In/out, in/out,
in/out... for the moment the UK remains joined to our European cousins so come
join us for part 3 of our look back at season 2012/13 as we fire up those
phrase books and prepare to go all continental...
Despite Nigel
Farage’s best/worst (delete as appropriate) efforts, at time of writing the UK
remains part of the European community so let’s turn our attention to some
matters continental. Fittingly in the year of the FA’s 150th birthday
celebration Wembley was taken over by a German invasion – was this the start of
a Bundesliga domination of Europe to come?
Quite possibly, although it’s probably wise not to get too carried away.
There’s certainly a lot going for football in Deutschland at the moment though – better structures for club ownership, cheaper tickets meaning large stadiums are packed out every week, safe terraces that create a proper atmosphere, high percentage of young German players in first teams and of course, success in Europe this year too. They’re getting a lot of things right, and there are many lessons we could learn in England.
With Pep Guardiola joining Bayern Munich, some of the big names are being attracted over to Germany too. Although you almost feel a bit sorry for the suave Spaniard – “We just won the treble – beat that”.
Nonetheless you’ve got to expect Bayern to be a force in Europe again next season. It’s worth keeping in mind though that the standard of some of the lesser known mid-table teams is questionable, and you still get the impression that most top players want to be in England or Spain. It’s not quite total German dominance just yet. (James Platt)
Germans on the march and set to dominate Europe, haven’t we been here somewhere before? But before we go too much further down the road of cheap stereotyping it’s fair to say that German fussbal is in a healthy place right now. In sharp contrast to English football, where fans are treated as ‘consumers’ (or more accurately mugs to be ripped off) the game in Germany treats its fans with respect and not like children and the result is a buoyant match day atmosphere of beer, bratwurst and bouncing stadiums.
Of course the passion of the crowd doesn’t always translate to success on the pitch, but in that regard Germany also looks to have things cracked. Back in the dark days of Euro 2000 and an aging German side containing luminaries like Paulo Rink and Carsten Jancker was humiliated (they even lost to Kevin Keegan’s England). Rather than burying their heads in the sand and reverting back to a model that had clearly broken down, they invested in youth and the young German players forming the basis of the Champions League’s two finalists is testament to the country’s progress.
Full stadiums and a vibrant fan culture capped off by a potential super team in the making in Bayern Munich alongside an explosively beguiling Dortmund promises riches to come...and yet, just maybe, the strength in particular of Bayern could in fact be the death knell to the Bundesliga’s reputation just as it’s about to take off. For if Bayern get ever more powerful and ever more capable of cherry picking the cream of the talent from the other sides’ and the league’s competitiveness goes out the window then the team from Bavaria may be dominating Europe just without their fellow countrymen keeping up. (Matt Snelling)
With leagues in 53 countries to choose from, who deserves to have their name up in light in Brussels as the European player of the year?
This blog has always endeavoured to break out from the little Englander mould and while we don’t necessarily see as much European football as we might always want these days there is so much to be enjoyed all across the continent, where quite a few performances stood out.
It may be a sentimental choice but it’s no secret that CollinsBeans has always been a starry eyed admirer anytime one Francesco Totti so much as swooshed his flowing locks in our direction. Zdenek Zeman’s emotional return to Roma this season may have turned somewhat sour but there’s no denying that he always got the best out of the Roman talisman. Playing to a standard this season that had many in Italy talking about a potential return to the national team, Totti rolled back the years to the point where it may not be inconceivable that, luck with injuries permitting, he is able to become top scorer in Serie A history before he retires.
Elsewhere, you always have to respect the contributions made by the Number 1 and Number 1A players in the world in senor’s Messi and Ronaldo, but ultimately Euro failure means their immense goal scoring seasons will tend to be overlooked. Likewise, in terms of contribution to a side, despite an outlay of several bazillion pounds (and David Beckham of course) Paris St Germain were indebted to the man they call Zlatan to get them out of more than one hole whilst on their way to the Ligue 1 title.
But I think it’s only fair, given the identity of the two teams that made their way to Wembley that we recognise the talents of Bayern and Dortmund. For the latter, the 4-1 victory first leg over Madrid goes down as one of the most breath taking performances of recent memory and Robert Lewandowski’s four goal contribution showed just why he is the complete forward player. A shout out as well to the pocket midfield genius that is his team mate Ilkay Gundogan, a man that always keeps the ball rolling and moving.
But the man I will give the nod to for this award is the lynchpin of the Bayern midfield and who helped Bastian Schweinsteiger get back to his best: Javi Martinez. It was a big price tag and there were big expectations to live up to, but the midfield maestro managed to perform the role of engine room, conductor and defensive screen in one neat package. (MS)
It’s always hard to look past the big two – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – who are just phenomenally good. The scoring records they have are like ones you’d get in Championship Manager (Raul once got me 63 goals in a campaign when I was managing Madrid and I thought it was stupidly unrealistic…). They are quite simply incredible players; two of the best ever.
However it’s a team game, and both Messi and
Ronaldo didn’t enjoy the club dominance they are used to. Of course Messi won
La Liga, but all in all you get the impression it wasn’t really a season Barcelona
were that proud of. They got absolutely humiliated by Bayern Munich in the
Champions League semi-finals, which leads me nicely on…
Given Bayern’s treble winning, record breaking season, it feels only right one of their players scoops this award. Arjen Robben scored goals that mattered in the business end of the season, Mario Mandzukic showed Mario Gomez how to keep composed in the big games and Phillip Lahm was as reliable as ever, captaining the side to glory. But I’m going for Thomas Muller. Admittedly it’s sometimes hard to know exactly what Muller is good at, other than just being a damn fine player. I think he’s one of those who is basically an 8 or 9 out of 10 for everything. Essentially though, Muller always delivers in the big games, never underperforms and he made a massive contribution to Bayern’s incredible success this term. So he gets my vote. (JP)
Chelsea made history in becoming the first team to win the Europa League in succession to the Champions League – achievement to be proud of or unwanted record?
Obviously there’s some bias here, but I think it’s definitely one to be proud of. It goes without saying that the Europa League is not the Champions League, and of course Chelsea would rather have been competing in the latter stages of Europe’s premier competition. But it’s still a major European trophy – and they don’t come around very often. To win any European competition is something to savour.
Also it gives the club a pretty unique record of being one of only four sides that have won all three major European competitions, alongside some very illustrious names – Bayern Munich, Ajax and Juventus. Given Chelsea had only clinched one of these trophies two years ago, that’s some decent progress.
I was certainly off my seat when Branislav Ivanovic headed home the winner. (JP)
A definite achievement to be proud of! The much maligned Europa League gets a lot of stick from the football community but I for one think there’s a lot of merit in the Champions League’s red headed step child of a sibling, although perhaps that’s mainly down to the look of the old UEFA Cup trophy that looks like a vase carved out of granite. Could things be improved? Undoubtedly: let’s get rid of that group phase for a start and then also stop the third place Champions League sides parachuting in, but obviously in a nice segue that’s how Chelsea managed to make their way to the final…
It is still a great competition to win though and a tough competition to win and when you do get down to the last 16 onwards there’s some seriously good sides in it. Furthermore, as my esteemed colleague pointed out, European trophies don’t grow on trees and Chelsea managed to make history by joining a very elite club. Pats on the back all round I think. (MS)
Let’s freestyle, what teams, managers, players, goals, anything basically, stood out for you across Europe this season?
I’ve already highlighted quite a few of the individual names that have shone this season but overall how you couldn’t have fallen in love with Jurgen Klopp and his Borussia Dortmund side. Yes it was trendy and yes they were the darlings of the football hipsters (taking on the mantle from Marcelo Bielsa and Athletic Bilbao last season) but they became popular for a reason: for being damn good and beautiful whilst doing it.
Elsewhere, the thing that stood out (and that’s not in a good way) is just how many leagues across Europe were depressingly predictable. Indeed in almost all the ‘top leagues’ you had the side at the top romping home by a considerable margin. It’s a worrying trend and at just how much of an ‘elite’ is forming at the top of the European game. Scotland has long been mocked for being a two horse race but that’s something that could be legitimately levelled at quite a few other nations these days. Indeed in some, you could also argue it’s become wholly dominated by one side and I don’t think that trend is going to reverse any time soon. Bit of a downer to end things on I know, but if you want something that stood out for me then this domination at the top was undoubtedly that. (MS)
Sorry to mention it again, but Frank Lampard breaking the
Chelsea goal record was a personal highlight. Lampard has been a class act in
every aspect since arriving at Stamford Bridge all those years ago. A fantastic
player and seemingly a good guy too.
In a generally low standard Premier League season there were still some cracking goals – the strikes from Lowton, Bale and Van Persie mentioned in part one particularly stand out.
In Europe, the absolute demolition of Barcelona by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final is worth highlighting again. Talk about put a team in their place.
And a respectful nod to Mr Ferguson as well. He’s annoyed me many times in many different ways over the years, but it’s going to weird without everyone’s favourite watch tapper. I don’t think we’ll ever see a manager like him again. (JP)
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