September 22, 2005

BORING, BORING PREMIERSHIP?

There has been much pontificating in the English media recently about how the Premiership is floundering. Attendance is way down, ticket prices are way up, the overall play has been sluggish and Chelsea seem to have already wrapped things up and it isn’t even October yet. Their likeliest title challengers, Manchester United, are already seven points back and have claimed that another loss, and they’re done.

All of this comes in the shadow of England’s unexpected, rousing Ashes triumph over Australia in cricket. When someone as unpopular as Rio Ferdinand makes as much in one week as any one of England’s heroic cricketers make in a year (fact: there has never been an English millionaire cricketer) it has left the English paying public and media braying “Why should we bother paying 50 pounds (roughly a $100) to watch a bunch spoiled, overpaid brats in a pointless fixture?”

That’s a good question. And one, frankly, the English will have to work out for themselves. For those of us in North America that have the luxury of our numerous soccer TV stations, we still get to enjoy the action without the stress of a national pastime coming under heavy examination. This weekend’s Premiership fixtures aren’t exactly mouth-watering, admittedly, but one to keep an eye out for is West Ham United vs. Arsenal. West Ham have been flying high in their return to the Premiership, with Marlon Harewood lighting up the League with four goals in two matches (five, if you count the own goal that came off his shot in last weekend’s Fulham match). Arsenal are still trying to find their way in the post-Vieira era and need someone to step up leadership-wise, especially now that Thierry Henry is injured. Anyone who has seen West Ham play this season can testify that the Hammers are never dull and this looks like another corker of a London derby.

If you do have a case of the Premiership blues, there is plenty going on in the world of soccer to keep you from turning to the dark side and, aghast, watch an NFL game this weekend. Right here in the U.S. the Youri-Djorkaeff-inspired MetroStars are hard-charging for a playoff spot and will play the East-leading New England Revolution.
All neutrals will be hoping for another classic match between the two, following last weekend’s epic contest at Giants Stadium, won 5-4 in the dying minutes by the MetroStars with another piece of Djorkaeff audacity. In Spain, a stumbling Barcelona will be trying to get back on track against Real Betis, while in Italy Inter Milan and Fiorentina will dance in a near-the-top-of-the-table clash. In France, second-place Paris Saint-Germain will take on surprise third-place club Le Mans, a newly-promoted side that have punched well above their weight so far in Ligue 1.

Still, if the Premiership is your bag, try to think of the positive. There have been small rumblings of discord in the Chelsea locker room, Manchester United or Arsenal could catch fire at any moment, and for heaven’s sake it is only September, there are eight months to go in the season. Anything can happen. .

Edward Knowles, International Editor, 90:00™