kenny Dalglish has bought very well this year. If he can get them all to blend quickly they will be a force this year in the EPL. Plus what everybody is forgetting they'll be fresh with just the league to concentrate on this season.

Man City, is anybody going to doubt them with the squad they have.

Between a straight assessment between La Liga and the EPL, the EPL is more competitive. But it's all about opinions. But if were talking about clubs an not the leagues then Real Madrid and Barcelona are global super powers.

[swanseabear 25]

I'm agreeing with you. 3.5m people. Can't be knocked. Even in our heyday we never did anything that good, even if we had a touch of class. Scotland have been crap for years yet a lot of media people now think we have to look to 20 years ago for inspiration. We were crap then! Our technique and outlook have not changed. We still can't pass a ball or flight a cross. I'm all for taking inspiration wherever we can, but constantly casting a jealous glance south of the border doesn't address our inherent problems. We were having this debate 20 years ago when I was a kid. I remember well the ridiculous 5 year SFA plans and all the rest of it.

Another point is that we are kidding ourselves if we think we need to look to England to develop our skill level. They are not much better technically, despite the overwhelming dominance of the Prem. All the best players are foreign!

Spot on!

[kanjo 26,390]

I agree, we all know that there is no way that we can compete whilst the finances are obviously so different. The problem is that as a club, we are far bigger than all but 5 or 6 of 1 Premiership club.

fixed that for you

[Creampuff 22,628]

Cause it's just down the road?

[4MenHadADream 122]

fixed that for you

Cheers mate

[The Beast 9,253]

I think it would be great if we could stay in the same standard as say, Dutch, Danish, and Belgian leagues. In my mind it goes the big 5(France England Spain Italy Germany) then Russian, Turkish Brazilian, Ukrainian not all in order. Then us lot and below us the likes of sweedish, Austrian leagues etc

Don't be deluded. Apart from the Hearts tie where they were justifiably outclassed, every team in Scotland has fucked up this season against teams from so-called lesser leagues such as Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and Slovenia. We're no-where near as good as we think and can only dream of being as good as the Danish and Belgians etc.

[The Monk 3,208]

Don't be deluded. Apart from the Hearts tie where they were justifiably outclassed, every team in Scotland has fucked up this season against teams from so-called lesser leagues such as Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and Slovenia. We're no-where near as good as we think and can only dream of being as good as the Danish and Belgians etc.

I know where below them but realisticly that's were i think we should and could be at. There's more football interest in Scotland than Belgium plus alot of people outside Scotland still watch matches so the population is slightly more.

[OneDavidCooper 2,505]

The only thing that makes the EPL superior is MONEY. Without SKY funding, the EPL would be a very grim place indeed as the overall standard of English born players, sadly, is not that special.

The biggest issue is coaching, particularly at school boy level. I do not believe for one second that Brazilian kids are born with more talent than English or Scottish kids, but wheras skill is coached OUT of our kids, and fans in England and Scotland generally prefer the games to be played at a frentic pace with a lot of physicality, other nations teach kids to exploit their skills and favour a game based on retaining possession.

Long-term, British football needs to alter its culture. Only then will things change for the better.

[THE_Ibrox_Preacher 2,812]

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[The Monk 3,208]

OneDavidCooper, modern football training is just like 10mins passing, 30mins fitness and 20 mins match. I'm pretty sure for local football they should be teaching ball control possession, and trying long passes etc getting a better technique. The teams shouldn't be just a bunch of match fit people who can smash a ball.

[OneDavidCooper 2,505]

OneDavidCooper, modern football training is just like 10mins passing, 30mins fitness and 20 mins match. I'm pretty sure for local football they should be teaching ball control possession, and trying long passes etc getting a better technique. The teams shouldn't be just a bunch of match fit people who can smash a ball.

Absolutely, hence the decline in British football.

Only in Britain could Michael Owen finish his career as a penalty box predator who touches the ball 6 times a game having emerged in his teens as a player who could receive the ball on the half way line, dribble past 4 defenders and slot the ball in from range. Only in Britain could Rio Ferdinand become a safety first, pragmatic at all times centre half when he started his career as a ball playing defender or midfielder with more than a hint of flair.

The culture must change. We coach skill out of players.

[TravelingWilBEARy 4,319]

Nail on the head. Italy, Spain, Germany, England, France.

China

[NorthernLights 2,526]

USA and Australia too.

Larger population means more of a chance of finding great players, though.