What's Wrong with EPL - An Analysis
I am an avid fan of the English Premier League but then I like Spanish Primera Liga better. Let's face it. EPL is the biggest just because of the amount of money involved in it and is probably third in terms of the technical stuff involved with the game, only after the La Liga and the Italian Serie A.
The Element of Surprise
In La Liga and Serie A, there is always a possibility that a lowly team can beat a top team. AC Milan can lose to Sienna or Real Madrid can lose to Celta but then you never expect Sunderland to put up a fight against Chelsea, let alone beat them.
Two-Horse Race
The Premiership has had just four Champions (and two teams have won just once - Blackburn & Chelsea) since it began in 1992-93 but then you look at Serie A or La Liga, there are a lot more, which shows that the quality of teams at that level is very high.
In the EPL, it was always a two-horse race between Arsenal and ManUtd and lately, Chelsea with its financial power has made it a one-horse race! When you see a team always winning you do get bored and that sort of makes you question the quality of the rest of the teams.
Enigma in Europe
English teams, more often than not, seem to struggle in comparison to clubs from other countries. Liverpool's win last season was a notable exception. Strikers such as Henry scores 20 plus goals every season in EPL but then when it comes to Europe, he draws a blank at crucial stages.
Besides, in UEFA Cup too, English clubs seem to struggle compared to clubs from other leagues...this just shows quality is lacking in EPL. The last English club to win it was Liverpool some 3-4 years back.
Nature of Balance
The nature of balance has been seemingly disturbed in the EPL ever since Chelsea owner Roman Abromovich started pumping money into his team. Top players are lured by the money and end up at Chelsea but they also moan the fact that they don't play regularly.
Previously, a big club like ManUtd could spend close to 25 million pounds in a season but now, Chelsea Chelsea has risen the stakes by spending close to 100 million in a season. Compare this to a small club like Wigan which spends 2 to 3 million pounds and struggle to attract quality players.
The World Player
The fact that for over a decade there has been no player from the EPL chosen as the World Player of the Year shows that not many people consider it to be of the highest quality.
The Entertainment
EPL has been popular in the last few years just because it is highly entertaining but lately, it doesn't seem so. Goalless draws seem to be the order of the day ( for Chelsea though, it is 1-0). Chelsea with its unlimited riches seems to have quality players among its ranks but according to its coach Mourinho, has no obligation to entertain the crowds but only to win.I have been following La Liga over the past few years and it is much more entertaining!
The Masters
So, if you wanna get entertained by the exuberance and genius of Ronaldinho or the magnificent (though fading) skills of Zidane, or the magic of Kaka you'd better watch the La Liga or the Serie A, at least you'd never hear the commentators there bragging almost every minute how their league is the best.
The Element of Surprise
In La Liga and Serie A, there is always a possibility that a lowly team can beat a top team. AC Milan can lose to Sienna or Real Madrid can lose to Celta but then you never expect Sunderland to put up a fight against Chelsea, let alone beat them.
Two-Horse Race
The Premiership has had just four Champions (and two teams have won just once - Blackburn & Chelsea) since it began in 1992-93 but then you look at Serie A or La Liga, there are a lot more, which shows that the quality of teams at that level is very high.
In the EPL, it was always a two-horse race between Arsenal and ManUtd and lately, Chelsea with its financial power has made it a one-horse race! When you see a team always winning you do get bored and that sort of makes you question the quality of the rest of the teams.
Enigma in Europe
English teams, more often than not, seem to struggle in comparison to clubs from other countries. Liverpool's win last season was a notable exception. Strikers such as Henry scores 20 plus goals every season in EPL but then when it comes to Europe, he draws a blank at crucial stages.
Besides, in UEFA Cup too, English clubs seem to struggle compared to clubs from other leagues...this just shows quality is lacking in EPL. The last English club to win it was Liverpool some 3-4 years back.
Nature of Balance
The nature of balance has been seemingly disturbed in the EPL ever since Chelsea owner Roman Abromovich started pumping money into his team. Top players are lured by the money and end up at Chelsea but they also moan the fact that they don't play regularly.
Previously, a big club like ManUtd could spend close to 25 million pounds in a season but now, Chelsea Chelsea has risen the stakes by spending close to 100 million in a season. Compare this to a small club like Wigan which spends 2 to 3 million pounds and struggle to attract quality players.
The World Player
The fact that for over a decade there has been no player from the EPL chosen as the World Player of the Year shows that not many people consider it to be of the highest quality.
The Entertainment
EPL has been popular in the last few years just because it is highly entertaining but lately, it doesn't seem so. Goalless draws seem to be the order of the day ( for Chelsea though, it is 1-0). Chelsea with its unlimited riches seems to have quality players among its ranks but according to its coach Mourinho, has no obligation to entertain the crowds but only to win.I have been following La Liga over the past few years and it is much more entertaining!
The Masters
So, if you wanna get entertained by the exuberance and genius of Ronaldinho or the magnificent (though fading) skills of Zidane, or the magic of Kaka you'd better watch the La Liga or the Serie A, at least you'd never hear the commentators there bragging almost every minute how their league is the best.
posted by Lucas @ 6:15 PM
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