If you have been out of the continent for the last couple of days, you may have missed that the Champions League has rolled back around for the all important knock-out phase. Tottenham have the backing of the majority of the country after defeating AC Milan in the first leg at the San Siro, while Arsenal defeated the masters of football in Catalan giants Barcelona. I make it all sound very glamorous, but in seriousness, am I the only one who finds most of Champions League football incredibly boring?
The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football which ever way you look at it. Players want to play in it, clubs want to be in it. But up until recently, English teams haven’t really managed to compete, minus a few exceptions: Manchester United in 1999 and Liverpool in 2005. It would seem the English style just couldn’t cope with the crème of crop from foreign shores. Now, however, we’ve found a way of doing well. We’ve found a way of out-witting the Milan sides, or the magic of Real Madrid. It’s called being boring.
That is a little naïve, I know. Teams have to be tactically astute to cope with the demands of European football these days, so the old ethos of ‘let’s just have a go’ is no longer able to withstand the ultimate test. Saying that, Tottenham have been refreshingly honest in their pursuit of the unlikeliest of European glories this season, as that is the exact attitude they have taken into all of their games. They have translated Premier League form into the European game, and they currently fare no worse than Manchester United or Chelsea do. The only difference is Harry Redknapp’s sides exploits against Werder Bremen and Inter Milan were a lot more entertaining than any other Champions League game we’ve seen this season.
My point is, Spurs aside, Champions League fixtures no longer fill me with the excitement they used to. Tuesday and Wednesday nights used to make for good sporting entertainment. Now, part of me is tempted to flick the channel over to find out if anyone survived that tram crash on Coronation Street or not. (I’m joking, of course).
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The Premier League on the other hand, with all it’s flaws, still provides us with that unpredictable factor. The smaller teams can beat the big guns. We have derby clashes, players moving clubs, managers going back to former teams, and most importantly we have attacking sides scoring plenty of goals – a far cry from Champions League football, Tottenham aside.
For any fans of the four English sides taking part in the Champions League this season, they will all tell you it will be a dream come true for their side to be crowned the best team in Europe. Of course it would, what a status for your club to hold. But what about everybody else? What would they rather watch on TV this week? Arsenal and Barcelona play the chess version of football, or Birmingham and Newcastle have a right go at each other?
For all of the quality on show at the San Siro and The Emirates over the last couple of days, if I really think about it, a muddy, wet St Andrews isn’t such a bad choice. It may be miles away from Barcelona in quality, but it sure is entertaining. Robin van Persie v Lionel Messi or Obafemi Martins v Nile Ranger? Not such an easy decision after all…
The article was written by James Ireson for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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I was going to say what a load of cobblers but I am assuming the writer is a scouser so if I do he will turn into a whining (Give or make a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound.) git who will say that scousers are being picked on again and demand compensation from someone.
it would be very different if his team were in it. Its only boring for him without them just as for a lot of us his team isn’t the most fantastic spectacle we’ve seen this season –especially yesterday – I fell asleep after 10 minutes!!
It is just you! and im a liverpool fan too
To write such nonsense, not during the group stages, but after a couple of top quality games AND the dross that was served up by our team last night doesn’t make any sense at all.
A lot of Liverpool fans need to have their net priviledges revoked because they really are making us look like a bunch of collective idiots!
here here!
shocking article
since 2004 there has been an english team in the final each year up until last year.
Do your research..
Terrible article. If you want boring then look no further than liverpools game last night. Please look at Tottenhams season in champs league so far. Hardly boring.
I stopped reading when you said the English sides haven’t been able to compete in previous years… then mentioned the only exception being, 1999 and Liverpool in 2005 – but you also reached the final again after that playing AC Milan. we have 3 out of 4 champions league semi finalists a couple of times and you also forget Man utd won it again after winning the all English final against Chelsea… from 2000 it is pretty well widely regarded that |English sides have actaully dominated the competition – Arsenal also reached the final, narrowly losing late on against Barca after knocking out Juve and Madrid.
Also, Champions League is probably only boring you now you’re not in it. And what exactly are you comparing it to? Your 0-0 draw last night? all the other really boring games you’ve played in Europa league (I’ve watched them all) aloong with City and there’s been so many bore draws it’s unreal.
The group stages do chuck up some shoddy games… but the competition as a whole is not boring!
I guess your opinion would be different if Liverpool were in the competition? Esp as they are the only club capable of playing entertaining football (sarcasm intentional). Sour. Grapes.
I didn’t read it, but I guess it’s a terrible article.
I’m a Liverpool fan, but while I think the CL is a poorer place for not having Liverpool in it, so far both games involving British teams have been fascinating watches. Meanwhile City and Liverpool produced the kind of dross which the author should be referring to.
The Arsenal game in particular was a great advertisement for the game in that when it’s 11 v 11 the best team won’t always win for a variety of reasons.
..but the competition is richer for having spurs in it.
Appreciate you leaving Spurs out of it but think your article is perhaps sour grapes.
I am a spurs fan and do not even need to use them as an example of how wrong you are. Shaktar going to Rome yesterday and winning 3 – 2 against Roma was a great game. Let alone the technical ability of Arsenal and Barcelona was a joy to watch, with a late come back from Arsenal rounding it off.
Even statistically speaking, whatever grouping of games, whether premier league, champions league or conference division, there are always going to be games that excite, bore, disillusion and become legendary.
You are too short sighted in your view, only referring to English teams and only from the introverted view point of a Liverpool fan and not a fan of football. Open your mind up a bit and may you can start seeing the games for what they truely have been.
Erm….. i dont get this article at all. Both Arsenal and Barcelona have copied Liverpools old style of pass and move to great effect. When watching these games on tv, its mesmerising at best.
The Champions League is where all players want to be and all fans want to be in it too.
Me Personally, id rather see us kings of the Premier League.
Really?!
I can understand people saying the group stages can be boring, but the knockout rounds….they’re incredible!(from a Fulham fan). I genuinely look forward to these matches more than an average Fulham league game, they are the pinnacle of football.
Are you gonna do an article on the Europa League being particularly exciting during the last two years by any chance?
Yes, IT IS JUST YOU. Anyway you should thank god that Liverpool is not in it this year or you would have killed yourself watching the Champions League. ZERO shot on target vs Sparta Prague (hardly the best team in Europe) over 90 mins. LOL.
To be fair to the guy, the article doesn’t strike me being sour grapes. He mentions that the CL is the pinnacle of club football and as a Liverpool fan, I’ve no doubt he’d want his club to be back there. I would have been half tempted to agree with him had we not the week we’d just had with Spurs & Arsenal both providing upsets through open and attacking football.
Ridiculous rubbish article based on illogical nonsense or possibly just Liverpool envy at being out of the comp for a few years!
Joey – you are wrong seeing as we’ve only been out of the competition for one year (will inevitably be a couple of years next season though), but I have to agree with you on that this is a ridiculous article.
To write such nonsense, not during the group stages, but after a couple of top quality games AND the dross that was served up by Liverpool last night doesn’t make any sense at all
Why do people who know nothing about football write football articles? And why do I read them? I hate Arsenal…but what a game that was – how can Arsenal v Barcelona possibly be considered boring? Rubbish article written by a clueless wonder.
After sitting through 90 minutes of last nights Europa league bore draw i was wishing for the standard of football on display in the champions league. If that bores you i don’t know what you have to look forward to in the future.
I am a Spurs fan and over the past 10 years have been bored by CL in the main. I think it is no better or worse than it ever was. That music is apparently great, but it does nothing for me – I think “more boring stuff coming up”.
There have been the odd exeptions but there are some basic rules – dont watch italian teams, do watch Spanish teams and dont watch Chelsea or Liverpool.
Although I don’t think he was ever a great player as he doesn’t have a right foot, CL brings to mind Giggsy mesmerising full backs at Old Trafford (something he didn’t do the following Saturday).
Boring, what is this fella on.
The article was obviously written by a malcontent scouser who longs for the day when Liverpool FC may once again sit at the top table of European club football. I fear for them because it looks like it will be a long long wait. I’m a dyed in the wool Spurs fan and I’ve got to say that I’m very proud of what my team are doing at the moment, we had to wait a long time to have this feeling and long may it continue. We too suffered not being in the mix but I can tell you this, all of the people I spoke to about the champions league over the years very rarely if ever said that it was boring to watch. I think that you have to go and see a doctor, get a few pill.
2 words
Bitter Scouser.
I bet if Liverpool were in the CL and just beaten AC Milan or Barcelona. You wouldn’t be saying its boring and would rather watch Corrie.
What a ridiculous article. You forgot to mention the excitement of watching Norwich. Plonker.
You, personally, don’t deserve to watch Champions League.
Christ, I hope this fella isn’t a Scouser. Giving us a bad name.
Absolutely ridiculous article. I don’t like to be all criticism in my replies but the writer of this article is a clown.
Just because we’re not in it doesn’t mean it is suddenly a terrible competition. If you gave me a choice of Newcastle/Birmingham and Barca/Arsenal, I’d take the ‘chess’ everytime.
Unbelievable.
Though after our masterclass of total football yesterday, he can be forgiven for thinking all other teams are terrible.