Can someone explain the Premiere League?

[Dell19]

In previous years there have only been five London teams but the teams from the Midlands have really under performed lately which has allowed more London clubs to reach the premiership. Until Chelsea the title winning sides have been dominated by the north though in recent history (Liverpool and then United, plus a few others).

 

[willemvanoranje]

In previous years there have only been five London teams but the teams from the Midlands have really under performed lately which has allowed more London clubs to reach the premiership. Until Chelsea the title winning sides have been dominated by the north though in recent history (Liverpool and then United, plus a few others).

With of course Arsenal breaking in once a while..

 

[MCdread]

In the Greater Buenos Aires you have: River Plate, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo, Independiente, Racing Club, Banfield, Platense, Lanús, Argentinos Juniors, Vélez Sarsfield, Ferro Carril Oeste, etc.
All these clubs have either won or came second in the argentinian league, and the clubs on bold have all won the Libertadores! I think Buenos Aires is a serious contender for the greatest football city in the world, if not the winner.

 

[hrhomer]

Thanks all! This is fascinating info. Sounds much more dynamic than American sports structure...

Joe

 

[Marshy]

Thanks all! This is fascinating info. Sounds much more dynamic than American sports structure...

The one thing that the European football leagues could take from US sports is the salary cap. It's too easy for a shady Russian multi-billionaire (not looking at anyone in particular ) to come in and buy all the best players on ridiculously high salaries. This inflates salaries and the fans ultimately have to pay the bill. I'm quite a fan of the draft system as well where the worst teams get first choice of the new players coming through. It helps to prevent the same teams winning all the time which is a major problem in European football leagues.

 

[Marla_Singer]

The one thing that the European football leagues could take from US sports is the salary cap. It's too easy for a shady Russian multi-billionaire (not looking at anyone in particular ) to come in and buy all the best players on ridiculously high salaries. This inflates salaries and the fans ultimately have to pay the bill. I'm quite a fan of the draft system as well where the worst teams get first choice of the new players coming through. It helps to prevent the same teams winning all the time which is a major problem in European football leagues.

I agree with you that there should be a limit for transfers. Especially now that there's no more real geographic limits about the player you're able to recruit.

As for the fact that it's always the same teams who are winning, I guess that's also comes from our relegation system. In the US, it's not a problem to have one season off where you could end last of the championship as you'll always be there next season. That's not the case in Europe. And that's the very reason why a system in which the worst teams get first choice will never be accepted.

I still like the system of relegation as it brings refreshing movements in the main league. However, I agree something has to be done about the transfer system.

 

[Marshy]

I agree with you that there should be a limit for transfers. Especially now that there's no more real geographic limits about the player you're able to recruit.

The usual excuse given for not limiting transfers is that if, for example, the EPL introduced limits but none of the other European leagues did, then the EPL would fall behind as the Spanish team, Italian team etc. signed all the best players. A Europe wide introduction of transfer limits would solve this.

I fear that it will never happen. However EUFA could learn a lesson from the NHL (ice-hockey) where an entire season was cancelled due to the players' excessive salaries.

 

[Marla_Singer]

The usual excuse given for not limiting transfers is that if, for example, the EPL introduced limits but none of the other European leagues did, then the EPL would fall behind as the Spanish team, Italian team etc. signed all the best players. A Europe wide introduction of transfer limits would solve this.

I fear that it will never happen. However EUFA could learn a lesson from the NHL (ice-hockey) where an entire season was cancelled due to the players' excessive salaries.

Transfers aren't limited because of the EU who considered in the mid-90's that footballers were workers like any other and that they should be free to work in the country of the EU they want.

The consequence of this has been a huge inflation in player salaries and strong teams to affirm their superiority towards their challengers. To me it's obvious that UEFA should create some strong regulations in the system, for the interests of the sport in itself.

 

[civaddict098]

sports here in america dont have any life, I wish we had hooligans with flares and ****.

 

[downtown]

We do, but they go to college football games. You dont have that in Vermont.

 

[Marla_Singer]

sports here in america dont have any life, I wish we had hooligans with flares and ****.

hehe. you're getting cynical Civaddict.

Anyway, despite the NFL league being the most popular in the US, I still believe that the US league developping the largest genuine passion is the MLB baseball league. That's where you find the true fans as you can find it in Europe or South America for footie. Of course, there's a lot of passion during the superbowl or the NBA playoff, but I still believe that those events insist a lot more on the show, on the entertainment, than on the genuine passion. But passion still exists for those sports... I would still say less than in base ball.