EPL the best soccer league in the world? Not a chance. May 5, 2008
Posted by njsportstalk in Soccer.trackback
I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely tired of all this talk about the EPL (English Premier League) being the best soccer league in the world. Yes it’s true, the English teams have performed well in this year’s Champions League (Europe’s premier club competition, for all of you ignorant American sports fans haha), but as true soccer fans should realize, there is more to a league then your top teams. England’s top 4 teams, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all have tremendous teams and have been playing some of the most exciting soccer in the world this year, which can’t be argued. The problem I have with the EPL, and why I feel it is certainly NOT the best league in the world, is that other then the top 4, and maybe 1 or 2 teams here and there, the soccer being played is terrible to say the least. No defense, no short passing, long balls, bad positioning…basically bad soccer. I cannot even stand to watch the majority of these games because it’s frustrating. Don’t get me wrong, it is exciting, but exciting doesn’t mean it’s high quality. Teams constantly giving up possession of the ball not being able to link up 3 passes at a time, every ball being played to someone’s head or chest instead of feet, breakaway after breakaway because of lackluster defending…I could go on and on. I understand the EPL makes loads of money because of endorsements and so on, and that Americans identify with it because its basically all they see, but for people who actually know and love the game of soccer, there is no way that top to bottom, the EPL is the best league in the world. The competition in Spain and Italy for example, is of much higher quality, and you will not be surprised to see lower level teams being competitive with such teams as Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, etc on a weekly basis. This happens because they actually try to play good soccer and not sit back, defend, and boot balls up the field for 90 minutes as you see way too often in England. It’s no surprise that England didn’t make the Euro Cup for this summer, and the best coaches and teams are all made up of foreigners. So although you’ll see an all English final in the Champions League for the first time ever this year (Spain and Italy have had same nation finals as well), and will probably see that little annoying Irishman Tommy Smyth 258 times on ESPN talking up the EPL in the upcoming weeks, just remember that a good league is made up of more than just a few teams.
-Andrew
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Maybe people would care if soccer was a real sport…Just a thought go Giants
Soccer is, and will always be the most popular sport in the world. It’s not even an argument, its a well-known fact. I understand your confused why “football” is only enjoyed and played by Americans Kyle, but that’s the way it is. By the way, the ratings on the World Cup make the Super Bowl look like a preseason scrimmage bud. My suggestion is to stop being ignorant and open up your eyes since soccer is even the most popular sport among the youth in America, which will one day be adults. Soccer is here to stay in America, get used to it. One more thing…J-E-T-S…Jets Jets Jets!
Andrew
To be honest with you after I read your comment about the youth of America my first thought was well that explains why all the kids these days are all a bunch of pansies, and I blamed the Mothers of America. Then after doing some research I found that baseball used to be the most popular but since the 70’s it has slowly progressed into soccer. So my first thought was well that explains why our youth are so messed up and end up killing each other now a days. I then thought I need more research. So while it kills me to admit you are right Macho about the fact that soccer is the most popular with the youth of America. I thought it was important to note that it generalizes all youths and doesn’t taking into consideration their age. So upon further research as kids get older and more developed(faster, stronger, hand eye coordination, smarter, and capable of making their own decisions) they branch out more and participation in soccer has a drastic drop off and there is a big increase in football, basketball, and baseball. So among the older youths 11-17 baseball, and basketball become the favorites. So it just goes to show you that Soccer is a kids game and football is alot like the Marines because only the toughest can survive. That is all.
I appreciate your extensive research. Although it doesn’t prove much in my opinion. Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world, but not in America. It will never be. It is not “American” enough I guess, and honestly it doesn’t need to be since its the most popular sport everywhere else. I can understand why the youth play other sports as they get older though, since we’re lucky enough in this country to have an abundance of choices, and that’s why we usually produce the best athletes, since they participate in so many sports. Also, kids will be more drawn into these other sports that you mention because of the publicity these sports receive, and maybe one day hoping to make a living doing it. I can’t blame them. I played every sport too. Currently, although the MLS is doing tremendously as a new league, to make real money playing soccer you need to go overseas. As far as your comments about getting more “developed” as athletes and that being the reason they branch out to other sports, I don’t agree. Soccer, at a high level, is extremely difficult to excel at, as you need every single one of the attributes you talked about. Maybe the rest of the world doesn’t have enough 6′7″ obese men to make football more popular outside of the USA. Just a thought lol. Okay hopefully this ends this discussion since I love and play every sport too. Later hater.
Well I agree soccer is very hard on a advanced level much beyond mine or even yours ability, that i never challenged all I was implying was that when broke down to it’s simplest form it is the easiest while a young child. But you are right about the fact that America has the best athletes in the world because they can play all these different sports. The only other thing I have to oppose in your statement is this “honestly it doesn’t need to be since its the most popular sport everywhere else” clearly that is not true, as we all know Hockey and competitive beer drinking is by far the most popular sports in Canada. Although they also consider throwing a ax, cutting down a tree, and running on a floating log is a sport too. EEHH. But I do hope Soccer does well in the USA I really do cause the main thing is to just have fun with stuff and from what I can tell you can drink a beer and get loud at a soccer just as easily as a football game.
I appreciate the Italian league and the Spanish league, but to say that the BPL is nowhere near as good? You comment on the top 4 teams as if after that there is no skill in the league. What about Everton, Tottenham, and Middlesbrough making deep runs into the UEFA Cup the last few years? You commented about the amount of long balls and “lackluster” defending, but you failed to mention the sheer pace and athleticism of the English game. While I agree that the technical skill of the Spanish league is more impressive, and the defensive tactics of the Italian league are superior to the English game, I would challenge that with the better athleticism of the English game. That keeps players who may be able to display flair with the ball, but who lack athletic ability, out of the English game. At the end of the day, a great barometer of how good the league is, is the amount of money spent on the players from top to bottom in the league, and I think it is safe to say that the best players in the world go to England. Remember, parity does not equal superiority, just because Reggina can challenge Inter, does not make the league better. Just as Chelsea, Liverpool, etc. are better than Inter and Roma; I think it’s safe to say Villa and Manchester City would match just as favorably against Udinese, and Atalanta.
I disagree with several points you made in your argument Sami. First of all, I’ve watched teams such as Everton and Middlesbrough quite a bit and I don’t believe they play good soccer at all. Tottenham can be considered a better team, as I did mention there are a couple of teams outside of the usual top 4 that play good soccer. They of course are now managed by a Spaniard, Juande Ramos. Secondly, the English teams never have a great showing in the UEFA cup which is made up of teams that truly give a league its quality. The last time an English team has won the UEFA cup was in 2000 but it was of course won by Liverpool, not a team outside of the top 4 that I mentioned. You have to go all the way back to 1983 to find another English winner, which was Tottenham. During that time, Spanish and Italian teams have 13 cups combined. Quite a difference. Champions League? Same story. Including today’s win by Manchester United, English teams have only 3 cups since 1990, while the other top 2 leagues have 9 combined(Spain-5, Italy-4). I do agree that the English league is extremely athletic, thus why I believe it is exciting. The pace is very high. I don’t believe that the soccer played is of high quality at all though outside of maybe 5 or 6 teams because of the reasons mentioned in my post. There is more to soccer than being athletic and kicking and chasing balls down for 90 minutes. It hasn’t seemed to work for England’s national team recently has it? Lastly, you mentioned that the best players in the world go to England. I strongly disagree with this point as well. I believe the talent is pretty well balanced between the top 3 leagues. Although Cristiano Ronaldo may very well win the FIFA World Player of the Year honor for this season, since the award started in 1991, NO player that won the award has been from an English team. NONE. In fact, all of the players were either from a Spanish or Italian team. Finally, I hear way too often that the EPL is the best league in the world. It is mostly said by people in America, who only watch the EPL, or by the English themselves though. Fact is, their may not be a true #1 league in the world, but as I mentioned in my post, and with the reasons stated in this comment, I think its pretty clear that it is certainly not the EPL. I appreciate the comment Sami. Thanks.
And just which league do you consider best? Or rather, why are you so grudgeful of the EPL’s success?
And please don’t mention Serie A, even the Italians know it’s shit.
Silly boy
The last response that I wrote explains my feelings. It’s the post immediately before your response Richard. It is complete with facts since I hold no personal grudge against any league, instead I like to prove people wrong who are blinded by the “overhyped” EPL. Serie A has faded a bit in the last couple of years. La Liga and the EPL are a step ahead right now but as I mentioned in my last response, it is very hard to name a league “the best,” since each has it’s qualities and differences but those 3 are clearly at the top.
There is no doubt that your apparent anti EPL stance has (sensibly) softened since your first post, but even the post before last misses the mark. “complete with facts” it may be, but the points made are meaningless in the context..
See, It’s a case of swings and roundabouts when it comes to European soccer… This isn’t about how many trophys english clubs have won in the last twenty years, the question is what is going on right NOW, and the EPL is light years ahead of any other league at the moment, regardless of the fact that it may be overhyped. I remember Serie A in it’s pomp, back when it was slow, boring and had the strongest teams, now it’s just slow and boring. La Liga has always been about only two teams,(Go on have a guess) and has degenerated into pretty much a non contact sport, but It has it’s charms I suppose, provided of course one of the big two are involved…
And please realize that the national team has bugger all to do with club football. It’s tiresome when people draw parallels between the two.
As for the UEFA cup, even little Bolton kept on progressing despite their darndest efforts to get eliminated from this joke of a competition. In exasperation, they finally got their wish when they sent an entire reserve team to face Sporting Lisbon in the QF.
BTW, despite your conjuring up statistics from twenty years ago, something tells me you weren’t actually around watching football back then..
Take care
First of all, don’t question my love and knowledge of football. I’m only 25 years old but have played and watched the sport since I was able to walk and continue to til this day. Not only am I an avid Barcelona fan, but watch a lot of games from Serie A and the EPL weekend in, and weekend out. From your comments, it seems you clearly only follow the EPL, which only adds to my argument. The facts that I stated are not meaningless Richard, and they’re not from 20 years ago I’m sorry to say. Trophies that teams have won in the past actually mean something, since they prove what leagues are producing the best clubs. Many EPL “fans” like yourself have put so much emphasis on have an all English champions league final this past year that it’s beginning to be ridiculous. Spain and Italy have done this way before England did so relax. You have to be biased if you consider the EPL “light years” ahead of any other league, and to knock the other leagues just proves that. La Liga has now made football a non-contact sport? Are you referring to it actually having skilled offensive and defensive players who play football the way it should be played? I’m sorry they dont have defenders who look like giants and can’t play the ball with their feet if their lives depended on it and instead try to break players’ legs. (i.e. Eduardo) Also, don’t underestimate the value of national teams and players just because England is terrible right now and didn’t even make the Euro Cup. Embarrassing. These are the players that make up the majority of the teams in the league. It is no surprise that Spain have finally won a major tournament since they have been winning youth titles and producing young world class players for years. England on the other hand produce young overrated players like Wayne Rooney and don’t nearly have the talent pool that Italy and Spain have. You would obviously say the UEFA cup is meaningless since EPL clubs rarely do anything in this tournament. How can you call this a “joke of a competition?” Like I mentioned in my previous posts, it is made up of clubs that truly give a league it’s quality, the clubs that claw and fight for the honor to play in it to make a profit and hopefully be able to challenge for a Champions League spot one day. Which of course is impossible in England since it’s the same 4 teams every year.
Listen, I’ve backed up my argument with clearly stated facts and a few of my own opinions as well. I’m tired of talking about this issue with people I wrote the post about in the first place. Yes the top 4 teams in England are very good and rich and blah blah blah. I understand that and I enjoy watching the league as well, but my argument has never been about that and clearly EPL fans have tunnel vision when it comes to how soccer should be played. Enjoy your no defense, long-ball, overhyped league by yourselves, and root on your national team as they try to at least make the next major tournament. Keep your “EPL is the best” talk to yourselves as another biased response is not necessary and just let the football do the talking for once. Being a world game and having it’s variety is what makes football great, so lets just leave it at that. Thanks, I appreciate it.
So “in England since it’s the same 4 teams every year” is it? Well believe me, it’s no different to anywhere else pal because the same old teams dominate year in year out in all the top leagues. Oh except in Spain where it’s the same old two clubs joined by some characterless team who usually end up relegated the next year…rubbish
You are still prattling on about the EPL being a “no defense, long-ball league” which really shows you up.
Also I have news for you, over in the UK not only do we not give a toss about the uefa cup ( it used to be good but no more I’m afraid, it IS a joke, listen to someone for a change), the champions league itself plays second fiddle to the domestic game so I’m relaxed already thank you. Why you even have the nerve to disagree with our friend Sami who was absolutely spot on in his response. Oh and you’d know all about how football should be played would you?
I think you are the “fan” especially going by your last statement.
Sorry I forgot to mention this, but seeing as you put such a premium on teams with trophy’s to their names from bygone days, might I point out that there are teams knocking about the english lower divisions that have more history and tradition than ninety per cent of Liga clubs?
Take care now
That last statement is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in my life. More history and tradition to who? You? You have absolutely no clue about what you’re talking about. And what a surprise that you’re from the UK. What a joke. The UEFA cup is a joke but your meaningless English cups are important right? You’re ridiculous. You’re just further proving my points and made yourself sound like an idiot at the same time with some outrageous comments. Try to expand your knowledge of football and stop being so stubborn as most EPL fans are and why I wrote the post in the first place. Realize that the only people talking about your “overhyped” league are people like you in the UK! It’s not a surprise that there were no British teams in the Euro Cup this Summer since all of you play the same style of terrible football. Please stop commenting, Sami at least made sense and had some sensible arguments. He also congratulated me on Spain’s Euro Cup victory and admitted he was wrong about Casillas. You on the other hand just made the most outrageous comment I have ever heard. You obviously don’t know much about Spain and the clubs in their league. According to you, football is only played in UK I guess. Did you know that Italy won the last World Cup and Spain just won the Euro Cup? That probably means that England has a better national team too right. Get a clue, Dick.
One more thing, Dick. I’d appreciate if you stopped commenting on the site. One thing is to argue with people who actually have knowledge about the game, but you’re comments are “rubbish.” I feel sorry for you, but invite you to watch some La Liga and Serie A games this year. Not just when our top teams are on. Also, when you’re watching your teriffic EPL games, try to count how many passes teams can string together at a time, and how many times defenders boot the ball up the field to no one in particular because they don’t have the skill to make better decisions. Then ask yourself how players like Peter Crouch get substantial playing time on your overrated national team and why you failed to even make the Euro Cup along with Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, etc. Enjoy your brand of football bud, hey like they say in the UK, it must be the best.