Gradi Interview when he said "League 2 is much better than it used to
be!". I wondered if he had a point, just how much better could league 2
have got since the good old days? Then I took it a step further and thought
about all the other leagues. too...
The influx of foreign talent has always been there since I
can remember in the early nineties and you would only ever really find it in
the top flight Premiership. Players like Cantona, Schmeichel, and later
Bergkamp and Zola brought something to these shores that could only be
appreciated. They could unlock a defence better than a scouser with a hubcap
and the crowds around the country loved them. Unfortunately with every good
point there always seems to be a down side, in this case it was the floodgates
opening.
can remember in the early nineties and you would only ever really find it in
the top flight Premiership. Players like Cantona, Schmeichel, and later
Bergkamp and Zola brought something to these shores that could only be
appreciated. They could unlock a defence better than a scouser with a hubcap
and the crowds around the country loved them. Unfortunately with every good
point there always seems to be a down side, in this case it was the floodgates
opening.
The success of these players has led to all of the top
flight clubs looking abroad for these cheaper, rougher foreign players that they
can mould into world beaters and become multi million pound assets. Can these
boys play, of course they can but then I ask you, is Eboue any better than Lee
Dixon? Is Berbatov better than Le Tissier?, My answer would be no, but I can
see that a lot of people would choose a 2011 starting XI over a 1996 starting
XI. The game has changed hugely over the years. Someone like Theo Walcott would
destroy someone like Steve Bruce now because the game is based more on athleticism
as well as skill.
flight clubs looking abroad for these cheaper, rougher foreign players that they
can mould into world beaters and become multi million pound assets. Can these
boys play, of course they can but then I ask you, is Eboue any better than Lee
Dixon? Is Berbatov better than Le Tissier?, My answer would be no, but I can
see that a lot of people would choose a 2011 starting XI over a 1996 starting
XI. The game has changed hugely over the years. Someone like Theo Walcott would
destroy someone like Steve Bruce now because the game is based more on athleticism
as well as skill.
All the home grown British players that we used to have gracing
the top leagues in the nineties were able to do so because of a smaller number
of equally talented foreigners. The problem now is we have a minority number of
players playing their trade in the top flight where do the rest of them go?
This is what made me think...so if we're still producing the players, and
they're now having to play in the Championship, is the current Championship the
same as a early nineties Premiership?
the top leagues in the nineties were able to do so because of a smaller number
of equally talented foreigners. The problem now is we have a minority number of
players playing their trade in the top flight where do the rest of them go?
This is what made me think...so if we're still producing the players, and
they're now having to play in the Championship, is the current Championship the
same as a early nineties Premiership?
My immediate reaction was to laugh to myself, don't be so
stupid! But then the more I thought about it, were the teams like Oldham,
Nottingham Forest and Norwich really any worse than the current Leeds, QPR and Reading
teams? Obviously there are exceptions, the likes of Man Utd, Blackburn and
Newcastle really led the way into the new brand of football using the best of
youth alongside top pros and foreign talent. Crewe Alexandra used to be a
Championship side and I wondered how their mid 90's side would fair in the
current Championship. We had some good players but we'd be no more than
relegation fodder. Adel Taarabt would turn Shaun Smith inside out and back
again although I still think Rodney Jack would give some players a run for
their money!
stupid! But then the more I thought about it, were the teams like Oldham,
Nottingham Forest and Norwich really any worse than the current Leeds, QPR and Reading
teams? Obviously there are exceptions, the likes of Man Utd, Blackburn and
Newcastle really led the way into the new brand of football using the best of
youth alongside top pros and foreign talent. Crewe Alexandra used to be a
Championship side and I wondered how their mid 90's side would fair in the
current Championship. We had some good players but we'd be no more than
relegation fodder. Adel Taarabt would turn Shaun Smith inside out and back
again although I still think Rodney Jack would give some players a run for
their money!
It then goes to follow suit then that League 1 and League 2
also contain better players than years gone by but how many players have been
lost to the beautiful game because the attraction of making it in the higher
leagues is just too much of a pipe dream? That then means the semi-pro leagues
should be of a higher quality!
also contain better players than years gone by but how many players have been
lost to the beautiful game because the attraction of making it in the higher
leagues is just too much of a pipe dream? That then means the semi-pro leagues
should be of a higher quality!
I think it would be an interesting and close contest to
stick a mid nineties Chelsea vs a 2011 Leeds team or a mid nineties Arsenal vs
a 2011 QPR. The only question that remains for me is, if the quality of the
players in the Championship has increased then shouldn't England and Fabio
Capello be looking there for more options and depth to his playing pool. We're
using a limited and ageing group of players and the future is going to be from
a lot of Championship players, why not start looking now?
stick a mid nineties Chelsea vs a 2011 Leeds team or a mid nineties Arsenal vs
a 2011 QPR. The only question that remains for me is, if the quality of the
players in the Championship has increased then shouldn't England and Fabio
Capello be looking there for more options and depth to his playing pool. We're
using a limited and ageing group of players and the future is going to be from
a lot of Championship players, why not start looking now?
The Premiership is what it is, but for me, long live the
Football League!
Football League!
Love to hear any thoughts you've got on my first proper
blog, good or bad!
blog, good or bad!
