Five reasons why English football is the best in the world
I’ve been around English football fans long enough to realise that they all hold a common view; that English football is the best in the world. In my opinion, the best place to watch this spectacle of football debate is at any pub, usually on a Saturday night. Here you will discover all the highly intellectualised put-downs fans have to offer, including: “Spain, they’re all a bunch of diving sissies” and “You try and find an Italian league player under 30”. Although highly exaggerated, it is true different countries have different footballing characteristics. Here, I will attempt to explain the five reasons why our football is better than anyone else.
The first reason is all about our league set-up. Unlike many countries, England has an incredible number of professional and semi-professional leagues which offer many players the chance to enhance their career. It allows young talent to develop at a very early age, and makes sure there are plenty of opportunities to showcase it. It also gives rise to inexperienced managers, who, whilst developing their career, can make a name for themselves and give us entertaining football.
The next reason is what I like to call ‘player loyalty’. Very few English players make a career abroad; few have tried and even fewer have succeeded. This means our top leagues are full of our own players, allowing our own talent to be developed the way we want it to be. This also promotes team unity, particularly in the national team, whose players all play in the Premier League. This means that pockets of the England team will train together for their clubs and will develop a better understanding whilst playing.
The third reason is the standard of play – this is particularly noticeable in the Premier League this season. The race for survival is the closest many fans have seen, with only six points separating nine teams at the bottom. This creates drama until the final game of the season, and gives fans the excitement they crave for.
Although much has been said about Manchester City, rich owners allow our clubs to purchase top flight players that amaze us every week. Comparatively, there are more international players in the Premiership and the Championship than most other leagues in the world. This means we have the luxury of watching household names play every week. Without the spending of Manchester City and Chelsea, we won’t experience the breadth of talent we see and it will become exclusive to only a few clubs, a trait we see particularly in France and Italy.
Finally, the most important attribute of our football is the style of play. English football can incorporate several styles meaning that it is never dull to watch. Particularly in the Premier League and Championship, were are beginning to see more flowing and more attacking football. The Premiership consistently beats other leagues such as Ligue 1, Serie A and Liga BBVA on the total number of goals scored; a clear sign that our play is more attacking and more exciting.
