La Liga vs Prem

[dholliday]

There's been some debate in the Yerry thread as to whether La Liga is stronger (i.e. better quality head-to-head) than the Prem. It seems a 50/50 split, so let's put it to a vote. The vote isn't which you prefer (I think the Prem is more entertaining overall), but which you think is the better quality.

My view: La Liga is the clear winner. It's on balance technically superior, the top 3 are superior than the Prem's top 3, with less dross teams making up the numbers: it's bottom-half last season would beat most of the Prem's bottom-half in any given head-to-head.

Further: Talksport used the ELO system to come to a similar conclusion:

https://talksport.com/football/2949...ll-40-teams-ranked-stat-experts-171011257695/

 

[evertonarntwe]

la ligas top 3 aren't better than city, barca maybe, real without Ronaldo? we'll see, city would beat athletico imo

if you picked the 20 prem teams to play the 20 la liga teams I think more prem teams would win,

 

[Lanolin]

Pretty much impossible to answer I think, because it depends what you're looking for.

They're just different leagues, and the style of play etc is very different. I don't think head to heads work as a way of deciding because the style of play is a big factor. The PL is a lot faster and more physical, and when English teams play Spanish teams their natural tendency to run round chasing the ball and fly into challenges comes unstuck in a one off game against a team keeping the ball. They're not used to it and struggle to cope. If you just parachuted a Spanish team into the PL though, and asked them to cope with the frenetic physicality of the league week in week out, they'd struggle.

The demands are different in each league, which is why players who can look really good in Spain - Sandro, Aspas, Di Maria etc - can flop badly here and vice versa. When you look at a player like Sandro and the limitations which seem so clear when he plays in a high tempo and physical game, it makes you wonder whether the supposed higher technical level in Spain is really the case. From what I've seen, he's technically poor, and yet he excelled there.

 

[Deco]

I would say that if there was a 40 team league with all of the sides with both leagues, there’s easily more Prem sides higher up than La Liga sides.

Their top 2 is the two best sides, followed by Man City but then Atletico is similar level to United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs. After their top 3 Valencia and Sevilla would finish above us but easily behind the Prem top 6.

Beyond that there’s not many great sides. I personally think the PL is better.

 

[boris]

I would say that if there was a 40 team league with all of the sides with both leagues, there’s easily more Prem sides higher up than La Liga sides.

Their top 2 is the two best sides, followed by Man City but then Atletico is similar level to United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs. After their top 3 Valencia and Sevilla would finish above us but easily behind the Prem top 6.

Beyond that there’s not many great sides. I personally think the PL is better.

I think City are currently favourites for the champions league and that’s taking into account the more difficult domestic schedule they have to face compared to the Spanish teams.

I think the top 9 in a combined league would be the big Spanish 3 and our current top 6 with City winning it and basically being a toss up for the remaining 8 places as we generally get now each season.

The 2018/19 Real and Barca sides are not anywhere near as strong as they have been imo.

 

[davek]

The argument for years has been that, though not as trechnically proficient, the PL is a superior 'product' or spectacle to La Liga.

Nowadays I dont think that's even true. The PL is just poor. Poor quality and poor to watch. You cant have a team doped up to the gunnels on cash come in and not make it any other way. City have killed the PL stone dead. There is no spectacle. And the coverage of the PL is enough to put anyone off the game for life. The focus on the "top 6" and the reverence BT and Sky bestow upon clubs like City, Liverpool and Spurs is just too much to bear anymore.

I'd rather BT scrap their PL coverage and give me the Championship and Division One. The PL is unwatchable unless Everton are playing...and that's just a sense of duty that gets you watching that.

 

[roydo]

The argument for years has been that, though not as trechnically proficient, the PL is a superior 'product' or spectacle to La Liga.

Nowadays I dont think that's even true. The PL is just poor. Poor quality and poor to watch. You cant have a team doped up to the gunnels on cash come in and not make it any other way. City have killed the PL stone dead. There is no spectacle. And the coverage of the PL is enough to put anyone off the game for life. The focus on the "top 6" and the reverence BT and Sky bestow upon clubs like City, Liverpool and Spurs is just too much to bear anymore.

I'd rather BT scrap their PL coverage and give me the Championship and Division One. The PL is unwatchable unless Everton are playing...and that's just a sense of duty that gets you watching that.

Unfortunately, I agree.

I wouldnt watch La Liga cos I really dont care about it. I watch what Everton I can, and like most, MOTD.

Thats it. As a spectacle, the Championship is way more interesting, and Leeds V Villa holds more resonance as a top football match than Huddersfield V Bournemouth any day of the week.

 

[evertonarntwe]

Watch most games in the prem it's nonsense to suggest it's boring. I mean you'll get the odd good game but entertainment to me isnt just a 3 3 draw with the bottom sides a close end to end game. City smashing Huddersfield was entertaining because of how good city are also. Just don't find la liga interesting because of how slow it is. Loads of passing around the back 6. All Martinez final season style not for me

 

[dholliday]

The PL is unwatchable unless Everton are playing...and that's just a sense of duty that gets you watching that.

haha! i used to enjoy following the Prem outside of Everton but gave that up about a decade ago, not interested anymore. Even Leicester's amazing season passed me by, and not fussed missing out on how good City apparently are.

i'll always follow Everton...but the rest? just not arsed


La Liga's still a more stronger league than the Prem, tho'...it's that obvious even to a part-timer like me.

 

[aazak]

Ranking systems like ELO are always dodgy in any sport (at least these aren't being used to seed us at the moment). Looking at the figures today we'd be 20th - behind Getafe and Levante and only one point ahead of Alaves.

Sadly, that might have been the case for a short time 10-12 months ago, but it is way off the truth today and not representative of our average strength over any period either.

 

[dholliday]

Ranking systems like ELO are always dodgy in any sport (at least these aren't being used to seed us at the moment). Looking at the figures today we'd be 20th - behind Getafe and Levante and only one point ahead of Alaves.

Sadly, that might have been the case for a short time 10-12 months ago, but it is way off the truth today and not representative of our average strength over any period either.

Would you be confident of us beating Getafe or Levante in a Euro tie?

I wouldn't...look at who's beaten us in Euro ties these last 10 years, they're about that level.

We can't say how good we are today as the season's just started, but I bet if we do well and qualify for Europa League next year, we'll still have tight games if we have to play one of those.

 

[aazak]

Would you be confident of us beating Getafe or Levante in a Euro tie?

I wouldn't...look at who's beaten us in Euro ties these last 10 years, they're about that level.

We can't say how good we are today as the season's just started, but I bet if we do well and qualify for Europa League next year, we'll still have tight games if we have to play one of those.

Would I be confident of us beating Getafe or Levante in a Euro tie? Today, yes. I accept that I err on the optimistic side when it comes to Everton though (it's what keeps me going).

 

[davek]

Unfortunately, I agree.

I wouldnt watch La Liga cos I really dont care about it. I watch what Everton I can, and like most, MOTD.

Thats it. As a spectacle, the Championship is way more interesting, and Leeds V Villa holds more resonance as a top football match than Huddersfield V Bournemouth any day of the week.

It's just not appetising at all is it?

Even the "super Sunday" stuff they laughably serve up with a load of trailers are a turn off.

If there;s a title on the line I'd watch it. But outside of that I;d run a mile.


I think it reached peak-spectacle a few years ago, tbh.

 

[roydo]

It's just not appetising at all is it?

Nope

And thats 2 English/British football supporters agreeing. Pretty sure Asia and the US arnt that arsed either.

 

[davek]

haha! i used to enjoy following the Prem outside of Everton but gave that up about a decade ago, not interested anymore. Even Leicester's amazing season passed me by, and not fussed missing out on how good City apparently are.

i'll always follow Everton...but the rest? just not arsed


La Liga's still a more stronger league than the Prem, tho'...it's that obvious even to a part-timer like me.

That identification with club's outside your own one was THE success story for the commercial forces that sought to profit from football. They needed that to sell "the product" to you over and above your own particular interest.

An abomination.

Knowing all the ins and outs of other clubs is antithetical to the spirit of the game - which should be 100% tribal and solely focussed on your own team. I dont want to know the minutia of other clubs. It makes it easier to think that way now that we have Man City sitting across the face of the English game like a cat in a pram. I really have no wish whatsoever to know what world-best-in-their-position player they've bought (and for how much), thank you very much.