The Decline of the EPL

Spanish League still leads the way comforably as the best quality of league IMO, as their european results are yet again showing. They will have 3/8 in the europa league quarters and 3 in the CL quarters

Ye in fairness the quality of the league and the quality of the top teams representing the league are 2 different things. Quality of the league would be England. Quality of those representing the league would be Spain, Germany and possibly Italy (Juve better than any BPL team IMO).

Blanc maybe not so smug after last night but the tie is far from over.

I suppose the problem with modern football is that everything will be compared to the money spent. 5 of the 10 highest wage bills in Europe are in England and the return doesn't equate, which doesn't change the perception that people go to Spain or Bayern to try win the big cup and go to England for a payday.

I suppose the important thing about it is where it leaves the UEFA coefficients with regard to Italy.

England were in danger of losing the fourth CL place from the 2017-18 season. That's safe now and has been for a while. After this week, it's also looking safer for the 2018-19 season. That will depend on the five seasons up to the end of 2016-17 (i.e. this season, next season and the last three seasons). English teams will start that with an advantage over the Italians, as it stands. This week's results have extended that advantage.

The figures will look close to this, from the start of next season (i.e. dropping off the 2011/2 season), with the figures for 2016/7 to be added on in determining the places for the 2018/9 season (and the figures for England for this year can only increase):
Seasons 2012/3 2013/4 2014/5 2015/6 Total
England 16.428 16.785 13.571 13.750 60.534
Italy ---- 14.416 14.166 19.000 11.500 59.082

There's no doubt it is very close and until that 2014/5 season is gone, the Italians will have a great shot at taking the English fourth place, but the continued participation and success of City and Liverpool in Europe this year is taking a fair amount away from the Italians.

Each win at this stage of the Europa League is worth as much as a win at the same stage of the Champions League. It's very handy, that's for sure. The downside is that the abortive campaigns of West Ham and Southampton are dragging the whole thing down. England would be on 15.214 had West Ham not got that fair play place, and well on the way to wiping out the importance of the 2014/5 Italian success.


Edited by SuperDave84 - 15 Apr 2016 at 12:04pm

roverstillidie wrote: The Huntacha wrote: Ye in fairness the quality of the league and the quality of the top teams representing the league are 2 different things. Quality of the league would be England. Quality of those representing the league would be Spain, Germany and possibly Italy (Juve better than any BPL team IMO). Who would win between Villa, Hannover, Verona and Levante?

AnCearrbhach wrote: roverstillidie wrote: The Huntacha wrote: Ye in fairness the quality of the league and the quality of the top teams representing the league are 2 different things. Quality of the league would be England. Quality of those representing the league would be Spain, Germany and possibly Italy (Juve better than any BPL team IMO). Who would win between Villa, Hannover, Verona and Levante?   Ya the British fans are always using this argument. Deluded doesn't begin to describe their view of EPL. It has to be most exciting/most competitive/most even don't know why they can't just chill and enjoy what they have.

What?

horsebox wrote: AnCearrbhach wrote: roverstillidie wrote: The Huntacha wrote: Ye in fairness the quality of the league and the quality of the top teams representing the league are 2 different things. Quality of the league would be England. Quality of those representing the league would be Spain, Germany and possibly Italy (Juve better than any BPL team IMO). Who would win between Villa, Hannover, Verona and Levante?   Ya the British fans are always using this argument. Deluded doesn't begin to describe their view of EPL. It has to be most exciting/most competitive/most even don't know why they can't just chill and enjoy what they have. What?

There is no doubt that the top Spanish clubs are some way ahead of the top English clubs, and have been for some time.

But I have no doubt that once you get past those top (4 or 5?) clubs, England has much more strength in depth than Spain, as the following three facts indicate:

1. England has around 100 full-time professional clubs i.e. right down to the 5th tier. Whereas Spain has many fewer; indeed once you get down to the third tier, the standard is pretty low.

2. England has had five different winners of the European Cup/Champions League, whereas only two Spanish clubs have ever won it, albeit numerous times. (Three different Italian and three different German clubs have won it).

3. London alone has 11 separate f-t professional clubs, something which only Buenos Aires can match in the world.

As a result, the quality is far more spread around England than Spain.

Add to that the fact that many English clubs take their domestic trophies more seriously than European ones, hence more competition at home, and I think that explains the present Spanish domination at the very top level of the game in Europe.