English Premier League- the best league in the world?

[Toon Wolf]

Or so we are constantly told by Sky and the rest of the media whores. Yet this week in the Champion's League Chelsea have lost to Shaktar, Man City to Ajax and Arsenal at home to Schalke. Man Utd also scraped out a win against Braga. None of those teams are what would be described as European powerhouses. 3 of those Premier League teams will in all likelihood still make it out of their groups, but it would take a miracle for the current champions of England to even finish 2nd in their group. Once again, it is apparent that we in this country vastly over-rate the quality of our league and the football played in it.

 

[Hamlet]

Personally I'd say the Premier League is the most ENTERTAINING... but it does seem that other leagues tend to have a fair bit more quality in them!

 

[Penk Wolf]

I'd say we have the best league in the World, but we don't have the best teams in the World.

 

[Law's Bus]

I'd say we have the best league in the World, but we don't have the best teams in the World.

What is a "best league" anyway?

It is one where the teams are closely matched, and that anyone can beat anyone else?
Is it one where the teams are clearly separated, and there's large points gaps between teams?
Is it one where you can predict the winner from, say, two or three teams before the season starts and be right 99% of the time, or where anyone of a dozen or more could win?

 

[Langers]

This week also saw Barcelona labour to a very close, last gasp win against Celtic and Real Madrid slipping up against an impressive looking Dortmund.

I do think the Champions League is getting less predictable (Malaga, anyone?) and I've enjoyed quite a few games so far this season. I think it's more watchable.

As for the Premier League, Penk is probably right. I think too many of the best English sides are off form (City the main example) and too many still seem to take the group stages of European competitions for granted, which irritates me.

 

[Penk Wolf]

What is a "best league" anyway?

It is one where the teams are closely matched, and that anyone can beat anyone else?
Is it one where the teams are clearly separated, and there's large points gaps between teams?
Is it one where you can predict the winner from, say, two or three teams before the season starts and be right 99% of the time, or where anyone of a dozen or more could win?

I'd say, generally, the quality throughout the league is higher than the other leagues. Potentially, the money is there for us to also have the top teams in the World, but it seems something isn't quite right for whatever reason, that said, I'd guess we've had more teams in the semi-finals over the last ten years than any other nation.

 

[loonsewolf]

Bundesliga is best league in terms of entertainment, Premier League in terms of quality. Just because the past two years the English teams haven't been doing great in the Champions League (though it's worth remembering Chelsea won the fucking thing last year) doesn't mean we've been surpassed by other leagues. However the best teams in the world ATM aren't English.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

We don't have the best league, but we probably have the most competitive. And the champions of Europe are an English club.

 

[Law's Bus]

We don't have the best league, but we probably have the most competitive.

I would argue that the Premier League isn't competitive at all. You can name the top three before the league starts, then the next two down and so on. No-one other than the top few has a hope in hell of winning the thing as it stands. It's like the Scottish Premier League with better PR.

Now, the Championship on the other hand...

 

[loonsewolf]

Bundesliga is definitely more competitive than the Premier League.

 

[Lord Knows]

Premier League rights in Thailand alone 2013-16 sold for $300m, up from $60m.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

Premier League rights in Thailand alone 2013-16 sold for $300m, up from $60m.

Wow! Great stat, Lord Knows that's a stunning bit of info.
If the Prem got that from Thailand (or 'Thighland' as it's pronounced on the news over here) how much do they get from other countries from around the world?

Can't wait for the answer to that one!
2nd question's gonna be... What do they do with all of that money?? Where, does it all go??

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Wages.

 

[SSB]

Wages.

Talking of wages. There is a Tevez payslip doing the rounds on Twitter tonight. Don't know how legit it is? Can't post it as on tapatalk.

 

[Del Woppio]

Talking of wages. There is a Tevez payslip doing the rounds on Twitter tonight. Don't know how legit it is? Can't post it as on tapatalk.

 

[YoungWolf]

Did Tevez play for City in 08/09?

 

[Nando]

No.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

That's the company name though - they got taken over in 2008.

 

[leedswolf]

Did Tevez play for City in 08/09?

The pay date is 26/03/2010.

3m quid to the Exchequer!!!!

 

[The Bear]

Tax-tastic.