Although I am an avid Saints fan, I wasn't surprised that Southampton got beaten yesterday but was shocked at the ease with which we got turned over by Arsenal. It's interesting to see how the PL has changed since our last visit and how the notions of the exciting and attacking style which fans who grew up under Lawrie Mac to expect are no longer suitable to a league where the style of football is far more technical and owes more to how the game is being played abroad. Typically inferior teams have increasingly used spoiling tactics which grew out of the idea of "closing down " the opposition or resorted to the Italian "Catenaccio" style. This ultimately manifested itseld in the "long ball " tactics of teams like Wimbledon in the 1990s which was hated by football fans in general. I hope that we can survive yet would be a little upset to see the attacking and positive style of football played by Adkins in the lower leagues swapped for something more cynical. When clubs have to result to these tactics to survive, you have to question the "sporting" nature and intent of the game. Since our last 28 year stay in the top flight, it is noticeable how the gulf seems to be opening open either further between the Premiership and Championship. I would suggest that there is a much wider gap from 74/75 when I first started following football with the difference now seeming to be perhaps greater than one league itself. There was an article I read in a paper a few weeks back which explained just how many former PL teams were now ploughing their way in the second tier with a few like Coventry and Portsmouth doing even worse. The PL seems a self-fullfilling prophecy as is brings football of an ever-increasing quality to this country whilst changing the way in which football is played to a more continental style where teams can no longer rely on the cut and thrust of the traditional notion of English football. This is even manifesting itself in the way that the national team plays under Hodgson. The emergence of "Billionaire" clubs has also mean't that these clubs will increasingly be looking abroad to kind competitors of a similar calibre. It is increasingly difficult to reconcile this with the game that I grew up with. In some ways, I feel that both Southampton and Portsmouth are teams who should be expecting to feature in the top flight yet I feel that in some ways we are both better off outside this league . In the recent past, we have both gone into administration following the desire to live the " Premiership dream." The process nearly destroyed Portsmouth whose fate is still by now means certain. I have been prompted to start this post to sound out how other football teams feel about the way that the Premier League has now evolved to such a high standard that newly promoted teams are unable to properly compete and regularly get turned over. I don't know exactly who the current systems benefits and have been pondering a few of the following issues which, I feel, are worthy of debate:- 1. Is there now a good case to limited the size of the Premier League so that weaker teams are eliminated to afford the better teams to compete in European competition? (I.e. Should the likes of Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal really be competing against the likes of Wigan, Reading, Southampton? ) This will also leave international player more readily available for selection. Do City or Utd fans feel that it is worth playing teams like Southampton which are practically a guaranteed 6 points or do they secretly like the threat of the occasional upset? Do supporters of these clubs feel that these matches are two wasted fixtures? Just how much does playing "lower status" PL teams impact upon the ability of English clubs to win European silverware? (Compare with the case in Scotland where the only clubs competing in Europe never progress very far and return home to face domestic fixtures with clubs who would probably be the equivalent of Division One teams in England.) 2. Should promotion to and relegation from the Premier League be limited to few clubs to ensure that any club who is promoted has a better chance of survival? 3. Just how much does the PL reflect the Englishness of football in this country and does the Championship not, as I believe, offer a better indication of the games national identity? In fact, I feel that the Championship is more competitive, less predictable and fairer than the Premiership where there can only ever be 3-4 possible winners at the most. As a "sporting" event, the Championship is more about endeavour than the current Premiership even if it too is starting to become more money-orientated. 4. How much does promotion and relegation impinge upon the financial viability of the game in this country? Clubs seem too keen to spend unwisely on avoiding relegation and often to the future detriment of the club such as Leeds Utd and Portsmouth - both "big" clubs within their respective regions. Would the reduction of the Premier League to say 16-18 clubs without the possibility of relegation be beneficial to many regional clubs? Divorcing "bona fide" PL teams from perenial stugglers would not doubt cause and imbalance in favour of the PL teams but would the permanent inclusion of "big" clubs in the Championship also not benefit this league too? 5. Should the threat of relegation be removed, would this improve or have an detrimental effect on the game as a spectator sport ? (I.e. Teams no longer likely to employ spoiling tactics.) All in all, I feel a bit sad about the way football has changed. For most of my life as a Southampton supporter we were always a top flight team and the style of football was only ever compromised under the reign of the hated Ian Branfoot who effectively got hounded out of the club in the early 1990's. Yes, seeing the attacking style employed in the Championship fail spectacularly against Martinez' superbly organised Wigan team in their comfrotable 2-0 away win drilled home the fact that we are now merely visitors in a league in which we cannot hope to properly compete. Relegation is a foregone conclusion, I'm sorry to say. It's a shame since whilst the PL has undoubtedly seen an improvement in the technical quality of the sport (Chelsea fans must pinch themselves to think that they used to have Kerry Dixon playing up front!) i think it has been to the detriment to the game as a genuine competition.
In many ways the competitive nature of the Premier League is what many people like about it. Yes there are teams who are a much bigger gulf in class than some of the others but in most other leagues in Europe you would get the equivalent of a weak championship side competing in the top division. Southampton currently have about 5 or 6 players who have been called up for international duty recently and are still one of the weaker sides in the league. No other league boasts such a wide number of international players, and even when there are a lot of internationals in a league like in La Liga most of them are confined to two, three or four big teams and not a lot else. The competition is there, but the fact that big teams often beat smaller teams is not unique, if anything it is more common in other countries. Also there are exceptions to your argument, the fact that all three promoted teams stayed up last season, and what about teams like Stoke and Wigan, these were not top flight regulars yet now they are through hard work and consistency. The dream is still there, it's just not as easy to achieve as it used to be, and i'm sure something will be done to change the way money is chucked around like its only paper these days, will take time but one day fairness will be restored.
Goes on a bit, does Ian. Made some valid points though - Chelsea fans will no doubt appreciate the reference to Kerry Dixon
I didn't understand that part, at all. Dixon's a Chelsea legend and he seems to be slagging him off in comparison to their then players.
I know it's from 2012 Archers, but Dixon has to be the wrong player to use. Drogba had just pissed off to China, so they had Torres and Ba up front. Makes it worse, unless you really hate Gerrard.
Dixon being a legend was also kind of the point. But I think you'll have to take this up with @Ian Thumwood if you wish to discuss him further. The broader point here appears to be that, while the standard of football in the PL had generally improved by 2012 - and has arguably continued to do so - the experience for the supporters may not have done.
I think that people often have rose-tinted spectacles on when looking at the past, though. The experience is different, but I'm not sure that it's necessarily better or worse. You're less likely to get randomly attacked or pissed on and the football is of a higher quality, but it's more corporate and expensive. The Germans seem to have found something of a balance, barring Bayern dominating their league.
Not saying I don’t like him. He just writes far too much. I just scroll past and wait for someone to summarise it So keep up the good work.
No one ever has from beginning to end. Like no one's ever read the whole Bible, or watched Ben Hur or Titanic from beginning to end. He still makes some good points though.
Who is this ****er? has he not read the handbook? Ian please see Spurlock and get (AND READ) the handbook.
It's your fooking fault, this is what happens when you don't have enough politics threads, they start talking some football shhite and bumping seven year old threads!
