Re: Where would Catalonia rank amongst national squads?

by Lord Spencer Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:37 pm

In no particular order here are squads that are definitely stronger than Catalonia:

-Spain
-Netherlands
-Italy
-France
-Germany
-Brazil
-Argentina
-Chile
-Uruguay

Squads that might be stronger than Catalonia:
-USA
-Japan
-Ivory Cost
-Ghana
-Portugal
-England
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Belgium

Hence, Catalonia are top 20 team for sure, and can break into the top 10 in a good year.

by BarrileteCosmico Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:45 pm

Lord Spencer wrote:In no particular order here are squads that are definitely stronger than Catalonia:

-Spain
-Netherlands
-Italy
-France
-Germany
-Brazil
-Argentina
-Chile
-Uruguay

Squads that might be stronger than Catalonia:
-USA
-Japan
-Ivory Cost
-Ghana
-Portugal
-England
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Belgium

Hence, Catalonia are top 20 team for sure, and can break into the top 10 in a good year.

Don't think the highlighted squads can be made a case for.

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:43 pm

They have like 2 good players.... Xavi doesn't count as he's retiring from international football after the WC.

The rest are scrubs...... the truth hurts but they are not even a top 30 team.

by free_cat Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:45 pm

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:They have like 2 good players.... Xavi doesn't count as he's retiring from international football after the WC.

The rest are scrubs...... the truth hurts but they are not even a top 30 team.

Piqué, Alba, Valdés, Cesc, Busquets are not good?

by Donuts Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:21 am

Xavi retiring in the end of the summer has nothing to do with the damn question why do people keep saying that, it's about today right now in the moment.
also
-USA
-Japan
-Ivory Cost
-Ghana
-Switzerland

most definitely do not stand a chance, whether looking at the team based on paper (names etc)
or ability to play together which we already know team Barca.. i mean Catalonia already have the synergy to do that.
Top 15 is underrating them but seems most fair.
still baffling people think top 30 is fair xD

by Forza Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:23 am

No depth.

by Donuts Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:30 am

this isn't a club.. why do they need depth on lets say a 7 match tournament (granted you reach the final)

by Forza Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:48 am

Of course you need depth in a tournament. Italy wouldn't have won the WC without a replacement for Nesta, for example. And having a variety of attacking options is crucial too.

by Arquitecto Fri Jan 03, 2014 9:56 am

Khaled wrote:
Hawky wrote:Interesting thread,I believe they would currently be top 20, but a few years ago with players like Puyol and prime Xavi they would have been top 10. I think that the "spanish" younger players nowadays (Isco, Koke, Carvajal, Nacho) + the basque ones (Inigo Martinez, Muniain) are better than the Catalan ones (except maybe Bartra who can become really good).

carvajal = Montoya
Inigo =< Bartra
Munian =< deulofeu
etc...

Isco and Koke are really good and better than the Catalan youngsters.
But, in 2-3 years when Catalunya might get there independence things might be different. Also, Busquets and Cesc are still young [Catalunya won't have problems with midfielders]. They should worry about Forwards, especially a Center Forward!

Suggest you start actually watching other teams outside Barcelona as comparison makes it blatantly obvious that you don't.

Carvajal is twice the talent an average Montoya is. He was the best fullback in Bundesliga last year and has been excellent for Real Madrid in his appearances so far.

Montoya proven *bleep* all.

Iñigo who has been one of La Liga's best CBs since 2011 easily triumphs Bartra who only has commenced his performances this year, yet still not performing at the levels and responsibilities of Iñigo. You cannot be serious.

Deulofeu; who hasn't done squat outside Everton; even then hasn't impressed beyond 2-3 performances off the bench for them and remains a mere super-sub. Muniain outside last year has been one of Athletic's best players and is currently Athletic's best performer this year.

Alba isn't even La Segadora's best LB as Álvarez, who can actually defend is just a better fullback.

Moving on....

I don't see how people do not rate Catalunya in the Top 10 as the current teams ranked aren't exactly flowing with talent bar the top 5-7.

Advantage is their chemistry and understanding with each other as their midfield is easily the best out of any national team at the moment while there forwards truly turn it up for the team. Easily a sustainable force that can win it all.

Basque team still better though.

by Donuts Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:00 am

Carvajal has been nothing but average this year to be honest, hell he isn't even a consistent starter against arbeloa? maybe in the future but neither Montoya or Carvjal have really impressed.

by the xcx Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:05 am

Arquitescu wrote:
Khaled wrote:
Hawky wrote:Interesting thread,I believe they would currently be top 20, but a few years ago with players like Puyol and prime Xavi they would have been top 10. I think that the "spanish" younger players nowadays (Isco, Koke, Carvajal, Nacho) + the basque ones (Inigo Martinez, Muniain) are better than the Catalan ones (except maybe Bartra who can become really good).

carvajal = Montoya
Inigo =< Bartra
Munian =< deulofeu
etc...

Isco and Koke are really good and better than the Catalan youngsters.
But, in 2-3 years when Catalunya might get there independence things might be different. Also, Busquets and Cesc are still young [Catalunya won't have problems with midfielders]. They should worry about Forwards, especially a Center Forward!

Suggest you start actually watching other teams outside Barcelona as comparison makes it blatantly obvious that you don't.

Carvajal is twice the talent an average Montoya is. He was the best fullback in Bundesliga last year and has been excellent for Real Madrid in his appearances so far.

Montoya proven *bleep* all.

Iñigo who has been one of La Liga's best CBs since 2011 easily triumphs Bartra who only has commenced his performances this year, yet still not performing at the levels and responsibilities of Iñigo. You cannot be serious.

Deulofeu; who hasn't done squat outside Everton; even then hasn't impressed beyond 2-3 performances off the bench for them and remains a mere super-sub. Muniain outside last year has been one of Athletic's best players and is currently Athletic's best performer this year.

Alba isn't even La Segadora's best LB as Álvarez, who can actually defend is just a better fullback.

Moving on....

I don't see how people do not rate Catalunya in the Top 10 as the current teams ranked aren't exactly flowing with talent bar the top 5-7.

Advantage is their chemistry and understanding with each other as their midfield is easily the best out of any national team at the moment while there forwards truly turn it up for the team. Easily a sustainable force that can win it all.

Basque team still better though.

That was just ruthless.

:bow:

by free_cat Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:25 am

He has a point on Muniain being better than Deulofeu. The rest... just no chance. No way is Inigo Martinez better than Bartra, Carvajal hasn't been excellent or Alvarez is better than Alba.

Actually, Victor Alvarez being better than Alba is one of the worst assessments of players I've ever heard. Alba is better at everything minus heading.

by Saatli Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:41 pm

Top 5 i think

by ExtremistEnigma Fri Jan 03, 2014 7:26 pm

Motogp69 wrote:
ExtremistEnigma wrote:
Valdes
Montoya - Pique - Bartra - Alba
Xavi - Busquets - Fabregas
Tello - Bojan - Deulofeu
Easily top 20 for me. Forwards suck but unarguably the best midfield out there.

Give me whatever he's having

Which NT has a better midfield than that at this moment?

by Lord Spencer Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:00 pm

BarrileteCosmico wrote:
Lord Spencer wrote:In no particular order here are squads that are definitely stronger than Catalonia:

-Spain
-Netherlands
-Italy
-France
-Germany
-Brazil
-Argentina
-Chile
-Uruguay

Squads that might be stronger than Catalonia:
-USA
-Japan
-Ivory Cost
-Ghana
-Portugal
-England
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Belgium

Hence, Catalonia are top 20 team for sure, and can break into the top 10 in a good year.

Don't think the highlighted squads can be made a case for.

Chile are very strong at the moment even if they are not a traditionally top 10 side.

As for USA, Japan, and Ghana; they have been progressing steadily for 10+ years now, and you really can't discount their ability to play well in their day.

I agree that Sweden and Ivory cost would mostly be weaker than Catalonia most years.

by BarrileteCosmico Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:29 pm

Chile are good but k think they are quite overrated on GL right now because of their sexy football. They only have 2 players that can make a difference.

USA, Ghana, and Japan can play well but fall short of Catalonia in both talent and chemistry. As Arq rightly points out the Catalan players share a pitch every 3 days and many have been brought up with the same philosophy.

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