IthacaMatt
Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 24,355
- Like
- 35,985
OK, one more thread to be the catch-all for folks who want to talk about La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga. I see two out of three on BeIn Sports on Verizon FIOS (just changed to Channel 805). Does anyone know who carries the Bundesliga in the U.S.
We can also use this thread to talk about the Champions League and Europa League, if that 's OK with everybody.
Quick comments - Barca will look to have an amazing attack - at least on paper, once Suarez is cleared to play. If I were them, I would give Messi another month off to recuperate. I could see holding him out of the first 2 or 3 league games, just to get his head straight. He seemed worn down to a pulp at the World Cup.
I think Real Madrid have been doing better business than Barca so far, and I would rate them as favorites. It will be interesting to see if Diego Simeone can keep Atletico Madrid in the hunt, after his squad has been raided for a handful of their best players. They do seem to have been aggressive in buying quality replacements, like Mandzukic, for example. I think they will again qualify for Champions League.
Italian football seems to be in crisis (again). Not due to gambling this time, but due to an overall decline in quality. The game is clearly slower in Italy, with a lot of gamesmanship and flopping for fouls. The home of great tactical coaches, and aging but skillful players. Juve is still a very good squad. I liked how Napoli looked against Barca in a recent friendly, and think that Rafa Benitez has done a very good job there, despite losing some major firepower when they sold Cavani and Levezzi a couple years ago. Roma is another solid but unspectactular team. Too many crap teams in the table to make Italian football too exciting - at least until Inter and Milan can get their acts together and get back to where they belong. I don't see any Italian teams going far in the Champions League, though.
Here's an article on the financial decline of Serie A:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26351331
Speaking of Champions League, I think the English teams generally will do well this year. I see a decline in quality in Spain, and in Germany, only Bayern is a true contender. I watched the friendly between Spurs (the 6th place team in England last year) and Schalke (3rd in Germany, in this year's Champions League), and I think that Schalke is not that impressive. Spurs were in control for much of the game. Dortmund will be down, too, from their recent peaks, although they have managed to hold on to Hummels and Reus (so far).
Turning to France, it's a one-horse race with PSG expected to run away with the title. There are no real contenders, especially with Falcao apparently on his way out of Monaco and James Rodriguez already gone. With them, the question is whether their shiny new all-Brazilian defense can perform at the highest levels. I'm guessing they will come up short again, not getting past the quarterfinals, at best.
Looking forward to another exciting season. Your thoughts?
We can also use this thread to talk about the Champions League and Europa League, if that 's OK with everybody.
Quick comments - Barca will look to have an amazing attack - at least on paper, once Suarez is cleared to play. If I were them, I would give Messi another month off to recuperate. I could see holding him out of the first 2 or 3 league games, just to get his head straight. He seemed worn down to a pulp at the World Cup.
I think Real Madrid have been doing better business than Barca so far, and I would rate them as favorites. It will be interesting to see if Diego Simeone can keep Atletico Madrid in the hunt, after his squad has been raided for a handful of their best players. They do seem to have been aggressive in buying quality replacements, like Mandzukic, for example. I think they will again qualify for Champions League.
Italian football seems to be in crisis (again). Not due to gambling this time, but due to an overall decline in quality. The game is clearly slower in Italy, with a lot of gamesmanship and flopping for fouls. The home of great tactical coaches, and aging but skillful players. Juve is still a very good squad. I liked how Napoli looked against Barca in a recent friendly, and think that Rafa Benitez has done a very good job there, despite losing some major firepower when they sold Cavani and Levezzi a couple years ago. Roma is another solid but unspectactular team. Too many crap teams in the table to make Italian football too exciting - at least until Inter and Milan can get their acts together and get back to where they belong. I don't see any Italian teams going far in the Champions League, though.
Here's an article on the financial decline of Serie A:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26351331
Speaking of Champions League, I think the English teams generally will do well this year. I see a decline in quality in Spain, and in Germany, only Bayern is a true contender. I watched the friendly between Spurs (the 6th place team in England last year) and Schalke (3rd in Germany, in this year's Champions League), and I think that Schalke is not that impressive. Spurs were in control for much of the game. Dortmund will be down, too, from their recent peaks, although they have managed to hold on to Hummels and Reus (so far).
Turning to France, it's a one-horse race with PSG expected to run away with the title. There are no real contenders, especially with Falcao apparently on his way out of Monaco and James Rodriguez already gone. With them, the question is whether their shiny new all-Brazilian defense can perform at the highest levels. I'm guessing they will come up short again, not getting past the quarterfinals, at best.
Looking forward to another exciting season. Your thoughts?
Last edited:
