08/09 Champions League - First Knockout Round [P+R]

[Coruja]

Italy better watch their ass. If Bayern wins the CL, and Werder or Hamburg win the UEFA Cup then Italy could face a real problem in terms of coefficients.

If I was Italian, I'd become an Udinese supporter really quick.

Dont worry, the winner will be Braga.

 

[MaSsiVe]

the winner will be Braga.

 

[Bobby]

Hamburg have it all to do against Galatasaray after only managing a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg ... and Bremen only have a slim 1-0 to take to Saint Étienne ... so, let us first see if HSV and Werder can even make it through to the next round before there is any talk of them winning the UEFA Cup ...

as for Bayern: well, let's see the quarterfinal draw on friday before making any judgment call on their chances ...

I don't think the German clubs will win it, but as long as they're alive they have a chance.

Not just, that, but Italy needs Juve, Inter, Roma, and Milan to qualify every year not Fiorentina, Lazio, or Genoa or anyone else who is challenging for 4th place, no matter how much those teams deserve it. We need teams with the caliber to get it past the group stage.

Oh and, Forza Udinese.

I think those clubs are hurt by the presentation of the league on television. When you watch the other big leagues: England, Spain, France, and Germany, most of the matches are played in great stadiums which look great on television. While the football in Serie A is amazing, the backdrop often looks like the league of a third world country. Cagliari being the chief offender, and Verona is equally awful. This is compiled by many stadiums being empty because the match is on TV in town. In other places this doesn't happen, and it improves attendance.

It's a shame, because it's one of the great leagues. There's a lot of talk about how money in England is stacked at the top, but no one ever mentions the likes of Everton, Villa, Tottenham, ect. Those clubs have all benefited from the presentation of the Premier League, the level of play in England as a league isn't necessarily better, and Germany certainly isn't better, but both LOOK better and today appearance is everything.

I know people will say "Watch the match, not the stadium.", and I do. But the fact is I, and many others, would sooner watch Hannover play Bielefeld in front of 38,000 at the AWD-Arena than watch Cagliari play Siena in front of 5,000 at that hodgepodge of scaffolding they call a stadium. It looks like Xzibit took a vacation in Sicily.

This wasn't a rant at you, it's just my opinion on why the middle-tier Italian teams fail in Europe.

 

[Alejandrix]

I think those clubs are hurt by the presentation of the league on television. When you watch the other big leagues: England, Spain, France, and Germany, most of the matches are played in great stadiums which look great on television. While the football in Serie A is amazing, the backdrop often looks like the league of a third world country. Cagliari being the chief offender, and Verona is equally awful. This is compiled by many stadiums being empty because the match is on TV in town. In other places this doesn't happen, and it improves attendance.

It's a shame, because it's one of the great leagues. There's a lot of talk about how money in England is stacked at the top, but no one ever mentions the likes of Everton, Villa, Tottenham, ect. Those clubs have all benefited from the presentation of the Premier League, the level of play in England as a league isn't necessarily better, and Germany certainly isn't better, but both LOOK better and today appearance is everything.

I know people will say "Watch the match, not the stadium.", and I do. But the fact is I, and many others, would sooner watch Hannover play Bielefeld in front of 38,000 at the AWD-Arena than watch Cagliari play Siena in front of 5,000 at that hodgepodge of scaffolding they call a stadium. It looks like Xzibit took a vacation in Sicily.

This wasn't a rant at you, it's just my opinion on why the middle-tier Italian teams fail in Europe.

I feel the same way, when you watch a Serie A match it is like watching a 3rd world country league match, its a shame to see stadiums like San Siro or Stadio Olimpico almost empty,i think here in England a Football League Championship match would have more fans that a Serie A regular match.

 

[yoyo913]

When I watch Seria A the tv image looks like its from the 1980s so I think that might have something to do with it... and I get EPL in high definition.

 

[Xifio]

I think those clubs are hurt by the presentation of the league on television. When you watch the other big leagues: England, Spain, France, and Germany, most of the matches are played in great stadiums which look great on television. While the football in Serie A is amazing, the backdrop often looks like the league of a third world country. Cagliari being the chief offender, and Verona is equally awful. This is compiled by many stadiums being empty because the match is on TV in town. In other places this doesn't happen, and it improves attendance.

It's a shame, because it's one of the great leagues. There's a lot of talk about how money in England is stacked at the top, but no one ever mentions the likes of Everton, Villa, Tottenham, ect. Those clubs have all benefited from the presentation of the Premier League, the level of play in England as a league isn't necessarily better, and Germany certainly isn't better, but both LOOK better and today appearance is everything.

I know people will say "Watch the match, not the stadium.", and I do. But the fact is I, and many others, would sooner watch Hannover play Bielefeld in front of 38,000 at the AWD-Arena than watch Cagliari play Siena in front of 5,000 at that hodgepodge of scaffolding they call a stadium. It looks like Xzibit took a vacation in Sicily.

This wasn't a rant at you, it's just my opinion on why the middle-tier Italian teams fail in Europe.

1) Yes, I agree that the presentation package for the Prem is sooo much better than the Serie A, and access to prem matches on TV is sooo much easier than other European leagues ...

then there are the Prem commentators (the worst being Martin "The Biased Little C*nt Who Ruins EURO and WC Commentary on the World English Audio Feed" Tyler), who try to legitimize the mad commercial hype of the league at every given instance ... what makes it really inexcusable is the bad-mouthing of other leagues from the English "pundits" and managers -- they especially have it out for the Italians, with all that bullsh!t talk about catenaccio, which they clearly don't realize is a thing of the ancient past ... time for them to watch some Serie A before they talk smack ...

another point on commentators is that the english commentary for Spanish and especially Italian matches is absolute bilge ... unfortunately, there is no solution for quality english commentary ... that's why I prefer to watch the Sky Italia feed online with italian commentary ...



2) Yes, the league should be judged on the football played on the pitch, not on the frilly presentation (audio and visual components combined) ... if people think they know italian football because they keep hearing some misguided generalizations and thus choose to live in ignorance, then that is their fate ... I don't need to defend the quality of Calcio ... watch it regularly, and see for yourself ...



3) No, the lack of stadium attendance figures or proper coverage is not the reason why Italian teams did not fare well in the Champions League this season ... the Italian teams were not as clinical with their scoring chances as their English counterparts ... plus there was the added dimension of not getting much of the officiating breaks (Inter not really included) ... anyone who watched all three matches again will realize that the ties could really have gone either way ... these things happen, no need to read too much into it ... like I said before, Serie A bounced back from a similar scenario in 2002, and had 3 teams in the semis the following season ...

Not just, that, but Italy needs Juve, Inter, Roma, and Milan to qualify every year not Fiorentina, Lazio, or Genoa or anyone else who is challenging for 4th place, no matter how much those teams deserve it. We need teams with the caliber to get it past the group stage.

Oh and, Forza Udinese.

I'd prefer to see a diversity in the teams that stake their claim in the league ... it means that stagnation won't set in ... England are just happy coz this is the first time in a long time (ever?) that they are collectively doing this well in Europe ...

there has been some sizzling attacking play from teams outside the big names: Cassano and Pazzini are on fire for Samp -- shame Pazzini only arrived after they got knocked out of Europe; Genoa have impressed with the quality of their football this season; at Napoli, Lavezzi & Co. on form are a lot of fun to watch; Fiorentina are trying to rediscover last season's form, and you know with the quality they have that it is just a matter of time ...

I'd rather hope to see more consistency develop in the sides that qualify to Europe (like in the late 90s), so that the overall quality of the league rises ...

 

[Bobby]

They did well last year (4 quarterfinalists, and the champions) and the year before (3 quarterfinalists, and the runners-up) plus Arsenal's final the year before that. Of course Liverpool won it the year before that. So they've had 4 finalists in 5 years, 3 have won.

The television presentation is important because of Asia and the TV money associated with it. When they see the Premier League on TV it's easy for them to get excited about it because they make it LOOK exciting. I, too, think the game should be judged on the pitch. I watch USL matches for heaven's sake. But if Serie A wants a share of that market that the Premier League dominates, they need a serious coverage revamp. Even the J. League looks better than Serie A on TV, and the J. League is awful in reality.

 

[yoyo913]

Atleast Seria A looks better than the Columbian football I get.

Go deportivo cali!

 

[MaestroZidane]

No need to knock Serie A, despite what happened, they will be back stronger.

 

[lavdaloot]

villareal v chelsea in final
and chelsea win 3-0

you heard it here first!!

 

[lavdaloot]

place your bets guys.
because here in uganda we ahve this man who can see things and future also..i had visited him to ask cause i have problems with my wife and feel she sleeps with my cousin brother. i also asked him about my future and past.he said all correct stuff.he can visualise alot
i asked him who iwll win champions league? he said who playing.i said a team in blue from london and other teams
he said yes, the blue team will win!!!!! :Ptrust me guys
they call him devu disukapa here.that man is like living god.