** This thread is mostly just my response to people hailing the EPL as the top league in the world as a result of Chelsea, Liverpool and United making the semi's. ***
I dont post on this forum anymore, but this was just something I had to vent somewhere. If the English league continues to become the commercial sucess it is, and keeps buying all the best stars from around the world, the beautiful game is in for a bad future.
There is absolutely no buildup or any skill whatsoever to the style of these teams.
Style of attack for top 3:
Chelsea: Chelsea's has one form of attack. John Terry, Carvalho or somebody else in the backfield collects the ball, looks at Didier Drogba and launches the ball to him. It is then Drogba's task to use his strength to nod the ball to other side, in which case Lampard usually gathers the ball and scores the same goal he always does. Its no wonder a player like Shevchenko has struggled with this club, he's used to running on skilled through balls from kaka, or collecting daft lobs from Pirlo instead of this garbage. Im not saying this style doesnt work, but after watching a club like Barca, Valencia, Inter, Milan or Arsenal play, i feel like its the most dumbed down form of soccer there is.
Liverpool: the exact same as above, only its not nearly as sucessful because Kuyt and Crouch arent half the players as Drogba. Other than Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, the rest of this team are at the same quality as a side like Aston Villa or Blackburn. Rafa Benitez is hands down the best coach in England for miraculously guiding this team so far in the CL.
Man UTD: when Ruud was around, they followed exact same approach as above. Now, by default because they lack a big target man, they have to sometimes attempt to dribble the ball. Well, kind of. There's no club in the world that relies one player to carry the team as much as Ronaldo does week in week out. He makes ordinary players like Carrick, Scholes & Fletcher occasionally look decent. Its no wonder hes such a ball hog, do you think he has any faith in the rest of his players?
For the good of the sport, I pray that Ronaldo leaves UTD for Spain this summer and Fergie's men once again will trail Chelsea by 10+ points next season. You guys should thank your lucky stars that Dida gifted you 2 goals last night.
Arsenal however play with skill, and look where they are in the table. I will admit that UTD & Chelsea posess outstanding backlines, and Mourinho and Benitez are two of the best managers in the world, but dont mistake this for top quality football.
Its no wonder your national team is so garbage. You lack a player like Drogba to execute your league's most common style of attack. And then players like Rooney and Lampard get continuously exposed for how ordinary they really are. Too bad the national team cant buy foreign players and have foreign coaches manage them