davieG Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 Stop Saying The Premier League Has Got Weaker, It's Got Bigger & Better! BY ADRIAN CLARKE 5 SEC AGO SHARE I’m fed up of hearing that this season’s Premier League is the weakest it’s been in years. Just because Leicester City sit top of the table, it doesn’t mean standards have slumped. In fact I’d say their success proves the exact opposite. To me, English football’s top flight is in the rudest of health. I’ll ask you this; was the Premier League a stronger place when bottom-half sides waved the white flag before they’d even turned up at certain grounds? Of course it wasn’t. When Mick McCarthy was rightly chastised (and fined) for fielding a Wolves reserve XI at Old Trafford in 2009, his controversial call was merely symptomatic of defeatist attitudes at the time. A lot of minnows didn’t believe they stood a chance against the big boys. Ultra-defensive tactics, one-sided pass fests, and ritual hammerings were served up as the order of the day. It was boring. We may have less ‘bankers’ on our betting slips, but as a spectacle, thank goodness times have changed. It’s as if a perfect storm has been created this season. Richer than ever, and craving to be recipients of the £5billion TV bounty that’s dished out next summer, those outside the traditional top eight have invested heavily (and in most cases wisely) in talent they would never ordinarily have been able to attract. Boasting so many players that belong at Premier League level, there’s no such thing as an inferiority complex anymore. They play to win, and rightly so because they’re good enough. The grip on star men has also tightened. Until a couple of years ago the likes of Saido Berahino, John Stones, Yannick Bolasie and Sadio Mane would all have been sold when interest in them intensified. Yet from a position of strength, their owners held firm in the last window. It’s a healthy trend. The introduction of 25-man squads and Financial Fair Play restrictions hasn’t prevented stockpiling completely, but it’s harder to cherry pick from smaller clubs than it has been before. Spreading the best players around the division can only be seen a very, very good thing. From a players’ perspective the lure of joining a giant is also less attractive. Take Leicester City’s star men Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante for example. They don’t need to leave the King Power Stadium to secure their financial futures, that’s in the bag already, and they’re enjoying regular game time for a side that can compete with anybody. Champions League football is the only aspect they’re missing out on (for now). Playing for teams with a positive attitude, working with outstanding coaches, and surrounded by other excellent players, we shouldn’t be surprised that guys like Cabaye, Ighalo, Payet, Lukaku, Bojan and Mane all seem so content in their environments. The gap in class has definitely closed. Have our elite clubs gone downhill? Some have certainly stagnated, and that’s helped create this excitement. Poor purchases and managerial upheaval have held Liverpool and Manchester United back, while Man City and Chelsea have both seen their fat wallets shrunk to some extent by FFP rules preventing them from spending silly money. The power vacuum has wilted. Mismatches make for dull viewing anyway. Pleasingly, three and four goal margins are now thin on the ground and the stats prove we’ve seen far fewer thrashings in the last 18 months. Anybody can beat anybody now, and everyone knows it. When I saw Leicester destroy Chelsea, Stoke outplay Manchester City, and Bournemouth tear Man United to shreds, the last word that came into my head was ‘weak’. These are halcyon days that should be welcomed. A leveller playing field creates so much more fun for the fans, and it’s incredibly alluring for the players to be part of too. They love competitive matches as much as the rest of us. How our big clubs fare in the Champions League no longer bothers me that much. The Premier League party is the place to be. And if this concertina affect continues, it will only get bigger and better.
Dan Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I think the top teams have gotten weaker and the run of the mill sides have gotten a bit better. In some ways, exactly what the league needed.
Corky Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 The league has been enjoyable this year. It's different, it's been unexpected. Not just because we're top- if Southampton or West Ham were there now I'd be enjoying it and wishing them well. It may well only last a season so let's savour a change from the norm.
Guest Col city fan Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I think it's brilliant this season. So much better than the Bundesliga (Bayern), Serie A (Juve), La Liga (nearly always a two horse race). It's so wide open where anyone can beat anyone. Much better to be this way. The quality has gone down, the enjoyment gone up!
yorkie1999 Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I think the top teams have gotten weaker and the run of the mill sides have gotten a bit better. In some ways, exactly what the league needed. I don't think they've got weaker, its just they can't get any better. They can't sign anyone because they've got all the best players, apart from maybe ronaldo and messi, which leaves everyone else with the ability to catch up. We're in a perfect storm where we're on a confidence trip from the end of last season.
Dan Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 If you want a one horse race look at Ligue 1. I've never seen anything quite like this season. The team in 2nd are nearer to relegation than they are to PSG I don't think they've got weaker, its just they can't get any better. They can't sign anyone because they've got all the best players, apart from maybe ronaldo and messi, which leaves everyone else with the ability to catch up. We're in a perfect storm where we're on a confidence trip from the end of last season. They can definitely get better. No-one's telling me this Man Utd side would touch Fergie's old teams.
Viva Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I don't think they've got weaker, its just they can't get any better. They can't sign anyone because they've got all the best players, apart from maybe ronaldo and messi, which leaves everyone else with the ability to catch up. We're in a perfect storm where we're on a confidence trip from the end of last season. I think the top sides are far weaker now which is why we have been pretty rubbish in Europe the past few seasons.
yorkie1999 Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 If you want a one horse race look at Ligue 1. I've never seen anything quite like this season. The team in 2nd are nearer to relegation than they are to PSG They can definitely get better. No-one's telling me this Man Utd side would touch Fergie's old teams. I meant in this moment in time.
Guest Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 In an ideal world, the top 4 clubs would have remained as strong as ever, and the rest of the clubs would have strengthened to challenge them. As it is we've met somewhere in the middle, so the domestic league is more entertaining and competitive, but our representatives in Europe are second-rate.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 our representatives in Europe are second-rate. Until next season
bluebeau Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 Rio Ferdinand was guilty of saying that this season the premier League is the worst it has ever been. Well what would you expect coming fromhim? Over the last several years, it has always been the biggest spenders that won the title, so how good is it that this season a 'little club' is looking to be a serious contender? Davie G, a very good posting.
shen Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I meant in this moment in time. You'd still be wrong. A Schweinsteiger in decline? An unproven teenager bought for a record amount? Ashley Young at left wingback? A persistence with Rooney which borders on laughable? United have a relatively poor squad which is so unbalanced it's untrue. I won't even get started on Liverpool who have an impressive record of buying distinctly average players for eight-figure sums. Arsenal's squad is decent, but you wouldn't say any of them are top-shelf bar Sanchez, Özil and maybe Cech. Man City and Chelsea have the most well-rounded squads, but the way recent acquisitions like Bony, Mangala, Falcao, Schürrle, Salah, Filipe Luis have gone down, it shows they're still gambling and not finding those gems. Apart from Hazard (on last years form), Agüero, Sanchez, Courtois, De Gea and Özil, I don't think any other player would be considered in a World XI.
kyleolly Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 The thing that makes it easier for us is the amount of teams that still play 4-2-3-1 Jose introduced this boring brand of football and look what's happened to him!
Stadt Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 The thing that makes it easier for us is the amount of teams that still play 4-2-3-1 Jose introduced this boring brand of football and look what's happened to him! Formations are mostly neutral and even then a 4231 isn't a particularly defensive system
st albans fox Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 A few seasons ago, the CL sides would have around 10 games a season where they would have to be 100%. Now they have at least 20. That makes it very tough to outperform the better European sides with physical effort as was once the case. we have rarely outplayed the Spanish or Italian sides with technical ability. whilst there is no doubt that the top sides are not quite as blessed with individual talent as half a dozen years ago, the pace and strength in depth of the PL is more the problem.
kyleolly Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 Formations are mostly neutral and even then a 4231 isn't a particularly defensive systemBut how many teams have we played this season that looked toothless up top playing that system United, Palace, Swansea, Chelsea I think Arsenal were the exception but I thought we were very nieve against them.
Stadt Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 But how many teams have we played this season that looked toothless up top playing that system United, Palace, Swansea, Chelsea I think Arsenal were the exception but I thought we were very nieve against them. They'd have looked toothless otherwise because they're shit. It's largely about player quality Rooney, Costa, Frazer Campbell and Gomis are all shit or in poor form that's why they look toothless. Dortmund (only 2nd I know) play 4231 and they keep scoring because players like Aubameyang aren't shit. you could say 541 is a defensive formation but it depends how you play it, if the fullbacks/wingbacks are aggressive and there's plenty of midfield runners trying to take the game to the opposition it's not negative.
kyleolly Posted 17 December 2015 Posted 17 December 2015 I'm not really saying it's a negative formation wookie it's more that we can play against it well
Oxfordfox83 Posted 18 December 2015 Posted 18 December 2015 In an ideal world, the top 4 clubs would have remained as strong as ever, and the rest of the clubs would have strengthened to challenge them. As it is we've met somewhere in the middle, so the domestic league is more entertaining and competitive, but our representatives in Europe are second-rate. So... I definitely agree that Man Utd aren't the force they used to be, but they're also not the favourites any more. Man City's squad is as good now as pretty much any United squad of Ferguson's. Chelsea's (on paper) squad is as good as any Arsenal post-Invincibles. When England was a force in Europe, it was either via Champions who cruised the league (Utd, Chelsea) or Benitez's never-lose cup team which consistently failed in the PL. However, the Spanish League is tedious and non-competitive, which means they don't build sides for a League campaign, they build it for cups (ie every few weeks you significantly raise your game, and cruise the rest of the time). I absolutely believe Barca/Madrid would not dominate the English league, and in adjusting they'd be less effective in Europe. Same goes for Bayern and PSG, who are just rich versions of Celtic. It's for this reason I think the England team struggles-we're built for a league, and everybody else plays cup football. I prefer it this way...
Bettsj2 Posted 18 December 2015 Posted 18 December 2015 This Premier League is the highest quality its ever been.
Harry - LCFC Posted 18 December 2015 Posted 18 December 2015 The top clubs aren't what they were, hence why they keep getting knocked out of Europe. The rest of the league is, as others have said, probably stronger which is why we see mid-table clubs probing the top six along with more shock results.
Guest Posted 18 December 2015 Posted 18 December 2015 I think the top teams have gotten weaker and the run of the mill sides have gotten a bit better. In some ways, exactly what the league needed. This.
Guest Posted 18 December 2015 Posted 18 December 2015 So... I definitely agree that Man Utd aren't the force they used to be, but they're also not the favourites any more. Man City's squad is as good now as pretty much any United squad of Ferguson's. Chelsea's (on paper) squad is as good as any Arsenal post-Invincibles. When England was a force in Europe, it was either via Champions who cruised the league (Utd, Chelsea) or Benitez's never-lose cup team which consistently failed in the PL. However, the Spanish League is tedious and non-competitive, which means they don't build sides for a League campaign, they build it for cups (ie every few weeks you significantly raise your game, and cruise the rest of the time). I absolutely believe Barca/Madrid would not dominate the English league, and in adjusting they'd be less effective in Europe. Same goes for Bayern and PSG, who are just rich versions of Celtic. It's for this reason I think the England team struggles-we're built for a league, and everybody else plays cup football. I prefer it this way... I'll admit that the current man city and chelsea squads are quite good on paper, but they obviously lack something that the good 'uns had back in the day. They're certainly not struggling just coz the rest of the league has improved. Chelsea's lost its core with lampard gone and terry aging, and a lot of their recent additions have brought CVs chuck full of skill, but short on character. And Man City has the lingering whiff of mercenaries just there for the money or personal glory. I just don't think any of them instill the same fear or respect that a prime United, Arsenal or for that matter the Chelsea of 5-10 years ago would have done. They don't quite seem to function as teams anymore, but more like a collective of really talented individuals who happen to wear the same colour shirt. Great skills, but lacking cohesion and leadership. Though i do think you also have a good point about continental clubs being geared towards tournaments, and English clubs not being able to play to their physical strengths for the full length of the season.
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