Spurs successfully exploded part 1 of current footballing myths- that which said, seriously "the top 4 are just too good now. No-one else will ever win silverware in England ever again. Ever. " Liverpool's absence from the top 4 for pretty much all season has successfully derided the myth of the invincible top 4 as well. I was writing about this last Autumn too. And given those Texan's current financial wranglings, as the RBS watches them squirm, it seems the financial world does not buy into that particular myth either. The final myth to be destroyed right now is the "The gulf between premiership and championship is insurmountable. Relegation is tantamount to annihilation." Myth.
This simply is not true. At all. Sure many clubs will be relegated after their first season. Sure the financial gaps are huge. And sure there are some notable examples of once proud clubs like Leeds, Southampton QPR, Coventry, Oldham, and Wedensday who have sunk and never resurfaced. This testifies as to the risks of relegation. But the truth of the matter is that around 60% of current Premiership clubs have been relegated or promoted in some form and spent some serious time in the minnow's leagues. Only Manu, Aresenal, Everton, Liverpool, Villa , Spurs, and Newcastle have been in the premiership since its conception until now. And there are stacks of yoyo clubs- West Ham, Derby, Birmingham, Charlton, Sunderland, Ipswich, Leicester, Bolton, Sheffield Utd, Palace, and even 'Boro'. Most of the current championship have at least flirted with the premiership at some point. In short, for as many teams that face ruination after relegation there are teams that bob along just fine regardless. Heads above water, legs kicking along like mad underneath.
Where does this myth come from then? I guess form the desire to see the premiership as the Ultimate League made of Heroes and the pursuit of the Impossible. It makes a good story.
The truth is rather less marketable. Well managed lucky clubs survive whether they are relegated or not. Worse managed unlucky ones sink. Teams with a generation of good players do well. Teams with a few expensive signings and no other infrastructure sink. And that is it. Pretty much.
Over to you.
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2 comments:
I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head, there.
The name of the game is to stay in the Prem for a few consecutive seasons, collect the TV money at the end of each one and if you've got a decent enough board, you should be alright for a few years more as long as you don't do anything stupid (like becoming complacent, as my team West Ham have been known to do).
I do think there is a Top 3 of Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, particularly with regard to home form. What are the stats? Chelsea unbeaten in something like 50 at the Bridge, Arsenal having only been defeated twice at the Emirates, Utd losing very few. Liverpool will quite possibly struggle less to be Top 4 next season if they can achieve more stability.
One thing that helps the clubs outside the top 4 is that there is no longer that much pressure (other than on Berbatov this season) to sell their best players. What are the reasons for that? More TV money for all Prem clubs to pay good wages, deep squads at the top, and lastly, the usually exorbitant fees for proven Prem players moving between Prem clubs (even more if they are English - didn't that Bent guy (one of them) cost more than 10 million??? amazing. At that rate, then Mascherano who was outstanding again today, is worth 100 million, he's certainly 10 x the player)
Prem clubs also don't have too many foreign clubs trying to poach players now, either, due to not many other clubs being able to pay the same wages. Who has been linked with big money moves abroad this season other than the 2 best young players (both foreign, of course) in the league - Ronaldo and Fabregas. Oh, and Drogba, maybe, but that seems the player's choice.
The conclusion I reach after this is broadly in agreement with your analysis, but slightly nuanced. That is, beneath the top 3, I feel the league is becoming more competitive and the quality and depths of the squads are increasing. It makes the league more interesting as the natural 'fading away' that the big 4 used to benefit from, as bookings and injuries take their toll, is perhaps not as prevalent this season.
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