The Offseason. Fans usually either hate this time for their favorite sport or love it because this is the time that championship teams are built. The English Premier League is similar to sports leagues we have here in America when it comes to the offseason. While we always hear about offseason incidents involving athletes (see: Wayne Rooney and Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones), the most exciting part of any offseason is the moves. Whether it involves a trade or simply a free agent signing, new players on new teams creates a buzz among fans of any team involved. For the most part, the moves are over-hyped and do not come to fruition (see: Lebron James), but they can change the dynamic of a team and of the entire league.
There is however, a downfall to transfers that occur in the offseason. This unfortunate aspect of the Premier League offseason is that usually the top teams add players and the bottom teams lose players who would undoubtedly make them better the next season. The most plausible comparison is Major League Baseball, where teams like the Yankees and Red Sox are able to add the highest ranked free agents because their bankrolls are seemingly bottomless.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like, continually add new players to fill gaps and strengthen weaknesses. However, for teams who are consistently involved in relegation battles, two factors seem to keep them in a never-ending cycle. Because these teams are not always in the EPL, they do not have the budget to buy star players; and any stars they do have usually leave because these clubs are in a relegation battle. So, it is tough to compete or even get into the top half of the table when a club's best players are consistently leaving for greener pastures and a lack of star players leads to less in-coming revenue. Even more, these teams cannot afford to turn down the massive offers they receive from the top clubs because they need the money just to stay afloat in the Premier League. The only chance, it seems, that these clubs have is to get into the middle of the table after a surprising season and keep players for a couple extra seasons; in addition, they may even have a chance at signing some desired free agents.
In the end, the teams in the top five are pretty consistent. Of course, there are always feel-good stories of teams avoiding relegation and even competing for a top spot. I hope that the EPL, and MLB too for that matter, recognize that their leagues will only stand to gain by making changes to allow for parity throughout the league.
One can argue that it may be too late for salary caps, and it probably is. However, putting monetary limits on acquisitions in an offseason, or giving some sort of arbitration protection to clubs may help lower end teams keep their young, rising stars. This will provide for a more balanced competition every season.
While I love watching Manchester United finish at or near the top of the league every season, I would love to see teams like Wolverhampton and Wigan play games that were not only to survive relegation. Hopefully, like replay technology, the people in charge will take a step back and accept suggestions for improving the top leagues of the world to make the beautiful game even more bonita.
There is however, a downfall to transfers that occur in the offseason. This unfortunate aspect of the Premier League offseason is that usually the top teams add players and the bottom teams lose players who would undoubtedly make them better the next season. The most plausible comparison is Major League Baseball, where teams like the Yankees and Red Sox are able to add the highest ranked free agents because their bankrolls are seemingly bottomless.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like, continually add new players to fill gaps and strengthen weaknesses. However, for teams who are consistently involved in relegation battles, two factors seem to keep them in a never-ending cycle. Because these teams are not always in the EPL, they do not have the budget to buy star players; and any stars they do have usually leave because these clubs are in a relegation battle. So, it is tough to compete or even get into the top half of the table when a club's best players are consistently leaving for greener pastures and a lack of star players leads to less in-coming revenue. Even more, these teams cannot afford to turn down the massive offers they receive from the top clubs because they need the money just to stay afloat in the Premier League. The only chance, it seems, that these clubs have is to get into the middle of the table after a surprising season and keep players for a couple extra seasons; in addition, they may even have a chance at signing some desired free agents.
In the end, the teams in the top five are pretty consistent. Of course, there are always feel-good stories of teams avoiding relegation and even competing for a top spot. I hope that the EPL, and MLB too for that matter, recognize that their leagues will only stand to gain by making changes to allow for parity throughout the league.
One can argue that it may be too late for salary caps, and it probably is. However, putting monetary limits on acquisitions in an offseason, or giving some sort of arbitration protection to clubs may help lower end teams keep their young, rising stars. This will provide for a more balanced competition every season.
While I love watching Manchester United finish at or near the top of the league every season, I would love to see teams like Wolverhampton and Wigan play games that were not only to survive relegation. Hopefully, like replay technology, the people in charge will take a step back and accept suggestions for improving the top leagues of the world to make the beautiful game even more bonita.
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