If you put...

[Plan B]

a mid table Spanish team (Espanyol, Sevilla, Villareal) in the premier league, where do you think they would finish?

[CumbrianRam]

In the battle for European places.

[Bris Vegas]

a mid table Spanish team (Espanyol, Sevilla, Villareal) in the premier league, where do you think they would finish?

They aren't midtable Spanish teams as such mate, more like top 6/7.

It's proof that teams that finish around 5th/6th/7th are actually strong teams, as they have consistantly won Europa League titles.. Something that an English team hasn't done since Liverpool beat Alaves around 8 years ago.

Spanish teams have also reached numerous semi-finals and finals in The CL and Europa League over the last decade or so. Celta Vigo, Alaves, Valenica, Barca, Real, Zaragoza, Atletico Madrid, Espanol, Villareal, Sevilla etc..

Incidentaly I can't remember the last time a 'midtable' PL team won The Europa League. Liverpool won it against Alaves 5-4 in 2001 I think it was. In the past 6 years it's gone back to Spain 3 times. Same as The CL. Dominance.

As for those 3 in question. Villareal would push for top 4, Sevilla and Espanol around 7th-8th. They're all better than Bolton, Fulham and Newcastle who are 8th, 9th and 10th I think. Probably on Evertons level.

I'll post up a 40 league team on where I believe they'd finish if you combine the two leagues.

[DublinRam]

None of them are midtable spanish teams, they are considerably better than mid-table, anyway I beleive they all would be pushing for top 6 place in the EPL.

[Plan B]

I meant more then them. They hardly ever win anything in Spain anyway. Top 4 in Spain are more like Real, Barca, A. Madrid and Valencia.

Villareal a top 4 finish in England?? Your having a laugh.

If Levante were in the English PL then could see them getting relegated.

[Bris Vegas]

I meant more then them. They hardly ever win anything in Spain anyway. Top 4 in Spain are more like Real, Barca, A. Madrid and Valencia.

Villareal a top 4 finish in England?? Your having a laugh.

If Levante were in the English PL then could see them getting relegated.

absoloute rubbish from a person who clearly doesn't watch La Liga.

Man Utd failed to beat Villareal last season in The CL over two games. Villareal has world cup winners playing for their team. They reached the semi-final of Europa League (I thought they'd win it but had a mare in Portugal vs Porto).. Where was Man City and Liverpool?

Levante are a shock team this year, just like Reading/Wigan were when they finished 7th in The PL.

[Alpha]

First time i've seen Villareal play since Riquelme played for them was against Porto over the two legs.

I take it they are usually better than that?

I think Spurs, Man City, Everton and Liverpool would of all asked more questions of Porto than Villareal did. Although Porto were very good i don't think they ever looked like losing at any scoreline in either match. Always looked like they might be able to up the gear. In the first leg they were finding gaps everywhere. So would Villareal usually fair better?

Otherwise i'd say behind Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City and possibly Everton.

[Bris Vegas]

First time i've seen Villareal play since Riquelme played for them was against Porto over the two legs.

I take it they are usually better than that?

I think Spurs, Man City, Everton and Liverpool would of all asked more questions of Porto than Villareal did. Although Porto were very good i don't think they ever looked like losing at any scoreline in either match. Always looked like they might be able to up the gear. In the first leg they were finding gaps everywhere. So would Villareal usually fair better?

Otherwise i'd say behind Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City and possibly Everton.

Villareal won the second leg. Liverpool and Man City lost at Braga and Dynamo Kiev, comfortably. Hardly backs up their claims.

They were very poor away at Porto, but this Porto team is probably the best they've had in years. They'd give Man Utd a good game nowadays.

Villareal have proved over the last few years they're definately a strong outfit.. Gussi Rossi is better than any striker Man City (should Tevez leave), Spurs, Arsenal or Everton possess. Unsure on Liverpool as Suarez IMO is a class class player.

In Santi Cazorla, Capdevilla and Marco Senna you have geniune winners of the biggest trophies around.

[Plan B]

absoloute rubbish from a person who clearly doesn't watch La Liga.

Man Utd failed to beat Villareal last season in The CL over two games. Villareal has world cup winners playing for their team. They reached the semi-final of Europa League (I thought they'd win it but had a mare in Portugal vs Porto).. Where was Man City and Liverpool?

Levante are a shock team this year, just like Reading/Wigan were when they finished 7th in The PL.

2 and only 1 was a regular. which was their left back. Marchena rarely played.

Santi Cazorla didn't win the world cup.

[Alpha]

never mind. Just saw your post Bris Vegas.

So Villareal were just off-key v Porto?

I really never see Spanish football but i like the comparison between leagues.

Like the myth the the PL is something special too. Short of the top 5 or 6 is turn pretty ordinary. And clubs that english pundits sometimes look down on such as your Napoli's, Palermo, Genoa, Porto, Benfica, Bayern Munich (for some crazy reason) would be massively hyped in Europe if they were English.

Found the Europa League enjoyable this season. Some of the glimpses of quality from the likes of PSG, Braga, Porto and Benfica would be getting Southgate and Townsend all moist if they were playing in the self proclaimed "greatest league in the world".

Greatest = one of the richest, televised, advertised hyped league? As oppose to quality?

Top 5 or so exceptions..... the PL is no better than the much mocked Serie A.

[Duracell]

If Man City or Liverpool played any of these European clubs in a serious competition, it would be a completely different. We don't really try in the Europa League in this country, it's only when you get a smaller club like Fulham that it means enough for them to go far.

I reckon Espanyol and clubs like Bolton or Everton are pretty even player-for-player. Just Bolton and Everton never have to face teams that play like a mid-top La Liga team, and vice-versa.

I watched Valencia d1ck Villereal recently and it was an absolute joy to watch. So much skill and vision. Not sure how some of them would cope with a face full of Christopher Samba though.

When you get torwards the bottom in La Liga though, it starts to get pretty poor really. Teams rife with former Real and Barca trainees.

[Alpha]

That Santi Cazorla looks quality. He really strethed the games v Porto.

Just Porto always looked like making the final.

I agree though, it is a Porto side that would trouble Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Shame it'll be slowly taken apart as "bigger clubs" come in with good offers. They really are an entertaining team.

Excellent games v Villareal.

[Plan B]

If Man City or Liverpool played any of these European clubs in a serious competition, it would be a completely different. We don't really try in the Europa League in this country, it's only when you get a smaller club like Fulham that it means enough for them to go far.

I reckon Espanyol and clubs like Bolton or Everton are pretty even player-for-player. Just Bolton and Everton never have to face teams that play like a mid-top La Liga team, and vice-versa.

I watched Valencia d1ck Villereal recently and it was an absolute joy to watch. So much skill and vision. Not sure how some of them would cope with a face full of Christopher Samba though.

When you get torwards the bottom in La Liga though, it starts to get pretty poor really. Teams rife with former Real and Barca trainees.

Bunny is 100% right.

Spanish teams are more technical but they would not stand a chance going to the Britannia. They are poor when it comes to being physical. Barca are a perfect example.

http://www.djmick.co.uk/images/2010/04/sergio-busquets

[Bris Vegas]

If Man City or Liverpool played any of these European clubs in a serious competition, it would be a completely different. We don't really try in the Europa League in this country, it's only when you get a smaller club like Fulham that it means enough for them to go far.

I reckon Espanyol and clubs like Bolton or Everton are pretty even player-for-player. Just Bolton and Everton never have to face teams that play like a mid-top La Liga team, and vice-versa.

I watched Valencia d1ck Villereal recently and it was an absolute joy to watch. So much skill and vision. Not sure how some of them would cope with a face full of Christopher Samba though.

When you get torwards the bottom in La Liga though, it starts to get pretty poor really. Teams rife with former Real and Barca trainees.

Yes, they maybe ex Real and Barca but they don't half have some skill and end up world class players. What did you make to Valencias striker Soldado? Not wanted at Real, ends up at Valencia banging them in left right and centre, brilliant player.

The bottom of La Liga does get poor in terms of Osasuna, Hercules, Almeria etc. but it's no different to the bottom of The PL. They say The PL is so competitive, they're right, other than Man Utd anyone can beat anyone.. This proves that instead the standard isn't actually that great, hence my moaning that yet again Man Utd have won the league at a canter.

La Liga just looks poor because Barca and Real are on a different level. They'd both destroy PL teams too.

As for your comment on styles I 100% agree. I could see Espanol go away at Stoke and get turned over 3-0.. At the same time I could see Stoke go away at Espanol and chase shadows for 90 minutes and be made to look like a longballing pub team.

[Bris Vegas]

Bunny is 100% right.

Spanish teams are more technical but they would not stand a chance going to the Britannia. They are poor when it comes to being physical. Barca are a perfect example.

http://www.djmick.co.uk/images/2010/04/sergio-busquets

True. But Stoke would struggle to pick up a single point away from home in La Liga.. Totally different styles.

[Duracell]

Tell you what would be more interesting, would be putting top NPC. clubs like QPR, Reading and Cardiff in leagues like Eredivisie or the Portugese League.

I reckon they'd push for Europa League qualification.

There's only a handful of leagues in the world I'd place above the NPC. The Prem, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Russia, Turkey, then possibly the top teams in Holland and Portugal would push them up further, and then outside of Europe I think we'd stay up in the Brazilian league and the Argentinian league.

[Alpha]

I reckon Barca would find a way of dealing with anything. Madrid too.

Great teams always do.

People always say AC Milan's "aged" team struggle against pace. It's a myth. Milan never struggled with pace anymore than any other team. That was with the likes of Maldini, Nesta, Seedorf, Pirlo, Inzaghi all getting stereotyped.

They just find a way of adapting. That's why they are great teams. They all have different styles and approaches. Madrid, Barca, Milan, Bayern Munich. But they will always make a strong case in Europe against a wide variety of opponent. They just use every experience they have aquired.

The best thing about comparing leagues is that they can't really be compared. Different mentalities and cultures. What's a free kick in Spain might be a red card in Italy. It might be cheating in England but part of the game in Italy. If there was some sort of super league it would surely be as inconsistent as each official's nationality that takes charge of it.

The only true honest comparison is in European compettition. Where the most experienced and adaptable sides prevail. At the moment, Spanish football has adapted very well. They seem ahead of the rest of the game.

All my opinion like

[Duracell]

True. But Stoke would struggle to pick up a single point away from home in La Liga.. Totally different styles.

That's why it would probably be more interesting to see Bolton to play a similar kind of La Liga club.

Bolton have played some fantastic stuff this season, absolutely wonderful. The difference between them and Racing Santander in a match would probably be Davies.

[Duracell]

Yes, they maybe ex Real and Barca but they don't half have some skill and end up world class players. What did you make to Valencias striker Soldado? Not wanted at Real, ends up at Valencia banging them in left right and centre, brilliant player.

The bottom of La Liga does get poor in terms of Osasuna, Hercules, Almeria etc. but it's no different to the bottom of The PL. They say The PL is so competitive, they're right, other than Man Utd anyone can beat anyone.. This proves that instead the standard isn't actually that great, hence my moaning that yet again Man Utd have won the league at a canter.

La Liga just looks poor because Barca and Real are on a different level. They'd both destroy PL teams too.

As for your comment on styles I 100% agree. I could see Espanol go away at Stoke and get turned over 3-0.. At the same time I could see Stoke go away at Espanol and chase shadows for 90 minutes and be made to look like a longballing pub team.

I think even lower EPL clubs could demonstrate some real skill and class if they come up against a more timid side. West Ham have some QUALITY players, and they're bottom, they have the power of about 2 Almeiras I'd say. It's just when you get EPL v EPL it often becomes nothing more than a fight between 22 gazelles leaping from one end of the pitch to the other. Most clubs, if they were allowed to play, would play some nice stuff, especially when clubs like West Brom have Carlos Velas around. Not saying they quite have the skill that gets taught in latin countries virtually from the womd but the EPL makes some teams like worse than they are IMO.

[Bris Vegas]

That's why it would probably be more interesting to see Bolton to play a similar kind of La Liga club.

Bolton have played some fantastic stuff this season, absolutely wonderful. The difference between them and Racing Santander in a match would probably be Davies.

Or a dive by a Racing striker in the box..

K.Davies is class, he's set up the most chances in open play than any other player in The PL. Or so it was said by The BBC.

One thing that does it for me though is over two legs Spanish teams do seem to have the edge over English teams.. Sevilla beat a very good Spurs team over two legs a few years ago, Atletico beating Liverpool last year. I think it comes down to the away legs.

Finals are one offs.. But even still Sevilla and Atletico both beat English teams in the final. Our typical English style that the likes of Everton, Bolton, Stoke, Fulham play are good for a home team but away from home in Europe they just don't score goals. (I can also include Rangers/Celtic in this too).

I should include in Spain there is a more controlling way of playing. Possession football is vital and it also relieves pressure on the defence.. When a team is winning they can comfortably see the game out by keeping hold of the ball. Teams in England don't ever get taught this, more backs to the walls. You get the impression an English team in Europe can concede a goal at any moment. (Man Utd excluded)