City and United will be back for sure, not sure about the rest though

They way I see it they might save some face for us in the Europa but it's still shoocking - the best league in the world??

Its a strange one isn't it

Part of me just thinks this year is a bit of a one off, another part of me thinks the PL's Top Teams are getting weaker

Could be a one-off RRP, maybe City have distorted the transfer market so badly it's hurting the rest of the league.

average article

should have put laa

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This is a great article, everyone make a worthy comment

Johnny, TBOK - I knew I could count on you 2 's!

I think its just one of them seasons. Prem sides have been quite consistent in the CL for a few years now, so there was always going to be a season where we didnt dominate the quarters/semi's - and it seems this is it.

I wouldnt look too much into it.

Fair point Chicken, I guess the only real shock so far has been City getting knocked out so early

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For the last season or two, the quality of the prem has been a pale shadow of what it was.

Last season the league was a joke. This year marginally better but only because of City.

Was not really a shock considering the group they had

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I think it is considering the transfer budget they had

Gotta face facts the premiership isnt the best league in the world. The best players all play overseas.

Put it down as an anomaly

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Think the bigger shock was Man Utd going out.

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Think they should have signed a decent CM and they'd have been fine

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Barcelona were always going to win the CL anyway, no real point anyone else turning up

Citys first outing, and in as tough group, if I recall rightly dropped points at home which is a no-no really, still did well enough to get out of other groups total point wise. A learning curb for the club.

Utd - Had injuries early in the season, struggled with players and opposing teams tried their hardest against them. Some keeping howlers from a young keeper and a poor game from Rooney against Basle when he missed a sitter/ Should have done better, just didn't hit the ground running, maybe were too over confident.

Arsenal - A team that over the last few years has lost its great players and have struggled to replace them with the same quality, they may be looking to the future, but the futures catching up with them pretty fast and its not all rosie(47) for them. Wenger has seemingly lost the plot with tactics and buying players.

Chelsea - AVB and the players revolt, coupled with some lovely bit of works and ego's that have a greater occupancy than Stamford Bridge, but as they haven't player their KO stage yet, they can still show the rest of the PL teams how its done (but not penalty kicks in the final)

I just think, aside from the main teams in Europe (RM, Barca, Bayern and possibly Milan) that the English teams just have had a blip, its should be noted that the three regulars are having some torrid times in the PL as well this season. Im sure normal service and a team or two in the semis will happen next year, and one of them will be wearing white.

messiaharry,

Gotta face facts the premiership isnt the best league in the world. The best players all play overseas.

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Not true. Some of the best players play in the top 2 sides in Spain. In England the better players are spread a bit more evenly down the league.

I'm not a stats man, but the CL stats will tell you that English teams are tougher than any team in Spain or Italy.

The commentator gave a stat last night that AC Milan have not beat an English side in over 7 matches. Until now, of course.

Barcelona were always going to win the CL anyway, no real point anyone else turning up

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That kind of attitude gets you nowhere

31 - Make that lilywhite

We should attract better players now since Spain has increased their tax

Dunno about that Chicken. City are the best team in the league. Their best 2 players imo are Silva and Yaya Toure. Barca let one go and the other would prob fit in their team but wouldnt set the world alight.

One of our best players is VDV who Real let go for £8m.