The balance of power lies firmly with the EPL
Columnist By Adrian Musolino, 12 Mar 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Champions League, EPL, football, Liverpool, Real Madrid, UEFA
Liverpool’s 4-0 hammering of Real Madrid was without doubt the best performance by the Reds all season and typified the hot form of the EPL sides in the UEFA Champions League.
As English sides once again continue their imperious stride deep into the latter stages, it proves that continental power at present lies with the EPL or, more specifically, its big four.
But is this period of English club domination merely a cycle that rotates every few years between other powers such as Italy and Spain or is this part of a sustained period of domination as the big four pull away from the rest of Europe, the net result of the global success of the EPL and the economic rewards it has given them?
Unlike previous periods of strength by respective nations, English clubs are achieving this success in depth. All of the big four have reached a final in the past three seasons.
The same four have qualified for the Champions League in the past five seasons.
Their domination of their local league has created this cycle of enabling them to benefit from the riches rewarded to them through qualification, attracting the best players and personnel. Also, in such an aggressive domestic league with the addition of two Cup competitions, they are battle hardened.
This domination has been helped by the cash cow the EPL has become, with the league’s revenue almost double that of fellow European leagues.
This enables the clubs to attract the cream of footballers worldwide.
This is why this English domination isn’t indicative of the strength of home grown players, it is the quality of overseas players that the EPL attracts.
Take, for example, the great irony of a Liverpool side with more Spaniards in the starting eleven defeating a Spanish giant in Real Madrid, Fernando Torres performance highlighting the quality of the ‘import’ for the big four.
With the best players, the technical quality of the big fours performance has reached a new height and the rest of Europe must play catch up.
Depending on what the draw throws up and this mornings results, another all English Champions League final looks like a good bet.
But does the English clubs dominance detract from the competition?
Seeing the great sides from all over Europe compete against each other is, for the neutrals at least, what makes the Champions League so unique and fascinating.
If English clubs dominate in such a manner then the Champions League could be tagged as a glorified EPL.
If this trend continues, we may see an acceleration of UEFA’s attempts to tinker with the competition, moving away from allowing multiple teams from the stronger leagues and rewarding the champions from the smaller nations.
Then there is the building feud between the EPL and UEFA regarding the latter’s proposal to introduce financial regulations for European competitions and the controversial ‘six-plus-five’ rule.
If the big four crowd out the UEFA Champions League, Platini and his UEFA cohorts will have further reason to look at some form of equivalency to reign in their domination.
In the meantime, the big four have the economic might, personnel and technical capability to continue their hot streak in the Champions League until the rest of Europe catches up.
They can catch up. It’s just a matter of when and how they can achieve it.
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- Champions League, EPL, football, Liverpool, Real Madrid, UEFA
March 12th 2009 @ 12:37pm
Worlds Biggest said | March 12th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Why can’t Liverpool play like that in the EPL. They play there best football in the Champions League yet can’t beat Stoke at home in the EPL.
March 12th 2009 @ 4:21pm
David V. said | March 12th 2009 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
Gerrard scores goals like a manufactured bubblegum pop star has hits. It doesn’t mean either have real “talent” at all.
March 12th 2009 @ 6:37pm
Dave said | March 12th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Adrian
“But does the English clubs dominance detract from the competition? ”
Was it a problem when Real Madrid dominated in the 50′s, Milan clubs late 60′s, Dutch clubs into the 70′s with Bayern in the mid 70′s, Italian clubs in the 80′s – 90′s? No its not a problem but it sets the bar at a height the others have to attain…if they dont the EPL domination will continue.
This is a Golden Era for English clubs…just like the other continental leagues have had their Golden Era or two. Let the English clubs enjoy their time in the sun…they have certainly paid for the privilege.
March 12th 2009 @ 6:42pm
Dave said | March 12th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
David V
“Gerrard scores goals like a manufactured bubblegum pop star has hits. It doesn’t mean either have real “talent” at all.”
You are joking aren’t you? (and l’m a Man Utd supporter)
Liverpool are a 20% at least, better team with him in it.
Dont worry Everton will get their just desserts at Wembly in April v Man U!!
March 12th 2009 @ 8:42pm
Colin N said | March 12th 2009 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
Italian and Spanish may also have lost a trick by selling their TV rights seperately rather than collectively. The Italian’s I think are changing their system next year, so the money generated should be interesting.
Also the Premiership seem to have sold the competition as a brand and thus it seems as though rich, foreign owners have jumped on the band wagon and the EPL has had far more money plowed into it.
The 39th idea may well have been a stupid, but it didn’t half get the world talking about the Premiership.
March 12th 2009 @ 8:43pm
Colin N said | March 12th 2009 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
It was meant to “game” before “idea”
March 12th 2009 @ 11:02pm
David V. said | March 12th 2009 @ 11:02pm | Report comment
I feel more disaffected by the “greed is good” model that is consuming football at all levels, a reflection of the wider society, a trend that I hope is stopped dead in its tracks by the credit crunch.
Get back to basics and give the game back to the people.
March 13th 2009 @ 12:46am
Adrian Musolino said | March 13th 2009 @ 12:46am | Report comment
Dave, regarding the domination of the English today relative to other periods of domination by other countries; today it is happening in greater numbers, all four of the teams are up there and so unlike decades ago when fewer teams from each country were playing in the comp, the English clubs are crowding out the latter stages.
I have no problem with the English domination I’m just saying if we have for example a situation in which the semi finals are regularly between all English clubs then it may force UEFA to act.
March 15th 2009 @ 6:55pm
jimbo said | March 15th 2009 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
“Why can’t Liverpool play like that in the EPL.”
Worlds Biggest.
They did last night.
March 15th 2009 @ 7:28pm
Joe FC said | March 15th 2009 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
Dave
my ABMU colleagues are all smiles today.