English teams didn’t have the best of times in Europe, did they? My thoughts of whether it was a new low for Manchester United under David Moyes can be heard here in my weekly podcast with TalkOfTheDevils.com – I’ve already said enough about United, it shows just how far the standards have fallen and it’s shown how difficult it is to compete at the top.

Perhaps if English clubs continue to struggle in the Champions League there will be a greater appreciation for United qualifying for the 2009 and 2011 finals where only a Barcelona team heralded as the greatest ever stopped them from what would have been an incredible achievement. As it stands, perhaps that nostalgia will help those United teams – far from vintage, but compared to today’s offerings from the Premier League…

United’s only chance of qualifying for next years competition was to do what Liverpool did in 2005 – first of all, that looks very, very unlikely following their first leg defeat in Greece and second of all even if they manage the minor miracle and qualify (let’s remember – in normal circumstances, United beating Olympiakos by three goals is something we should expect – on prior trips to Old Trafford they’ve lost by three and then four) they won’t be coming up against the calibre of teams Liverpool did nine years ago. I’ve written on my website about Bayern Munich and Barcelona and how this season will be interesting to observe from the point of who is the true European superpower (and how that trend might influence the World Cup).

One thing I did find interesting in both of those teams recent games in England was that they both appeared to have Pep Guardiola’s stamp all over them, yet both play in a way that has national characteristics. Bayern were high pressing, efficient and clinical, Barcelona were patient and stuck to the plan A with that unerring confidence that it would come off. I’ve been critical of a patient style before as I like to see penetration and speed but I have to say those performances at Arsenal and City showed that they were simply different class – there’s a lot of work to be done by the English teams in the return legs but I think we found out nothing that we didn’t already know in the first games. We’ve got a long way to go but from an England point of view there’s nothing which says to me that the path forward that Arsenal and City will walk on will be one that identifies with an English style or identity and that saddens me. It’s a side note – Arsenal had a very strong English tradition, and I’ve nothing against the way that Arsene Wenger has done his job. I just find it interesting that the further he’s moved away from that strong English tradition, the less successful the club have been.

I like to think I’ve moved with the times, I feel I approach the game with 21st century values, but I admit, maybe I’m a culprit of looking at my English heritage too much and looking at situations through that aspect too much. Just 33% of players, reportedly, are eligible for England in the top flight, and that figure is even smaller in Arsenal and Manchester City. When we look at the frightening gap in quality between them and the best teams in Europe, I look forward at England’s chances in the World Cup and it’s only natural to be concerned. I watch football from all over the world, I just love the game – and it worries me to watch the Serie A and know I’m watching an Italian game, and the same goes for other respective leagues.

On a lighter note, what did impress me was Tottenham’s European fightback Their fightback against Dnipro was on the scale United have to face and they did it with style and class – what a great comeback, and it has to be said, Spurs played with the spirit and character that has been missing at Old Trafford. Tim Sherwood was right to praise his boys for their efforts and also right to say he wants to see more of it – not to take anything away from any other clubs but Tottenham’s history is a lot like United’s in that they have a fine heritage of wanting to play exciting, attacking football… What are the chances, eh? A young English manager being given a chance in the game at one of our most traditionally exciting clubs and I have to say Tim Sherwood is doing a great job. That’s a trend that I can safely say I’d like to see more of.