UCL SHOWINGS: HYPE IS KILLING ENGLISH FOOTBALL
Some specific labels define some football leagues. It is these labels that stand for what these leagues live for and how many a football aficionado sees them. Just as many will say, English premier league can be described as a league for all. I mean “All men are equal” football league. The Spanish La liga can be captioned a league of two strong men with another limping man (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico respectively). The German Bundesliga amounts a league of a productive man, a sterile man and many wives (Bayern, Dortmund and other teams respectively). Meanwhile, the French Ligue 1 is a league of clans and clowns. Simply put, the Italian Serie A can be said to be a league of a giant and many midgets (Juventus and other teams).
Not being mendacious, with the above illustration, one can say English football have edge over any other leagues in terms of competitiveness. But does that really make them the best league? Well, in contradictory to many people’s belief, I say utterly NO! English teams in continental tournaments are only another fashion of how the football world sees their league. They are strong, physical and competitive in league, whilst toothless, porous and underwhelming in European competitions. The so-called top teams in England may be the best as far as English football is concerned, but they are rather like a dog hunting mice, knowing that a lion (or perhaps lions) is ready to take it on as well.
Nonetheless, I snipe into English football shortcomings; I would take my time and hit on why many football fans have so much fallen in love with the league which has made it hard for them to believe there is another better league than EPL. Some of the positives that strongly hold EPL in contention for the best league include; the pace and physicality of the league, the fans, the TV coverage, the choking schedule and the league global reach. There is no doubt the physicality seen in EPL matches is second to none. The players have little or no affection for fun-fair or fun run style of play. This is one of the reasons why creativity dies off in their players. Likewise, their fans are high-spirited and full of intense zeal for the game. They don’t mind trodding through fire to watch their team play.
Also, on average, each EPL game has a global audience of 12.3 million views, according to FootballMarketing.com, which far surpasses La liga, Bundesliga and Serie A. The average audience of these other leagues added together does not even match that of EPL. La liga with 2.2 million, Bundesliga with 2 million and Serie A with 4.5 million. In the same vein, the worldwide access of EPL is atop any other league. You can travel deep to far-reaching places and people still see the necessity of hanging around screens just to watch English football. Its global reach is getting bigger, just as the world is.
The EPL choking match schedule should also be put into consideration. Perhaps, one can argue here that EPL jam-packed domestic fixtures and competitions result in fatigue for the players which may trigger underperformance in continental competitions. To a certain extent, it is valid.
However, all the aforementioned attributes associated with EPL do not, yet make it the best, as to be considered the best, your influence and exploits in continental competitions should be staggering as well as the quality of players. Pep Guardiola when asked on his view regarding EPL being widely regarded as the best league in football was quoted as saying;”Here in EPL there are more games to play… but I think every league as its points, especially the quality of players. Spanish teams are always in the final or winning European competitions because they have good players.” This poignant dig by Guardiola at English teams is a perfect riposte to be used against anyone promoting English football as everything about football.
English teams in recent times, have been clueless and fruitless in UEFA Champions League. Despite the fact that an English team made it to the semi-final of UCL last season, low representation at the knock out stages of the competition shows how overhyped the league is. We have three Spanish teams and two from Germany among the last eight remaining in this year’s UCL. It is not only ludicrous, but also an abasement of the highly rated EPL standard to have a team dangling in the relegation zone as their “Lord” in the UCL after other big guns have been exited unceremoniously.
The truth is, the hype given to EPL football amounts to the one which makes Nigeria the giant of Africa. Real title, pseudo actions!


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UCL SHOWINGS: HYPE IS KILLING ENGLISH FOOTBALL https://eckovibes./2017/03/19/ucl-showings-hype-is-killing-english-football/

I use to think otherwise but take it or leave it, Spanish league is where real soccer lives. Na bunch of mediocres full premier league coupled with media paparazzi.

Expensive stars may full for Spanish league but when it comes to competition and unpredictability..common u gotta give it to England..

Who likes to watch a league that at the end of the season.. It only boils down to 3 clubs on who to be champions..

In fact Spanish league has been a two horse race until the resurgence of atletico Madrid..

Unlike the EPL which is highly unpredictable.

Not too long ago Chelsea with a back up coach and as an underdog won champions league, how quickly we forget.

EPL can do better

(i) EPL needs to lighten their schedule so that the top 4 teams are fresher during UCL season

(ii) Arsenal have failed the EPL several times, with listless and embarrassing showings and a stubborn coach that won't adapt. Best thing for the EPL will be next season with Arsenal not making top 4.

(iii) LFC are in the last 8 of champions league!!!!!! Other EPL teams need to challenge city and arsenal for the top four spots, so more adventurous, adaptable EPL teams can give better showings.