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| Champions League 2011; hello euro knockout phase | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 16 2011, 11:09 AM (10,044 Views) | |
| findus | Apr 13 2011, 09:55 PM Post #91 |
Jerry Kerr
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Not an Italian team in sight!  Actually, only Inter representing in the quarters. What's happened to Italian football, really? |
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| Cobardon | Apr 13 2011, 10:22 PM Post #92 |
Uncle Smurf
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(Eggman, page 4 of this thread) I shall take your Eggman bait instead and reprint his table of biggest squad values in Europe: which pretty much backs the idea that Schalke are the big surprise this season. Other than that it is, depressingly, proof that money does buy success. (Man City are a work in progress after all and couldn't expect to have done too well in the CL this season, not having qualified). Basically, Schalke weren't meant to beat Inter, instead they were supposed to play the victim to their cash laden squad's progress. So I'll be rooting for Schalke to win simply because I prefer a guest who hasn't been invited walking off with all the dessert. They give hope to the rest of us poor schmoes that -just once in a while- teamwork, resilience and luck can oust the gravy train. |
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| The Eggman | Apr 13 2011, 11:08 PM Post #93 |
Tommy McLean
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One problem is a lack of stability. Sampdoria, for instance, finished 4th last season, and their manager left for Juve, then lost in qualifying to Werder on away goals. They'll probably be relegated. Roma won't qualify this season. So two of the best sides (Udinese and Napoli), weren't in the Champions League. Inter have had a managerial catastrophe. Milan have an inexperienced manager, with a substantially different attack that is still gelling (they dominated Spurs and should've qualified). A reinforced Milan, Inter and Napoli will be better next season. By the way, I forgot to include Chelsea's and Liverpool's expensive squads. Will do that tomorrow. |
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| IainArab72 | Apr 14 2011, 08:14 AM Post #94 |
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Craig Brewster
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Gareth Bale's dive was a disgrace. He is a blatant cheat. Probably "learned it from those dirty foreigners." |
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| Conan the Destroyer | Apr 14 2011, 08:36 AM Post #95 |
I prefer it when we're pish
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Schalke are still in? How was this allowed to happen? Come on them! |
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| The Eggman | Apr 14 2011, 10:07 AM Post #96 |
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Tommy McLean
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Chelsea's team from Tuesday (including the subs that played) cost £230 million. Adding in the rest of the squad brings it up to £310 million. Liverpool's first team is £125 million, with squad total of £140 million. |
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| Morvant's Finest | Apr 14 2011, 11:58 AM Post #97 |
Tommy McLean
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As Cob said the main reason Italian teams don't dominate like they used to has a lot to do with finances. Alhough as Eggman also pointed out regular CL teams like Inter, Roma and Milan have all changed Managers in recent months and that certainly didn't help their challenges this year. I read an interesting article in the Calcio Italia magazine a few weeks back detailing Serie A clubs' finances and the massive difference between clubs' matchday revenue in Serie A compared to the EPL, La Liga and Bundesliga etc. There was a figure quoting Inter's matchday revenue in 2008-09 as €16.6M (less 18% to the Away team and €4M on rent for the stadium) compared to the £100M Arsenal and Man Utd generated. The difference is mainly down to a lack of corporate hospitality options available as well as the higher attendances at those 2 EPL clubs in particular. Although the levels of finance Serie A clubs get from TV deals and merchandising can of course limit the overall difference. So without their own stadiums it's difficult to see the financial discrepancy changing anytime soon for Serie A clubs (apart from Juve who are moving into their own 41,000 capacity stadium in 2011-12). And the financial fair-play rules will probably make it even worse... |
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| The Eggman | Apr 14 2011, 12:16 PM Post #98 |
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Tommy McLean
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Not just attendances, but the prices of season tickets. The average price of a Milan or Inter season ticket is less than half that of Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea etc. The Deloitte income reports show that the English clubs are raking in a good £60 million a season more, although that doesn't show expenditure. Because of Italy's high tax laws, they also need to pay over-the-odds. If Barca offer 3 million Euros a season, Milan, to match that after tax, need to pay something like 3.5-4 million Euros. Italian clubs aren't marketing themselves well enough (although they are improving - see the Sunday morning kick-offs for the first time this season, to get increased revenue from Asia). But indeed, there's almost no corporate boxes whatsoever, and the merchandising isn't exploited enough. That said, the fans wouldn't fall for much of the tat like they do in Britain. There's also the argument that Italians have less disposable income (at least that's what I've heard, although I've not looked into it). Still, a lot of the clubs have paid off a lot of their debts, and you'll see greater spending in the summer. Inter needs to invest a fair bit, and Milan still need a few more players. Di Laurentiis at Napoli has said he'll be spending around 50 million this summer, to strengthen their squad. If they keep Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik, they'll be better than most teams next season. Roma have a new owner (an Italian American), who has promised to spend big in the summer, although Roma won't qualify for the Champions League. Udinese will most likely be typical of the 4th placed side. They already sold Flores in January, and their most promising player, Sanchez, will likely go to Inter. Di Natale's getting on a bit now, so it's dubious how long he can keep up the pace. Guidolin, the manager, doesn't have much experience of European football, either. So, for next season, Milan (Allegri has learnt a lot this season, and there'll be further reinforcements. Mexes is being brought in on a free, and although he has a shocking disciplinary record, when he's on the pitch, he's usually very good.) and Napoli will be stronger. Inter should be stronger (Eto'o, Pazzini and Sneijder will form the main attack, with some new, younger players being brought in. Leonardo will most likely go in the summer, so their success next season will depend in a big part to who they get in), while Udinese (if they can pick up their form again) or Lazio (Reja doesn't have much experience, although they have a stronger squad than Udinese) I doubt will get past the second round at best. Aside from that, the league has been very good this season. The Napoli-Lazio match a couple of weeks ago was superb. And with Napoli only three points behind Milan (albeit with an easier run in for Milan, and a superior head-to-head record makes it effectively four points) with seven games left, there's much to play for. Inter will struggle to pick themselves up, I think, and are effectively six points behind Milan. |
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| Skeletor | Apr 14 2011, 04:50 PM Post #99 |
Most likely to be Ann Widdecombe
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I'd assumed it had something to do with the youth system taking their foot off the gas, or more corruption. Italy were shocking in the last World Cup, though it's arguable that that wasn't even their strongest squad. Breeding a bad mentality at the moment? Mentality is everything; look at Torres. |
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| Clarkie | Apr 14 2011, 09:52 PM Post #100 |
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Mac an t-stronaich
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3 Portuguese teams in the Europa league semi finals not bad for a small country with a 16 team league. *the abillity to sign players from their former colony Brazil at a young age without much red tape probably helps though. Edited by Clarkie, Apr 14 2011, 09:57 PM.
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| The Eggman | Apr 14 2011, 10:00 PM Post #101 |
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Tommy McLean
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You seem to be proud of your ignorance. |
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| Skeletor | Apr 15 2011, 02:12 AM Post #102 |
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Most likely to be Ann Widdecombe
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Awwwwww babe. 'Not enough money' as an excuse seems to comfort you doesn't it? Okay, it was that. |
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| The Eggman | Apr 15 2011, 07:09 AM Post #103 |
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Tommy McLean
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Almost every post from you these days resembles trolling. |
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| findus | Apr 15 2011, 07:37 AM Post #104 |
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Jerry Kerr
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Thanks both of you. So in essence, Italian football (economically/strategically) stood still after the dominance of the mid-nineties and early noughties while the rest of Europe's big guns waved as they zoomed ahead? It's strange to hear that Juve are getting their own 41,000 (Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Everton-sized) stadium, and only now. (M)Any potential Maldini's or Baggio's coming through? Edited by findus, Apr 15 2011, 07:38 AM.
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| Setenza | Apr 15 2011, 08:11 AM Post #105 |
Knitting with only one needle
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Does that mean that we've all to start supporting Italian teams in Euorpe now, as they're the underdogs? |
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