The Premier League: Emperor's New Clothes?

[Brighton Mod]

I know our match was rubbish for 45 minutes, but can you really get excited by the Premier League hype any more?

This weekend

Hull v Cardiff
West Brom v Fulham
Southampton v West Ham
Stoke v City

All dull fixtures.

West Ham are 10th in the table but have had SIX shots on target in four games.

The Championship may be slower, but it is more exciting, and less predictable, by a long way. No one would have expected Hull and That Lot to go up last season. We now have Blackpool leading the division, whereas in the PL it is already the same top six as last season.

Not only the emporors new clothes but also sold out to Sky. Too many big names playing each other early in the season to get the sky sports subscriptions up. Premiership has become boring, games predictable, commentators and pundits not telling the truth. I've stopped watching it now. But, I did watch our game yesterday.

 

[supaseagull]

I know our match was rubbish for 45 minutes, but can you really get excited by the Premier League hype any more?

This weekend

Hull v Cardiff
West Brom v Fulham
Southampton v West Ham
Stoke v City

All dull fixtures.

West Ham are 10th in the table but have had SIX shots on target in four games.

The Championship may be slower, but it is more exciting, and less predictable, by a long way. No one would have expected Hull and That Lot to go up last season. We now have Blackpool leading the division, whereas in the PL it is already the same top six as last season.

I thought our match was a good game considering it was 0-0.

 

[Questions]

You go to games to support your team and see them win. If they win they go higher up the table and if they do it frequently enough they get promoted. If you don't want them in the Premier league what is the point in supporting them and wanting them to win as many games as possible ?

I'm with this man.

I cannot get my head round the evil that the Premier League supposedly has become. It's success or failure as some see it is to do with the success in selling it to the public. I hear the arguments about true fans being inconvenienced by awkward kick off times but that is inevitable to put the product out there successfully. I trust all the Sky haters steered well clear from yesterday's 1.15 kick off on the sabbath when all good men should be within the bosom of their family.

 

[el punal]

I'm constantly told by my Liverpool supporting friend how crap the championship is, he actually believes that the predictability of the top 6 makes it better than our league, he thinks big teams should beat small teams and that's that.

Just remind him about two specific results : 2-1 in 1983 and 2-0 in 1984, and that's when Liverpool ruled the world.

 

[Mowgli37]

Just remind him about two specific results : 2-1 in 1983 and 2-0 in 1984, and that's when Liverpool ruled the world.

And he'll tell me to stop going on about history....the sweet irony!

 

[TheMajor]

This seasons Premier League has suffered because of the lack of goals - can only think of Uniteds 1-4 win at Swansea as high scoring.

It really needs a different team shaking up the big four - maybe Spurs ?

The Championship is as mad as ever - who would have thought Blackpool, Bournemouth, Burnley would start so well ?

 

[Stat Brother]

I've said it before and I know I'm not alone, but:-

I just don't like football, anymore.

The Albion is different that's DNA, without it I would have no interest in football, other than watching The Big Match Revisited.

Watching England is a chore and a duty, for as long as I can manage.
I certainly can't just sit through any old game.

My colleague came into work telling me of the matches on his 'so close' football bet.
I looked blankly at him saying 'I don't know any scores'.
I think he thought I was winding him up but, I genuinely had no idea what had happened in the 4 matches he said.

 

[crodonilson]

PL has been a bit of a slow burner so far, ultimately the top of the table is full of the good teams because the cream rises to the top. No-one wants a total lottery where anyone might finish top, you want to see teams finish where they derserve to.

 

[Mowgli37]

PL has been a bit of a slow burner so far, ultimately the top of the table is full of the good teams because the cream rises to the top. No-one wants a total lottery where anyone might finish top, you want to see teams finish where they derserve to.

But surely this is what makes the Championship so exciting? What means the Premier League should be any different?

 

[Ernest]

I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up a lot closer at the top this season as all the 'top 4' have some sort of problems

 

[kevtherev]

Football is eating itself, the reason there are so many crap games in the prem is because teams are shite scared of losing, the stakes are far to high. Hence they play one up front, pack the midfield, keep hold of the ball etc etc etc. It's a ticking bomb, people will soon get fed up paying top dollar for a boring chess like game between two sides petrified of losing.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I can't say the Championship is that exciting at the moment, sure more teams have a chance but Blackpool top of the league with Burnley 5th is a little too wide open for me when we are 8 points behind.

Its promotion and relegation that makes every division exciting and even then thats in the eye of the beholder. The closer we get to top or bottom will enhance the win performances and pour wrath and misery on to every loss.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

I know people will slate me for this but I don't want to get promoted. I know it's good for the club to have the money but from a fan's point of view the Championship is a better league to be in for entertainment. I'd rather be battling in the top ten of the Championship than wallowing in the bottom four of the Prem, and paying through the nose for the privilege. Maybe we could do a 'Palace' and have just one year before getting relegated to get all that lovely dosh and then get back to real competition?

And the club will be coming in their collective Y-fronts at the 'corporate revenue maximisation possibilities' that will occur if/when PL footy is on offer at The Amex

 

[Questions]

Well I'm thoroughly enjoying this Liverpool v Swansea game you moaning Minnie's.

 

[Bladders]

Well I'm thoroughly enjoying this Liverpool v Swansea game you moaning Minnie's.

Tis a good game

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I've said it before and I know I'm not alone, but:-

I just don't like football, anymore.

The Albion is different that's DNA, without it I would have no interest in football, other than watching The Big Match Revisited.

Watching England is a chore and a duty, for as long as I can manage.
I certainly can't just sit through any old game.

My colleague came into work telling me of the matches on his 'so close' football bet.
I looked blankly at him saying 'I don't know any scores'.
I think he thought I was winding him up but, I genuinely had no idea what had happened in the 4 matches he said.

I'm with you. Its Brighton first, then England rugby, then cricket, then a whole host of other sports, then football.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

I'm constantly told by my Liverpool supporting friend how crap the championship is, he actually believes that the predictability of the top 6 makes it better than our league, he thinks big teams should beat small teams and that's that.

Sadly..a common view these days. This ' elitist ' attitude is to be found everywhere. I start talking to people about football and find out who they follow....Man Utd or Liverpool or Arsenal or Chelsea are the usual replies......the next question is...." what division are Brighton in?...followed by..." Oh, I don't pay any interest to football outside the PL "
Does this Liverpool fan study his club's history. Does he not know that Liverpool were an ordinary Div.2 ( Championship now ) side when Bill Shankly took over ( approx 1957 ) and it took the great man 5-6 seasons to get them promoted.
This elitist insularity manifests itself when one of the big boys signs a player from lower down the pyramid. A lot of fans have no idea what level he has been playing at and some wouldn't even know the club he came from. This immediately breeds the attitude..." well he's only come from so and so..he can't be much of a player "
When I get in on saturday evenings, I study all the results down to at least Conference level. You want to get a feel for how different teams/managers are doing....' have Orient won again?...what's happened to Sheff Utd?...Cambridge and Nuneaton still going well...Akinfenwa's scored again for Gillingham ( thought he was at Northampton...he was...twice....hasn't he been at Gillingham twice....think so...have to look it up ) Sad, I know but I've always been like that. Always wanted a feel for all the divisions...looking out for goalscorers, managers performing well/badly, quirks, stats, etc.
I suppose its an innate love for the game that you've either got or you haven't. The Cup clearly has no romance for this Liverpool fan as he expects and wants the big team to win every time. When they don't, its time to slag off the competition. I heard regular comments re Pompey v Cardiff FAC Final...I'm not watching that crap etc.
Hey ho..each to their own....didn't watch Swansea v Liverpool last night...more interested in the Championship this week....there's reverse elitism for you.

 

[trueblue]

Sadly..a common view these days. This ' elitist ' attitude is to be found everywhere. I start talking to people about football and find out who they follow....Man Utd or Liverpool or Arsenal or Chelsea are the usual replies......the next question is...." what division are Brighton in?...followed by..." Oh, I don't pay any interest to football outside the PL "
Does this Liverpool fan study his club's history. Does he not know that Liverpool were an ordinary Div.2 ( Championship now ) side when Bill Shankly took over ( approx 1957 ) and it took the great man 5-6 seasons to get them promoted.
This elitist insularity manifests itself when one of the big boys signs a player from lower down the pyramid. A lot of fans have no idea what level he has been playing at and some wouldn't even know the club he came from. This immediately breeds the attitude..." well he's only come from so and so..he can't be much of a player "
When I get in on saturday evenings, I study all the results down to at least Conference level. You want to get a feel for how different teams/managers are doing....' have Orient won again?...what's happened to Sheff Utd?...Cambridge and Nuneaton still going well...Akinfenwa's scored again for Gillingham ( thought he was at Northampton...he was...twice....hasn't he been at Gillingham twice....think so...have to look it up ) Sad, I know but I've always been like that. Always wanted a feel for all the divisions...looking out for goalscorers, managers performing well/badly, quirks, stats, etc.
I suppose its an innate love for the game that you've either got or you haven't. The Cup clearly has no romance for this Liverpool fan as he expects and wants the big team to win every time. When they don't, its time to slag off the competition. I heard regular comments re Pompey v Cardiff FAC Final...I'm not watching that crap etc.
Hey ho..each to their own....didn't watch Swansea v Liverpool last night...more interested in the Championship this week....there's reverse elitism for you.

If someone has no interest in football outside of the Premier League, they're not a football fan. Just a follower of fashion. There are plenty of supporters of 'big' clubs who do take a broad interest. Usually the ones that go regularly to watch live games rather than support from their lounge or the pub.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'm not really sure what I think about the Premiership per se, I do not watch it so I cannot comment but from the outside it seems the standard of football is diminishing and the big name players do not automatically come to England now. But, I am starting to wonder if the laying off of staff, adding and raising costs everywhere possible and generally bleeding every Albion punter dry, to get there, is worth it?

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I know people will slate me for this but I don't want to get promoted.

So, by default, you are disappointed when we win.