Premier League: What I’m Thankful (and Not-So-Thankful) For

Photo Credit: Twitter @jonbismark1

Big Teams Struggling

No, I’m not saying I enjoy watching the teams that have had it made since the Premier League’s inception 20 years ago struggle mightily, but yes okay I guess that’s exactly what I’m saying.  Look, the BPL is known for being one of the most competitive leagues in Europe in the fact that there are 5 or 6 teams that have a good chance at the title unlike La Liga’s 2, but It’s still getting a bit ridiculous.  Nothing says “competitive” like Southampton winning it all, or Liverpool fighting a relegation battle.

Look at the English First Division’s winners before it was called the Premier League, and you’ll see names like Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Derby County, and Leeds United.  Yes, those were things.  And yes some of those winners won a long time ago, but Leeds United won the league in its last year, 1992.

I’m not saying I don’t like the big teams, because they’re the funnest to watch and they’re iconic and they tend to carry the biggest narrative.  But it would be cool if instead of just six teams having those ingredients, there were 11 or 12.  Big market teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa could easily be big as well if it wasn’t for their chronic underachieving.