The start of the English Premier league is a matter of weeks away, and fans around the world are salivating at the prospect of another season of the self proclaimed greatest league in world football. The close season has been a bombardment of new managers, returning managers, expensive outlays and long, protracted transfer sagas. However there is an argument to be put forward that the greatest league in the world is in decline and is becoming a shadow of its former self.
Does the English premier league still merit its status as the pinnacle of world domestic football, or has its overseas rivals caught up?
The English Premier league is in decline
Big summer signings have all gone to other leagues
There has been a wealth of major transfers happening across Europe this summer, and despite most of these players being linked with English clubs, they have all chosen homes in other European leagues. Falcao left Atletico Madrid Madrid this summer, and had been touted for many years to be potentially heading to the premier league, with Chelsea heavily linked. The Columbian goal machine instead chose the sunny climate of the south of France, signing for recently promoted (and bankrolled) AS Monaco. The French league has been busy this summer, with French champions PSG making the lofty signing of Edison Cavani, a player that has been linked with a move to England for the last two summers.
Looking outside of the biggest signings in terms of revenue, many players have chosen to join clubs on the European mainland instead of EPL clubs. Higuain chose to sign for Napoli, despite supposed interest from Arsenal, Mkhitaryan signed for Champions league finalists Dortmund whilst having an offer from Liverpool and starlet Thiago decided to work again with Guardiola at Munich, instead of heading to Manchester United. Isco stayed in Spain with Madrid rather than plying his trade for Manchester City, whilst long term Tottenham target Moutinho is now enjoying his football tax exile in the French south coast.
Whether this is a case of money, ambition or climate, there is a pattern of the biggest transfers of the summer slipping through the grasp of the Premier Leagues biggest clubs
Is there any truly world class players in the premier league?
Despite the PR and the glitz and glamour of the Premier league, sold to us every day through Sky Sports and around the world, are there any truly world class players in the premier league?
Gareth Bale has been setting the world alight recently with his fine displays for Spurs, but now he is odds on to be playing in the white of Real Madrid before the season starts. Looking around the other clubs, there is a lack of world superstars plying their trade in England at present.
The premier league has some fantastic footballers such as Van Persie, Aguero, Suarez, and Mata, but would any of these players make a claim to even be considered in the top 10 players in world football. Players such as Hazard, Silva, Toure or Rooney are brilliant on their day, but none of them would be the best in their position in a world 11.
If Man united manage to sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, this could be touted as a truly world class player returning to the lure of the Premier league. The reality is that the player, as good as he is, cannot get a game at Barcelona because of the wealth of talent at the Catalan clubs disposal, much like Yaya Toure moving to Man City.
If you had the chance to manage a team in the world with infinite resources to build a team, with your pick of any players in the world, would it include any players from the EPL? Probably not.
Not decline, but transition
Perhaps saying the Premier league is in decline is being a little short with the facts. All the players mentioned above, plying their trade in the premier league, are all excellent footballers, and would be snapped up by any club in the world. Despite the apparent shortcomings, the premier league teams have an excellent pedigree in European competitions (last season aside) with a representative in the final in 7 of the last 9 seasons.
It could be argued that the Premier league is not decline, but rather, other leagues have caught up. The Champions league final last season, was a fantastic showpiece for German football, with both finalists being German clubs, and fielding German players. Barcelona and Real Madrid haven’t gone anywhere, both strengthening this summer, and having the luxury of having the two best players in the world at their disposal. Monaco and PSG in France now have the financial clout to attract the world’s best, and Italian clubs Juventus, Milan and now Napoli are starting to gain a foothold.
The simple case in point, is not necessarily that the Premier League is dropping its standards, it is just all the other leagues have caught up. The premier league is in transition, with its major clubs all going through a phase of redevelopment. Chelsea and Man City have changed managers, meaning that the new men in charge need to shape and mould their own teams. Man United have lost their godfather in Alex Ferguson, and David Moyes will need time to develop his own team and style.
In the football world of untold wealth and fees, the EPL clubs are currently down the pecking order in comparison to their euro counterparts, and this may be the case for a few more seasons, however with the addition of a new billion pound TV deal, it may not take them too long to once again rule the roost across Europe.