Is There Something Wrong With the EPL?

Love ya - but it's time to go.

Gunners faithful are still dealing with what looks like the eventual departure of our Captain Cesc Fabregas. The last two weeks have seen rumour, inneundo, and fact run rampant discussing the catalan native’s desire to go play for his boyhood club rather than the one that has nurtured him the last 7 years.

Now many will argue that it has everything to do with our inability to win anything and the current golden era of football over at Camp Nou. But I wonder if that is really only part of it and if there isn’t a broader reason why Cesc and numerous world class stars are suddenly shunning the “Best league” in the world.

In the last few years we have heard og mega transfers into the EPL of some of the best players in the world. Ribery, Silva, Villa, etc. They’ve all been said to be coming here. Even some who are not world class but are well known and well respected have been linked here. But have you noticed something – they really haven’t come here. As a matter of fact they aren’t even staying here.

Not that last year is the likely starting point for this but it is as good place to start as any. And we start with arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo heading off from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Soon to be followed by Xabi Alonso from Liverpool. In both cases the teams they played for suffered. One worse than others. And yes Ronaldo had achieved all he could achieve at United but if the EPL is the best league inthe world with the best talent – wouldn’t you want to play there?

Xabi Alonso was on a team that could’ve been a contender (cue Marlon Brando). Liverpool were on the cusp of greatness last season only to have him depart play in Madrid and watch liverpool go down in flames.

You’d think that if the EPL were all that it touted itself to be than players would be lining up to play here in droves. No, the best players would be lining up in droves. But they aren’t Cesc Fabregas wants to leave. Franck Ribery has turned down big money offers from Chelsea and Man City, as have David Villa and others.

Why?

I think there are a variety of reasons from the financial to the physical. And they are all why noone wants to play here. Would you want to play or work in a country that requires you pay 50% tax on your wages? Wouldn’t you want to play in Spain where you as a player get part of the TV revenue if you play in the big clubs. Wouldn’t want to play where the likelihood of you suffering a career ending injury is lessened because the game is more about pass and shoot than pass and club the opponent to death.

When the likes of Blackburn, Stoke, Hull and others are allowed to run with reckless abandon and nearly destroy the careers of players noone is going to want to be a part of that if they don’t have to. If you are a world class player, a natural scorer or a gifted defender with legs, do you want to risk that? Probably not. Now look the EPL purists are going to argue that this what makes the game great in England. And to some extent they are right but wouldn’t you rather see the best ply their trade rather then the mediocre trudge about trying to take out the legs of the best because they can’t keep up.

I really think that in addition to the Arsenal implosion seeing two of teammates suffer like he has, Fabregas, is of the mind “I could be next and then miss my chance at Barcelona glory.” He’s young and the way he plays – he is a Ryan Shawcross tackle away from being a young player who may not play again in his current form if it were to happen.

Additionally, the financial calls are too great outside the EPL as well. In the EPL they are paid monthly, do not share in the league revenue and the other side incentives are not as sweet as elsewhere. In Spain for instance, the players get paid at the beginning of every campaign, they get signing bonuses, the tax structure is more favorable and they share in the revenue. It is an absolute sweetheart deal.

Finally, if you are a star you want to win. In every league outside of the EPL there are only about two -three teams that stand a chance of winning and let’s face it – if you are on one of those teams the likelihood of winning something is a lot easier than in a league where the lesser teams can actually get in your way of winning. The other leagues are much more favorable now to the top teams winning than say in the EPL. The EPL has become more balanced. Which is a good thing unless you want the ease of winning – like Scotland, Germany, or Spain.

All of these reasons and likely more that I haven’t mentioned are reasons why it seems that the big talent no longer wants to come here. The EPL is being shunned from within and without. It has to seriously consider this as the years go on. Soon some of its bigger stars – like Gerrard, Lampard and Shrek could leave. Only then will the EPL likely take notice until then its a case of another foreigner who didn’t want to play here.

While I think the primary reason for Cesc’s desire to leave is based on his will to play with the lads he trained with as a kid as they enjoy their success. I do think some of the other reasons are also playing in his mind. As the days go on I am more resigned to his leaving and while I will be sad – I will wish him well and wonder who we will get to fill those shoes.