Posted on 05/11/2013 6:39:34 PM PDT by dfwgator
In a sporting world where the big boys invariably grab all the glory, there is one competition where the romantic notion of the underdog toppling the giant sometimes becomes reality. Not often, but regularly enough to keep seemingly hopeless dreams alive. The English FA Cup is soccer's oldest knockout competition, and while it is often won by the greatest teams in the Premier League it is also the source of some of the greatest upset results.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
How ‘bout Texas’ own Clint Dempsey today, eh?
How ‘bout that? Made my day!
...and that skinny little dude’s goal was pretty good too. :-)
Sorry no.
It was, but has been overhyped for some years.
The best is the Bundesliga, the football there is superb, and pound for pound it is by far the strongest. The fact that giant clubs like Werder Bremen were fighting relegation shows just how strong it is. And need I mention the CL final this Saturday is between two German clubs, both of whom DESTROYED the two biggest clubs in the world in the two semi-finals.
Frankly, the champions of the much derided Scottish league got as far as any English team in the Champions League.
even the Germans I know feel the Premier league is better and open to more clubs winning it and fighting for Europe.
I watch/follow both, and the EPL is not the best in the world. Its one of the best, and it was the best for years, but the German league is now the best, has been for the last 4-5 yrs, and to be blunt, other leagues such as the French league are fast catching up on the EPL. The Dutch ‘Eridivision’ is a damn good league as well. And Serie A is always good to watch and its major clubs are still European powers: Juventus, AC, Inter (2010 CL champs)....half the Serie A are some of the biggest clubs in the world: Roma, Lazio, Napoli......
And La Liga is NOT just two teams. Since when were Athletico Madrid (who slaughtered Chelsea in last year’s Euro Super Cup 4-1), Seville, Valencia small clubs?. All three are huge European clubs.
Look at Spanish success: Barca have been the best team in the world until this season, for the last 5 yrs. The 2012 Europa League finalists were both Spanish. The winner of which as I said trounced CL champs Chelsea and meant Spain had all three major European club trophies: CL, EL, Super Cup. Bilbao were 2012 finalists.
sorry, but take away Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and you arent left with much to write home about. Most of the EPL are frankly average teams. And most or at least half of the EPL arent big clubs.
that is your opinion, the Germans and trust me I know many have all said the Premier league is much better, that is their opinion though from the Dutch, to the Germans, to the Aussies, to the Chinese all think the Premier league is the best league.
Now you watch the league as we all do but yu have a different opinion to everyone I know or meet including Germans who are fed up of just a couple of decent clubs always winning.
Your last paragraph shows why you don’t understand what what we are saying and what football is about, you stated Barca has done this and win that.
That;s the point, it’s always a two horse race in Spain
Italy LOL, the league is so corrupt, it’s not about which clubs are big though only a couple are today.
I’ve been in every country of those leagues watching football and the best thing about the league is who will win it and how they play.
Arsenal, Spurs, United, sorry but only the Johnny come lately call it man u, Chelsea, City, maybe even scouse if they ever get a decent manager
Germany,. Dortmund Bayern
Italy, corrupt, waste of time no wonder players want out.
Spain two horse race
Scotland, LOL
Dutch, two horse race usually
France, Yawn PSG is now a one horse race because of their money.
Portugal, LOL divers at the next Olympics
Like I’ve said Ive been to every big ground in Europe, all those countries watching football and you are the first one I know of who has said the Premier league is not the best but then again you have your opinion
1—There are plenty of people like me in the UK, some even English.
2—My point was the strength of the Spanish league was and is more than Barca and Real. Which is why I mentioned how successful Valencia, Athletico Madrid (again I point out they walked all over what was supposed to be the best team in the best league), Seville and Bilbao have been in Europe.
Those four clubs since 2000 alone have won seven European trophies. And there have been three all-Spanish finals since 2000, none of which had Real or Barca.
You didnt understand what was a very simple point. That it ISNT a two horse race in Spain. Valencia and Seville especially have challenged the big two in La Liga. Valencia won two La Ligas in the early 2000’s and in fact were THE Spanish team to beat at the time.
3—’Italy LOL, the league is so corrupt, it’s not about which clubs are big though only a couple are today.’
And English football isnt?. As for only a few Italian clubs being big: Milan, Inter, Roma, Juve, Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina. And you can add Sampdoria to that.
What does England have?. The big three, plus Liverpool and Spurs. Thats less big clubs than the list I just gave.
4—’sorry but only the Johnny come lately call it man u, ‘
P*ss off. I have been a football fan since 1975. I am no johnny come lately.
5—’Germany,. Dortmund Bayern’
Schalke, Bremen, Hamburg, Borussia, Leverkusen, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf. And didnt little Wolfsburg win the German league just two years ago?.
6-’Scotland, LOL’
Ha ha, sneer all you want. But the last time the champions of England came north, Celtic sent them back home with a defeat. And Celtic this season got as far as any English team did in the CL, and beat Barcelona and other major European teams like Spartak to do so. With a fraction of the money to spend.
And both Celtic and Rangers have been Euro finalists in the last ten years. Not bad for a pub league.
7—’Dutch, two horse race usually France, Yawn PSG is now a one horse race because of their money.’
As opposed to England which is what a two horse race as well. You lot bang on about how strong and open the EPL is, BUT who wins every year outside United or Chelsea?. Arsenal havent won it since 2004, Liverpool since 1991 and only City last year broke the domination and now they are imploding. The EPL is a two horse race. Just like the other leagues English fans like to sneer at.
As for Holland and France, you have Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. And dont forget Twente won it two years ago. And France has Marseille and Lyon as well as PSG.
I think you need to learn a lot more about European football. Your views are the usual arrogant and lazy rubbish you only get from English football fans who think 1966 means the world quivers at your football.
Amazing that Celtic won the European title in 1967....all with players who were born within 30 miles of Glasgow......those days are long gone.
I have been a fan since 1975. I have travelled all over Europe as well following the great game. So I know as much if not more about football than you.
I find it laughable that you are shocked to find someone who dosent think the EPL is the best. Newsflash: there’s many of us.
Lets be blunt: the EPL is the most overrated and overhyped league in the world. The football isnt frankly all that great, technically years behind Europe, and the league is full of thugs and prima donnas. And most of the league are not big clubs. Sorry but the Wigans, West Broms, Stokes etc make up most of the league and they arent big clubs at all.
Not even by British standards.
Yep.
And I say that as a Rangers fan.
got to the first line and stopped.
You know what a pissing contest on who has been to games the longest.
Right now I’ll read the rest of your posts.
You are still missing the point, the League for everyone I know is the best, and yes every league has the smaller clubs but the English league in our view is the best because we have no idea who will win it next year, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs has a decent outside chance, city, united
If you want to think another league is the best then so be it , Sh## I’ve met some in America who think the Mexican league is the best, other Americans think the MLS is the best and refuse to watch any other leagues now
It is your opinion , we have ours, have no idea why you want get into an argument about a view.
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