Comparison of Strength of European Leagues

  • This is to offer a thread aside from the special league threads to discuss those inter-league relations. I begin with my current personal view and compare it with the last published European Cups ranking:


    1. Turkey


    2. Russia and Italy


    4. Poland and Germany


    6. France and Romania


    It is important, to keep several facts in mind: the broadth of quality of a league vastly differs, i.e. relation of best to weakest teams in a league can be an huge or a small difference. My proposal above is difficult in this regard, because in Russia the differences in super league are much bigger from top to small teams than in Italian A1 for example, the same holds true of Poland and Germany (the first has much bigger quality differences). And second the European Cups ranking, unluckily only available in a dated version publicly, one year older than the latest European Cups results (ranking valid for 2018 cups includes results from 2014 to 2016 cups, not yet the latest 2017 results), contains three years, in which some leagues improved or decreased considerably (the last applies especially to Azeri superleague now, the French league suffers in ranking from the heavy loss of quality of RC Cannes in the last few years) and also considers only the best CL results with the biggest influence, the best CEV cup results with smaller, but still considerable influence and the best Challenge Cup results with generally small influence on the ranking. So leages with one outstanding top team can be ranked higher than the league in its broadth would justify, so the Swiss national league is better ranked due to strong results of Volero Zürich currently (all the time CL Playoff-6). Here are the top spots of this "current" European ranking for comparison:


    1. Turkey
    2. Russia
    3. Poland
    (4. Azerbeijan)
    5. Germany
    (6. Switzerland)
    7. Italy
    8. France
    9. Romania


    Due to the massive weaking of the Baku clubs and questionable, whether the always small superleague there will continue to exist, this entry 4. is not conforming to reality any more and a remainder of times, when they hired world class players with much money, what has essentially ceased. After rebuilding their roster with less many as before, Volero Zürich has to prove, if they can defend that Swiss ranking anymore...


    Italy not always sent teams to CEV cup and made that way less points as they would have made when doing so, this explains mainly there weak ranking. Germany faces now a weakening because no of the clubs directly respective for qualificiation eligibe takes part in 2018 CL respective qualification for it, so Schwerin, Stuttgart and Dresden can only earn best result points from CEV cup in 2018 season (likely semi final).


    From 4. place leagues for example Poland club Chemik Police is the strongest obviously, but relation of best German clubs Schwerin, Stuttgart and Dresden (and others) to Grot Budowlani Lodz and DevelopRes Rzeszow for example is to be clarified, unluckiley there will be no comparison in next time it seems.

  • I agree Turkey is #1, but I find very hard to compare the leagues.


    For example, Seria A is very balanced, but if you would replace their top 4 teams with, Vakfbank,Vitra,Fernerbache,Galatassary, the league would be very unbalanced as these 4 teams would just crush everyone else.


    I think Russia is stronger than what mostly people thinks. When you look at, the weaker teams in Italy and Turkey are actually very mediocre teams.



    Another thing, German league is balanced, simply because everyone is equally weak, while in Poland things looks not very balanced simply because Chemik is was stronger than everyone else, but if you would put Chemik in the German league, they would crush everyone every time.


    How about the Swiss League, I have never watched because I can`t find a way to watch. But I read that Volero won in the final by 3-2 last season, which means the 2nd placed team could not be that weak if they took Volero to a 5 set.


    I watched the Final of the France league, and at least at that game the level was really high, better than what we see in Germany and the same as in Poland.


    But it is a good thing to have strong teams is different leagues.

  • It's hard to say for sure before the start of the season because some teams that have great players might have bad chemistry and some teams that have good but not great players might have great chemistry and be better than we think.


    Turkey has to be #1 IMO because Vakif and Vitra have ridiculously strong rosters and we know FB and GS can compete with them as well. A lot of the other "weaker" teams look stronger this season as well.


    Italy for me is stronger than Russia. In Russia there is Dinamo Moscow and Dinamo Kazan but after that all the other teams are weaker than most of the teams in Serie A.


    I didn't see much of the Polish league last season but it seemed Chemik were much stronger than everyone else. A few years ago there were many good teams in Poland but it doesn't look that way now. I guess the Polish and German leagues are a similar level except for Chemik.

  • My personal ranking:


    1. Turkey (top 4 is out of this world, and there are even more competitive teams this season. At least 8-10)
    2. Italy (top teams are really strong and others are quite balanced)
    3. Russia (Russians have good local players and top teams are strong)
    4. Germany + Poland (Both are similar difference for me is that German league keeps growing while Poland gets worse over years :( hope that changes.
    6. France+Switzerland+Azerbaijan (I watched some matches last season, it was enjoyable)

  • My personal ranking:


    1. Turkey (top 4 is out of this world, and there are even more competitive teams this season. At least 8-10)
    2. Italy (top teams are really strong and others are quite balanced)
    3. Russia (Russians have good local players and top teams are strong)
    4. Germany + Poland (Both are similar difference for me is that German league keeps growing while Poland gets worse over years :( hope that changes.
    6. France+Switzerland+Azerbaijan (I watched some matches last season, it was enjoyable)


    You are right, just a few years ago Poland was clearly stronger overall, and not only with Chemik Police, as German league. Switzerland is no good IMHO aside of top team Volero and maybe runner-up Pfeffingen.

  • I think Seria A is even stronger this season than last year.


    This year We again have some big names in Seria A.
    De La Cruz(OH), De Krujif(MB), Hill(OH), Hodge(OH), Adenezia(MB), Wolosz(s), Montano(OPP), Pavan(OPP), Zeng(OPP-OH), Milos(MB), Havelkova(OH), Dixon(MB), Nizetich(OH), Van Hecke(OH) my God and many more. I even didn't write some players that are many years in Seria A + Italy has some world class domestic players as Christina C, Egonu, Lo Bianco etc...so many good players.


    I really think that this very very good for Seria A, I just hope that they can show how good Seria A is in CL, CEV CUP and CEV CHALL.

  • The ranking would vary drastically depending on how you define the "strength". Comparing only top teams of the each league, or the strength of average ones, or the number of clubs that have competitive rosters to be champion etc. Each of this criteria could give a different ranking.


    Turkish league was always criticized to be all about "big 4" but this season mid level teams invested a lot, there are strong foreigners playing in mid-level teams such as Olesia Rykhliuk, Charlotte Leys, Emiliya Nikolova, Yvon Belien, Maren Brinker, Megan Courtney, Wilma Salas, Daimi Ramirez, Rachel Sanchez, Yanelis Santos, Anne Buijs, Ana Carolina da Silva, Odina Bayramova, Tijana Malesevic, Natasa Krsmanovic and more. With these quality foreigners, the gap between mid-level teams and top 4 is getting closer. Many experienced local players who already played in top 4 will play in mid-level teams, which again elevate the overall quality of the league a lot.


    On the other hand, the gap between Turkish league and Italian league is getting closer too. Top Italian teams can win over top Turkish teams while most mid-level Turkish teams can now win over Italian mid-level teams.


    To me Russian league is not that interesting anymore, they are the 3rd strongest one based on overall quality of foreign players in the league.


    Although falling down of a volleyball powerhouse such as Cannes was sad, I think this is helping the league to increase their level. Previously, most French club was hesitating to invest a lot since they always thought it is impossible to be champion while there is such a strong team Cannes. However, since last season most French clubs started to invest more and there was quite a lot of surprises during the Play-off part of season. Maybe we will see a similar situation in Swiss league too after Volero's budget drop. Other Swiss clubs might get the motivation to invest more with the hope of finally being able to beat Volero :box:


    Comparing Polish and German leagues is tricky, Chemik is stronger than any teams in German league whereas top 3 German teams can beat any other Polish teams. :whistle:

  • I think Russian league is indeed not valued enough by many now, despite it is mostly about Moscow and Kazan, of course. But the teams immediately behind are pretty good too, this season also Krasnoyarsk and as always Ekaterinburg should not be taken easy by any opponents, while Krasnodar couldn't keep many players and their previous level, but in Challenge Cup they should not underestimated. There are many very good players in Russia, so they don't need many foreigners to strenghten teams like most other leagues.

  • In an interview regarding going to a foreign league with Voleros professional team the club owner Stav Jacobi listed his personal list of stronger leagues than the swiss one:


    Turkish, Italian, Russian, Polish, French, Romanian, and German


    I think, the first three we could easily agree about. But I'm very surprised, that he sees Germany only as seventh - most would see it as third or fourth (at least) strongest. And Romania has overtaken France now, which will be reflected in next European cups ranking. But as always, these are just opinions. Anyway we had now two duels of French with German clubs in CEV cup, and in both cases the German teams won both matches with three points.

  • The discussion always comes down to the criteria you determine as strength :whistle: Do you compare title contenders in the league or are you as strong as your weakest member?


    If we compare the top 3 teams, LKS Lodz, Police and Rzeszow are as strong as Schwerin, Dresden, and Stuttgart. Also Beziers, Cannes and Mulhouse are pretty much on the same level as well as Alba Blaj, Bucuresti and Stiinta Bacau. I think we will be able to judge the level of these leagues once the European cups ended

  • As I said many time for me their is no huge diffrents between Turkish league and Seria A.


    I will say just one more thing.


    All top 4 Turkish teams are not stronge as in CL-CEV CUP as they are in Turkish league, because of foreign limit. That is not case with Seria A (Only Imoco this season).


    So you can't compare how strong some league is just because "Eczacibasi beat Busto". Eczacibasi is not the same team in CL and in Turkish league, Busto is the same.


    This is not my opinion this is fact.. They can't use all their top players all the time in their league.



  • You are really funny. Let me explain you something maybe you can think smarter than your current post in the future.
    Top 4 Turkish teams, Vakif: They are always playing with the same foreigners! Where did you see Robinson playing in any important match? Or are they different in TL and CL?
    Eczaci: I can‘t see a difference where Adams shows much more or in a way they are much stronger if Adams would be also playing in the TL, the current standings: position number 1 explains it all, right?
    GS: I also don‘t see much difference wheter Ruseva, Jack or Asli is playing, if you watched the matches of GS Ataman is almost changing not even every match, every set his middles, in a match he starts with Ruseva Asli and then the next set he changes Ruseva with Jack or the other way around. Even CL matches he took Ruseva out and Asli played, so not a big difference.
    Fener: Yes, fener would be probably the only Team I would agree with you. But in general their roster is very weak this season and Natalia not being in form makes it even worse and I guess they could be on place 4 after the regular season.

  • Eczacibasi did not even play with Busto yet and Crovolley already knows the result... Reason Eczacibasi is so good this season is because they have such a balanced roster and play with almost the exact same roster in all tournaments. Let me remember you became so confident about Italian league after Novara beat FB which right afterwards they got beaten quite easily 3-1 by Halkbank with a similar roster and they played a tiebreak with Bursa the week before. It is clear that FB is just not as good this season or more atm because of an injured Eda and an out of form Natalia (maybe still injured?). It is simple FB has 3 world class players if you take away 2 of them obv they won't be as good anymore. I'm not even saying Italian league is not as strong but your statements are way too quick based on 1 tiebreak with a team that loses against mid range teams in the league. Last 2 winners of WCh are Turkish last winner of Challenge cup is Turkish and last winner of CL is Turkish. Let the season continue before making statements as many Turkish and Italian teams will meet this season.



    StefanS I agree German league is definitely not 7th, I hope Volero works with Stuttgart btw as German league has the most potential out of all imo and is one of the few ones that keep growing each year.


    QPL :rolll:

  • In an interview regarding going to a foreign league with Voleros professional team the club owner Stav Jacobi listed his personal list of stronger leagues than the swiss one:


    Turkish, Italian, Russian, Polish, French, Romanian, and German

    "Fun" fact I just heared from a swiss friend: After Sm'Aesch-Pfeffingen won the first game in the Finals (3:1) and was about to maybe get the 4th set in Zurich what would have meant a Tie-Break, Jacobi ordered the Coach to take the two mandatory swiss players off the court and play with their CL-Line-Up. Volero won that Set 26-24 and won the game 3:1 and even though its against the rules the Club has "only" to pay a 20'000.- fine, which is nothing for them.



    If this is true, what a shame for sportmanship :down: :down: :down:
    The money "loss" is nothing compared to the competitive advantage that a Team like Volero can gain with willingly breaking the rules and regulations. It's sad when you call the league weak for years and when finally someone challenges you, you break the rules. :hit:

  • "Fun" fact I just heared from a swiss friend: After Sm'Aesch-Pfeffingen won the first game in the Finals (3:1) and was about to maybe get the 4th set in Zurich what would have meant a Tie-Break, Jacobi ordered the Coach to take the two mandatory swiss players off the court and play with their CL-Line-Up. Volero won that Set 26-24 and won the game 3:1 and even though its against the rules the Club has "only" to pay a 20'000.- fine, which is nothing for them.



    If this is true, what a shame for sportmanship :down: :down: :down:
    The money "loss" is nothing compared to the competitive advantage that a Team like Volero can gain with willingly breaking the rules and regulations. It's sad when you call the league weak for years and when finally someone challenges you, you break the rules. :hit:


    You got it right, and I think too, this is a scandalous behaviour by Jacobi, and of course a poor rule, inviting to such behaviour, especially rich persons and team heads like Voleros Jacobi... :(

  • "Fun" fact I just heared from a swiss friend: After Sm'Aesch-Pfeffingen won the first game in the Finals (3:1) and was about to maybe get the 4th set in Zurich what would have meant a Tie-Break, Jacobi ordered the Coach to take the two mandatory swiss players off the court and play with their CL-Line-Up. Volero won that Set 26-24 and won the game 3:1 and even though its against the rules the Club has "only" to pay a 20'000.- fine, which is nothing for them.



    If this is true, what a shame for sportmanship :down: :down: :down:
    The money "loss" is nothing compared to the competitive advantage that a Team like Volero can gain with willingly breaking the rules and regulations. It's sad when you call the league weak for years and when finally someone challenges you, you break the rules. :hit:


    8| :down: :down: :down: volleyball is becoming moneyball (and every year more and more)

  • "Fun" fact I just heared from a swiss friend: After Sm'Aesch-Pfeffingen won the first game in the Finals (3:1) and was about to maybe get the 4th set in Zurich what would have meant a Tie-Break, Jacobi ordered the Coach to take the two mandatory swiss players off the court and play with their CL-Line-Up. Volero won that Set 26-24 and won the game 3:1 and even though its against the rules the Club has "only" to pay a 20'000.- fine, which is nothing for them.



    If this is true, what a shame for sportmanship :down: :down: :down:
    The money "loss" is nothing compared to the competitive advantage that a Team like Volero can gain with willingly breaking the rules and regulations. It's sad when you call the league weak for years and when finally someone challenges you, you break the rules. :hit:

    I'm kind of glad, that i missed this, as i was watching the live broadcast of the bronze medal game (Düdingen-Kanti). But honestly, i wasn't really surprised to read about it afterwards and see the short clip of his behavior. :rolleyes: German users should be relieved, that he has chosen France to continue his "endeavours".

  • I'm kind of glad, that i missed this, as i was watching the live broadcast of the bronze medal game (Düdingen-Kanti). But honestly, i wasn't really surprised to read about it afterwards and see the short clip of his behavior. :rolleyes: German users should be relieved, that he has chosen France to continue his "endeavours".

    Oh my! I wish we could put a united reaction as volleyball spectators to such volleyball mafia! Can't we sign a petition or something against them? :white: