Get What You Pay For

That seems to be the model for this year's young EPL season.  Now I don't claim to be a English Premiere League expert.  I also am not a huge fan as far as watching; as many of you know I'm more of a FC Barcelona La Liga fan.  But somehow I convinced Comcast to give us Fox Soccer Channel for free.  And Saturday morning, hungover, it is great watching. 

In the wake of a 13-3 thrashing of the North London teams by the teams from Manchester I want to devote a brief analysis of what seems to be happening right now in English football: money talks.  This is not new.  The big clubs always rise to the top (with some exceptions, see Leeds United).  Spain is dominated by Barca and Real Madrid because those two have more money (although recent purchase of Malaga by a wealthy Arab could make things interesting).  Italy the two teams from Milan have consistently held the Scudetto. 

England has had in recent years the "Big Four:" Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal.  They got this monicker because they dominated the Champions League spots from the EPL.  But in recent years these 4 have had a little trouble holding on to those 4 spots.  Two seasons ago, when Liverpool hadn't spent much money, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City pushed them down the table and Spurs nicked the final Champions League spot.  Since then Manchester City has spent, spent, and spent some more trying to create a team with the fluidity and flexibility of Barcelona.  Last year it was City who captured that 4th spot, just beating out Tottenham.  This weekend City destroyed Spurs 5-1 at Tottenham.  It's not that Spurs haven't bought plays, but they have tried to under bid many on the same players that City signed (like Sergio Aguero).  And boy did it show.

Similar story with the Manchester United's 8-2 demolishing of Arsenal.  Both managers believe in developing talent.  But the difference is that Sir Alex Ferguson is not afraid to not only change tactics, but also buy experienced talent for Man U when he knows there is a weakness.  Wenger unfortunately believes that he can buy young and develop.  He consistently buys inexperienced players who he can mold to his system.  Maybe one day the excuse of "we're building" will come true, but I believe that if you're good enough, you're old enough. 

The question remains what about Chelsea and Liverpool?  Both teams have been consistently spending money on talent.  Chelsea has the problem of inconsistency at the helm.  I count 6 managers in 4 years.  But despite that they have been in the top 3 each year (even winning one title) and have looked good thus far under youngster Andre Villas-Boas.  Liverpool has also had managerial issues, but they also had ownership problems.  They have those settled, have purchased smartly and have looked sharp thus far.

The lesson of the young season seems to be tight purse strings= bare trophy cabinet.