The Gib FA scored a bit of an own goal regarding ticket sales on the Algarve. They made them available from the 3rd to the 6th of September, and only from the Algarve stadium, which is in a field on it's own off a motorway. I had wanted to organise a bus from Albufeira and was willing to distribute tickets through a travel agency owned by a friend, but the response (or lack of it) from the Gib FA was enough to put me off bothering.
Regarding Portugal, they are now suffering the same way Scotland do, with the ridiculously one sided dominance of three (in this case) clubs destroying any competitiveness in the domestic league. Looking at them, Uruguay and Sweden, it's amazing how even in this day and age one player can turn a poor team of also rans into one that can compete.
The Gib FA scored a bit of an own goal regarding ticket sales on the Algarve. They made them available from the 3rd to the 6th of September, and only from the Algarve stadium, which is in a field on it's own off a motorway. I had wanted to organise a bus from Albufeira and was willing to distribute tickets through a travel agency owned by a friend, but the response (or lack of it) from the Gib FA was enough to put me off bothering.
Regarding Portugal, they are now suffering the same way Scotland do, with the ridiculously one sided dominance of three (in this case) clubs destroying any competitiveness in the domestic league. Looking at them, Uruguay and Sweden, it's amazing how even in this day and age one player can turn a poor team of also rans into one that can compete.
Is the Portuguese league much different from any top league in that respect Yes Sporting Lisbon, Braga Benfica and Porto are normally the top 4 apart from 1 team may have a dodgy season like united did but
Germany: Munich,Dortmund, Leverkusen and Schalke are normally top 4 England: United, City Chelsea and Arsenal are normally top 4 Italy: Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Napoli are normally top 4 Spain: Barcelona, R. Madrid, A. Madrid are normally top 3
so I don't see it being more one sided than any of the other top divisions IMO
The Gib FA scored a bit of an own goal regarding ticket sales on the Algarve. They made them available from the 3rd to the 6th of September, and only from the Algarve stadium, which is in a field on it's own off a motorway. I had wanted to organise a bus from Albufeira and was willing to distribute tickets through a travel agency owned by a friend, but the response (or lack of it) from the Gib FA was enough to put me off bothering.
Regarding Portugal, they are now suffering the same way Scotland do, with the ridiculously one sided dominance of three (in this case) clubs destroying any competitiveness in the domestic league. Looking at them, Uruguay and Sweden, it's amazing how even in this day and age one player can turn a poor team of also rans into one that can compete.
Is the Portuguese league much different from any top league in that respect Yes Sporting Lisbon, Braga Benfica and Porto are normally the top 4 apart from 1 team may have a dodgy season like united did but
Germany: Munich,Dortmund, Leverkusen and Schalke are normally top 4 England: United, City Chelsea and Arsenal are normally top 4 Italy: Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Napoli are normally top 4 Spain: Barcelona, R. Madrid, A. Madrid are normally top 3
so I don't see it being more one sided than any of the other top divisions IMO
It's three teams really, Braga had a go but the others closed ranks and made sure they took their best youngsters. The attendances outside the big three, with two exceptions are league 2 standard.
The Gib FA scored a bit of an own goal regarding ticket sales on the Algarve. They made them available from the 3rd to the 6th of September, and only from the Algarve stadium, which is in a field on it's own off a motorway. I had wanted to organise a bus from Albufeira and was willing to distribute tickets through a travel agency owned by a friend, but the response (or lack of it) from the Gib FA was enough to put me off bothering.
Regarding Portugal, they are now suffering the same way Scotland do, with the ridiculously one sided dominance of three (in this case) clubs destroying any competitiveness in the domestic league. Looking at them, Uruguay and Sweden, it's amazing how even in this day and age one player can turn a poor team of also rans into one that can compete.
Is the Portuguese league much different from any top league in that respect Yes Sporting Lisbon, Braga Benfica and Porto are normally the top 4 apart from 1 team may have a dodgy season like united did but
Germany: Munich,Dortmund, Leverkusen and Schalke are normally top 4 England: United, City Chelsea and Arsenal are normally top 4 Italy: Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Napoli are normally top 4 Spain: Barcelona, R. Madrid, A. Madrid are normally top 3
so I don't see it being more one sided than any of the other top divisions IMO
It's three teams really, Braga had a go but the others closed ranks and made sure they took their best youngsters. The attendances outside the big three, with two exceptions are league 2 standard.
4 top 4 finishes in the last 5 season, I know nothing about Portuguese football but that says to me there are still a force, I might be wrong (in fact I probably am) but even so there are only really 3 teams challenging in Spanish Football, realistically only 3 in Germany (you can remove Schalke they are not as good as the other 3) but Scottish Football have just Celtic that's the difference
I always want the home nations to do well and I thought wales would do it if Gary speed had another campaign. Northern Ireland actually have an ok team, but lots of players are "injured". If wales get off to a good start then I think they may do it.
I always want the home nations to do well and I thought wales would do it if Gary speed had another campaign. Northern Ireland actually have an ok team, but lots of players are "injured". If wales get off to a good start then I think they may do it.
I think Wales have a big chance of like Scotland, or Ireland making the top 3 and either getting through as highest 3rd place team or play offs Belgium and Bosnia top 2 then between Wales and Israel for 3rd
The difference Paulie us that it's ALWAYS those teams in Portugal.
It might seem like the same every year in the Premier League but City, Spurs and Everton have all broken into the top four at least once in the past ten years.
Similarly, look at Atletico in La Liga last year. Contrast their success to Villarreal's decline.
Even Dortmund have only recently come back to the fore in German football.
Countries like Portugal and Scotland don't get any turnover of the top clubs.
The difference Paulie us that it's ALWAYS those teams in Portugal.
It might seem like the same every year in the Premier League but City, Spurs and Everton have all broken into the top four at least once in the past ten years.
Similarly, look at Atletico in La Liga last year. Contrast their success to Villarreal's decline.
Even Dortmund have only recently come back to the fore in German football.
Countries like Portugal and Scotland don't get any turnover of the top clubs.
I just don't see how you can link Portugual and Scotland and not Spain over the past 10 season only twice has a team that's not Barcelona or Real Madrid finished in the top 2 Athletico last season and Villarreal back in 2007-2008
so in 10 season that's 9 top 2 finishes for Barcalona 9 for Real Madrid 1 for Villarreal 1 for Athletico Madrid
In Portugal its 6 top 2 finshes for Benfica 8 for Porto 5 for Lisbon 1 for Braga
that to me is a little bit more open and that's the last 10 seasons that's all I am saying
During that time, Valencia and Atletico have also got to the champions league final, and Sevilla, Villareal, Espanyol, Depor, Osama and Bilbao have all reached finals or semi finals of the two main European competitions.
Paulie, I live in Portugal mate. In 80 odd years the title has been won by teams outside the big three twice, once by Belenenses and once by Boavista. Benfica have now been allowed to negotiate their own TV deal, so their home games are exclusively on their own TV channel. They are screwing their national team over like the old infirm have done.
You could still make a pretty strong Spain team out of the Spanish players in the Real Madrid and Barcelona teams.
Benfica, Porto and Sporting only have about a dozen Portugese players between them and they aren't that good. Didn't we get a result out of Sporting Lisbon, last season?
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
England-Yes Wales-Yes N.Ireland-Yes Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish Germany Poland Ireland Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
England-Yes Wales-Yes N.Ireland-Yes Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish Germany Poland Ireland Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Not sure Scotland could realistically have done much more so far, currently sitting in an automatic qualifying position having beaten Ireland at home, drawn with Poland and lost (narrowly) to Germany away and comfortably beaten Georgia and Gibraltar at home.
The Dutch are in serious trouble now in Group A, thanks to Iceland's remarkable performance in that group. The Czechs faltered on Saturday, only drawing 1-1 with Latvia but they will go through, I am sure, they are generally playing like a club team, with the former Viktoria Plzen coach picking all the decent players he managed there. The Dutch only go their point thanks to a lucky deflection in injury time. JBG and his mates go to Amsterdam in September and I reckon that if they come away with a point that will settle the group. Iceland and the Czechs don't have to face each other again.
To be fair it does seem to have made the Qualifiers a bit more interesting (apart from England who have ignored the usual script in qualifying)...
The smaller nations seem to be giving it a better go now because there is a chance of them reaching the Play-Offs rather than just wanting to shut up shop and stealing a draw because they know there is no other hope i.e.
- Luxembourg / San Marino and Malta have drawn matches - Faroe Islands have won a match - Liechtenstein have one win and a draw - Andorra have scored a goal - Scotland may even qualify
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
England-Yes Wales-Yes N.Ireland-Yes Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish Germany Poland Ireland Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Doesn't give them the edge if they can beat Germany but then draw to Ireland. The decider is going to be Scotland v Poland and IF Scotland can get a point v Germany they will go through in second. Cannot see Scotland losing to Ireland either.
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
England-Yes Wales-Yes N.Ireland-Yes Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish Germany Poland Ireland Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Doesn't give them the edge if they can beat Germany but then draw to Ireland. The decider is going to be Scotland v Poland and IF Scotland can get a point v Germany they will go through in second. Cannot see Scotland losing to Ireland either.
If any team in the world are capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory it's Scotland !
Personally think it would be great if all the home nations qualified for the Euros, British take over of France!
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
England-Yes Wales-Yes N.Ireland-Yes Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish Germany Poland Ireland Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Doesn't give them the edge if they can beat Germany but then draw to Ireland. The decider is going to be Scotland v Poland and IF Scotland can get a point v Germany they will go through in second. Cannot see Scotland losing to Ireland either.
think it does
Poland beat Germany and drew to Scotland and Ireland 5 points Scotland beat Ireland and drew to Poland and Lost to Germany 4 points Ireland drew to Poland and Germany and lost to Scotland 2 points
neither Ireland or Scotland will beat Germany IMO so Poland already have the advantage in that respect so its in their hands to finish 2nd, and as I said think 3rd will be decided by the fact Ireland drew to Germany and Scotland lost, I know Scotland beat Ireland but think Ireland will return the favor at home and move into 3rd
Comments
Regarding Portugal, they are now suffering the same way Scotland do, with the ridiculously one sided dominance of three (in this case) clubs destroying any competitiveness in the domestic league. Looking at them, Uruguay and Sweden, it's amazing how even in this day and age one player can turn a poor team of also rans into one that can compete.
Yes Sporting Lisbon, Braga Benfica and Porto are normally the top 4 apart from 1 team may have a dodgy season like united did but
Germany: Munich,Dortmund, Leverkusen and Schalke are normally top 4
England: United, City Chelsea and Arsenal are normally top 4
Italy: Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Napoli are normally top 4
Spain: Barcelona, R. Madrid, A. Madrid are normally top 3
so I don't see it being more one sided than any of the other top divisions IMO
Belgium and Bosnia top 2 then between Wales and Israel for 3rd
It might seem like the same every year in the Premier League but City, Spurs and Everton have all broken into the top four at least once in the past ten years.
Similarly, look at Atletico in La Liga last year. Contrast their success to Villarreal's decline.
Even Dortmund have only recently come back to the fore in German football.
Countries like Portugal and Scotland don't get any turnover of the top clubs.
over the past 10 season only twice has a team that's not Barcelona or Real Madrid finished in the top 2
Athletico last season and Villarreal back in 2007-2008
so in 10 season that's
9 top 2 finishes for Barcalona
9 for Real Madrid
1 for Villarreal
1 for Athletico Madrid
In Portugal its
6 top 2 finshes for Benfica
8 for Porto
5 for Lisbon
1 for Braga
that to me is a little bit more open and that's the last 10 seasons that's all I am saying
Benfica, Porto and Sporting only have about a dozen Portugese players between them and they aren't that good. Didn't we get a result out of Sporting Lisbon, last season?
Looking like a serious prospect, we are all but through, Wales are top of their group, N. Ireland second and Scotland well in with a shout after Poland dropped points tonight.
Wales-Yes
N.Ireland-Yes
Scotland-No
Said for a while now it will finish
Germany
Poland
Ireland
Scotland
Poland have beat Germany which gives them the edge for 2nd place
Ireland drew with Germany which I think is what will make them finish above Scotland
They will beat Scotland at home in their next game which will take them into 3rd
Scotland
Germany
Poland
Ireland
if they pick Tony Watt.
The smaller nations seem to be giving it a better go now because there is a chance of them reaching the Play-Offs rather than just wanting to shut up shop and stealing a draw because they know there is no other hope i.e.
- Luxembourg / San Marino and Malta have drawn matches
- Faroe Islands have won a match
- Liechtenstein have one win and a draw
- Andorra have scored a goal
- Scotland may even qualify
It's also no co-incidence that the extra games the enlarged finals tournament will bring, will benefit the home country of the head honcho of UEFA...
Poland beat Germany and drew to Scotland and Ireland 5 points
Scotland beat Ireland and drew to Poland and Lost to Germany 4 points
Ireland drew to Poland and Germany and lost to Scotland 2 points
neither Ireland or Scotland will beat Germany IMO so Poland already have the advantage in that respect so its in their hands to finish 2nd, and as I said think 3rd will be decided by the fact Ireland drew to Germany and Scotland lost, I know Scotland beat Ireland but think Ireland will return the favor at home and move into 3rd
Thats just my opinion anyway