Eddie Pope

[SoccerPrime]

Lets hope Chad Marshall and Chris Albright can get it together.
Is Frankie Hejduk still hurt?
Is Boca, Cherandalo & Vanney coming for this?

[AreliusII]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

I slipped Scotland in ahead of Chile because they have good football however I can't think of a time when a club other than Rangers or Celtic won the title. Scotland basically only has two teams worthy of note in its league.

Here’s Juninho’s take on Scottish football:

http://www.football365.com/news/story_147767.shtml

[AreliusII]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

the big question is: what is the order of the top four leagues??

Spanish and Italian football is more technical and artistic, but noone can match the pace and excitement of the Premier League, the birthplace of modern football (no bias here...). The value one places on the technical aspects of the game versus the sheer pace and exuberance is likely to sway one to rank one of the top 3 over the others. Although at times I am in the mood for Calcio or La Liga futbol more than English football (unless, of course, ManU is playing!), my order generally would be as follows:

Premier League
Serie A
La Liga
Bundesliga

Ligue 1
Brazil
Argentina
Holland
Portugal
Mexico

Uruguay
Scotland
Chile
J-League
MLS

Speaking of ranking leagues around the world, Rafa Benitez has spoken:

The EPL is primitive football.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,86987,00.html?

[Rover]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Speaking of ranking leagues around the world, Rafa Benitez has spoken:

The EPL is primitive football.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,86987,00.html?

Yes, yes, the Paul Gardner School of Soccer Snobbery. The English are direct, the Italians are defensive, the Nordics are boring, the Germans are robotic, the Dutch are neurotic, and the Spanish are sublime.

We've moved way beyond this in the modern game. The English game is played at 90 miles per hour and is quite physical--true. The Spanish game is more "technical" (re: twenty passes/touches before an actual shot on goal) and everybody flops like a George Lucas sequel.

But it's not that simple, or easily defined. Styles have merged and evolved, and that's good for the game. Using generalities and stereotypes about styles of play is easy and convenient but also simplistic and often inaccurate.

Whatever. I prefer a good mix, with clean, hard, direct play backed up by solid control through the midfield and players confident enough to take on defenders with skill. That's what I see emerging in MLS and I hope the development continues.

To use the cliche, there are two types of soccer--good soccer, and bad soccer.

Neither has a nationality.

[dysko]

Originally Posted by Rover

...and everybody flops like Landon Diveagain.

This just seemed a little more appropriate... not that your analogy didn't work.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by dysko

This just seemed a little more appropriate... not that your analogy didn't work.

I see your point.