Friday 30 June 2017

Could the premier league be harming English teams in European competition?

The English Premier league stands head and shoulders above other leagues in world football as the most marketable and most competitive. But it's the competition itself and the drama that unfolds throughout the season that intrigues us to the English football.

Each season is like a drama with a plot not even the best script writer would ever put to paper. Producing sporting moments that have astounded viewers, made some laugh, made others cry, but all through out fans should expect a rollercoaster ride during each instalment.

In spite of this English football has seemingly become a victim of its own success. In recent seasons has seen a slump in the performance of English teams in European football with  them sustaining a poor habit of underachieving in the Champion's League. 

However, when you take into account factors such as the homogeneity ( similarity in playing styles), revenue and financial muscle in each league you could realise why in recent seasons it has become easier for other European giants to beat English sides.

Firstly let's begin with the homogeneity within other European leagues. In leagues like Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1 all the teams play very similar styles of the same football with a little variation here and there, even with some with styles that aren't used normally in the league. For instance Atletico Madrid play a defensive game and rely on playing on the break as opposed to the possession based game plan of most Spanish sides.

In conditions like that the main determine factor as to who come out on top usually lies with who has the better quality players to play the same style of football, but at a much higher level.

Then take into account how the  financial power of the teams that consistently win the league in those countries is rather substantial when compared to the rest their opposition. The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG and Bayern Munich have the comfort of being able to buy any player from their rivals as other top European leagues.

This works two fold for these sides, firstly they weaken the opposition nullifying the threats of their closest rivals and further augment their own powers increasing the gap between them and the rest of the league.

Last season Juventus bought Gonzalo Higuain to Turin from Napoli. Over in Germany Bayern have been transferring some of the best talent from Borrusia Dortmund in recent with the likes Lewandowski, Gotze, and Hummels making the switch to the Allianz Arena.

The revenues that these teams generate from broadcasting up until recently tended to be  very skewed take for instance Barcelona and Real Madrid taking home at least half of the revenue of the La Liga sides with each pocketing about € 600 million a season alone from broadcasting rights. Putting this into perspective the revenue for La Liga in 2015 was € 1.3 billion meaning Real and Barca get as much as 50% of from revenue. This the leaves opposition sides with less room to wiggle when comes to their finances, which leaves them stuck with being feeder teams for the big sides.

But what does the above have to do with the Premier League you may ask? Well the EPL has a lot more diversity in terms of the teams' style of play with no team playing the same type of football. So every game comes with a different set of challenges,  game plan and tactics rather having to overpower the opposition with mere star power.

The big money invested in the league means each EPL side can buy quality players and you could very compare the Premier League to the NBA on the basis of talent and quality each side possess.

All this means that mean with each league English sides are taking on some of the best players in the world on a weekly basis. This usually would mean tougher games leaving very little in reserve for the business end of the Champion's League. 

Elsewhere the consistent winners of the other leagues usually coast through the season with a few hiccups along the and barring major slip ups they usually come out on top. This all creates the right platform to dominate European football as they are freed from gruelling fixtures and any challenges. 

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