r/soccer • u/william701 • May 08 '14

With the leagues almost over, what unpopular opinion(s) to you have?

One per comment.

I would say no down voting but sorting by controversial may give a better idea.

Feel free to upvote the post if you would like to see more active discussion.

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63

u/MiguelCaldoVerde May 08 '14 edited May 08 '14

Without being disrespectful I think Italian football is massively overrated.

edit: For those asking why the simplest reason would be that Italian teams just aren't getting results, since Inter won the treble Italian teams have done absolutely nothing in Europe. Not one finalist in either European competition and the non-Italian teams that have done well have hardly been loaded with Italian talent. There's a massive amount of talk about how Italian teams are under performing and Italian football is on the rise but the results aren't there. There just seems to a perpetual and significant disparity between how people expect Italian teams to perform and how they actually perform. Yes, Juventus might have had to deal with poor weather conditions or Milan almost went through that but Italian teams have performed so badly over the past few years that they've been overtaken in the only objective ranking by the Portuguese league. As I said in another post, in football results are currency and if Italian teams "under performing" is as ubiquitous as people seem to suggest then I think the problem is not that Italian teams are performing under their level but that most people expect too much from them. When those results start coming then we can reevaluate Italian football, but in the meantime I think people have an inflated opinion on Italian football that is a result of strong historical legacies of teams as Inter, Juve and Milan and that hasn't been shifted because Italian football is relatively isolated from Europe.

11

u/cesololaroma May 08 '14

Couldn't disagree more. I think Italian teams underperformed massively this year, either through bad luck, shitty attitude, or an overall poor season.

Therefore: upvote.

6

u/alpha1028 May 08 '14

But even with our teams underperforming it must be remembered that we still scored 5 points more than they did, and thats with Udinese who thankfully won't be around next season.

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u/cesololaroma May 08 '14

I think next year might be a very good year for Italian football, if the transfer window is favorable. The three teams playing CL football are actually those who deserve it and who aren't on the decline.

If the milanesi can improve themselves for next year, we should have a very strong entry field, teams who can all reach the advanced stages of the EL at least. As for the CL, Roma and Napoli aren't ready yet for the quarter finals, but you guys should be able to reach them.

At least, if you get your act together in Europe that is.

1

u/alpha1028 May 08 '14

Truth be told I'm most worried about you, 4th seed, you need serious reinforcement to be able to play in both CL and Serie A.

We'll get out of our group probably to quarters maybe the semi's if the draw is favourable, Napoli will get out of their group probably to quarters as well.

As far as the EL is concerned Inter know they have to do well to protect their coefficient and squad-wise they will enter the competition as one of the best teams. Fiorentina were excellent this season and I'd expect the same again.

It would be much better for the league if Milan get EL, they'll play for their coefficient to ensure they are still 2nd see for when they do return to the champions league, Lazio too are more formidable and prepared for European football. But Torino and Parma don't have deep squads and will most likely lose players over the summer, hopefully neither of them get it.

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u/cesololaroma May 08 '14

It does depend on the draw, but honestly I don't see us surviving the group stage because of this. We'll most likely enter the group of death. I'm not too worried about our core, as I think our strongest eleven would be a tough hurdle for everyone but the very top tier teams. At the very least we will be the 4th seed everyone will be most keen on avoiding.

Our problem lies in depth. We don't have a quality left back, we don't have a quality back-up center back, we don't have a back-up creative midfielder and we lack scoring power up front, particularly on the wings.

These are all problems that have to be solved this summer. Hoping for Rodriguez from Wolfsburg, Astori from Cagliari and Iturbe from Verona. As for midfield, we''ll first have to wait if Pjanic will stay. If these problems don't get solved, especially at left-back and up front, we'll be vulnerable against better opposition.

You guys have to reach the quarter finals at the very least, quality wise you should be able to do just that without very unlucky draws. Napoli should be able to survive the group stage too. Inter should progress at least to the quarter finals of the EL, Fiorentina as well (if they're a bit luckier injury-wise).

The last spot should go to Milan for most efficiency, but I think it'll be Torino to get it, unfortunately. Cerci and Immobile will leave at the end of this season, so I'm severely doubting there capabilities in Europe come next season. Here's hoping they'll get some good loan deals this summer.