Will an EPL team make the Semi's of the CL?

This thread is way too early to make but why not.

After watching the first weekend of football in the EPL, all of these teams have massive flaws (I know City hasn't played, woops there goes Yaya) and I failed to see where the difference makers are with all the money spent that will push these teams over the top in Europe.

It's almost difficult to see where these teams actually spent all this money because they really didn't fix many issues, it's almost like they just shuffle around players to fill the void of said player who left. The one purchase I thought that looked great was Darmian.

I know players need to adjust to the league and the teams need to form, but are any of these teams really any better than last year? The only one I can think of is United and I don't see them making the last 4 of the CL and I think Chelsea and City are better than them. City wont make it, Chelsea maybe if they get the right draw but if they run into a PSG, Barca, Madrid, Bayern, Atletico there out. Arsenal I just don't see it happening, they just don't have the spine to do it (players not heart).

I mean did any of these teams get better to keep up with the rest of Europe in the CL who have been feasting on them of late?

No.

Happy? good.

Yes.

Provoked? Good.

Maybe.

Bad? Good.

Really, no one?

You said it yourself, it's too early.

Considering only 1 of last seasons semi finalists have actually played a proper game.

Well, sort of proper.

Depends on luck and which team is in great form come Feb 2016.

Chelsea and City are the only teams that can get into semis. But it depends on who they face in the quarters and how they are doing around that time of the season.

Most likely Semis will be Barca, Madrid and Bayern dominated granted they don't face each other before.

Last spot could be anyone like PSG, Atletico, Chelsea etc.

Nope. Nah. Nay.

Definitely. Probably 2 or more. Law of averages means they can't keep this slump up.

Lol dnmad strikes again.

Yaya Toure is shat btw and Wilshere >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sooooo, the question must be asked is all the money spent just so these teams can stay status quo like Arsenal has been doing the last decade (not a shot at Arsenal BTW) and feel safe n the "top 4".

I mean IMO, Chelsea seems the only team with any ambition outside of England. I know other teams want to do well but it just doesn't show.

Abramovich wrote:Lol dnmad strikes again.

Yaya Toure is shat btw and Wilshere >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LOL, Wilshere look sharp as a ginsu knife this weekend.

Depends on the draw. If any of the EPL teams draw PSG, Bayern, Madrid, Atletico or Barcelona then it's lights out. Only way I can see any English teams is if English teams get through the 1st round knockout and draw each other.

jibers wrote:Depends on the draw. If any of the EPL teams draw PSG, Bayern, Madrid, Atletico or Barcelona then it's lights out. Only way I can see any English teams is if English teams get through the 1st round knockout and draw each other.

Let's not forget Juventus.

It's amazing how competitive the CL is right now.

Chelsea can make a semis, their squad is actually capable of doing that. Arsenal and Utd, maybe. The draw has to be incredibly favourable to them and have to actually show up against whatever team they face.

City, not a chance. Really can't see it happening at all.

Lol I actually think Man City has best chances. They actually have winning mentality unlike Arsenal or Man Utd atm

More so if they manage to sign De Bruyne

I can smell a crappy season for Chelsea

LOL, I totally blanked on Juve.

I just have no clue what to expect from them outside of Italy with all the changes they made. I know there good but would they beat Chelsea in a 2 game tie?

I'm not sure. I could see City crumbling in Turin.

A lot of unknowns regarding Juve. No Pirlo, Tevez or Vidal and they have been mostly replaced with green players, who are good, but may not have the mental fortitude to carry a team to great heights yet.

Chelsea has the best chance... but no EPL team is in the top 5 (Madrid, Bayern, Barca, PSG, Juve). I'd put Atleti in there but too many changes so it's hard to tell how good they will be.

Issue with EPL teams is that none of the midfields of the top teams can compete with the midfields of the aforementioned. Most games at the highest level are won in the center of the pitch.

sportsczy wrote:Most games at the highest level are won in the center of the pitch.

Barca would disagree.

But we are talking about the best player of this generation and his likely heir here(Neymar)

None in EPL compare to Barça's frontline.Nobody rather.

Lets not pretend like Barça's midfield isn't top notch.Still one of the best if not the best.

yeah i mean come on lol.  You have Busquets-Rakitic-Iniesta as the midfield trio...  who in the EPL can come close to competing with that?  BBC in Madrid was hailed as the best trio ever assembled the previous year.  But in his infinite wisdom, Flo blew up our midfield that was FINALLY elite for once since Makelele left.  Guess what happened:  The forwards got isolated oftentimes and needed to come up a lot further than the previous season.  As a result, they had to consume a lot more energy before getting into scoring positions...  and the result was poor.

I don't care who the strikers are.  You take away the midfield and, as a result, service... they suddenly look very human.

Its definitely the worst of the big 5 (them, Bayern, Real, Juve, PSG), didn't stop them from strolling past them.

And while Barca's front line is one of a kind, their style of play is certainly not unique. City could easily replicate it. Regardless, I'm not saying a PL team will win (or come close to winning) the CL, but its not because of their midfields. For the most part its poor coaching.

Sport you realize this awful Real midfield you're criticizing walked all over Barca twice

And Busquets and Iniesta were hardly at top form for the most of the season, while Rakitic is nothing more than a defensive workhorse. It was not by any means a world class midfield. I'd argue Chelsea's is better.

Barca's midfield RIGHT NOW is only inferior to Bayern and maybe Real.None else.

Iniesta and Rakitic were immense in the CL.You are heavily underrating them.