The End of the Road?
The past few weeks have seen a capitulation in Premier League contention for Champions League football - after years of dominance, is it time for English clubs to return to onlookers in Europe's premier competition? First was Liverpool, who after that loss to Athletico on Thursday could fall out of Europe for the second time this term, then we had Chelsea; out mastered by their former master and cult hero of Stamford Bridge, who else but Jose Mourinho.
Arsenal were the next to depart, whose fate was sealed after the denouement of a 20 minute spell at The Emirates that despite being goalless, set the tone for the rest of the tie.
And then there was one.
Our best team, the greatest shout of all, yet were unable to repeat the heroism of Solskaer, Sherringham et al.
as they went down to a Arjun Robben strike more prolific than David Cameron's make-up.
The immediate remonstrance to come out of these successive failings was where next for English football outside of Blighty? In a season our country has lost World Club Champion status, and possibly handed over 'greatest league in the world' title to Espagna.
Cloak and dagger transfer tactics saw Real Madrid take two talismanic performers from United and Liverpool respectively in Ronaldo and Alonso.
Aside from this there has been little drastic personnel change, the big spending Galacticos bowing out after a 2nd round loss to Lyon amplified this.
The true cornerstone of success in Europe is a tightly-knitted team unit, and that was lacking this year.
When one looks at the United side victorious in '99, it is strikingly noticeable that the team is comprised of two sets of players - Fergie's prodigies in Becks, Butt, Giggs, and the Nevilles.
The other half weren't youth products, but long-term comrades, and that is how you win cups and where they are different to Leagues.
The team-enhancing partnerships of Yorke and Cole, plus the defensive conglomeration of Stam, Johnsen andSchmeichel made the team.
These were by no means the best 11 individuals in the world, but the best XI in the world wouldn't score twice in stoppage time win the whole damn thing! That is what teams are going through in England, transition periods whereby we see profoundly criticised rotation systems trying to seek the best system to move forward with.
Look around, neither Rooney, nor Torres have sound strike partners, Vermaelen lacks a chum at the back, whilst Lampard and Gerrard pine for world-class accompaniment in midfield.
Don't expect an English team to win next year or the year after, but after this exodus, when a team has found that formula throughout number 1 to 11, we shall rise once more to a European tour de force.
Arsenal were the next to depart, whose fate was sealed after the denouement of a 20 minute spell at The Emirates that despite being goalless, set the tone for the rest of the tie.
And then there was one.
Our best team, the greatest shout of all, yet were unable to repeat the heroism of Solskaer, Sherringham et al.
as they went down to a Arjun Robben strike more prolific than David Cameron's make-up.
The immediate remonstrance to come out of these successive failings was where next for English football outside of Blighty? In a season our country has lost World Club Champion status, and possibly handed over 'greatest league in the world' title to Espagna.
Cloak and dagger transfer tactics saw Real Madrid take two talismanic performers from United and Liverpool respectively in Ronaldo and Alonso.
Aside from this there has been little drastic personnel change, the big spending Galacticos bowing out after a 2nd round loss to Lyon amplified this.
The true cornerstone of success in Europe is a tightly-knitted team unit, and that was lacking this year.
When one looks at the United side victorious in '99, it is strikingly noticeable that the team is comprised of two sets of players - Fergie's prodigies in Becks, Butt, Giggs, and the Nevilles.
The other half weren't youth products, but long-term comrades, and that is how you win cups and where they are different to Leagues.
The team-enhancing partnerships of Yorke and Cole, plus the defensive conglomeration of Stam, Johnsen andSchmeichel made the team.
These were by no means the best 11 individuals in the world, but the best XI in the world wouldn't score twice in stoppage time win the whole damn thing! That is what teams are going through in England, transition periods whereby we see profoundly criticised rotation systems trying to seek the best system to move forward with.
Look around, neither Rooney, nor Torres have sound strike partners, Vermaelen lacks a chum at the back, whilst Lampard and Gerrard pine for world-class accompaniment in midfield.
Don't expect an English team to win next year or the year after, but after this exodus, when a team has found that formula throughout number 1 to 11, we shall rise once more to a European tour de force.
Source...