Premier League Teams Struggling In Champions League !!!!

Hi Everyone so the Champions League first group game has been and gone and it's got me thinking are the the Premier League teams going to do well this season ? Everyone Remembers the amazing times around ten years ago were the Premier League had a finalist in the Champions League 7 out of 8 years between the 2005 final and the 2012 final. Since then they have not had one club make the final and if the start of this campaign is anything to go by it doesn't look like they will in this years either although things can change quickly and hopefully at least one of the Premier League Team Can do well. So is this a dip in quality or have the other teams just improved and left the Prem teams behind ? well it got me thinking

Tactics have changed 

If there's one thing I would say about Premier League football it's that it's fast ,physical and highly competitive the quality of players is high but the tactics are not as developed as they are around Europe. this is one of the reason why I think Prem teams are getting found out and why it's no surprise that Chelsea did the best last season as Jose does apply a tactical mindset to his teams just like I expect Louis Van Gaal will this season. I suppose the point I'm Making is the European teams have learned and changed there style they no how to combat The Prem teams in you're face style Look At Juventus the other day they played Man City the Premier League's In form team and beat them at home now don't get me wrong Juventus are an awesome team but there early season form has not been good yet they still managed to out smart Man City. In My opinion I believe the Prem teams need to look at there style and make a few tweaks you can't go all out attack you have to read you're opponents and keep the games tight otherwise teams like Juve and Barca and Bayern will beat you.


Defensive Football Isn't applied 

So I know your probably looking at this and thinking what you want Prem Teams to park the bus and be boring well that's not what I mean what I'm trying to get at is Prem teams need to take the game in stages and learn how to kill a game off or slow a game down just trying to constantly go at you're opponent is awesome on a good day when you score 4 or 5 goals but it also leaves you wide open and it's easier to lose control. Some times in a game you need to slow it down even it's only for 10 minutes or so don't get me wrong I love the Prem for its attacking football and any team can beat anyone on there day and if I'm honest I'm not a fan of slow football but in the Champions League Things are different and sometimes you have to defend before you can attack.

So overall I don't think Prem teams are that far behind and I do believe they will become a strong force in Europe once again they just need to learn off teams like Juventus and Barca just like they did when Prem teams were dominant. Things change fast and there is a lot of quality players in the Premier League the quality is never in doubt its now just about getting the tactics right I have no doubt we will see Prem teams dominate Europe again and it will be soon they just need to sort these last few problems out.


Let me know What you think ?

Thanks

My Champions League Predictions

It's Finally Decided the Champions League is close to starting all that's left is the draw for the groups and then the excitement begins. With Last seasons final feeling like a life time ago I'm more than ready to get hyped for the new campaign. Last season we saw the re-emergence of Barcelona and the Underdogs Juventus prove to be the two best teams in Europe but what will we see this season ?
Well just like last year were I predicted Juventus rise to the final (still gutted they didn't win it) I'm going to attempt to predict the finalist again and to take it one step further I'm going to guess the player of the tournament plus the team of the tournament I'm also going to throw in Young Player of the Tournament don't actually no if UEFA do this but hey I'm Doing it so yeah.

So every time the Champions League starts everyone reels off names of the likely winners which mainly consist of Barcelona , Real Madrid and Bayern Munich but if the last three Champions league finals have taught us anything it's that there's always an underdog team that comes out of no where and makes it to the final Dortmund , Atletico and Juventus  proving it the last three years in a row plus lets not even forget four years ago when Chelsea won it they was 6th in the league so its got a recent history of throwing us a few surprises.

My two finalists I'm picking out right now are PSG and Barcelona I know Barca are the obvious ones but there team is looking strong and I feel they could be the first team to do back to back Champions League and yes I no we say this every year but come the knock out stages I'll Probably re-predict anyway but right now these are me choices. I'm picking PSG because there a team that's always been close but never quite got the luck or momentum you need to go on a good cup run. Now I'm not going to go into to much detail on this one because as I said come the Knock Out stage I may do another prediction and see how different my opinions vary lol.

So My Player of the Tournament

I'm going for Neymar Yes I could say Messi and please everyone but I really do think if Neymar can build on last season we could really start to see the gap between the 2 best players in the world Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo shorten and have Neymar join them on there level. He got 10 goals last season a lot of them important and he's still only 23 so expect to see the same this season and hopefully even more.



Young Player of the Tournament

I'm going for Marco Verratti hes a young man with the mentality of an old pro and the quality of an up and coming world star don't be surprised to see him mixing it with the best he can control a game at the tender age of 22 and for some one of his size he still packs a punch when it comes to being a physical presence he does need to sort his yellow card tally out as he gets booked far to much but other than that he is a fantastic midfielder and one who I think is going to tear up the stage if not in the Champions League then in the up and coming Euro's.

My Team of the Tournement

This is my best 11 of the tournament let me no what you think to it who do you think will make it ?

So yeah that's my Predictions let me no what you all think and come the knock out stages I'll re-look and see how far off I am and give myself one chance to change my mind lol

Let me no your predictions in the comments

Thanks

Forza Juventus Forza Juventus !!!

Ok so yeah there's no denying I'm a huge fan of Juventus yes My team is Man utd but i always have time for Juve and there a team i like to see do well unless there playing Man utd lol.

last night in the champions league Juventus took a big step in there quest for European Success they beat Dortmund 3-0 away from home following there 2-1 victory at home. Why was this a big step ? 

well Juve are a team that are growing into there stature they have dominated Italian Football for the last four seasons and now last night they showed signs of carrying that form into the Champs League. now yes i no there will be alot of people saying ' bro you're getting carried away' but i don't care i really do see them being a surprise package this season. 

Now obviously to win the champs league you need a lot of things to go your way you need a nice draw a fresh team and the odd decision to go in your favor so i understand it ain't always easy but Juve certainly have the ingredients to go all the way. so what makes me so sure ? well here's 3 reasons why i think they got what it takes.

1. Allegri Has Brought A Knowledge To The Power

Now to all you Juve fans before you get all upset i'm not saying Antonio Conte did'nt leave a great team  he did ! and i'm not saying they didn't play good Football under him ! because they did but under Conte its my opinion they were a strong physical team with a lot of steal and determination and yes they won Serie A three times in a row but sometimes they lacked that Tactical awareness and in Europe they seemed to get caught out since Allegri has come in he has put his own touch on the team and made them a little bit more tactical and a little bit smarter in moments of pressure he's not afraid to change things up which was proved last night. When Pogba came off he read the situation and changed the system and it worked Juve went on to score another 2 Goals. That's why I believe With Allegri's added tactical wit he really could be the Key to this team's Champs League success.

2. Strong Core Of Class

When you look at the Juve team what strikes you with fear the most is there core. Now when i say core i'm taking about the strength through the center of the team now world class wingers are great and everyone wants the wide player to be exciting and makes things happen but its always hard to beat a team with a great core and when you look at Juve they have just that. they have a world class player in the middle of the pitch in all Four Key area's. They have Tevez up front a player that leads the line with his mix of skill and hard work plus the fact that since signing for Juve he seems happy playing football again and his levels are back to there best. They have Pogba in the middle and any one that read my last blog entry know's how much  i love Pogba and who wouldn't  he is awesome. They then have Giorgio Chiellini at the back an actual boss in defending he's really grown up at Juve and has become probably the top Defender in Italy although my Guess is Daniele Rugani will one day surpass him but that's another story however right now Chiellini is a player most teams would welcome in there squad. and then to top it off they have Gianluigi Buffon in goal a legend in goal and yes even though he may no be in the peak he once was he's still one of the best keepers around and having won near enough everything in football he has that winning mentality that all great leaders need and plus he's just a really cool guy. Overall Juve have a team that just oozes class and success i no I've only mentioned three players and there's still the likes of Pirlo and Vidal plus Bonucci all of whom are top players not to mention the like of Morata and Pereyra who look like awesome future prospects. and Evra a legend in his own time but you get the point Juve's core is strong and will take a lot to beat.

3. Winning Mentality

When you win titles it doesn't only give you great joy it also adds a steal and a mentality and great players and mangers take success and build on it they don't settle on what they got they go for more.It's this kind of attitude i see within the Juve squad they've won Three Serie A in a row and yet this season they still have the passion and desire to win it again they didn't sit back and think 'yeah this will be easy' they've worked hard and improved even more to make sure they stay on top.It's this sort of attitude that makes me believe Juve Can win the Champs league there a team that is driven by it's own success they never stand still there always pushing to improve and this season the Champs League is there stage to make a statement and prove there not just a good Italian team there a good European team.



So Yeah these are my Juve thought's and opinions i do beleive that have what it takes and i think this year they will surprise us all. what do you think ? Comment below and tell me you're top Champs league teams and who you think will win.