02 February, 2000 - (SEASON ONE/S1)

Mountain or Molehill? – Nick Matthews (SAS Representative)

First Division to Premiership, just how big is the gap? Are there a few teams set to act as ‘yo-yos’? Or can sides achieve promotion and succeed in the top flight? It’s the question that’s been asked over and over, but just what is the answer?

It’s true that in recent times, most of the teams promoted from Division 1 have simply plummeted straight back down, and infact last season all three of the teams joining the Premier League were relegated.

Their problem seems to lie in money and resources. In the Premiership, you clearly can’t afford to have any weak links, whereas you could probably succeed in the first division with a couple of below par players.

But look at Sunderland. I wouldn’t call their squad world class, though the first half of the season has seen them reach the dizzy heights of 2nd in England’s top division. Why? Everyone seems to talk about team spirit, and obviously it’s important, but come on, surely no one really wants relegation from the Premiership. 

I think that a solid backbone is a must: A consistent keeper, a reliable centre back, solid central midfielder and a goal scoring striker. Once you have this, the rest of the team can be built around it…in theory.

Another area in which promoted teams struggle concerns the fact that the Premier League contains far too much money, and that is evident in the huge gap between the top and the bottom. 

Each year, from the very first day there are only really half a dozen teams that can consider themselves title contenders. This leaves the 3 promoted teams so short of money compared to their top division rivals, that they are often in trouble before they have even played a game.

It also leaves the smaller Premier League clubs having to look at players from lesser footballing nations, so as not to completely drain their bank balance. 

For example Southampton: A typical bottom half of the table team, and seemingly destined to stay there. I must admit I laughed when they looked to Latvia for a ‘star’ striker, and even more so when he was compared to a certain Michael Owen, but what a revelation!

Now I don’t like being proven wrong, and I hope I won’t be when I say that Manchester City look to be working their way to promotion. But can they really expect to stay there?

I went to see them at The Dell in the Worthington Cup earlier this year, and to be honest they really weren’t up to scratch against a relatively poor team like Southampton. At the time they had the best defensive record in Division 1, and in fact had only conceded 2 goals in all competitions up to that point. OK, they scored three, but more importantly they let in four, albeit after extra time.

Their other game v Premiership opposition came in the form of an FA Cup tie with Leeds. This time I had to settle for watching it live on TV, which was probably a good thing in the end. 

I know Leeds are a great attacking force, but quite frankly to concede 5 against them at home is a joke! That’s nine conceded in two games and with, in my opinion, the best young keeper in England! That sort of record will get them absolutely nowhere, but it just emphasizes the huge chasm between England’s two main divisions. 

I think City will be very well equipped financially to cope with the Premier League, especially now with the Rupert Murdoch deal, and their team spirit is second to none. Although, even as a fan, I still think if they do go up, they’ll struggle to stay there. 

It just goes to show that it will take an exceptional team to make the grade. And although it’s often funny to see the likes of Man United and Arsenal produce 5 or 6 – 0 score lines, their dominance is becoming slightly tedious. United fans are getting more arrogant too, which probably pisses me off more, either way, the huge amounts of money in the game look to be ruining it. I personally don’t know what could be done, but something should be.

Thanks,

Nick Matthews
SAS Representative/SAS Manager

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