During a wide-ranging radio interview at the weekend, the Premier League’s Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, was admirably open and conversant across a broad range of topics. Little doubt was left that regardless of a recently secured astronomical television contract to screen matches for the next three years, laurels are not being rested on when it comes to confronting key issues such as lingering racism problems in grounds, excessive agents’ fees, and exorbitant ticket prices.
The one question which Mr Scudamore felt comfortable dismissing with a hint of contempt was that of the midweek announcement of the FIFA World XI, which drew players entirely from Spain’s La Liga. This continued a recent trend which saw an absence of any individual from England’s top-tier in the 2010 selection, and just Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United making the 2011 team.
It was Scudamore’s contention that while the Premier League continues to be football’s most watched division across the world, and can boast that 95% of available seats inside grounds have been filled to date this season, there is no cause for concern. The chief executive listed examples of genuine world stars such as Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, and Juan Mata currently performing in England to back up his confidence in the league’s strength.
While those mentioned, and others such as; Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Eden Hazard, Luis Suarez and Demba Ba can be classed as belonging with the elite names of the world game, the days of England’s eminent clubs being packed full of top class performers are long passed. Of the exclusive FIFA eleven chosen this week, only Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Sergio Ramos could be considered contentious picks. From the Premier League, arguably, Ashley Cole, Vincent Kompany, and Van Persie could have thought themselves hard done by to be ignored.
For its frenetic, harum-scarum, relentlessly competitive, and largely unpredictable nature, our top division has much to commend it ahead of rival leagues. What is absolutely open to debate now, is whether or not the Premier League comes out as favourably when comparisons are made with the skill and technical ability exhibited elsewhere in Europe.
After its formation in 1992, the increased amounts of cash swilling around the English game began to attract revered names from abroad. Initially, however, these were predominantly players widely perceived to be at the tail end of stellar careers. As the league flourished, and the money pot swelled further, we slowly began to see the arrival of stars in their prime. Possibly the first such example was Arsenal’s capture of a 26 year-old Dennis Bergkamp, fresh from his disappointing spell at Internazionale of Italy, in 1995.
By the time the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/2004 achieved the remarkable feat of completing a 38-game Premier League season undefeated, they were jam-packed full of bona fide world class players, drawn from all over the globe.
German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, the centre-half pairing of Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, and full-backs Ashley Cole and Lauren formed a formidable defensive unit, almost impregnable, while functioning effortlessly as part of their side’s fluent football.
Brazilian world cup winner Gilberto Silva combined superbly with the gargantuan Patrick Vieira in the middle of the field, while Sweden’s Freddie Ljungberg and Frenchman Robert Pires were peerless in their wing-play. The considerable ability of Bergkamp, and the incredible Thierry Henry, was a privilege to behold. Between them, Arsenal’s striking pair lacked not a single attacking attribute.
The Manchester United treble winners of 1999 could similarly boast a lack of any chink in their armour, likewise Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea title winners in 2005 and 2006. There is no team currently playing in England which can match up to the quality boasted by those aforementioned outfits.
The current United vintage includes some fantastic attacking talent. They do not though possess a world-class goalkeeper, the defence is worryingly porous, and the midfield lacks any true enforcer in the Roy Keane mould. In fact, the same assessment could be made of either of the sides representing United’s closest challengers, Manchester City and Chelsea, with only a slight caveat for City’s tighter backline.
A look back at the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow between United and Chelsea, a year which represented a considerable high for English football with the country producing three of the four semi-finalists – Chelsea beat Liverpool at that stage – demonstrates the chasm in talent on display in England five years ago as compared to that which we see now.
The team-sheets from that rainy night, on which the two best teams in Europe fought a titanic tussle, read like a who’s who of contemporary football heavyweights. Edwin Van Der Saar, Vidic, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Petr Cech, Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvahlo, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Claude Makelele, Michael Ballack, and Didier Drogba. All were at, or close to, their peak.
Twelve months on, and the first signs of an erosion to English football’s outstanding cast occurred. The Premier League could again claim three representatives in the Champions League last four. Tellingly, however, Manchester United were thoroughly outclassed in the Rome final by Barcelona, and then saw Ronaldo leave these shores for Real Madrid.
That this country’s, and one of the world’s, foremost football powers could lose their best player at the age of 24, albeit for £80m, sent out a definite warning that no club is immune to losing their most prized talent. At present, high-profile departures from the Premier League are far from a regular occurrence. Nevertheless, Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric, two of the finest individuals to have graced the league have left the country in the last 18 months.
This is far from a crisis. The most coveted players in England are largely only attracted away by Spain’s two goliaths, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Others choose to take their service to the top end of the Premier League.