Valenica, gulp. 186% and people dare slag premier league off for debt. All Leagues have debt. People make out that its the worst in the league in england.
I think time will tell Hemsworth. The Premier League will struggle massively if the money men at QPR, Chelsea, City etc pull the plug. Those clubs can't manage withoout. And the German national team (and those at other levels) are vastly superior to our national team. All because of the infrastructure of German football. Until we are able to produce top class players on a regular basis like they are, we won't be on their level. They've invested a lot of time and money in the right places (youth development, coaching etc) and are reaping the rewards now
I'd be willing to bet German teams will win more Champions league medals than English clubs will in the next 10 years. City were the best English team last year, looked woefully underprepared in the Champions League the last 2 seasons. Dortmun/Bayern are both looking strong in Europe, and will only continue to do so. In the group stages this year, Schalke finished above Arsenal, Dortmund above City (And Real Madrid let's not forget!)
Rooney Hart Wilshere to name three. Mertesacker was good in germany. Hes looks shocking when hes stepped up a level. hes got 86 in eight years. Theres about 10 england centre backs i would have before him.
Hart has looked very dodgy of late! Did you not see the **** up yesterday? And how many has he been at fault for in the Champions League? Not saying he's not going to be a top, top keeper, but then in my eyes, Neuer is a better keeper. Rooney hasn't had his greatest season either, Van Persie has been taking most of the plaudits, and Rooney still doesn't look good enough for me when he plays for England. Wilshire I think is different class. But then Germany have a whole wealth of top players. Podolski has done quite well since coming over, granted not week in, week out, but has played well, Goetze is a wonderful player, Schweinsteiger, Reus, Klose, Khedira, Ozil, Muller, Kroos, all top players too. Plus your favourite, Mario Gomes. Brilliant centre forward. Much better than Carroll, or Defoe, or Wellbeck, or Sturridge. Likewise Podolski, better than any of those. Plus Lahm is better than Cole in my opinion. Cole isn't even the best left back in England anymore!
Podolski's done ok and so as the japan international at man utd. They got talked up in germany and when theyve come over theyve looked, well not over good. Walcotts out doing pod at Arsenal and Young when fits doing the same at OT.
I think he's right to an extent about Mertesacker, but as a nation there's this myth that we have a great squad of top class players. We've not really had a genuine world class centre half in a few years now. Terry and Ferdinand are way past it at the top level, and I'm not convinced the likes of Jagielka, Cahill or Lescott are anywhere near good enough to be considered top class, at least not on the international stage
What about the other dozen or so players I mentioned? How many English midfielders would play for Real Madrid or Bayern for example? Lampard in his prime, Gerrard too, Wilshire now probably, but you can't tell me Carrick, Milner, Osman, Cleverley, Shelvey, Huddlestone etc etc would. Not in the same league
I was impressed with Cahill against Brazil, to be honest. Welbeck is never a footballer in a million years, awful.
Hassell has never been any where near their quality. He only been an average Championship player at his very best.
The Germans win Hans down (sorry about that). They have a product which produces the highest crowd in domestic world football, in a league with well over 60% home grown tallent, with prices most can afford and produce from it a national team which is about 5-10 years ahead if our own. Anyone who thinks the premier league is superior needs their head testing.
Totally agree. I had the misfortune to be living in Germany during the 2006 world cup. The fever it generated amongst ordinary people was extraordinary, even though it did my head in. After every match there were fireworks and people driving around blowing horns etc until the early hours. Far in excess of anything I've seen over here. Their model beats ours to a pulp. People I know over there laugh their ****** off when I tell them how much a Barnsley season ticket is.