Storyline: Once king, the English Premier League is now lagging. Only one English team has made the semis of the Champions League over the past three years. But EPL football is far from dead. Leicester City is leading the way back. Written by Rory Clark, Glasgow.
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The English Premier League is often touted as the best league in the world, bar none. It has attacking football. It’s physical. And it has high quality players.
There was a strong argument to be made for English football in the late noughties and early 10s, especially: regular runs in the Champions League, real star-quality in the big teams, and a truly sumptuous brand of football. The climax of the 2011-12 season, and the resurgence of Liverpool in 2014, spoke volumes to support the case.
But does the argument still ring true? English teams have been consistently poor in Europe. Over the past three seasons only one English team made the semis of the Champions League. The downtrend has continued into the start of the ’15-16 campaign. ‘Elite’ teams are in peril. Manchester City can’t buy a win without captain fantastic, Vincent Kompany. Any title hopes Arsenal once harboured look to be dead in the ground with fresh injuries. Louis Van Gaal is ripping the soul out of one of the country’s most beloved teams and Chelsea are in crisis.
While there’s still some fantastic football played in the Prem, it lacks the romanticism and lovability it once had. In the past seven seasons a variation of the same six teams have finished in the top four. That’s in stark contrast to the days of Leeds United’s Cinderella run to the Champions League semi-final, Ipswich’s UEFA Cup qualification. and Everton’s 4th place finish in 2006 campaign.
It’s time to face facts: English football is in a slump, like it or lump it. But while the glory days of the Premier League are over, at least for now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. How can that be?
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In my opinion the ‘sumptuous’ brand of football once played in England now lies overseas in Continental Europe–in Germany and Spain, particularly. One can only stop and stare at the attacking exploits of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga; and the attacking trifecta of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar is among the best we’ve seen. Period. Although not necessarily that pretty, the resurgence of Serie A is a fantastic story that’s a joy to behold. It conjures up memories of the days when AC and Juve ruled the roost.
So what next for England? Three teams have set out to pick up where the Big Boys left off. West Ham are looking fresh and revitalised under Slaven Bilic, helped by the exploits of Dimitri Payet. Crystal Palace are looking as good as they ever have. The irresistible wing play of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha, coupled with the midfield dominance of Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur, makes the South London outfit very easy on the eye.
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Finally, no Premier League article would be complete without a nod to this year’s fairy story, Leicester City. They look to be a completely rejuvenated side under Claudio Ranieri, who was a controversial choice among many at the start of the season. Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante, who signed on the cheap from Caen this summer, make up a formidable pairing in central midfield. And the defence looks relatively solid with veterans Huth, Morgan, and Fuchs patrolling the back. Then, of course, come Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy. Those two feed off each other in tremendous style in almost telepathic play, beautiful to watch. Vardy has set the league on fire. Who will stop him?
Don’t expect to see them at the top of the table in May, but Leicester may well lead a revival in English football. Watch this space because there’s life in the old dog yet!
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