eversince 76
Well-Known Member
The only way to compare the two leagues is by result in the European competitions. And even that is sometimes based on luck.Bayern is the only club that because of their commercial income and the success can hold up financially with the other top European clubs whereas the other clubs often lose their best players to this top clubs. Germany - in addition to the 50+1 has a special licensing system that prevents the clubs from overspending. The most German clubs have a wages to revenue ratio of below 50% - compare that to other European clubs.
The German "handicap" is not just the 50+1 but special financial rules in Germany.
Investors (apart from a 50+1) go to an environment where they can make the most money. The EPL with its high TV income just is a lot more attractive to them as the Bundesliga where the margins are a lot lower and where you work risk adverse and where you cannot make image points as an investor. And yes, maybe as fan of City or Chelsea you like to have an investment that does not seem to be bound on the usual "profit thinking" - but I doubt that the clubs (and their fans) that before were trailing Manchester United really preferred that.
If United did not implode in the recent seasons - much (but not all) an effect of having the Glazers as investors - the rivalry situation in the EPL would be different to the current one, too.
Is the standard really lower than in the EPL? It is another type of football. The most matches - even between the top clubs - really bore me a lot more than a lot of the Bundesliga matches, do - but maybe it is just because the players and clubs aren't so familiar to me. Wolfsburg - Frankfurt last week was one of the best matches I saw in this season.
I agree the German games are often more open and spectacular. The fans are vocal enough and standing areas help to create a really good atmosphere. Plus cheap ticket prices compared to the ridiculous ones in England and London.
On a personal note I prefer the German beer and sausages to the British beer and pies. But let’s stick to the subject, otherwise I end up talking German humor of which there is none.
But it is a fact the German league is a one team league. Every now and than another team shows up only for Bayern to buy their best players and things turn back to normal. It’s in a way accepted by a load of German footies as Bayern represents the national team. Even if some players end up there via a short trip oversees. The ones who skipp or leave Bayern as in ignoring them, find themselves to gain a lot of critics from media and footies, even when playing for the national team.
Bayern to foreign footies stands for German arrogance. The board members do a great job keeping that image going. It still amazes me how they still don’t see similarities from the backing of German based sponsors and ones that are based oversees as seen in England.
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