Like many I watched the UEFA Champions League at the weekend in complete awe at the level at which Barcelona played the beautiful game. Surely that was exactly how it should be played; skill, passing, movement, flair, speed, the team in blue and red were mesmerising. Even Sir Alex was humbled for the first time in his life and had to admit United 'were hammered.' True, he couldn't really have described it any other way since there were millions of witnesses around the world, but that doesn't normally stop him complaining about referees, the amount of games English teams have to play or one of his players getting sent off (which was also surely a first in a thumping United defeat.)
The difference in class begs the bigger question: is the premiership, the self billed best league in the world, in decline?
This season has been scrappy at best. I am not sure there has been a single team that has played anywhere near the level of Barca for 20 minutes never mind more than one game. To emphasise this point, United won the league by winning just a handful of games away from home and with the lowest points total in years. It was probably their weakest squad in any of their record 19 championship seasons. And I don't buy into the argument that it's because the overall standard of the league is much improved now. This was a league that had Blackpool, West Ham, Wigan, Stoke, Birmingham, Newcastle et al playing mediocre football each week. Liverpool were awful, Chelsea unable to create goals for the best centre forward in the world, Arsenal went AWOL for the second half of the season, and Man City won the FA Cup by simply being the last men standing. And let's not even start on the debacle that is the England national team.
It's no co-incidence that Spain are the world champions, or that the world's best players are now looking to La Liga for their football. I am seriously considering doing the same.
Took a while to gather my thoughts on this before I typed something (and this may not make sense as I'm in GVA airport waiting for my delayed baggage, after a delayed flight and 36 hours without sleep), but I dont think the Premier League is in decline... it just wasnt as good as Sky said it was to begin with.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at it, money came in quickly and most clubs bought a load of players for high prices because they could afford to. This got us to the level that Italy, Spain and Germany were at for a while, and while they declined as their revenue got tighter they all invested in Youth. The English continued to buy success, and it has caught up with us - there's only so much debt a business can handle. Its tricky to name a good English player who has come through a premier league club in the last 5 years, because we dont invest in long term success, and then when a promising one comes along we get all excited, think hes the best thing ever and someone somewhere pays a ridiculous amount of cash for him.... Come on... 35 million for a pony tailed thug (and yes I'd rather have him in my team than yours).... and then the money, adoraton and hype goes to their heads and they arent the player they could have been. I think as soon as a player under 25 is transferred for a fee over 2.5million they should have to go and do national service!!! That'll sort them out (I seem to have turned into my grandfather)
The other thing which prevents clubs reaching the levels of their continental counterparts is the fans. They want success yesterday and most of them dont know a good game of football when they see it. How often is effort and endeavour cheered over artistry?
The final reason has to be the players.... they believe their own hype.... Come on, does anyone outside the UK actually think Fat Frank, Terry, Cole, Gerrard, Crouch (seriously), are quality players. None of them could get into the Spanish, German, Italian or French sides and they are the english cream of the premier league.
The best player that the premier league has "produced" (and I use that loosely) is spanish, and he cant get a game for his own National team.... Now that alone says everything!
Prings
Hear hear mate. Andy Carroll may well be joined in the ranks of overhyped/overpaid by some Henderson bloke who plays for Sunderland, and Liverpool gonna give 20 million for - never heard of him...
ReplyDeleteIn terms of don't believe the hype - with you on all the ones you mention... except Steven Gerrard, he is good (http://bradwhatmough.blogspot.com/2010/09/gerrard-1-lampard-0.html)
I know I said dont get me started on the national team but I saw they earned a draw against the mighty Switzerland, fantastic result. Is that why you're there? If you can't beat them join them?
I wonder what the EPL would be like with a draft system, I am a big fan...
I dont think a draft system would make any difference.... young players just dont get coached well enough (more jobs for the boys), and where would they get drafted from?
ReplyDeleteAs for Henderson... more media hype. He's a nothing player - as in he does nothing. He's not a ball player or ball winner.... he's safe - michael carrick with a worse accent!
Disagree with Gerrard totally... when he's having his ego massaged and his arse kissed at Liverpool he's a world beater... put him somewhere where there's competition and he wilts.
And.... he may not be able to sat penalty ("pelanty" indeed) but here's really where the blame lies... Remember the Premier League was formed by the FA so they would have greater control meaning that the national team would and only the best home grown talent would make it....
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8767443.stm
I dont know about Plan B... the FA doesnt have a plan, other than to make money in the short term
Prings