The Premier League? Not Even Close.
Monday, 06 October 08, 11:23 AM · Comments(6)
by Stuart Gillespie
Ever since I attended my first, and until yesterday only, Premier League game, I've been sceptical of the Sky-led 'Best League in the World' hype.
It was Wigan vs Portsmouth at the JJB. The fog was so thick you could barely see the fans in the opposite stand. Chris Kirkland was cheered every time he managed to avoid dropping the ball. Glen Johnson put in one of the worst individual displays I've seen at any level. Only a late Lee McCulloch goal broke the palpable depression at the ground.
Sure, I was unlucky on this occasion, and you do see the odd classic in the Premier League, but I've also seen plenty of crackers following St Johnstone in the Scottish First Division.
And while I admit that there are some sights you just don't get north of the border - Arsenal or Manchester United in full, breathtaking flow, for instance - more often than not Premier League games feature several of the elements said to blight Scottish and lower league football: 11 men behind the ball, route one football, profligacy in front of goal, inept defending, horror tackles and so on.
To borrow a metaphor from Jose Mourinho, the buses that many teams park in front of Big Four goals may be full of players who would walk my team's league, but they're unable to display these talents from their own six-yard box, throwing themselves in front of Cristiano Ronaldo shots.
And when the top teams are pitted together the saliva-inducing aesthetic feasts we are promised rarely occur - often the sides simply cancel each other out.
With all this in mind, I didn't have high expectations for my trip to Upton Park to watch West Ham vs Bolton.
As it happened, yesterday's match wasn't too bad, though certainly not as good as you'd expect from 'The Best League in the World'.
The atmosphere was fairly decent and Gianfranco Zola has got his team attempting to play passing football. Trouble is, many of his players are simply not good enough to emulate their Arsenal and Manchester United counterparts, and the decidedly stodgy Bolton triumphed without contributing much in the way of attractive football.
The saving grace was a wicked bender of a free kick by Matthew Taylor - fitting, sardonic karma for the witless West Ham fans who had been riffing tritely on matters relating to sexual preference since his introduction as a substitute.
Oh, and Robert Green, like Kirkland, was cheered every time he managed to avoid dropping the ball.
I'll stick to St Johnstone, thanks.
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THEY say it's the best league in the world because they make the most goals. They don't have to play pretty. Manchester United vs Chelsea in the Champions Cup Final.. what does that tell you? There are quality players in the Premier League.. no one can doubt the quality of Deco, Wilson Palacios, Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc. They are the best of the best.
I can understand the fact of the weather but if you look at the premier league compared to other's there is nothing like it. There is just so many stars compared to the rest of the world.
I think most of the European Leagues might claim that title i know they say the Bundesliga is the best supported in Europe, but honestly the worst football match i ever saw was in the Premier League between Wimbledon and Chelsea at Selhurst Park it could have put anyone off the product for life. Anyway i love the Premier League but enjoy watching many of the other European leagues on Setanta and alike. German, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish each have their individual merits but i don't really watch the SPL as its a 2 horse and has been for the last 20 years +
6 Comments · Add yours
Not sure I'd go as far as watching Scottish football, but you're certainly right to question the Premier League's constant 'best in the world' posturing.
'Best' is not defined simply by money. It's defined by tradition, competition and excitement, among other traits. The Premier League is increasingly lacking.
I'd challenge the idea that anybody is promised 'saliva enducing' football by the Premier League. You've made an assumtion that the way it's marketted by SKY etc reflects on its actual status as a league.
Picking out a brilliant freekick is questionable as well seeing as long-range shots can be seen in any professional league, but finding a team in Scotland who try and replicate Zola's style of passing is nigh-on-impossible.
Using the example of moronic banter as a comparison is questionable, Sectraianism anyone?