Libertadores de America - Semifinals

[Adi]

I think there are less and less top players coming from South America, especially Brazil. There's a reason there isn't a big Brazilian player right now. There's also a reason their national team isnt top 3 material as it has been for 50 years.

Brazil is trying too hard to keep its young players in brazil. They are also asking for ridiculous fees for their players. This makes young brazilians an unwise investment for European teams. The risk of failure outweighs the potential.

With this in mind, young brazilians are trained in brazil during their prime developmental years which is hurting them. The new brazil generation only has Neymar and we don't even know how he'd cope in Europe. Its a terrible move, at least for the national team.

[Kako]

Christof, can you not detect any fun jest with another person? I got in a argument with people on here that cannot make sense of their own arguments. They think "street" players could pull streetstyle moves and pannas in real football matches. Coming from someone that follows professional football as close as I do, that is a complete joke.

English league is stronger than South American leagues, because they have the spending power to bring in top international players. The English players themselves and the style of football they play is not very good.

German league is probably a bit stronger than South American leagues too, but similar things. I don't particularly like the German style of football. Germany does produce very good players, so I like it better than England.

I prefer Argentina and Brazil as leagues, because they value a more technical approach to football and many stars come from these leagues. Pretty much all of the big Arg or Bra players in Europe played in their domestic leagues first.

I am a Liverpool fan. That doesn't mean I have to support everything English. It's the only part of English football I support.

100% real
many of the stars of Europe come from the Argentine and Brazilian leagues

[redsforlife]

I think there are less and less top players coming from South America, especially Brazil. There's a reason there isn't a big Brazilian player right now. There's also a reason their national team isnt top 3 material as it has been for 50 years.

Brazil is trying too hard to keep its young players in brazil. They are also asking for ridiculous fees for their players. This makes young brazilians an unwise investment for European teams. The risk of failure outweighs the potential.

With this in mind, young brazilians are trained in brazil during their prime developmental years which is hurting them. The new brazil generation only has Neymar and we don't even know how he'd cope in Europe. Its a terrible move, at least for the national team.

Huh? I would say Brazil has one of the best developmental systems in the world. It's why they have so many talented players across Europe. There are still lots of big name Brazilians in Europe. It's just a few other national teams have stepped up their game. The Brazilian youth system has produced as many great players as it has for a reason. It's damn good. Players go to Europe when they are older mainly for money and secondly for a bit more challenge. European league's ability to use money to put together the best teams no matter the nationalities of the players has made them much better than South American leagues.

Brazil and Argentina will always be top football nations. They will both challenge for major international trophies. They are the top 2 countries for exporting players still.

I'm not sure whether players choosing to play domestically in Brazil will hurt or help their national team. There is evidence in countries like Mexico and Europe where most of their national players play domestically, it helps them. It allows them to train as a team more often. We won't really know until the next World Cup. My guess is Brazil will be favorites.

[Adi]

You missed my point. Brazil's developmental system is top notch, but only to a certain point. Once players turn 17-18, they need to be playing in Europe to adapt their game. By not doing so anymore, it will hurt their national team. It's already being noticed. Just look at them over the last 5 or so years. No where near as dominant. European teams havent changed. Brazil has... For the worse.

[redsforlife]

I still disagree. I think Spain has vastly improved. There is a reason they've only won 2 major European trophies, and they were both recent. Also, Uruguay has improved very much from recent years too. They are ranked 3rd in the world. There is also the case of the recent managers of both Brazil and Argentina. Both Dunga and Maradona maybe weren't the best people to manage these teams. I still believe the talent is there, and I don't think it matters which league they play in. I actually think it's great to see Brazilians and Argentinians staying in Argentina. It will make the leagues strong again like in the 70s. If Brazil and Argentina get the right managers, they will be back on top very soon. Also, I don't look into FIFA rankings to much. They are often completely screwy.

[Adi]

Spain is still the greatest by far... did I say they weren't somewhere?

This is about Brazil specifically... they are on a downwards spiral.

Uruguay is good.  Not disagreeing there... they have their key players playing for big European teams though.

Same with Argentina... their top players are young and playing for key European clubs (Messi, Higuain, Aguero, and on and on..)

Brazil has defenders who play on big European clubs... and nothing really in midfield or attack... that's not good I don't care how you look at it.

[redsforlife]

Hulk and Pato maybe? I still think Neymar will be in Europe soon enough. I don't see why playing in Europe is absolutely necessary. It wasn't necessary in the 70s, so why now? I'd expect Brazil to be strong in 2014 whether they have 2 or 18 European based players. I'm not actually a Brazil National Team fan either. I just cannot see them as not being one of the best teams in the world. I mentioned Spain and Uruguay saying that instead of Brazil's level dropping off, teams like these 2 have improved from previous years.

For me, Brazil has to be one of the top 5 national teams. They are still too talented to not be. We will not really be able to tell until the next major tournament they compete in, because results in friendlies can sometimes be crazy.

[Adi]

See Hulk and Pato are no Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, etc.

All those guys were players of the year... Brazil is nowhere near having a player like that right now.

Brazil would fail in first knockout round if they played outside Brazil. The fact that they play at home will be a big advantage. It's going to carry them into the quarters or semis.

[redsforlife]

I think it will carry them to the finals. We are still yet to see what players may blossom by 2014. When I compare players from other national teams, I cannot see Brazil outside the top 5 in the world. This last Brazil team in the World Cup was probably the worst I've seen since I started watching World Cups, and they still made the quarter finals and only lost to the finalist Netherlands. If the tournament is anywhere in the world other than Brazil, I'd predict minimum quarter finals, but more likely semi-final or final. Since it's in Brazil, I predict them to win. I'd actually like to be wrong, but that's what I think.

Adi, we both know we aren't gonna change our opinions. Lets quit beating a dead horse and  talk about the Libertadores. Start watching it dude, it's good shit.

[Adi]

Nah, wasn't gonna add anything else. I think we made our points. It's about all I can add on the topic of Brazilian football. 

[redsforlife]

Semi-finals this week! Who do you think will gain advantage in the 1st legs?

Santos x Corinthians

Boca Jnrs x U de Chile

Can't watch the 2nd one due to coaching, but Santos x Corinthians should be great. I hope Corinthians can pull it off.

[redsforlife]

Corinthians win 1-0 away from home. One foot in the final for them. Saint to sinner performance by Emerson. He scored the game winner with a brilliant curled finish with his right foot, but he was later sent off for a 2nd yellow card on a questionable slide tackle on Neymar. Replays showed he got the ball, but not very much and alot of Neymar.

Big game tomorrow for Boca and U de Chile. Who you got?