[Bluesummers]

Berlusconi: English European Dominance Like A Dictatorship
Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has described the Premiership dominance in the Champions League as like a dictatorship, and believes it will continue for a long time.


Much has been said about the English supremacy in the Champions League this year, with four squads reaching the quarter finals, three making into the semis, and Manchester United and Chelsea contesting the final in Moscow. 

The view around the continent is that the reason for this dominance is because the rest of Europe simply cannot contest with the Premiership financially, with English clubs being able to offer significantly higher transfer fees and better wages. 

Berlusconi agrees with this point of view. 

"The English are dominating in Europe because they have the stadiums that allow more revenue, as well as the economics that work well. That is why I believe that the cycle will last a long time," he explained. 

"For us it was a miracle last year to be able to rebel against this English dictatorship, as in the semi-finals we were the only club that were not English.” 

Milan lifted the Champions League last season after defeating Man Utd in the semi final 5-3 on aggregate, before overcoming Liverpool 2-1 in the showpiece in Athens.

silvio please with all due respect, dont worry about what other clubs do. As long as you invest and refreshen the team we will make sure the dictatorship gets shattered into pieces.

(Don't edit it back this time if you don't want to get in trouble.) Max

This post has been edited by pKillerMax: May 2 2008, 09:26 PM

[morgoth]

What the EPL has done isn't just something that can be done. The fans over herere (For most teams) are paying ridiculous prices, and they still sell out stadiums. Italy, even with much cheaper prices, are struggling to sell tickets - you can't just 'create' football fans, they have to want the football first.

Are you serious? You really think the Italian and Spanish fans don't "want" football?

I think it has to do with the fact that in England you earn more and therefore are willing to spend more, haven't you seen in Athens the proportion of diverpool fans compared to ours?

[kurtsimonw]

Are you serious? You really think the Italian and Spanish fans don't "want" football?

I think it has to do with the fact that in England you earn more and therefore are willing to spend more, haven't you seen in Athens the proportion of diverpool fans compared to ours?

I'm not saying other countries don't want football, but they clearly don't want to go to the games, the attendance figures show this. It may be true that people in England earn more, but the cost of living over here is ridiculous. But I don't know what it's like in other countries, so I can't really compare. But I myself wouldn't say I have alot of money, being at college reduces my job opportunities, but I can still afford to go to all the games, and you also have to remember that I go and see an EPL team every week, so I'm sure the majority of Serie A teams would be even cheaper.

Last seasons average attendances:
1: Bundesliga 37,644 (Germany)
2: Premier League 34,459 (England)
3: La Liga 28,838 (Spain)
4: Ligue 1 21,817 (France)
5: J-League 19,018 (Japan)
6: Serie A 18,473 (Italy)
7: Championship 18,221 (England)

Now something must be wrong. Italy have similar attendaces to that of Japan, and Englands 2nd division. With all due respect to those 2 leagues, the quality of football is much better in Italy, so why on earth aren't people turning up! My personal opinion is that alot of it is down to safety, the police don't exactly help, in fact they seem to do the opposite.

This is something Serie A needs to get sorted, invest heavily in security measures and it will eventually pay off.

Funny that they never mention the fact that there has been more goals scored per game in the Serie A compared to the prem for about three seasons now

Except for this season. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

And what Sky does is great. It's their job to advertise and make people want to watch their football, the fact that people do shows that they're doing their job well. What do you want them to say "That game this morning was awful, don't bother watching the one tonight, it'll probably be just as bad"? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: May 2 2008, 10:55 PM

[I_Rossoneri]

Funny that they never mention the fact that there has been more goals scored per game in the Serie A compared to the prem for about three seasons now

Except for this season. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

And what Sky does is great. It's their job to advertise and make people want to watch their football, the fact that people do shows that they're doing their job well. What do you want them to say "That game this morning was awful, don't bother watching the one tonight, it'll probably be just as bad"? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

But Channel 5 don't feel the need to constantly criticise the prem! And I don't think I've ever heard a C5 commentator say "This is why we love the Serie A" fact of the matter is that the prem is based on hype. All style and no substance you could say (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) .

As for the goals per game ratio, this season is not over yet so until it is you can't really compare + there isn't a Derby County in the Serie A to raise the average goal ratio (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

As for the goals per game ratio, this season is not over yet so until it is you can't really compare + there isn't a Derby County in the Serie A to raise the average goal ratio (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Derby never score any goals though! There's been 101 goals in Derby games, which isn't a massive amout, most teams are around the 100 mark I think.

I don't think it's fair to say them EPL is all based on hype. People aren't stupid, if they go to a game and think it's crap, and they keep going, and it keeps being crap, eventually they'll stop going. They won't keep going because Sky says it's good.

But even with attendances, as many people go to Championship games as they do Serie A games, and the Championship isn't really hyped up or anything, but still draws in fans - considering it's the 2nd division.

Hey, you'll learn to love the EPL next season when City are promoted. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[I_Rossoneri]

Derby never score any goals though! There's been 101 goals in Derby games, which isn't a massive amout, most teams are around the 100 mark I think.

I don't think it's fair to say them EPL is all based on hype. People aren't stupid, if they go to a game and think it's crap, and they keep going, and it keeps being crap,  eventually they'll stop going. They won't keep going because Sky says it's good.

But even with attendances, as many people go to Championship games as they do Serie A games, and the Championship isn't really hyped up or anything, but still draws in fans - considering it's the 2nd division.

Hey, you'll learn to love the EPL next season when City are promoted.  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

And there you have it - Championship = second division (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Second division doesn't sound anywhere near as good as Championship, hype yet again.

as for saying people aren't stupid, I'm sorry but the majority of British football fans can't see past their own nose. If you ask them anything about any other league they have absolutely no idea and just give the usual "prem is the best" answer. Perhaps it's the same in other countries, but I find English fans to have the biggest chips on their shoulders.

[kurtsimonw]

And there you have it - Championship = second division (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Second division doesn't sound anywhere near as good as Championship, hype yet again.

as for saying people aren't stupid, I'm sorry but the majority of British football fans can't see past their own nose. If you ask them anything about any other league they have absolutely no idea and just give the usual "prem is the best" answer. Perhaps it's the same in other countries, but I find English fans to have the biggest chips on their shoulders.

But the naming of it has nothing to do with the Football League, Coca Cola sponsors it and made the name changes!

I dunno about this to be honest, and I think it's a little unfair to label them all stupid. As for the arguement, I don't think many of you are even understanding what I'm saying. I'm NOT saying the EPL IS the best league, though it is my opinion that it is. It's just alot of people on are are saying that the EPL IS crap, and basically trying to prove to me that it's a fact, when it isn't. While I'm just saying that it isn't a crap league, and I feel our representation in Europe in recent years has shown that.

As for Silvio taking the blame. He could take the blame for geren lighting transfers, but Galliani doesn't give him any transfers in the first place.

[I_Rossoneri]

But the naming of it has nothing to do with the Football League, Coca Cola sponsors it and made the name changes!

I dunno about this to be honest, and I think it's a little unfair to label them all stupid. As for the arguement, I don't think many of you are even understanding what I'm saying. I'm NOT saying the EPL IS the best league, though it is my opinion that it is. It's just alot of people on are are saying that the EPL IS crap, and basically trying to prove to me that it's a fact, when it isn't. While I'm just saying that it isn't a crap league, and I feel our representation in Europe in recent years has shown that.

As for Silvio taking the blame. He could take the blame for geren lighting transfers, but Galliani doesn't give him any transfers in the first place.

But it's all about hype, that is my point. If they called it coca cola division 2 it wouldn't sound anywhere near appealing, similar to the prem - if that was still called division 1 it wouldn't sound anywhere near as appealing as English Premier League. In fact the initial name(the Premiership) has even changed, can't see any reason why it needs yet another name change other than to hype it even more.

With all the hype surrounding the EPL I'm surpried it isn't sponsored by Nike, marriage made in heaven IMO (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)