Bayern have walked their League and got to the CL semi. La Liga will be won by one of the CL finalists. Sides with the resources of Chelsea (and City) have no excuses for struggling to compete on more than 1 front.
If European football makes League success so hard then why is it that in the PL has only ever been won by a side that finished in the top 3 the previous year? Surely that's proof enough that being in Europe and the money it brings is more likely to bring success than playing a few less games?
And Liverpool may well not win anything this season or be where we are next season but I'm sure you never expected us to be where we are this season either.
Its also pretty evident that Budesliga and La Liga are much less competitive than the EPL (while the talent on show may be much more, I grant you)
Bayern can attract a huge percentage of the German talent without really trying (as they have done for years) because 9 times out of ten they are at the top or very close to it.
La Liga TV money is split unevenly to an excrutiating extent. (90% shared between the top two going back years / decades). Ten or so years ago Valencia (edit - I was actually thinking of Deportivo La Corruna (sp?), but its the same situation really) were the 3rd team, now look at them. While I cheer for AM being up there now but will be lucky to last one or two more seasons at best at the same level. No one can realistically challenge Real or Barca (who after last night still have a good shout for the title, without being in the CL final)
Depends on your definition of "success" - missing out on the league by GD / one or two points should never be considered a failure. Even if the club won the league the previous season. (in regards to your "...only ever been won" comment)
Its the glamour of playing in the CL (backed up by the money I grant you) and hopefully the fame that follows which attracts players.
Its pretty hard to accomodate the likes of Terry / Lampard and debatably even Cech with absolutely ready replacements with enough experience yet younger in the same squad (even if the club can attract / afford them on the bench) , they were lucky (or had very good research) to attract a RB that has effectively replaced Cashley on the opposite side.
Its a massive benefit imo not to be in europe (especially before Xmas, with the top three playing 6 taxing games, and 4th place an additional 2) , Europa with the more likely additional travel milage to more out of the way locations and the change in schedule is even more troublesome for league form.
Im sure Liverpool's squad will be changed more than effectively over the summer, it will be interesting to see how for the most part the lack of experience at the top level of playing in europe will affect them (and balancing that with keeping in the top 4 at home)
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