Klaus wrote:
And yet Leicester won Premier League two years ago.
Btw, the Leicester example that we always bring out as the single example do competitiveness is actually proof the contrary. We always refer to Leicester. And the reality is an exceptional set of circumstances conspired to make them champions. Leicester before and after are a midtable club or worse. And that is the reality of clubs outside the top six.
It is this glass ceiling, this predestined order, that leaves me uncomfortable. We know every season, that there is little chance we win the league. And similarly, a trip to the Champions League is basically out of the question for Bournemouth or Southampton fans. There is some tail-end probability that all th de events can occur, and in Leicester’s case they did, but as presently constituted it is far too low and the general order is far too certain. Similarly, eople celebrate the upsets in this league. That’s great. But at the end of the day, after Watford mauled them 4-1, Chelsea are still 4th in the league and Watford 11th, and it is extremely unlikely that order will be reversed come season end.
There has always been hierarch y in English football, but the problem has gotten worse with time. Just look at 80s Premier League tables and you will see that, Liverpool aside, there was a fair amount of volatility in final finishes.
I think the Premier League has an opportunity to say we want to be different. We want to find a way to being back that volatility. So that all fans can dream of something more than their pre-allocated relegation scrap, midtable mediocrity or fight for 4th each August.