Is The Premier League Tougher Than It Used To Be?

[UpTheGunnerz]

The only players with that X factor around them these days in the Prem, is De Bruyne and Salah...Haaland I guess too, but his wow factor is more "how is this shaved silverback gorilla able to score so many goals...amazing!", imo.

You could argue Van Disney and Saliba too, but I will be in my cold grave long before I say a centre f3cking back is one of the main reasons to watch football ffs!

Honestly I think nostalgia and cynicism weights into it a bit too.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

And out of interest what is your theory based on?

The amount of ball playing defenders there are now including the strict handball/tackling rules encouraging standing off - I would argue the defensive nous is now gone.

There are less heinous fouls and bone crunching tackles, so players should be expressing themselves more but often don’t due to the will of whoever their coach is.

I’m trying to Google some backing for my theory but I’ve only found articles arguing the opposite fml

 

[GDeep™]

My theory: premier league teams no matter where they are in the table are more defensively solid now than before which makes it hard for individual players to show “flair” which is the numero uno criteria on which casual viewers judge talent.

We’re conceding the same amount as goals as we did in our banter years, we’re conceding more now that most of the Emirates era period. Not really defensively solid are we.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

We’re conceding the same amount as goals as we did in our banter years, we’re conceding more now that most of the Emirates era period. Not really defensively solid are we.

Are we really? Only conceded ten sofar this season, lowest in the league.

 

[GDeep™]

Honestly I think nostalgia and cynicism weights into it a bit too.

“Nostalgia” is the go to argument when have nothing else.

 

[GDeep™]

Are we really? Only conceded ten sofar this season, lowest in the league.

I’m talking previous to this season, looking at numbers for a full league season. Yes.

I was just looking at this last week. Wenger had many seasons where we conceded the same as Arteta now, and many where he conceded much less.

 

[Riou]

And out of interest what is your theory based on?

Watching football from only 2016, I think...

 

[Macho]

Year on year there’s an increasing amount of goals in the league anyways. For me it’s a combination of longer matches (injury time where a lot are scored) and defenders getting away with less. The rules do favour attackers whilst defenders are possibly in their strictest, toughest era ever.

My personal opinion is there are more John Stones around than Vidic currently.

Guys like Ramsdale and Raya are both at a top club and I don’t think they would be 10 years ago.

 

[AberGooner]

Evra's not wrong but couldn't resist a dig at us the prick.

I do wonder how much of today's players would show a bit more flair if they where allowed to. I think they're very restricted by the tactics of today which seem very focused on not making mistakes.

 

[Riou]

Riou and @Macho teaming up to cook UpTheUna...




...link up so elite he never even saw it coming the poor lad!

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Riou and @Macho teaming up to cook UpTheUna...

View attachment 19845

If you scroll up you can see that I dusted my theory off before any of yous, behave urself

...link up so elite he never even saw it coming the poor lad!

 

[GDeep™]

What’s wrong with Evra having a dig at us? It’s a form of respect in many ways. He’s from the era where there was more animosity between teams and managers.

Not like now where players suck each other off before and after a game.

 

[Riou]

Not like now where players suck each other off before and after a game.

 

[A_G]

Thoughts on this @A_G? Just asking because you mention former players a lot.

He’s not wrong.

Don’t really see his argument, teams down the league are still buying high profile players.

No all star players is strange too, the UEFA TOTY had 7 PL players in it. FIFPRO squad had 7 players too, only La Liga had more.

 

[AberGooner]

What’s wrong with Evra having a dig at us? It’s a form of respect in many ways. He’s from the era where there was more animosity between teams and managers.

Not like now where players suck each other off before and after a game.

Nothing wrong with it. He's still a prick though.

 

[GDeep™]

Don’t really see his argument, teams down the league are still buying high profile players.

No all star players is strange too, the UEFA TOTY had 7 PL players in it. FIFPRO squad had 7 players too, only La Liga had more.

The latter is more to do with teams outside in England declining.

Evra played against peak Barcelona, Milan etc.

 

[GDeep™]

Nothing wrong with it. He's still a prick though.

Thought he was more of a prick when a player, don’t find him too annoying now myself. In fact, like his honesty.

 

[Riou]

Evra was taking shots at Arsenal when we were severely hampered by our reduced finances in the late 00s and early 10s, that's why he's a ****...plus the fact he is a freak that literally eats grass doesn't help.

Would liked to have seen if he was brave enough to call Arsenal "babies" when we had Adams and Vieira playing for us, the little prick.

 

[A_G]

The latter is more to do with teams outside in England declining.

Evra played against peak Barcelona, Milan etc.

Yeah but if this is the worst league EVER then it should show up in the lack of awards.

 

[Riou]

Yeah but if this is the worst league EVER then it should show up in the lack of awards.

Not if all the other leagues are even more so the worst league EVER though...