Premiership: Weakened Or Strongest Ever?

Premiership, at the moment, is the most open league for anyone to win since its introduction in 1992. The emergence of teams like Bolton and Sunderland has made them competitors worthy of testing the best in the league.

In my mind, the league has stretched across a different range all-together, watching a resurgent Newcastle United side under Chris Houghton and a spirited Blackpool side under Ian Holloway, both of whom have silenced critics that wrote them off even before the season kicked off. The question that lies, however, is whether the league is getting any stronger or, in contradiction, getting weaker, to such an extent that even an average side on any day can take points off the so-called “Top Four.”

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have clearly dominated the premiership. Of the 18 times that the league has been contested, Manchester United has won it a remarkable 11 times. This season, however, appears to be a bit different.

Manchester United

United, though unbeaten, have looked raged at the back and have already drawn seven games out of the 15 that have been played. Johnny Evans, most notable, ever so brilliant looks completely out of sorts this season and has been criticized for United throwing away games at Everton and Fulham.

United, though, have played smart in the transfer window getting in the likes of Javier Hernandez, Bebe, Chris Smalling and Gabriel Obertan. While Sir Alex has been a magician over the years in getting the best out of the youth by playing them with the experienced players, one can’t stop thinking that these players have been brought in for the future and still have a lot to learn. Althoug United were brilliant against Blackburn at the weekend, they still lack that touch of class that has been a feature of United’s play for years.

United surely have weakened since the departure of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, but they may be stronger than what they were last season. Either way, they are definitely not the Manchester United we know.

Arsenal

Arsenal, though they look stronger than the last couple of seasons, are still extremely vulnerable at the back and are too inconsistent to be even regarded as a serious title threat.

Holding on to leads and finishing games has simply gone out of the window since the Henry-Veira-Pires era. Even though they play the best football in Europe alongside Barcelona, how many times have Arsenal been regarded as “bottlers who never reach their potential” and a side lacking the mental toughness to challenge for top honors?

The lack of experience and Arsene Wenger’s fear of handling egos has lead to Arsenal fans not seeing silverware for five years. Arsenal, though stronger than last season, continue to have problems and are definitely not the once called “Invincible Gunners.”

Chelsea

While Chelsea played well at the start of the season, they can’t seem to get over the loss of four influential players in Ricardo Carvalho, Joe Cole, Deco and Michael Ballack. It has been evident in their recent form, which vindicates the statement that it is a side that lacks depth. Chelsea also has an aging core to their side in Lampard, Drogba, John Terry and the likes of Essien, who is either injury prone or not the players he once was. While they may have Malouda and have brought in Ramires, they lack a flair player like Robben, Joe Cole or a Damien Duff back in the day. Other than Josh McEachran and Bruma, who are a couple of the best young players in England, they lack players who can walk in to the first team, unlike United and Arsenal.

Liverpool

As for Liverpool, I think even the Liverpool supporters wouldn’t deny that this is the weakest Liverpool team to have played in the premiership.

Gerrard and Jaime Carragher aren’t getting any younger for the reds. They also lack replacements for Alonso and Mascherano. Poulsen and Raul Merieles are decent players but are they Liverpool quality? It’s a puzzle in its own as to how Lucas Lieva is playing at Liverpool.

Liverpool have simply failed to replace quality with quality.

Aquilani was a quality signing who failed to make an impact. He is performing exceptionally well at Juventus during his loan spell, which creates the likelihood that Juventus, who have an option of buying Aquilani, will make his loan move permanent.

Kelly and Shevley are good players but you have to think that they are too young and inexperienced to make an impact at the premiership level. Look at it this way: Riise out, Konchesky in, Mascherano out, Poulsen in, Alonso out, Lucas in, Crouch out, N'gog in, Bellamy out, Jovanovic in, Benayoun out, no one in.

Signing average players like Konschesky and Poulsen, manager Roy Hogdson seems to be turning Liverpool into Fulhum rather than into the Liverpool of old.

Spurs and Man City

Manchester City and Spurs are the only clubs who are getting stronger every day, but they still don’t look to impose a serious title threat.

City owner Shiekh Mansour making multi-million signings doesn’t seem to be getting the desired results, underlining the fact that money can’t buy trophies. Furthermore, their title aspirations were questioned when they played for a draw at home to Manchester United.

Having a manager in Harry Redknapp, Tottenham seem to be heading in the right direction.

Spurs have a balanced side with pace, experience and zeal combined with a team that plays some of the best football.

But again, they lack real consistency. On one day, they teach the Champions of Europe a lesson; four days later, they get outclassed by Bolton 4-2, and the following week, they beat Arsenal at the Emirates 3-2. That’s Spurs’ story.

Rest of the League

For the rest of the premiership, Steve Bruce’s Sunderland and Owen Coyle’s Bolton have surprised a lot of people.

Though they have won only four games this season, Sunderland have their tails up and their 3-0 victory against Chelsea has set a benchmark for anyone who wants to go to the home of the champions and literally insult the champs by playing better football for periods in the game.

Sunderland have bolstered their squad by making four loan signings in Nadeem Onuoha, Menshah, Elmohamady and Danny Welbeck, along with spending 13 million GBP on Asamoah Gyan. These are great signings who have performed well this season, but you really have to wonder if these players would have performed the same way had they been playing in the league five years ago.  

Same thing applies for Bolton, Fulham, Aston Villa, etc. and the rest of the teams battling relegation. Nonetheless, some of the managers like Chris Hougton and Ian Holloway have done a commendable job.

The fact of the matter is that the gap between the top four, or now the top six, has reduced remarkably, and it’s not because the entire league has gotten stronger.

This is because the top teams have weakened to such an extent that they are becoming challenged by the teams that would normally not stand a chance to even compete and would probably finish mid table.

These top teams are finding positive results harder and harder to come by, even against the teams that may eventually end up getting relegated.

Arsenal, for example, lost to West Brom 2-3 at the Emirates and United played a 2-2 draw against West Brom at Old Trafford. Chelsea in the recent past have proved my contention by picking up only five points out of the possible eighteen.

The English Premier League has turned into a weird league, but also one of the most entertaining in the world. While teams outside the "Top Four" have admittedly gotten stronger, the reason for the parity and overall weakening of the league is due to the "Top Four” not been replacing “older” players and creating a new fresh cycle with the same level of quality.