Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:09:54

FTN doesn't watch MLS enough - there is no way the top Championship teams win MLS in "a walk". Not with Landon/Beckham/Keane/Juninho/Gonzalez on the Galaxy.

I also don't see the purpose of ranking all the leagues as no one could possibly watch all of them - the fuck I know about the A-league? But you can generally use money as a proxy for talent, which is why the Championship, which pays better than the MLS on average, is higher than MLS.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:12:44

I also think the top Championship teams would win the MLS in a walk.

by **Soren** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:15:49

fuck it, I'm going to start following la ligue 1

by **BuddyGroom** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:17:09

FTN wrote:
BuddyGroom wrote:Honest question for the people here who really follow international soccer - I really can't claim to be anything more than a casual fan.

Where do you think MLS ranks currently among the world's professional leagues? I ask because I read an article recently where somebody said that for South American players, they used to see MLS as "the retirement league" but now they take it a lot more seriously.

Obviously, the EPL is the world's best league. I would imagine La Liga is a solid second, followed in some order by Italy, Germany and France. Where does the U.S. figure? Ahead of or behind Argentina? In the mix with the other Euro leagues after the top five?

I dont really follow MLS, but here is how I'd rank the leagues right now

EPL
La Liga
Ligue 1
Bundesliga
Primeira Liga (Portugal)
Eredivisie
Russian Premier League
SPL
Brazilian League
A-League
Championship
MLS

I don't watch the Mexican League at all, so I can't compare. The top 4 leagues are a class above the rest, then I'd say portugal, holland, and russia are in a class of their own, then the SPL/Brazilian/A-League/Championship (UK) are in their own tier, then MLS. There are teams in the 2nd tier in England that would win MLS in a walk. The game is so much faster in the leagues I ranked above MLS.

I think you left either Italy or France off your list. If by Ligue 1, you mean France, I have to think Italy's Serie A ranks with it and Germany's Bundesliga.

The A-League? Is that Asia? Australia? And MLS is behind England's second division. Yikes.

I'd also like to think MLS isn't behind Mexico as SK790 suggests. Just as the USA Mens team should be number one in North America simply based on resources, I would think the same would be true of MLS compared to Mexico.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:22:31

I don't think you understand just the pay disparity between MLS and Mexico. Read Grant Wahl's recent article about DMB and Gomez should be on cnnsi.com/soccer.

Also, I just don't think you find talents as good as Beckham/Landon/Keane on a Championship roster. I think the Galaxy is a rare breed and they are gearing up for super club status, which admittedly is weird since super is defined as being able to win the Championship.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:27:04

jeff2sf wrote:I don't think you understand just the pay disparity between MLS and Mexico. Read Grant Wahl's recent article about DMB and Gomez should be on cnnsi.com/soccer.

Also, I just don't think you find talents as good as Beckham/Landon/Keane on a Championship roster. I think the Galaxy is a rare breed and they are gearing up for super club status, which admittedly is weird since super is defined as being able to win the Championship.

Link me the article and I'll read it.

I'm basing the fact that Mexico has owned the CONCACAF CL since it's start(excluding this year) as basis for Mexico being better than MLS.

by **Soren** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:28:20

well, not only is PSG my Stepdad's team from his childhood, but upon further investigation they're the closest team geographically to where I lived, boom roasted.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 16:31:43

SK790 wrote:
jeff2sf wrote:I don't think you understand just the pay disparity between MLS and Mexico. Read Grant Wahl's recent article about DMB and Gomez should be on cnnsi.com/soccer.

Also, I just don't think you find talents as good as Beckham/Landon/Keane on a Championship roster. I think the Galaxy is a rare breed and they are gearing up for super club status, which admittedly is weird since super is defined as being able to win the Championship.

Link me the article and I'll read it.

I'm basing the fact that Mexico has owned the CONCACAF CL since it's start(excluding this year) as basis for Mexico being better than MLS.

No, you go find the article. It's on cnnsi.com and you should be reading Wahl extensively anyway. Every Thursday.

But I was agreeing with you and reponding to Buddy. Mexico pays a lot more. A lot more. Throw in Mexico's basically owning the Concacaf Champions League and it's not even a question, Mexico's of higher quality. But the Galaxy does not equal MLS.

by **Soren** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:02:54

Manchester City's Mario Balotelli has been charged by the FA with violent conduct and faces a four-game ban after his stamp on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.

The second-half substitute went on to score the winning penalty in the 3-2 victory for the home side at the Etihad Stadium.

The ban could see the Italian striker miss Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield, along with Premier League games against Aston Villa, Everton and Fulham.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:32:28

jeff2sf wrote:
SK790 wrote:
jeff2sf wrote:I don't think you understand just the pay disparity between MLS and Mexico. Read Grant Wahl's recent article about DMB and Gomez should be on cnnsi.com/soccer.

Also, I just don't think you find talents as good as Beckham/Landon/Keane on a Championship roster. I think the Galaxy is a rare breed and they are gearing up for super club status, which admittedly is weird since super is defined as being able to win the Championship.

Link me the article and I'll read it.

I'm basing the fact that Mexico has owned the CONCACAF CL since it's start(excluding this year) as basis for Mexico being better than MLS.

No, you go find the article. It's on cnnsi.com and you should be reading Wahl extensively anyway. Every Thursday.

But I was agreeing with you and reponding to Buddy. Mexico pays a lot more. A lot more. Throw in Mexico's basically owning the Concacaf Champions League and it's not even a question, Mexico's of higher quality. But the Galaxy does not equal MLS.

good, one less article to read.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:33:58

Soren wrote:
Manchester City's Mario Balotelli has been charged by the FA with violent conduct and faces a four-game ban after his stamp on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.

The second-half substitute went on to score the winning penalty in the 3-2 victory for the home side at the Etihad Stadium.

The ban could see the Italian striker miss Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield, along with Premier League games against Aston Villa, Everton and Fulham.

i don't think it was deliberate. i think lescot's elbow was, though.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:38:31

Probably for the good - you should be focused on earning more money to pay for your car than spending 17 seconds to type cnnsi.com/soccer.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:42:32

my cutoff is 15 seconds for searching for articles people were too lazy to link themselves that i was only moderately interested in.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:49:05

Saying people should read Grant Wahl is like saying people should listen to a good podcast, watch good TV, or read a great book. Get back to work or fix your car.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:51:21

no, you cited a specific article and said we should read it then mentioned his weekly article. and i have off today, so i will continue to dick around on the internet while having this pissing contest with you.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:53:19

You win. Still, fix your car.

by **FTN** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 17:58:38

I forgot Serie A. Mainly because Italian football puts me to sleep.

I think the level of play in Spain, France and Germany is higher than Italy.

I watch the French league, some La Liga, and some Bundesliga on a pretty regular basis. I know enough about the quality of the other leagues to give my rough estimation. I've watched enough MLS to be able to form an opinion of the quality of talent in the league. And I choose to not actively follow the league because i think the quality is pretty poor, and because I can spend that time watching high quality football from France, Spain and Germany.

West Ham, if dropped in to MLS, would destroy the league. Robbie Keane was/is washed up and would have been playing for a Championship club before he came to the US. As much as I love Titi, his legs are gone. Donovan doesn't look out of place at Everton, but he also just looks like another guy. The pace of the game in the US is far far less than that of any top Euro league.

by **jeff2sf** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 18:04:18

/Eurosnob

I don't even like MLS that much, but you haven't watched Galaxy. They would not be out of place in the bottom 10 of the Premier League. They also "destroyed" MLS. You don't watch enough to know. I'm not asking you to, but you don't.

by **SK790** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 18:18:00

by **FTN** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 18:34:57

jeff2sf wrote:/Eurosnob

I don't even like MLS that much, but you haven't watched Galaxy. They would not be out of place in the bottom 10 of the Premier League. They also "destroyed" MLS. You don't watch enough to know. I'm not asking you to, but you don't.

And how much do you watch outside of MLS? Its not about being a Eurosnob, its about wanting to watch the best quality product. I follow minor league baseball (not just the Phillies, affiliates from all 30 teams) closer than anyone on this site, but I wouldn't claim that A ball is superior to MLB or that the Lakewood Blueclaws would finish ahead of multiple MLB teams.

Do you honestly think Beckham would fit in with an EPL team now? Do you watch the EPL...and by watch, I mean watch 2-3 games every weekend, with a broad sampling of every team? Its the fastest league in the world. He left the EPL for the money in Spain, but he also left because the Spanish league is much less physical and much less reliant on pace. Over a 38 game season, the Galaxy would struggle to not get relegated in the EPL. In fact, I'm like 95% sure they'd get relegated. The teams struggling at the bottom of the EPL right now all have 4-5 players in their squad who would tear MLS apart, because they have far superior pace and strength than 99% of the players in the MLS. You can debate this, but I think you'd lose.

You think you're right, and I think you're wrong. I'm not convincing you either way. Your xenophobia with regard to football is what it is, and I wouldn't expect you to change.

Archived

Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff

Re: Oh FFS, the EPL kicks off and other random soccer stuff