The World’s ‘Best’ League?

You will have all heard someone at some point (last day of last season?) say that the English top flight is the best league in the world, a hefty claim and one that obviously must be examined. Is it really possible to pinpoint one of the many leagues across the world as the best?

All of the so-called die-hards out there, relax, this isn’t a destruction of the league you love. Don’t start commenting about how much of an idiot I must be and how I don’t know anything about football. Like you, I love the premier league. I wouldn’t write about it if I didn’t but you can’t make a claim without any evidence.

There is no doubt that the Premier League is an outstanding league. However, if you were to compile a list of the criteria that constitutes the world’s finest league would the English top flight top the charts? In terms of unpredictability? Quality of football? Entertainment? Quality of teams and individuals? While it may be one of the more entertaining, I fear that it isn’t the top dog these other areas.

Lets start with a common theme from last year. The thing that often leaves you cursing that rash trip to Willy Hill on a Saturday morning; unpredictability. The events of last season were an exception in a league that has been widely known as one dominated by ‘the big four’. Other teams have come close to breaking the monotony; villa (honestly), spurs, Newcastle and Everton are doing their best this campaign, but none have been able to stay at the top table. Only 5 teams have won the premier league.

Hop across the channel and since the beginning of the English premier league, 10 different teams have lifted the French domestic league trophy. One could argue that it is therefore twice as exciting?

 

Who is the best team in the world? (Don’t just say Chelsea..) Can the Premier League truly boast the best team in the world? If you were to bet on the winner of the champions league at the start of the season would it be an English team?

The answer is probably no.

If the English premier league cannot claim to house the world’s best team then should it be out of the running for the best league in the world? Realistically most people would argue that the two best teams ply their trade in Spain.  Obviously everyone has their own opinion as to which two teams are superior but I think many would agree that Barcelona and Real Madrid (the most successful team in the history of the European cup, winning it 9 times) are atop the tree.  This isn’t the only feather in La Liga’s cap as the bulk of the names on the Ballon d’Or shortlist year after year are from the Iberian Peninsula. The likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso…not to forget Ronaldo and Messi.

What about the quality of football on display? While the premier league has sides capable of producing majestic, flowing, engaging and exciting football it also houses some teams more accustomed to the  ‘Sam Allardyce’ technique. There are few teams in the European leagues with similar reputations of their love of the long ball tactic. Other teams such as Stoke have often been accused of killing the sport and in many ways play a unique brand of ‘anti-football’ in which they set out to stop the other team playing anything that resembles the game we love. Other leagues like Italy’s Serie A are not only well known for match fixing but also for the depth of technically talented footballers they produce. The Italian game is based predominantly on players’ ability with the ball at their feet, unlike in England where ‘Big Sam-style’ has been so effective. Some prefer to watch the technical attributes on display in Italy and Spain rather than that closer to home.

And what of the South American samba school? The Brazilian and Argentine leagues suffer from a lack of coverage in the UK but are rife with unpredictability.  Many of you will probably think of Santos or Corinthians with regards to the league’s best teams? You may be surprised to discover that Santos lie in a lowly 9th (out of 20) while Corinthians haven’t fared much better as of late, they sit in 7th.  River Plate, one of Argentina’s best-known teams, having won the league title the previous season were relegated in 2008. Evidence of the League’s unrivalled unpredictability.

 

So where does the Premier League top the table?  Surely, after last season’s antics, you would be able to put forward a good case that it is the most entertaining?  Whether it was Man United tearing Arsenal apart 8-2 at home before the early season terminators (Man City) showed up and put 6 past them in their own back yard. The loss of one of the previous winners of the league title to the championship, the fight for fourth place, an average of 2.8 goals per match or the ridiculous final day of the season, I doubt many leagues could top that.

This is not in any way meant as an attack on the premier league. After all I would back myself as one of its biggest fans, however, I wanted to put across that, in the same way as it is impossible to choose between Messi and Ronaldo, it is not realistic to label one league as the world’s best.