January 23, 2008

The Premier League's Pound-for-Pound Champion :
"Some may say that Everton have failed, but in essence they have been let down by the system. Pound for pound, Moyes could have the best team in the country and it is to football’s shame that a fat lot of good it may do him."

read story | posted by yerfatma to Soccer at 7:57 AM CDT (19 comments total)

It has been years (we're old) since I selected Everton as "my team" in the EPL.* And yet this is the first year I've really been able to watch much football. I finally have the means to afford FSC and now spend many a Saturday and Sunday with one eye on whatever game is on the TV.

And, you know what? Having gained some insight into the EPL, the teams and the history, I've been especially pleased with my choice of favorite team. The reasons for that are outlined in this article to some degree. Yeah, I know they haven't won anything, but they're persistent. And they're an underdog to the big four. And yet they're decent. All in all they are a solid team to support and I'm happy with my decision.

*That post is buried in the locker room somewhere, but I'm too lazy to look it up. That said, I recall no one was pleased with my choice and someone said Moyes looked like a fish.

Comment icon posted by 86 at 8:22 AM CDT on January 23

Yeah, me too, though they're a bit frustrating in their inconsistency. They have a good squad, but not being a top-tier club, it seems like they don't have the depth to handle the league season, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europe. It's hard as an American sports fan to adjust to the idea that fourth place is something to celebrate. Worse still, it might be something to be concerned about.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 9:18 AM CDT on January 23

It's hard as an American sports fan to adjust to the idea that fourth place is something to celebrate.

That's something to share for those people who don't follow the game at all (or only MLS):

In the Premiere League, finishing in the top 2 ensures a team not only gets to play in the UEFA Champions League, but they don't have to go through the qualifying rounds. If a team finishes 3rd or 4th they still get to play in the Champions league. If they finish 5th of 6th they get to play in the UEFA Cup. Finishing in the top 4 is therefore a very good thing; it attracts top-quality players to a team because top players want to play against the best of the best in Europe.

Other European leagues have a similar set up, but not always with the same number of teams qualifying.

Factor in promotion and relegation, and soccer/football is exciting on so many levels.

P.S. If I got something wrong, some one please correct me.

Comment icon posted by terrapin at 9:51 AM CDT on January 23

Aren't there other complications to it, like if one of the top 4 qualify via some other method (cup wins, whatever), more teams from the league get in?

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 10:07 AM CDT on January 23

yerfatma, I think that's a new thing. The last time Everton finished in the top four, Liverpool finished on the outside. At the same time, they won the Champions League. Therefore, the year following the defending champions of the Champions League would not have been eligible based on their final standings in the EPL.

In the end, I think they made an exception to allow them to defend their crown and five teams from the EPL went to the Champions League.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Comment icon posted by 86 at 10:23 AM CDT on January 23

I believe you are correct, 86. Bloody Liverpool ;) (kidding worldcup2002, billsaysthis, et al!)

Comment icon posted by terrapin at 10:56 AM CDT on January 23

Eh. Unlike boxing, there are no weight classes in football, so calling Everton the best team "pound for pound" is like saying the Oakland A's were the baseball team of the last decade. Floyd Mayweather really is the best boxer in his class. Sure, he'd be killed by Klitchko, but heavyweight boxing is essentially a different sport. Look, if Everton had the money, they would try to buy the same types of players that ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea and L'pool get, not to mention Juve, Milan, Bayern, Real, Barca, etc. In fact, Everton want to build a new stadium in order to find the revenue to compete better with L'pool and the others.

But hey, if Everton wants to say that they are the best football team in the Championship, then by all means. Or maybe the best U-20 side? Is that what the author is getting at?

Comment icon posted by Chargdres at 11:16 AM CDT on January 23

We see divisions in American sport due to the economic status of teams, but not yet like they do in the Premier League. I believe the author is suggesting Everton have spent wisely and managed smartly. Not being a top-tier team doesn't mean you can't bid for talent; it just makes mistakes far more expensive. Most of the league can't afford to make a Shevchenko-sized miscalculation. Nor could most teams present a roster like Liverpool who can't even get all their talent on the field at once. Being a smaller team (and Everton certainly isn't that badly off) now means aiming squarely at fourth place and pretending the top spots don't even exist.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 11:22 AM CDT on January 23

I think that we do see those types of divisions in American sport. Although the NFL and NBA have fairly strict salary cap and revenue sharing plans, the MLB operates more in the open market sense like European football. So, looking at the MLB, if you subtract the playoffs from consideration, and look at the teams with the best records from the past ten years, you see the same teams over and over again. The difference is really that in the MLB, the regular season champion doesn't really get any specific recognition. So, a team like the A's or the D'backs, Rockies, etc., can shoot for being one of the better teams, so that they can have a shot at a Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, etc.

I recognize that the league system in Europe is biased towards the bigger teams, but when I root for Fiorentina in Italy, or Atletico in Spain, I am not rooting for them to finish with a Champions League spot. I am rooting for them to win the Scudetto. I know the official philosophy now may be to cede the title, but as a fan, you still see your team as ready to compete with the big boys.

Comment icon posted by Chargdres at 11:35 AM CDT on January 23

I like Everton mainly because I like their team, David Moyes, etc., and they hate Liverpool. I was actually thinking just yesterday that I should buy an Everton shirt.

I look good in blue....or something...

Comment icon posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:39 AM CDT on January 23

So, looking at the MLB, if you subtract the playoffs from consideration, and look at the teams with the best records from the past ten years, you see the same teams over and over again.

But it's not the same. I understand what you're saying (though I think it's more assumed true in the MLB than is true, except for the Yankees recent run and the Braves before them), but the difference is that in a given year, at least one small-market team has a shot. They won't be there consistently from year-to-year, but there's always someone surprising in the mix. Contrast that with the EPL where it's always the same four teams nowadays. The pre-season buzz was around whether Tottenham could reach #4. That's depressing compared to the feeling during spring training for most any MLB fan.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 11:52 AM CDT on January 23

Of course UEFA President Michel Platini's recent attempt to put a dent in the big clubs' stranglehold, changing the Champions League qualification rules, met with immediate death.

Comment icon posted by billsaysthis at 2:54 PM CDT on January 23

Of course I jinxed Everton today.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 3:48 PM CDT on January 23

yerfatma (speaking of Everton): Yeah, me too, though they're a bit frustrating in their inconsistency. They have a good squad, but not being a top-tier club, it seems like they don't have the depth to handle the league season, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europe.

You might as well be talking about Liverpool, except that we pay top-dollar for our inconsistency.

Comment icon posted by worldcup2002 at 5:09 PM CDT on January 23

For contrast, take a look at the financial hole Liverpool's owners (old and new) have dug for the club.

It's top-level success or nothing, the way they're playing this card game. I mean, eff the FA Cup or Carling Cup, if we don't win at least the Premier League or the Champions League, we're going to be looking at Leeds-type suffering. Even ManU, defending EPL champs and the most profitable club in the league, has to turn all their profits into servicing just the interest on the debt generated by their new owners. That's the same direction the 'Pool are heading, and we'll likely be in worse shape, with similar or bigger debt, less silverware (see recent record) and revenues (smaller stadium, etc.).

There's got to be a better way.

Comment icon posted by worldcup2002 at 5:15 PM CDT on January 23

I was wondering how 'Pool does that in the same town. Is being a bigger name that much of a difference? I know they have a bigger stadium, but that's only true for a little while longer.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 6:56 PM CDT on January 23

Of course I jinxed Everton today.

Yeah, it was definitely all your fault, yerfatma.

Comment icon posted by terrapin at 7:19 AM CDT on January 24

Liverpool developed a global fan base during the glory years in the '70s and '80s when they won so much silverware and had so many high profile players. This has gotten them merchandise and media revenues not available to Everton or most of the 'other 16', not to mention the 'Pool have brought in paydays by playing in Europe more often and longer than the Toffees.

Comment icon posted by billsaysthis at 3:31 PM CDT on January 24

Still insecure about being the newbie team in Scouserville, huh?

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 4:51 PM CDT on January 24

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